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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/10/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota Oct. 3, 2022 1. Call to order Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 1a. Pledge of allegiance 1b. Roll call Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Larry Kraft, Nadia Mohamed Councilmembers absent: Margaret Rog and Lynette Dumalag Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Deputy City Manager (Ms. Walsh), Finance Director (Ms. Schmitt), Finance Manager (Ms. Weller), Director of Community Development (Ms. Barton) Communications and Technology Director (Ms. Smith), Natural Resources Manager (Mr. Bahe), Public Works Services Manager (Mr. Okey) Guests: None. 2. Presentations 2a. 2022 Evergreen Awards Mayor Spano recognized the 2022 Evergreen award winners:  Charlie King, Traditional Landscape  Rob Write, Alternative Landscape Mr. Bahe presented the award winners for traditional and alternative landscapes and presented slides of the winner’s landscape projects. He added both winners will receive a tree for their award. Mr. King gave tips about dry summers, noting he waters every other day and rotates watering. He added he waters the lawn because he likes the lawn green and the weeds out. Mr. Write noted this year was a challenge, explaining that grass is an accent for him, and he did not water the lawn all summer. He said he did deep and spot watering of the gardens and tried to balance out the landscape with various plants and flowers, so something is blooming all the time. 3. Approval of minutes – none. 4. Approval of agenda and items on consent calendar DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F759556-A1EA-4846-BFA7-C557E476401A City council meeting -2- Oct. 3, 2022 4a. Approve first reading of an ordinance amending the Zero Waste Packaging Ordinance, and to set the second reading for October 17, 2022. 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 22-146 establishing a special assessment for the installation of a fire suppression sprinkler system at 4906 35th St. W, St. Louis Park, MN. 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 22-147 appointing election workers for the November 8, 2022, state general election and school district (ISD No. 283) special election. 4d. Accept Park and Recreation Advisory Commission minutes of August 17, 2022. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Mohamed, to approve the agenda as presented and items listed on the consent calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 5-0 (Councilmembers Rog and Dumalag absent). 5. Boards and commissions 5a. Appoint youth members to the boards and commissions It is recommended to appoint Lillian Hertl and Abigail Oppegard to the Environmental and Sustainability Commission and Abby Bauer to the Human Rights Commission. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Kraft, approve the appointments of the youth members to the commissions as noted above. The motion passed 5-0 (Councilmembers Rog and Dumalag absent). 6. Public hearings 6a. First reading of an ordinance adopting fees for 2023 Ms. Weller presented the staff report. Councilmember Kraft asked what the driving force was that moved the rates up. Ms. Weller stated overall it was the capital projects and operating needs. She added with inflation, many of the project costs increased. She noted she would forward more details to the council. Councilmember Brausen noted some residents are concerned about service issues with Waste Management. He asked how long the current contract goes. Ms. Weller stated it is through 2023. Ms. Walsh added staff will be presenting upcoming changes in the contract to council in January 2023. Mayor Spano asked how the city messages all the infrastructure changes to residents . Ms. Weller stated staff communicates that to residents when they call in with questions. She added they do try to provide an educational component while answering questions. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F759556-A1EA-4846-BFA7-C557E476401A City council meeting -3- Oct. 3, 2022 Mayor Spano suggested this be done earlier in the process and present the value proposition to residents earlier. Councilmember Brausen noted staff does a good job of communicating that in the Park Perspective, adding most folks understand the city’s aging infrastructure and this is communicated very well to residents. Ms. Keller stated this information will be included in the Park Perspective in the February 2023 edition. Mayor Spano opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Spano closed the public hearing. Councilmember Kraft thanked staff for looking at these fee increases carefully and taking a couple of areas down. He added in looking at the solid waste service, there is an indirect cost, and asked if there is a different way to look at this. Councilmember Brausen added with solid waste collection, you do end up penalizing families and multi-family housing, who have a harder time affording this. He noted this is also an issue with watering tiers, there are trade-offs, and this is difficult to balance. Ms. Keller said all the fees are cost-neutral at best, and staff works to not charge more for programs than it costs to deliver them. Councilmember Brausen stated none of the fees are going up at the rate of inflation, so in some ways it is a reduction of some form. It was moved by Councilmember Mohamed, seconded by Councilmember Budd, to approve first reading of an ordinance adopting fees for 2023 and set second reading for Oct. 17, 2022. The motion passed 5-0 (Councilmembers Rog and Dumalag absent). 6b. Consolidated public hearing I. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 1 II. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 2 III. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 3 and ten-year renewal of district agreement IV. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 4 V. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 5 VI. 2023 budget and property owner service charges for Special Service District No. 6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F759556-A1EA-4846-BFA7-C557E476401A City council meeting -4- Oct. 3, 2022 Mr. Okey presented the staff report. Councilmember Budd asked if this is only involving businesses. Mr. Okey stated yes, but he would get back to council related to rental properties. He noted for the second year in a row there have been no responses from property owners on the budgets for their special services districts. Councilmember Brausen asked if a policy decision was made or if the owners decide about irrigation inclusions. Mr. Okey stated there are no specifics that say they must do something, but he meets with owners and helps them decide what changes and updates can be made. Councilmember Brausen stated water will become a precious resource in the next 15 years, as climate change continues. He noted it will be important to minimize expenses and not commit resources, adding the city will need to be more mindful of this going forward. Councilmember Kraft asked if fund balances from one district must stay within that district. Mr. Okey stated yes, they cannot be shared across districts. He added these funds are static and cannot be moved around. Councilmember Kraft asked if there are any special service districts that include EV chargers. Mr. Okey stated not at this time, but he would like to investigate this. Councilmember Mohamed asked what qualifies a district as a special service district. Mr. Okey stated it must be 25% of the net tax capacity in whatever area they propose as that district. He added it is up to the businesses that want to do this. Councilmember Mohamed asked if Texatonka would qualify to be a special service district. Mr. Okey stated yes, they would qualify, would thrive, and succeed. Mayor Spano asked about the difference between maintenance and replacement. He asked when something is beyond repair and needs to be replaced, how that decision is made. He also asked how the city manages the condition of all the special districts when they have repairs. Mr. Okey stated this is a gray area, adding it depends on the item that needs to be changed out and then he would consult with an expert on staff. He added every situation is unique. Councilmember Budd asked how the budgets for special services remained the same. Mr. Okey stated the city is at an advantage when asking for bids as it is an incentive for contractors to get these contracts with work in close proximity. Bids are generally lower for SSD quotes because of this. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F759556-A1EA-4846-BFA7-C557E476401A City council meeting -5- Oct. 3, 2022 Mayor Spano opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Spano closed the public hearing. There is no formal action is required at this meeting. Formal action on the budget and service charges will be placed on the Oct. 17, 2022, council agenda. 7. Requests, petitions, and communications from the public – none. 8. Resolutions, ordinances, motions, and discussion items – none. 9. Communications Ms. Keller noted on Sat., Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. there will be a basketball court dedication at Nelson Park, near Dakota Park. She added on Oct. 19 there will be another catalytic converter event, with registration on Oct 5. at 9 a.m. until Oct. 6, at 5 p.m., with more information on the city website. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F759556-A1EA-4846-BFA7-C557E476401A