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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/01/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota Jan. 9, 2023 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: none. Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), Building and Energy Director (Mr. Hoffman), Deputy City Manager (Ms. Walsh), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Finance Director (Ms. Schmitt), Director of Community Development (Ms. Barton), Elections and Civic Engagement Coordinator (Mr. Sund), Race, Equity, and Inclusion Director (Ms. Guess), Communications and Technology Director (Ms. Smith) Guests: Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene, State Rep. Larry Kraft, Rep. Cheryl Youakim, Melissa Reed and Ian Marsh, municipal representatives from Park Street Public 1. 2023 legislative priorities Staff and council introduced themselves. Ms. Keller presented an overview of items for discussion. Ms. Reed and Mr. Marsh noted updates at the legislature. Ms. Reed explained the unanimous acceptance of the conformity bill and the $17 million surplus. Mayor Spano highlighted the city’s legislative priorities and initiatives they are most interested in discussing. The discussion for the meeting will focus on the following:  Projects that have funding and those seeking further collaboration.  Legislative topics that staff selected as high priority issues.  Time for councilmembers to discuss projects and priorities and the environment at the capital. Rep. Youakim and Rep. Kraft noted upcoming priorities and bills related to climate, energy, sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation, tax, commerce, and public safety. Rep. Kraft also noted a bill he will author related to voter pre-registration for 16-17 year olds. Commissioner Greene stated she is no longer chair of the Hennepin County Board but is chair of the rail authority in charge of transportation issues. She stated the county’s focus is on transportation and affordable housing. DocuSign Envelope ID: 16EA2209-3D9A-42FD-A57D-ED28CFA9B43C Study session minutes -2- Jan. 9, 2023 Commissioner Greene noted there is discussion about community supervision along with elections and health and human services. She stated they look forward to being good partners with the city as well as legislators. Councilmember Mohamed pointed out housing priorities including emergency housing assistance. She noted displacement happening and asked what the state is doing around funding and emergency assistance, along with one-time rental assistance. Rep. Youakim stated she will investigate this and report back. She added the rental rehab loans were part of a package around NOAH last year. Councilmember Rog stated the preferred design on Minnetonka Boulevard is very positive and she looks forward to working with the county on this over the next two years . Mr. Sund noted the city’s legislative priorities and projects that have funding components, including Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue reconstruction, multifamily land trust, affordable commercial center, and electrify community cohort grant program. Rep. Youakim asked if the Cedar and Louisiana project would involve bonding. Ms. Keller stated yes. Rep. Youakim asked if land trust does single or multi-family. Ms. Barton stated they do not do multi-family. Rep. Youakim asked about the electrify program. Mr. Hoffman stated this is a concept that moves away from natural gas. He added our industries are not established for this yet, but it’s working to get some momentum going and use it as an educational process . Mayor Spano stated the city is open to various ways to get funding for these projects . Rep. Youakim stated she could see funding for the electrification education through the environmental committee. Councilmember Dumalag noted the commercial property is in her ward and she is interested in this and what will be done to preserve small businesses that were displaced with the light rail development. Rep. Kraft asked if there are any bills around funding multi-family affordable housing. Rep. Youakim added this is an exciting concept and she is interested in seeing what will come of it . Commissioner Greene added on emergency rental assistance, an emergency pool was handed to states and Hennepin County was able to move that money to the community quickly. Mayor Spano asked who is leading the charge on regional affordable housing . Commissioner Greene stated she doesn’t have an answer on this but will ask her team . She added they have that same question on transportation . She noted Commissioner Conley will be the chair of the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority Chari (HRA), adding she is interested in how she will lead on this as well as Chari of Health and Human Services Committee Chair. Rep. Kraft stated there are bills that should be watched and tracked, including the first- generation home buyers’ program, as well as rental assistance voucher-based programs. DocuSign Envelope ID: 16EA2209-3D9A-42FD-A57D-ED28CFA9B43C Study session minutes -3- Jan. 9, 2023 Councilmember Brausen thanked the legislators for meeting with the council. He also thanked the county for adding more money to fund the light rail project , noting it’s important for the state to also step up and assist to get the job completed, which has been a priority of St. Louis Park for many years. Councilmember Rog asked about sales tax with possible cannabis sales. Rep. Youakim stated it would be 10% and as sales go up, more will be generated; however, she noted this is still a work in progress. Councilmember Mohamed asked if there are any plans to make electric cars more accessible in the state and if there are any conversations happening at the state level. Rep. Kraft stated rebates are something he is interested in, adding he is unsure if the federal restrictions of “Made in the USA” will be relaxed. Councilmember Dumalag added this was a discussion around multi-family housing charging stations. She pointed out this is a very expensive infrastructure piece to be added to existing housing. Councilmember Rog noted airport noise as a quality-of-life issue for the residents of St. Louis Park. She stated this is getting worse and she is hopeful there will be discussions on this at the state level. Mr. Hoffman stated the FAA determines flight paths, and noted the airport is in the heart of metro neighborhoods. He added departures were looked at in the past, noting changes will be coming on this soon, but hopefully not to increase noise in certain communities. Rep. Youakim invited councilmembers and residents to reach out whenever needs arise. Commissioner Greene thanked the council and the city for all they do, their leadership within the state, and for tonight’s conversation. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) Ms. Keller noted first-round interviews will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers with applicants to fill Rep. Kraft’s council seat. She noted annual tree trimming will be coming this week on boulevards in the Amhurst, Cobblecrest, Aquila, Minnehaha, or Texatonka neighborhoods. Ms. Keller stated the council meeting next week will be on Tues., Jan. 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Mon., Jan. 16. She noted the proclamations for MLK Day and National Day of Racial Healing will take place on Monday, Jan. 16, at an event at the nature center, and registration can be completed online. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. DocuSign Envelope ID: 16EA2209-3D9A-42FD-A57D-ED28CFA9B43C Study session minutes -4- Jan. 9, 2023 Written Reports 2. 2023 Cedar Lake Road (4023-1100) and 2024 Louisiana Avenue (2024-1100) Improvement projects update ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 16EA2209-3D9A-42FD-A57D-ED28CFA9B43C