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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/03/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOfficial minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota March 3, 2025 1. Call to order. Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. a. Pledge of allegiance b. Roll call Council members present: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Paul Baudhuin, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Yolanda Farris, Margaret Rog Council members absent: none Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), deputy city manager (Ms. Walsh), community development director (Ms. Barton), senior planner (Ms. Chamberlain), public works director (Mr. Hall), engineering director (Ms. Heiser), building and energy director (Mr. Hoffman), economic development manager (Mr. Hunt), zoning administrator (Mr. Morrison), property maintenance and licensing manager (Mr. Pivec), deputy city clerk (Ms. Scott-Lerdal), planning manager (Mr. Walther) Guest: Brenda Lano – Homes Within Reach 2. Approve agenda. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Rog, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 3. Presentations. a. Proclamation observing Ramadan Mayor Mohamed read the proclamation. She stated this recognition feels special every year and thanked the city for the observance. She added that she will be co-hosting an Iftar dinner with Mayor Harmon (of Golden Valley) on March 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Westwood Hills Nature Center. There will be many community members present, and she invited all to consider attending. b. Proclamation observing 2025 Women’s History Month Council Member Budd read the proclamation. Council Member Baudhuin stated his appreciation for the city staff who identify as women, as he feels that the city is run very well. Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -2- March 3, 2025 Council Member Rog stated that both proclamations were very powerful and read very well into the city’s enduring record. There are additional resources related to the proclamations on the city website, and she encouraged all to read more about what these proclamations stand for. 4. Minutes. a. Minutes of Feb. 3, 2025 city council study session It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Farris, to approve the Feb. 3, 2025 city council study session minutes as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Consent items. a. Approve city disbursements b. Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2698-25 amending city code chapter 2 regarding boards and commissions c. Resolution No. 25-038 amending special assessment authorizing energy efficient window installation at 4040 West 36th Street - Ward 2 d. Resolution No. 25-039 establishing the 2025 Alley Reconstruction project (4025-1500), approving plans and specifications, and authorizing advertisement for bids – Ward 2 e. Approve professional services agreement for 2026 Pavement Management project (4026-1000) - Ward 1 f. Approve temporary extension of licensed premises - Ullsperger Brewing, LLC - Ward 4 Council Member Rog asked to comment on consent item 5b. She stated there had been a discussion about term limits within the new protocols being approved tonight. Council members had some concerns about those who had worked on the processes and their terms may expire sooner than expected upon their appointment. She noted there are no board or commission members currently serving for whom this will be an issue. She added the council felt good about this and stated this is why the council will move ahead on this ordinance with no changes. It was moved by Council Member Dumalag, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve the consent items as listed; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 7-0. 6. Public hearings. a. Public hearing for new brewer’s taproom liquor license – Haggard Barrel Brewing Co., LLC – Ward 2 Ms. Scott-Lerdal presented the staff report. Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -3- March 3, 2025 Mayor Mohamed opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Mohamed closed the public hearing. Council Member Brausen asked when the taproom will be opened. Mr. Eicher of Haggard Barrel Brewing Co., LLC stated the Department of Agriculture will visit the taproom tomorrow and as soon as their review is completed, the taproom will open. Council Member Brausen asked if there are any proposed hours for the taproom yet. Mr. Eicher stated they are not sure at this time. He added they will add information regarding the opening on their social media when available. Council Member Brausen stated there is always a need for more taprooms in St. Louis Park and thanked Mr. Eicher for opening Haggard Barrel Brewing Co., LLC. He stated there was a fundraiser at Steel Toe Brewing this evening and in St. Louis Park, there will now be three taprooms and two cocktail rooms. Council Member Baudhuin added his thanks for the opening of this taproom and noted that small businesses are the sign of a strong city. He shared that people are looking forward to this opening. It was moved by Council Member Dumalag, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to approve the new brewer’s taproom liquor license – Haggard Barrel Brewing Co, LLC – Ward 2. The motion passed 7-0. b. Public hearing for new liquor license – UW West End dba Urban Wok – Ward 4 Ms. Scott-Lerdal presented the staff report. Mayor Mohamed opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Mohamed closed the public hearing. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve the new liquor license – UW West End dba Urban Wok – Ward 4. The motion passed 7-0. c. Public hearing establishing cannabis registration fees Mr. Pivec presented the staff report for the cannabis registration fees to be added to the fee schedule as part of the ordinance establishing cannabis registration. Mayor Mohamed opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Mohamed closed the public hearing. There is no city council action required on this item. Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -4- March 3, 2025 7. Regular business. a. First reading of ordinance amending city code chapter 8 establishing cannabis and lower-potency hemp retail registration and appendix A fees Mr. Pivec presented the staff report. Council Member Baudhuin asked how adults are defined for the purpose of the proposed ordinance. Mr. Pivec stated an adult is someone 21 years of age or older. Council Member Baudhuin asked about a state statute that alcohol can only be sold until 6 p.m. on Sundays, and asked why the proposed ordinance would allow cannabis sales until 10 p.m. Mr. Pivec stated the time was chosen for consistency with proposed closed hours of Monday through Saturday until 10 p.m. Local governments cannot prohibit sales on Sundays between 10 a. m. and 9 p.m. Council Member Rog stated her understanding is that the state allows the city to sell cannabis until 9 p.m., which a parameter she finds interesting. Mr. Pivec stated that is correct. Council Member Rog noted the social equity process for applicants and stated there are some challenges the state had run into, causing delays. She asked if there have been any modifications to the social equity verification process. Mr. Pivec stated he does not know the details of what changed during this process, adding there were complications with some applicants getting moved out of the process early on, which created problems. He stated he is not sure how this was resolved and would research the situation further with the state. Council Member Rog stated her understanding is that women, people of color and veterans were the core groups comprising the social equity applicant pool. Mr. Pivec stated he does not have that information as it is a function of the state. Council Member Rog asked if St. Louis Park registration and license applicants need to have a building identified already. Mr. Pivec confirmed this and added they must be within the certification process - with the location address included - at the time they apply to the state. Council Member Rog asked about the draft ordinance section pertaining to cannabis events and if events can only take place at the business location. Mr. Pivec stated no, adding that regulated cannabis events can take place anywhere in the city. Council Member Brausen observed that the registration and licensing process is not yet fully defined because cities are still waiting for the state Office of Cannabis Management to lay out the process. Mr. Pivec confirmed that was correct. Council Member Brausen added the city is doing what they can on the local level to set up a regulatory framework, but it is still a work in progress. He noted he will support the proposed ordinance. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve first reading of ordinance amending city code chapter 8 establishing cannabis and lower Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -5- March 3, 2025 potency hemp retail registration and appendix A fees and set the second reading for March 17, 2025. The motion passed 7-0. b. First reading of an ordinance amending city code chapters 8 and 18 related to tobacco licensing and definitions of drug paraphernalia Mr. Pivec presented the staff report. Council Member Rog stated she is glad to see an expansion of locations where drug paraphernalia can be sold and added the amendments make sense. It was moved by Council Member Baudhuin, seconded by Council Member Farris, to approve first reading of the ordinance amending city code chapters 8 and 18 related to tobacco licensing and definitions of drug paraphernalia to align with changes in state statute and set the second reading for March 17, 2025. The motion passed 7-0. c. Resolution No. 25-040 approving plat and first reading of planned unit development – Minnetonka Boulevard twin homes – Ward 1 Ms. Chamberlain presented the staff report. Council Member Rog stated she has engaged with many stakeholders on this ambitious project. She stated St. Louis Park is paving the way for other cities to show that the twin homes concept can be done, even though there are challenges and it takes time. She thanked those working on this important project and added she cannot wait for families to move in and start building wealth through home ownership in St. Louis Park. Council Member Rog asked if these homes will be up to 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and if there is a median income requirement. Ms. Chamberlain stated she would research and provide the council with additional information at a later date. Brenda Lano stated she is the director of Homes within Reach. She stated their organization will qualify applicants for this program and noted the average AMI they serve is 57%. She noted it depends on a down payment and interest rates and noted that people at a lower AMI can apply, but they need to be able to qualify for the mortgage. Council Member Budd asked if some units would be set at 60% and 80% AMI. Ms. Lano stated that 80% AMI is the highest income demographic their organization can serve, but added across their portfolio, the average is 57% AMI. She stated most applicants who will be placed here will be between 55% and 70% AMI, adding that 80% AMI applies across all of the units. Council Member Brausen stated he is excited about the project and the fact that the city has committed financial resources to purchase the property. He added the city seems to be Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -6- March 3, 2025 involved and committed to the affordable housing mission. He supports programs that work this way, and he is excited to see this project come to fruition. He noted