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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/05/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota May 8, 2023 The meeting convened at 6:35 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette Dumalag, and Nadia Mohamed Councilmembers absent: Margaret Rog Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), engineering director (Ms. Heiser), engineering project manager (Mr. Sullivan) Guests: none. 1. Dakota Park infrastructure improvements Mr. Sullivan presented the staff report. He stated the policy question is does the council want to proceed with the infrastructure improvements proposed. Councilmember Brausen asked what the Parks and Recreation Commission had to say about improvements. Mr. Sullivan stated their feedback was looking at the costs options and weighing cost against the two proposed options. He added they are in favor of the trail re-route and using funds for other projects around the city. Councilmember Dumalag asked if there is a maintenance cost difference between the trail and the bridge proposal. Mr. Sullivan stated yes, there would be a higher cost with bridge structure maintenance. Ms. Heiser stated the bridge will need to be replaced eventually in 75 years, so that makes it more expensive also, whereas a trail will be less expensive to maintain . Councilmember Budd noted the park is mainly used for walking, and she appreciated the discussion. She asked if the staff recommendation is to go with the new bridge. Ms. Heiser stated the primary reason staff is recommending the bridge is because that was the feedback received from the public. She added that the majority of the people said if the bridge was removed, it would not affect their use of the park. She added staff wanted to bring this back to council for discussion before asking for a decision. Mayor Spano stated he and Councilmember Rog had thought the cost was high for the bridge, but noted he appreciates staff coming back for this discussion . He noted he walks on the boardwalk near his home, near Methodist Hospital, but added there are some boards that need replacing. He added it’s a great asset in that area, but stated this would not be the best solution for Dakota Park. Mayor Spano noted that the majority of folks want this bridge back, but either way this will not change the way the park is used. He added when he thinks of the steel truss bridge, he has a hard time justifying the $350,000 additional cost, especially when thinking of all the other needs the community has. He noted the water main issue, adding he would like to see more funds go to supporting the city’s infrastructure, especially when he thinks of all the wonderful things that DocuSign Envelope ID: 4C4A41F2-D338-43F4-8B8A-998653FC63CD Study session minutes -2- May 8, 2023 already have gone into Dakota Park. He stated that he would like the bridge but is not sure it’s worth the cost. Councilmember Mohamed questioned if residents said they would still use the park with or without the bridge. Ms. Heiser stated 58% said no, 20% were unsure, and 22% said yes . Councilmember Budd stated she appreciates the comments from residents related to the park, but it’s not compelling evidence, and doesn’t really present a perfect answer . She stated she leans toward keeping the bridge there, but fiscally she is unsure if it’s appropriate , and she is undecided. Councilmember Dumalag stated without the bridge, it may not have the same access or experience for users of the park. Councilmember Mohamed stated if there was a clearer indication that the community really wanted the bridge, it might be easier to justify that dollar amount . She noted she doesn’t see that in the survey responses and has not received any emails on this topic, so spending $350,000 more is not justified at this point. Councilmember Farris stated if that money could be used elsewhere, to help make St. Louis Park a better place, she would prefer doing that versus the bridge. Councilmember Brausen stated Councilmember Rog may be interested in pursuing the bridge as it’s in her ward and it’s a nice amenity in the park. Councilmember Brausen stated he does not feel the same way, and shares the mayor’s reasoning about the bridge, which is a nice amenity, but not at the cost proposed. He stated the Parks and Recreation Commission has also recommended the money not be spent there, and be spent on other projects, so he is also in favor of the trail. Councilmember Dumalag stated she is still in favor of the steel truss bridge . Mayor Spano stated the consensus seems to be that the council would want the trail, but not the bridge. Councilmember Brausen added this bridge could also be built in the future when the cost and budget warrant it. Ms. Keller stated this item will come back for council action at a future meeting. 