HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/11/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council special study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Nov. 20, 2023
The meeting convened at 5:48 p.m.
Council members present: Mayor Spano (arrived 6:00 p.m.), Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris,
Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog
Council members absent: Sue Budd
Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), zoning administrator (Mr. Morrison), planning manager
(Mr. Walther)
Guests: none.
Discussion items
1. Cannabis zoning discussion.
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Walther presented the staff report. They asked the council for policy
considerations on:
1. Regulation of the sale of cannabis edibles and beverages for on-site consumption in the
same manner as the city currently regulates on-site consumption of low potency (LP)
THC edibles.
2. Regulation of the sale of cannabis for off-site consumption (dispensaries) in the same
manner as the city currently regulates liquor stores.
Council Member Rog asked about on-sale/off-sale establishments where residents can
purchase THC infused beverages to go, and if that is allowed. Mr. Morrison responded that the
policy considerations are for on-site consumption. Mr. Walther added tonight’s discussion will
need to separate on-sale from off-sale, and this policy question is specific to on-sale.
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen said he is in favor of policy consideration 1.
Council Member Rog said she is also in favor of policy consideration 1.
Council Member Dumalag agreed, she is also in favor of policy consideration 1. She pointed out
past council conversations regarding consumption in parks and concerns for those in multi-
family housing and lease violations which will be a separate policy discussion topic. She
reiterated she will support policy consideration 1.
Council Member Mohmed added she will also support policy consideration 1.
Council Member Farris also agreed to support the first policy consideration. She asked if
dispensaries would bring revenue to the city. Mr. Morrison responded that it has not yet been
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F
Special study session minutes -2- Nov. 20, 2023
determined how much. Ms. Keller noted that dispensaries will pay licensing fees and taxes to
the city.
Council Member Brausen asked about potential locations for dispensaries in relation to liquor
stores. Mr. Morrison agreed that one of tonight’s policy considerations includes whether the
council wants a buffer from liquor stores. Mr. Walther added the choices are a starting point to
frame city regulations for now, and which bucket this will generally fall under.
Council Member Rog asked about rationale behind not having a liquor store and dispensary
located within 1,000 feet of each other. Mr. Morrison explained the buffer helps to avoid
concentration of too many liquor stores or dispensaries within an area, and it helps with the
image and perception of an area. He added it also has to do with equity of where they are
located as well.
Council Member Mohamed shared she is not comfortable with dispensaries located near
schools. She would like a conversation about expanding beyond a 300-foot buffer.
Council Member Rog said she was interested in learning more on Council Member Mohamed’s
idease on distance from schools.
Mr. Walther described 300 feet as approximately one city block. Council Member Mohamed
observed this is within walking distance, and she does not believe dispensaries should be within
walking distance.
Mayor Spano agreed distances should be discussed further related to dispensaries as well as
other entities.
Council Member Brausen noted in Ward 4, based on the buffers there would only be
dispensaries in the Shelard Park area. He does not see the need for a buffer between liquor
stores and dispensaries, adding it is a similar product, so why not have it located in a shopping
district.
Mayor Spano noted some of that concern was related to concentration within Ward 3.
Council Member Rog stated she would like to define the word “concentration” more and
determine what that means as it relates to liquor stores and dispensaries and consider handling
it differently than the code currently does and the staff recommendation.
Council Member Dumalag said she understands the concept of a shopping district and would be
interested in learning more about the number of dispensaries within a 1,000-foot radius. She
added locations could then be set up as no more than “X” distance.
Council Member Farris added she is not sure, but agreed with Council Member Brausen it is a
legal product and to worry about concentration is not necessary as the market will work that
out.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F
Special study session minutes -3- Nov. 20, 2023
Council Member Rog said she would, however, not want to have three or four dispensaries in
her neighborhood.
Council Member Dumalag asked why breweries and distilleries are regulated differently than
other liquor retailers. Mr. Morrison stated that they are in the manufacturing category, so are
sometimes located in industrial districts. He added that breweries and distilleries are allowed to
sell only their own products on-site as an accessory use to their operation.
