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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/06/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota June 9, 2025 The meeting convened at 6:14 p.m. Council members present: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette Dumalag Council members absent: Paul Baudhuin, Margaret Rog Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), community engagement coordinator (Mr. Coleman), parks and recreation director, and parks and recreation advisory commission liaison (Mr. West), sustainability manager (Ms. Ziring), building and energy director (Mr. Hoffman), finance director (Ms. Cruver) Guests: David Yakes, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission chair; Jay Jaffee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission vice chair Discussion items 1. Boards and Commissions check-in with city council: Parks and recreation advisory commission (PRAC) Mr. Yakes and Mr. Jaffee presented the report and provided background on themselves and their work on the PRAC. Mr. Yakes noted that staff liaison to the PRAC is Jason West, parks and recreation director. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission is one of five advisory boards and commissions whose purpose is to study and consider all phases of public parks and recreation and recommend to the City of St. Louis Park and Independent School District #283 a parks and public recreation program which best meets the needs of all residents of St. Louis Park. The discussion covered an overview of the commission's approved work plan, including any completed tasks, ongoing projects and strategies for addressing unaddressed work plan items. Additionally, opportunities for council feedback, potential modifications or additions to the work plan, and any other relevant topics concerning the commission's activities were discussed. Mr. Yakes explained the eight initiatives PRAC will be working on with this year’s work plan. Initiative 1: Joint meeting with the Environmental and Sustainability Commission (ESC) including the natural resources manager and Westwood Hills Nature Center manager. Mr. Yakes explained at the joint meeting, the two commissions discussed wilderness areas and trees in St. Louis Park with the Westwood Hills Nature Center manager. Mr. Yakes stated both PRAC and ESC will also conduct a joint Minnehaha Creek clean-up session later this fall. Council Member Budd asked if a workgroup would be developed for both the ESC and the PRAC. Mr. Yakes stated there will be a volunteer workgroup and noted that a meeting is scheduled soon for the group to begin discussions on trees and wilderness areas. Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D Study session minutes -2- June 9, 2025 Initiative 2: In partnership with the school district, summit meetings will be held in May and November each year. All youth association presidents are invited to participate in these gatherings; the goal is to discuss how to ensure all youth have access to athletics. At the summit meetings, Mr. Yakes stated there will be discussions on common issues, and PRAC will create a forum for questions as well. Tabling at these events will allow all youth to have access to exploration about multiple sports. He noted that facilities sharing is also a discussion topic related to a partnership with the school district. Mr. Jaffee added that a large part of these summit meetings will be discussion on what groups have in common and what their needs are. Council Member Budd asked about the three commission seats committed to the school district, including PRAC’s designated seat. She asked if this seat would have any impact on the joint work with the school district. Mr. Yakes stated he did not think it would be critical. Council Member Budd asked about the two youth seats that are not filled yet, and if they were filled in the past, or if there was value in those. Mr. Yakes stated yes, they have been filled in the past, noting the commission would like to fill the youth spots that are currently open. He added it is a hard sell to the youth in some ways, but if it is more hands-on work versus discussion, it might be a more positive experience. Mr. Coleman stated that applications are currently open for the two youth seats. Mr. Yakes added a joint sports sign-up form for youth and parents was available, which has helped streamline the sign-up process. Initiative 3: Support the citywide Vision 4.0 process by participating directly and/or encouraging others to participate, and by sharing information with other community members about the process. Mr. Yakes stated it is important to have PRAC involved in the 4.0 visioning process. Council Member Brausen asked if any members of PRAC did the training sessions for Vision 4.0. Mr. Yakes stated yes, he participated in the first session at Lenox. Initiative 4: Lead the Minnehaha Creek Clean Up, an annual community event to clean up a portion of Minnehaha Creek. Mr. Yakes stated the PRAC has done the cleanup for several years, usually in the fall. It is a great way to do something physical and get people moving and cleaning up the city. The clean-up event is something the ESC has been invited to participate in along with the PRAC, and all residents are invited to participate. Council Member Budd asked if the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is engaged at all in the cleanup event. Mr. Yakes stated the PRAC has not had any contact with MCWD and asked if a meeting should be