2. New sidewalk planning framework Ms. Heiser presented the staff report. She stated this is a continuation of the discussion on sidewalk planning from last August. Mayor Spano asked why certain neighborhoods have sidewalks and others do not. Ms. Heiser stated prior to 2016, the costs for sidewalk construction were borne by the adjacent property DocuSign Envelope ID: 4C4A41F2-D338-43F4-8B8A-998653FC63CD Study session minutes -3- May 8, 2023 owner. In 2016 the council directed that the city would fund sidewalks because walking and providing mobility solutions was a strategic priority. Mayor Spano asked about more simplicity and transparency in relation to this project. Ms. Heiser stated there were three pavement management projects with resident-requested sidewalks, in Elmwood and Fernhill neighborhoods. She stated during those projects staff engaged the community, and residents felt because there were no sidewalks shown on the map or proposed, that meant they didn’t participate in the conversation. Ms. Heiser stated with additional transparency and simplicity, a project can start at one point, and then be pulled back. Ms. Keller added people were losing trust in the process, so starting broader and then moving to more specific has helped with simplicity. Mayor Spano stated there is a process, and while he understands the proposal, starting big pictures and then pulling things out might not be the best way to go about achieving the desired outcome. He has concerns for staff who will have to manage intense lobbying from residents, and while he is not sure there is a perfect process, the council is listening to residents. He stated he is reluctant to continue this as it presents a 1-2% increase annually on the tax levy if everything were kept in place and he has concerns about sustainability from a cost perspective. Councilmember Brausen stated he is supportive of the sidewalk project and the council needs to make this commitment knowing the costs won’t get any cheaper in the future . He stated building the costs into the CIP will help and then if it needs to be reduced later, it can be . He added no one has ever said to stop Connect the Park, except when there is a project in the works, and some will say they don’t want a sidewalk. However, later, residents comment favorably about them. He stated unless there is overwhelming community feedback to stop the program, he is supportive of the approach proposed to get sidewalks added and expanded. Councilmember Brausen asked if there will be a survey done with the community on this as there has been push back over the years. Ms. Keller stated she will look into this. He noted it would be helpful to see where the broader community is on this subject, but for now he is in favor. Councilmember Mohamed agreed, adding the community always says the connections for walking around the city are so important. She added any investment in this is worth it; however, she does also have budget concerns. Councilmember Dumalag added she is supportive of the framework proposed. She stated she is not concerned about the approach of starting bigger and then taking items out as it is similar to the budget process and prioritizing , adding she will support this. Mayor Spano asked if this approach would apply to both pavement management and Connect the Park projects. Ms. Heiser stated she used the term transportation projects in the framework . She added Connect the Park is a master plan initiative and the sidewalks being discussed today are not part of Connect the Park. She continued the framework would be applied to all commercial, industrial and all pavement management of local streets, all MSA projects and any transportation projects. She stated this framework would be applied in any place where DocuSign Envelope ID: 4C4A41F2-D338-43F4-8B8A-998653FC63CD Study session minutes -4- May 8, 2023 infrastructure is being updated. The sidewalk portion of Connect the Park would then be folded into this new framework and built in conjunction with a road project . Mayor Spano stated this seems a bit confusing . Ms. Heiser reviewed the Connect the Park map with recommendations for clarity. Mayor Spano stated the community survey is important . He added he has been a strong supporter of this program, and there has not been strong opposition to it, but there has been lots of change and different frameworks over the years . He pointed out that while the community has generally been supportive of bike trails and sidewalks, they have not always been supportive when it is in front of their home. Mayor Spano stated if this change makes the process easier for staff for planning purposes, he can support that. He is not sure this will solve issues with folks wanting or not wanting sidewalks and is concerned about budget and clarity in process. Councilmember Budd stated this does , however, codify the process and the sidewalk planning framework. She noted this does make it valuable in that way and confirmed the legend on the map simplifies this for residents. She stated she will support this approach. Councilmember Farris stated she also supports sidewalk projects and the framework, noti ng that many people walk in St. Louis Park and in the winter, it is difficult when there are no sidewalks, and not everyone drives. Mayor Spano stated it will need to be clarified to residents what Connect the Park refers to now, and that sidewalks will be removed from this framework. Written Reports 3. A systems approach to public streetlights 4. CP rail regional trail – Golden Valley and St. Louis Park 5. Speed limit update – Utica Ave. south of Westside Dr. 6. Zoning code update – residential districts Councilmember Budd stated she is excited to see CP Rail Regional Trail plans, and high interest for the community. Ms. Heiser stated this will be discussed with Three Rivers Park on May 17, and should be an exciting process. Councilmember Mohmed added she is excited to see the systems approach to streetlights, noting the conversations about where lights should be located. Mayor Spano added he is also happy to see the bike trails moving forward, adding it is a great amenity both within St. Louis Park, and the metro area. The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 4C4A41F2-D338-43F4-8B8A-998653FC63CD