Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/06/02 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOfficial minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota June 2, 2025 1. Call to order. Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:15 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), fire chief (Mr. Hanlin), police chief (Mr. Kruelle), city attorney (Mr. Mattick), deputy police chief (Mr. Nadem), communication manager (Mr. Sandell), city clerk (Ms. Kennedy), deputy city clerk (Ms. Scott- Lerdal) 2. Approve agenda. It was moved by Council Member Rog, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 3. Presentations. a. Oath of office ceremony for police officers Mr. Kruelle introduced the seven officers who completed their first year of training in St. Louis Park, and Ms. Kennedy administered the oath of office to: Officers Maxwell Dehn, Corey Andress, Craig Wilking, Hailey Luhmann, Cameron Barukzoy, Nicolas Monaghan and Aaron Gilley. Mr. Kruelle stated the police force works intentionally to recruit officers who will represent the community and its values. He commented on each officer and their backgrounds as he introduced them to the community. Mayor Mohamed congratulated all of the officers and welcomed them to St. Louis Park. She also thanked family members for their support and stated the community is honored to have them on the force. Council Member Farris added her support and welcomed the officers to St. Louis Park, noting it is the best police department in Minnesota. She stated she is proud of all of them. Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B City council meeting -2- June 2, 2025 Council Member Baudhuin congratulated the officers and stated he has gained a greater understanding of police work since joining the city council. He welcomed the officers and stated the city is blessed to have them, adding the police force in St. Louis Park is one of the finest. Council Member Rog welcomed the officers and added she is so proud of the St. Louis Park police department. She said she feels safe and told the officers to also stay safe while on the job. Council Member Dumalag also congratulated the officers who participated in the Pathways to Policing program. She thanked the officers for choosing St. Louis Park and thanked the officers' families as well. Council Member Brausen added his thanks and welcomed the officers. He thanked the families for their support, noting that peacekeeping is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. He stated the officers and their families are in everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Council Member Budd welcomed the officers and stated the city is glad to have them all serving in St. Louis Park. b. Oath of office ceremony for canine police officer Mr. Kruelle noted that Canine Officer Rolo joined the police force in February 2025 and is a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix. Born in Slovakia, Rolo is partnered with Officer Joseph LeFevere. Canine Officer Rolo graduated from a 12-week training academy where he passed tests in obedience, tracking, explosive detection and apprehension. Canine Officer Rolo’s primary role in the department will be assisting with searches, tracking and explosives detection, and he will be joining Canine Officer Maverick. Officer Rolo, along with Officer LeFevere, will then train and recertify annually to ensure top performance and accountability. Mayor Mohamed administered the oath of office to Canine Officer Rolo. Council Member Brausen thanked Officer LeFevere for his commitment to the police force and his work in training Rolo; commending them on becoming a team. Council Member Baudhuin stated there are concerns with canine officers in some communities due to historical cases of racial trauma, but noted that canine officers are used well in St. Louis Park because police work is performed so well here. He stated he has confidence in both canine officers and their partners. c. Proclamation observing Pride Month Mayor Mohamed read the proclamation regarding Pride Month, which is observed annually in June to recognize the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+) community and their history, contributions and achievements. Mayor Mohamed stated Pride Month provides an opportunity to advance and deepen the community’s commitment to fighting against discrimination and injustice everywhere. Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B City council meeting -3- June 2, 2025 Mayor Mohamed stated that the city affirms Pride month and has a commitment to fighting against discrimination and injustice, which says a great deal about the city as a whole and its commitment to protecting these groups from harm. She stated this is an important statement in light of current federal efforts to ban or erase the LGBTQ+ community. Council Member Baudhuin added that as a pastor, city council member and a parent of a trans adult, this proclamation is meaningful to a core part of his life. He stated it has been a difficult six months and that this proclamation matters. He acknowledged there is still work to do, and noted he is proud of the city, school system and the religious culture in St. Louis Park, where his children felt safe. He added the city will continue to fight for what is right and good. 4. Minutes. a. Minutes of April 28, 2025, study session b. Minutes of May 5, 2025, special study session c. Minutes of May 19, 2025, city council meeting d. Minutes of May 19, 2025, special study session It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Dumalag, to approve the April 28, 2025, study session minutes, May 5, 2025, special study session minutes, May 19, 2025, city council meeting minutes, and May 19, 2025, special study session meeting minutes as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Consent items. a. Approve city disbursements b. Resolution No. 25-061 recognizing the retirement of Maintenance Technician Joseph Wellentin c. Approve boards and commissions appointments d. Approve temporary on-sale intoxicating liquor license - The Slavic Experience e. Approve bid for 2025 and 2026 Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue Reconstruction Project (4024-1100) - Ward 4 Mayor Mohamed noted that written comments regarding item 5e are to be made part of the public record: • Sylvie Hyman, 9200 West 28th Street, provided comment that the lanes on Louisiana Avenue need to be narrowed to meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance. • Jason Felds provided comment that the proposed width for Louisiana Avenue does not meet FHWA guidelines. To make it safe for all, Louisiana Avenue needs to be narrowed. • Eric Judge provided comment that he is supportive of maintaining road widths to avoid issues of congestion, gentrification (bike/walk agenda), public access and future community growth. Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B City council meeting -4- June 2, 2025 • Melissa Bernstein, Minneapolis, provided comment that the proposed Louisiana Avenue lane widths will encourage speeding and increase reliance on car dependency. She noted the proposed lane widths are in violation of FWHA guidance. Council Member Budd asked to comment on consent item 5c related to boards and commission appointments. She stated all council members have been part of this process. She recognized all the fantastic candidates, noting that it was difficult to select who to appoint to each board and commission. Their work is greatly appreciated and she thanked all for their interest in serving. Council Member Rog agreed and stated that she hoped those not selected this year will apply again in the future for open positions on boards and commissions. Council Member Rog noted that item 5e relates to a bid for phase two of the Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue improvements project. She stated the final plans for phase two were approved unanimously by the council earlier this year. At that vote, concerns were expressed by some residents regarding the proposed new width for Louisiana Avenue. She clarified that the lane width is 28 feet, which is a reduction of eight feet from the current with of 36 feet. Council Member Rog stated residents wanted the width to be further reduced by 10 to 12 feet, citing FHWA guidance. She noted that some residents suggested that the city’s engineering staff may be trying to deceive the council, or that city staff do not understand the rationale for the design that has been approved. Council Member Rog stated that the city council and city staff understand the design that has been approved and the rationale behind it. She added the council also understands the lane- width decisions are not one-size-fits-all and that the word guidance means just that – guidance. She stated that professional engineering staff carefully considered the surrounding context and made their recommendations because this stretch of Louisiana Avenue is the sole access for Fire Station #2. She stated it is imperative that the 10-foot-wide fire trucks can maneuver safely around vehicles that pull over to let them pass, including buses and service vehicles. She noted this is especially a concern in winter conditions, when the roadway can be narrowed further by snow and ice. Council Member Rog stated the project also includes the addition of a new sidewalk on the east side where no dedicated pedestrian space currently exists, as well as new enhanced pedestrian crossings with user-activated flashers. The plan calls for preservation of almost all the mature trees along this stretch, with a designated alternative bike route to allow for this preservation of trees. Council Member Rog stated, for the record, staff did an excellent job weighing all factors here and produced a plan that meets the needs of pedestrians, emergency access vehicles, snowplows, buses and the 16,500 vehicles that travel on this stretch of roadway every day. Council Member Rog added that the council received several emails on this topic today, some of which suggested it is the council’s role to demand that engineering staff modify this project and that by following staff’s professional guidance, the council is not doing its job. She stated on the contrary, the council’s job is to listen to constituents as well as to the professional staff's Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B City council meeting -5- June 2, 2025 advice, and to ask staff the hard questions that constituents ask the council, and then to put it all together and reach a decision. She added it is not always easy, but this is what council members are elected to do. Council Member Baudhuin referenced item 5d, the temporary on-sale intoxicating liquor license for The Slavic Experience. He stated this sounds like a great event that people should learn about, noting the purpose and mission of The Slavic Experience is to create a welcoming space for people of Slavic heritage to commemorate, celebrate and share their richness and diversity of Eastern European traditions and customs within the greater Twin Cities community. He stated this event is scheduled to take place at the Recreation Outdoor Center in St. Louis Park on Aug. 2 and 3, 2025. Council Member Baudhuin summarized that he wanted to name this community within St. Louis Park and highlight a great event. Council Member Brausen added his comments regarding the consent agenda and stated he approves of the regular city disbursements that are non-contractual. He stated his thanks to maintenance technician Joseph Wellington for his 26 years of service, ten (10) of which were at Hamilton House, the city’s affordable housing complex in Ward 4. Council Member Brausen agreed with Council Member Baudhuin about The Slavic Experience, stating the event sounds like fun. He noted the council interviewed 38 people during the boards and commissions interview process and had to make some very difficult decisions. He thanked all those willing to serve the community and encouraged those not appointed to continue to look for opportunities to serve the community, as the city is a better place for their efforts. Council Member Brausen stated that the Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue reconstruction project in Ward 4 has been in the planning stages for a decade, and noted this action approves awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Council Member Brausen added council approved the plans through a lengthy process that included substantial public engagement. He acknowledged not everyone’s wants and desires can be satisfied. He stated compromises and choices are made, and the council does the best it can to accommodate vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Council Member Brausen stated along with public engagement, the council and staff worked hard to incorporate as many good suggestions as possible. The project plans have been approved and this consent item agrees to sign the contract with the lowest responsible bidder. He stated many are expecting to see the project begin this summer. Council Member Rog stated as a person of Polish heritage, she was asked to speak at The Slavic Experience last year and it was extremely fun, adding it is a unique festival. She encouraged all to attend. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Rog, to approve the consent items as listed; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 7-0. Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B City council meeting -6- June 2, 2025 6. Public hearings – none. 7. Regular business – none. 8. Communications and announcements. Council Member Farris noted that on June 12, 2025, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Ainsworth Park, there will be an event called “Basketball in the Park”. This event involves the St. Louis Park Police, Hennepin County Sheriffs and Missions, Inc. She encouraged all to attend and get to know your neighbors and added that treats will be served. Council Member Baudhuin congratulated the 2025 graduating classes from St. Louis Park and Benilde St. Margaret High Schools. Ms. Walsh announced that the Aquatic Park opens on June 4, 2025. Council Member Rog stated the Birchwood Neighborhood will host Food Truck Night on June 10, 2025, and all are welcome to attend at Birchwood Park. Mayor Mohamed noted the Thai Sunday Market at the Wat Promwachirayan temple begins June 8, 2025. 9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: 1539CFE5-641E-4FAF-B878-50C98ECEB49B