encouraged. Council Member Budd stated it could be interesting Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D Study session minutes -3- June 9, 2025 to have interaction. Mr. Yakes said the PRAC could look into this, and Mr. Jaffee added that Three Rivers Park District gives presentations to the PRAC, but noted that MCWD has not. Initiative 5: Review and provide input on the redevelopment of Webster Park. Mr. Yakes stated that there have been some preliminary discussions on Webster Park’s proposed land status. He noted the PRAC will continue these discussions. Initiative 6: The commission hosts an annual staff appreciation event showing support for Parks and Recreation staff. Mr. Yakes stated that this is a yearly breakfast at the Westwood Nature Center. It is a chance to interact with staff and show appreciation for what they do, from planting trees to maintaining the park facilities. Initiative 7: The commission invites youth associations and other community groups to discuss opportunities and successes monthly. The PRAC also invites staff members for updates and new staff introductions. Mr. Yakes commented on the youth summit and youth associations, and stated that this is an opportunity to go more in-depth. Initiative 8: Encourage commissioners to volunteer at special events such as ShamROC Ice Bowling, the U.G.L.Y. Sweater Dash, ROCtoberfest and other community events. Mr. Yakes stated that presence at community events is encouraged. PRAC commissioners frequently volunteer to attend and interact with fellow residents of St. Louis Park. Mr. Yakes stated that three of the PRAC’s eight initiatives intersect with the city’s strategic priorities. Youth associations and making programs available to all youth intersects with the city’s racial equity and inclusion priority. Preserving natural areas, including the Westwood Hills Nature Center, intersects the environmental stewardship priority. Opportunities to build social capital through community engagement often involve parks and recreation. These opportunities are important to the community, especially through the turmoil of COVID-19 and government shutdowns of recent years. Council Member Dumalag stated along with the MCWD, there are other agencies that have partnerships with the city. She noted Three Rivers Park District’s pathways and the greenway, which are forthcoming. She stated it would be helpful to have Three Rivers come to present to the PRAC to bring these perspectives together. She added these pathways are shared space within the city and noted this process will include community engagement. Mr. Yakes stated the PRAC did provide some input related to the Three Rivers bike trails and added he will reach out to MCWD as well. He added he is the representative on the Metropolitan Council’s Park and Open Space Commission representing St. Louis Park, Robbinsdale and North Minneapolis. He stated he will bring relevant information to the PRAC. Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D Study session minutes -4- June 9, 2025 Council Member Brausen thanked Mr. Yakes and the PRAC for their work and asked what the council can do to support the commission. Mr. Yakes stated there are things the city does very well, and every city staff person he has encountered does a very good job. He added that there is nothing the PRAC can ask more from city staff. He noted the city does need one more indoor facility, which would be helpful, and would be more community-focused while providing indoor youth sports support. Council Member Brausen asked staff if the city has sufficient facilities to provide everything the parks and recreation department needs for all interested citizens. Mr. West stated that our city’s facilities are lacking indoor recreational spaces such as gymnasiums and we do rely heavily on shared spaces with schools. Mr. Jaffee added that St. Louis Park has wonderful outdoor space, but noted in winter, the city really needs more indoor facilities. At the ROC, hockey is available, but it is not inside. Ms. Keller stated there is more demand, the city maximizes what it has, and the city explores partnerships when needed. She added that staff will have informed budget discussions around facilities with the city council. Mr. Yakes stated that on any given Saturday in June at Lamplighter Park, every single piece of land is being utilized by youth sports. He stated that is exactly what a public park should look like, but the city could benefit from more park space. Council Member Budd asked about tabling events and if that is something the PRAC is doing, and if there are ways that the council can help commissioners do more outreach. Mr. Yakes stated the PRAC could draw from this, and if that is something that is needed, they will reach out to the council. Council Member Budd asked how the PRAC feels about its relationship with the city council and if this meeting time is valuable. Mr. Yakes stated yes, this is a valuable meeting and added that it gives the council a sense that the PRAC is committed to their mission and follows through on their tasks. He noted that this check-in meeting is their first opportunity of this kind, which is welcome. He appreciates the ability to ask and to answer questions to help the city council better understand who the PRAC is and the work they do for the community. 