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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/11/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota Nov. 13, 2023 The meeting convened at 8:00 p.m. Council members present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Council members absent: none Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), finance director (Ms. Cruver), public services superintendent/deputy public works director (Ms. Fisher), zoning administrator (Mr. Morrison), planning manager (Mr. Walther) Guests: none Discussion items 1. 2024 Utility and solid waste fee discussion. Ms. Cruver and Ms. Fisher presented the report. They noted the policy consideration is whether council approves of the recommended utility rates for 2024 and the 5-year projections included in the staff report. Mayor Spano referenced both options and stated the bottom line is not a huge difference. He stated the question is should the costs be all up front at one time, or spread out over a longer period of time. Council Member Mohamed stated she likes the first option because it goes down over time. She added this plan is well thought out and people will appreciate knowing the range they will be paying in the next few years. Council Member Farris agreed, noting she also prefers the first option. Council Member Dumalag agreed as well, liking the idea of going through the ‘hurt’ one time only, and then costs decreasing over time. Council Member Rog agreed with the staff recommendations and added she is hopeful there will be thoughtful and clear communication to the community about utility costs increasing by almost 50% in one year. Ms. Keller pointed out a portion of the bill would increase by 45% but the overall increase is 15%. Council Member Brausen added he also supports the staff recommendations. Council Member Budd noted the messaging will be important with increased rates. She asked if the contracts increased by 55%. Ms. Fisher stated those were early estimations during negotiation, and these are the final rates that are shown in the staff report. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F Study session minutes -2- Nov. 13, 2023 Council Member Budd asked if the $55 increase is a quarterly increase, which is a $210 yearly increase per resident. Ms. Fisher confirmed this. Council Member Budd stated she will also support option one. Mayor Spano said he will support the first option, adding that seeing the historical context figures was helpful. The staff recommendation aligns with these figures and the core of communication to residents should be: What did city staff learn and how we are making it better? It was the consensus of the city council to move forward with option 1 as recommended by staff. Ms. Cruver stated the first reading and public hearing will be held at the Nov. 20 meeting, the second reading and adoption at the Dec. 4 meeting, and budget adoption at the Dec. 18 meeting. 2. Zoning code updates. Mr. Morrison and Mr. Walther presented the report. They noted the survey about housing types that is available and will close later in the week that may help signal the communities main interests and concerns to be addressed in the process. Council Member Rog asked if density is attached to information about buildings with multiple stories. Mr. Walther responded that scale was the main topic of discussion, not density, and more information is included in the following slides. Density will be addressed more directly in later in the process. Council Member Mohamed asked for clarification that single-family homes are allowed in N1 or N2 and are not allowed in N3. Mr. Morrison in the affirmative. Council Member Budd asked if there is corridor zoning in place today along the Minnetonka and Louisiana Avenues. Mr. Morrison responded the corridor zoning approach is not in place in those areas, it is zoned either R1 or R2. This is also zoned R1, R2 or R-3 along parts Excelsior Boulevard, though most of Excelsior Boulevard is currently zoned commercial and allows mixed use development. The policy consideration for council is: Do the proposed approach to zoning code changes align with the city’s strategic priorities and 2040 comprehensive plan goals and strategies. Council Member Mohamed asked if the missing middle housing types can be added to the city with the new zoning. Mr. Walther stated many of these types of homes already exist within the city, but they needed special approvals and were approved as one-offs in various parts of the city. Few zoning districts are set up to allow for the middle type of housing, relatively little land is zoned for these housing types, and where they are zoned to allow these housing types it is not always apparent based on the titles of the zoning districts, so the goals include allowing them more places where they are suitable based on the scale of housing, making it more DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F Study session minutes -3- Nov. 13, 2023 obvious that these housing types are allowed, and to make it easier to build these missing middle housing types. Council Member Mohamed stated she has heard from many residents about wanting more duplexes and accessory dwelling units within the city. Council Member Rog asked if we are looking to allow duplexes and triplexes in single-family districts. Mr. Walther responded yes, but with some limitations. Council Member Rog remarked she is pleased with these proposed changes and looks forward to drilling down further. She asked if there is always a maximum of four when considering row houses. Mr. Walther replied that staff and planning commission recommend these types of limitation to reduce the scale of individual buildings and more similar in scale to other housing types in the districts. However, there could be more side-by-side units in the larger scale districts. Staff and planning commission considered whether individual buildings ought to be allowed to take up an eighth, a quarter, a half or a whole block in these various districts. Council Member Rog asked how these decisions have been made. Mr. Walther stated staff has worked with a consultant to present initial ideas and also had a series of study sessions with the planning commission to develop these recommendations. Mr. Morrison added staff worked with the planning commission also to make sure housing types fit with the scale also. Council Member Rog asked if the city has learned anything from the examples set by Minneapolis, and whether environmental implications have been reviewed as well. Mr. Walther confirmed that staff is watching Minneapolis, St. Paul, Richfield and Bloomington. Staff also watching whether the state legislature will weigh in on direction and limiting lawsuits. He stated the comprehensive plan is in itself an environmental document in that it looks at growth projects and capacity of the city’s and regional systems. An alternative environmental study or assessment can be added to the work plan, but staff is hopeful that will not be needed. Such studies are better designed for specific projects proposed to be built than long range legislative policy plans. Council Member Rog asked if there is risk with the proposed zoning approach for large developers to demolish smaller or single-family homes in order to build duplexes or triplexes, and then turn those into rental properties, taking away opportunities for home ownership. Mr. Walther stated staff anticipates very incremental changes to the community. He observed it is very unlikely we would see rapid turnover of properties. Minneapolis has seen similar results since their city enacted zoning changes, and that would also apply in St. Louis Park. He added that while single-family houses may be removed, housing types like twin homes and row homes are often offered for sale and provide similar opportunities for home ownership. Council Member Rog asked if there are tools to require that properties be developed for ownership rather than rental. Mr. Walther responded that this requirement is not in the zoning ordinance, however, council has discussed other paths regarding rentals. Staff continues to monitor licensing. Generally, zoning is neutral regarding ownership or rental. Council Member Rog stated she supports the proposed zoning code changes. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F Study session minutes -4- Nov. 13, 2023 Council Member Farris stated this proposed change is exciting, she likes the idea of duplexes where families can take care of each other, and she is in support of the proposed changes. Council Member Dumalag shared a story of one resident who had purchased a home specifically to build an addition for a family member to live with her, but then due to the city’s zoning rules, she was not able to do so without a variance. Council Member Dumalag is happy to see these zoning changes now coming which provide options for folks to stay in the community, and she is supportive of the proposed changes. Council Member Brausen stated he is also supportive as it makes sense. He likes the corridor approach and expressed thanks to the planning commission for their work on the proposal. Council Member Budd asked if the housing types allowed are being changed. Mayor Spano noted no approvals are being asked for in tonight’s study session. Council Member Budd stated she also supports the proposed zoning code changes. Council Member Rog asked if there are any unintended consequences council should be aware of. Mr. Walther stated there are many potential outcomes and those will continue to be identified and mitigated through the process. Mayor Spano stated he is supportive of the proposal and staff taking updated zoning codes to the community. He asked that staff develop visuals to show the public the housing options that will be included within the zoning updates, this would be helpful to deal with the unknowns and concerns that folks might have. It was the consensus of the city council to support the policy considerations recommended by staff. Mr. Walther stated the next steps will be to work with the planning commission on the performance standards in the code and preparing tools to present the ideas and gather feedback from the community. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 7405E1C3-D81A-4CDB-8E52-422F2F12164F