Mr. Walther thanked the council for their input and indicated staff will review the policy
consideration frameworks further with the input received.
Recess and Reconvene
The meeting recessed at 6:28 p.m. and reconvened at 7:03 p.m.
2. City/EDA owned excel land disposition discussion.
Mr. Walther and Ms. Barton presented the report.
Mayor Spano asked how often inquiries are received. Mr. Walther replied that staff receives at
least monthly development inquiries and about three inquiries per year on city-owned parcels
of land.
Mayor Spano stated he is generally supportive of staff’s recommendations in this area of policy.
He stated the disposition language may need to be revised a bit to make it easier to
understand.
Council Member Brausen asked for clarification on the limitation on 4/5’s votes requirement
and if it is property guided as park or open space, how votes would it be divided. Mr. Walther
responded that requirement is not in the policy, it was adopted into the city’s parks and
recreation ordinance it requires 5 of 7 votes.
Mr. Walther noted that the process 15-20 years ago identified underutilized land that were in
or adjacent to parks, and these parcels were zoned for residential use. Following that
experience, the city created a zoning district for parks and open space and the process and vote
requirements to sell that land apply only to land that zoned parks and open space.
Council Member Brausen stated he is supportive of the disposition of public land policy, but not
the code requiring a 4/5th vote.
Council Member Rog noted in 2021 there was an issue of a resident that wanted to purchase
property there in ward 1, and ultimately the city said no. She asked how that scenario might
change with this policy change. Mr. Walther stated there would be no change in that situation
as that site was guided as park and open space and was ineligible to be considered for sale
under the policy. He noted that example was a private use of public land that was installed
without permits or city permission.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F
Special study session minutes -4- Nov. 20, 2023
Council Member Rog stated she is supportive of updating this policy. She added the criteria she
would like to see is to look at the city’s strategic priorities and have those be guideposts. She
asked about future uses and noted that might be a later policy question. Mr. Walther replied
there are always elements that are not fully defined, and it requires staff to conduct research to
determine these elements. He added on strategic priorities points, in the event the city decided
to sell property, the city would apply the city’s priorities and policies in place at that time to
several aspects, including goals for bidding, requests for proposals and land use.
Council Member Dumalag stated she is also in favor of the policy. She asked when the city
began utilizing strategic priorities, and if the comprehensive plan isn’t the more appropriate
tool to use for making these judgements. Mr. Walther stated the comprehensive goals are
followed, and strategic priorities generally incorporated and reflected within that document,
adding they have been used since the city’s second Visioning process in 2005.
Council Member Mohamed added she is also in favor of the recommendation and noted the
city wants to make sure all is in alignment.
Council Member Farris added she is also in favor of staff recommendations and agrees on the
need for updates.
Council Member Rog asked if the city has more or fewer city parcels than other cities. Mr.
Walther stated this report is not a comprehensive list. He explained that the map shows 11% of
the St. Louis Park’s land is owned by the city. He added there is 1,500 acres of public right-of-
way in the city. The map does not include school property, housing development authority, or
economic development authority property as those are not directly governed by this policy. He
suspects that this is in line with other metro cities.
Mr. Walther stated this framework and starting point will help staff prepare what comes next
for eligibility requirements of land that can be considered for disposition.
Communications/meeting check-in (verbal)
Ms. Keller noted a reminder this is the last weekend residential yard waste fill area will be open
and more information is on the city website. She also noted Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year
and both holidays are based on gratitude, and she thanked the council and staff for their work
and wished everyone a wonderful weekend.
Ms. Keller noted the upcoming meeting regarding the boards and commissions program
redesign tomorrow, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Spano reminded residents to not idle their cars in their driveways as it is an invitation to
car theft.
Council Member Mohamed shared that she traveled to the National League of Cities
Conference in Atlanta and learned a lot there. Mayor Spano added it is a good way to learn
about what other cities are doing, and for others to learn what St. Louis Park is doing as well.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F
Special study session minutes -5- Nov. 20, 2023
The meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F