2. Climate Action Plan cost update Ms. Ziring presented the report, which is intended to summarize the updated projected costs of achieving goals 1-5 of the Climate Action Plan. The goals are focused on buildings and energy (the source of approximately 60% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions). The staff report also stated programs to address goals 1-5 are funded through the Climate Investment Fund (CIF). The CIF was established in 2021 by the council to enable the city to reach its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by encouraging property owners to participate in climate action. This fund has proven to be a successful way to leverage private investment dollars when owners are ready to make improvements that reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs. Aside from capital and operating funds for municipal fleet Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D Study session minutes -5- June 9, 2025 and facilities efficiency and electrification, the CIF is the only current internal funding mechanism for the city to reach climate action goals 1-5. Goals 6 and 7, which target 10% of the midterm greenhouse gas emissions reductions through travel and solid waste strategies, respectively, are being addressed under separate climate action programs and projects managed and funded outside of the sustainability division. The staff report noted that funding cost sharing programs to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions at an annual level chosen to meet the midterm goals for building energy efficiency (goals 1-4) and renewable energy (goal 5) as well as depaving, tree planting and treatment programs could require an annual investment of between $196,000 and $7.9 million for each of the years 2026 through 2030, depending on a range of assumptions. Possible funding sources are discussed in the report, and funding decisions will be made during the 2026 budget process. Ms. Ziring stated her report is an update on 2020 findings and presents two models for projecting costs: expected expenditures and maximum expenditures. She stated that St. Louis Park’s greenhouse gas emissions are down by 20% from 2015, and per capita electricity use is also lower than comparable cities, which demonstrates that programs in St. Louis Park are having an impact. Ms. Ziring noted that the most spending has been made in St. Louis Park’s Climate Champions programs. She added that CIF funds are also spent on solar, tree planting, depaving work and partner support. Ms. Ziring also noted there has been a great impact with growth in programs related to environmental justice criteria, communities and households. She stated she is proud of these numbers and expects to see them continue to grow. Council Member Budd asked how many residents receive energy assistance within the city under the federal Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Mr. Ziring stated that 2,600 households receive assistance with their utility bills from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the EAP. Ms. Ziring stated the policy question for the council is: does council wish to budget the funds needed to reach the goals of the climate action plan, and if yes, she will return during budget season for more discussion and provide more details. Council Member Budd asked what the large jump in participation between 2023 and 2024 is attributed to. Ms. Ziring stated that this is attributed to tax credits and additional outreach, and more people being aware of these programs. She stated the more programs are advertised, the more awareness is developed. Ms. Keller stated that projections for spending in 2026 are around the $200,000 mark. Ms. Ziring agreed that this projection is correct. She added that sustainability is currently on track to reach that number this year. Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D Study session minutes -6- June 9, 2025 Council Member Dumalag asked if there is a correlation between building permits and people performing their own residential building improvements. She also asked whether solar installations on private property are being tracked. Mr. Hoffman stated that permit activity is stable, but the city is seeing that residents are making changes related to their carbon footprint, as well as improvements to assist with energy bills. It was the consensus of the city council to agree with the policy question related to budgeting funds for climate action presented by Ms. Ziring. Council Member Budd asked whether the Climate Investment Fund could fund the gap for the 2,600 households that receive energy assistance if the EAP program ends. Ms. Ziring stated this is a question for the city council. Ms. Cruver stated this will be added to budget discussions with the council soon, while noting staff will research the future of EAP/LIHEAP to see if the state will provide any funding for those in need as well. Council Member Dumalag asked about the grant funding from the Minneapolis Foundation. Ms. Ziring stated that it is Environmental Protection Agency funding that passes through the Minneapolis Foundation. She also noted it will likely be cancelled. Written Reports 3. Planning for Climate Action Plan update 4. Webster Park updated – Ward 1 Council Member Brausen stated he asked for the map and the parcels for condemnation. Ms. Keller stated she will ask staff for clarification on the maps. 5. Percentage of park and open space in St. Louis Park Council Member Brausen stated it was good to see the city has adequate green space, and if there is excess inventory, the city will not be as protective. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: DEB4B0D7-EA3C-414F-86D0-70623CA8D93D