affordable housing ownership opportunities are rare, unless there is naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) in the city, which is becoming less frequent. He expressed excitement at creating these units to be affordable. Council Member Baudhuin stated he is also very excited about the project. He noted the housing market will not create solutions to housing needs, so cities must invest in projects that create affordable housing. He added this project will address the “missing middle” housing need and assist people into ownership, which is impactful. He stated this is a wonderful way for the city to invest because we are investing in people’s lives and solving a massive problem in our nation; he hopes to see more of this type of project in the future. Mayor Mohamed stated she is also excited and noted the land trust model allows people to buy the building and not necessarily the land, which can be cost prohibitive. She added she is excited for the twin homes project to happen in St. Louis Park. It was moved by Council Member Rog, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to adopt Resolution No. 25- 040, approving preliminary and final plat for Minnetonka Boulevard Twin Homes Addition; and to approve first reading of ordinance adding section 36-268-PUD 26 to the zoning code and amending the zoning map form R-4 multiple family residence to PUD 26 and set the second reading for March 17, 2025. The motion passed 7-0. d. Second reading and adoption of zoning Ordinance Nos. 2690-25 and 2691-25 amendments pertaining to residential districts Mr. Morrison presented the staff report. Council Member Rog noted one potentially problematic clause as identified by members of the planning commission and bookmarked for later review. She noted this issue has also been identified by a resident designing a new home. The clause pertains to setbacks from the front facade of a new home for attached garages. Council Member Rog stated it makes sense to modify the ordinance in a minor way before final approval to reduce time and effort later. She noted there are two new clauses in the current version of the proposed ordinance that pertain to attached garages. She stated the first clause requires the front of the home to be at least as wide as the sum of the widths of the garage doors, which is good. The second clause, section 36-168(g)(1)b, requires the front facade of the garage to be five feet behind the front facade of the house, and the third stall's front facade must be eight feet behind the house. Council Member Rog added it is the planning commission's goal to address aesthetics by making house facades more prominent than garage facades. The first clause does this; however, the second clause is likely to be unworkable for many homeowners wishing to build homes in the common styles of the city. Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -7- March 3, 2025 Council Member Rog proposed that the full package be approved with an amendment to delete provision 36-168(g)(1)b regarding garage facade setbacks. She asked the planning commission to study the issue further, noting that they have already expressed interest in doing this, and would present alternatives that provide more flexibility. Mr. Morrison stated this is a stand-alone provision and could be easily deleted from the code. It would not have any bearing on other regulations in the current code. If deleted, then the attached garage would have the same setback requirements as are required for the house. Council Member Rog asked if this provision pertains also to remodeling projects, such as adding a third bay to a double garage. Mr. Morrison stated yes, noting a third bay would require an additional three-foot setback. He noted this was presented and discussed by the planning commission, but if the council prefers, the provision could go back to the planning commission for revision. Council Member Budd stated there is a lot of information to absorb here, but it is a well- presented argument, and it makes sense for the city council to put the provision on hold for a future decision. Council Member Dumalag stated she is also supportive of the motion and agrees with the recommendation to further study the provision. Council Member Baudhuin stated he is also in favor of the motion as amended, and thanked Council Member Rog for clarifying her question on the provision. Council Member Brausen stated he supports the amended motion and would like the planning commission and staff to further review the provision. It was moved by Council Member Rog, seconded by Council Member Budd, to approve second reading and adopt zoning Ordinance Nos. 2690-25 and 2691-25, amendments to the zoning ordinance with the deletion of section 36-168 (g)(1)b pertaining to additional setback required for garage facades, approve second reading of amendments to the zoning map unchanged as presented in the staff report, and approve summary ordinance for publication. The motion passed 7-0. 8. Communications and announcements. Ms. Keller shared that there are two new St. Louis Park staff members: Fire Chief Peter Hanlin and Racial Equity and Inclusion Director Pa Dao Yang. Ms. Keller stated the Minnetonka Boulevard construction project Phase II listening session for residents will be held on March 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. and the session for businesses will be held on March 6 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at Lenox Community Center. Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B City council meeting -8- March 3, 2025 Council Member Baudhuin noted this Wednesday, March 5, is Ash Wednesday for Christians, moving into the holiest season of the year, including Good Friday and Easter. He wished a blessed Lenten season to those who celebrate it. 9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: C19E8E75-92D1-4045-8070-0AD123C4549B