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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/11/26 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session�0ISt. Louis Park Official minutes M I N N E S O T A City council study session t»Pcricncc 61fE .n 'ih� Park St. Louis Park, Minnesota November 26, 2018 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity, and Margaret Rog. Councilmembers Absent: Mayor Jake Spano, Thom Miller Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy city manager/HR Director (Ms. Deno); Community Development Director (Ms. Barton); Assistant Zoning Administrator (Mr. Morrison); Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Mr. Walther); Management Assistant (Ms. Carrillo Perez); and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). Guest: None 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning — December, 2018 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for December, 2018. Mr. Harmening noted the City Manager evaluation will need to be postponed so he is able to finish his self -review. Councilmember Harris noted she would like to discuss the Texatonka area plan and will fill out a form regarding this topic and turn into staff, for inclusion in an upcoming study session. Councilmember Rog referenced the HRC discussion on December 10' and added she would like to notify HRC members to be sure they are aware of the discussion so they can attend. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated the HRC members do have it on their calendars, and several will be in attendance, including the chair.. 2. Boards and commissions discussion Ms. Carrillo Perez presented the report. She noted council had directed staff to develop a work plan template to clarify expectations, scope of work and communication between the city's boards and commissions and the council. She presented the proposed work plan process and template, along with a plan for the process of annual recruitment for boards and commissions. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated the considerations for council tonight are: • Does the city council approve the proposed work plan for the board and commissions • Does the city council need additional information about the annual recruitment process for the city's boards and commissions Ms. Carrillo Perez stated staff will train all staff liaisons to fill out the template form and also help them to understand their bylaws, and their strategic priorities, so commissions will have ownership. Study Session Minutes -2- November 26, 2018 Councilmember Mavity asked if the boards and commissions core duties will be initiated by council. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated their duties will be part of their work plan, the work they are doing currently, while their roles will be formed within the initiatives. She noted the pilot annual work plan template that will be used by all boards and commissions as well. Councilmember Rog stated each commission is different, adding that 1-3 initiatives seem limiting, and suggested there be some flexibility around the 3 initiatives. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated the goal is for the boards and commissions to pause and slow down, to ensure they are doing quality work. She noted some groups may have more initiatives than others, but the goal will be to see the initiatives through. For this pilot program, the goal is that boards and commission will focus on quality, slowing down and reflecting. Councilmember Rog asked if there will be opportunity for commissions to make policy recommendations to council. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated council is the policy-making authority, but if a commission makes a recommendation both parties would need to be in agreement on the outcome. She added there will also be agreement on the initiative as well. Councilmember Rog stated timing can be delayed during this process, and she recommended a two week or one-month turnaround timeframe. Councilmember Mavity disagreed, and stated her recommendation is to have a flexible timeline, and if an item is not brought up for change, to let it go into effect unless the council raises any objections. She stated she would not want the council to slow down the commissions. Ms. Deno noted this can be discussed further, but this will formalize all expectations and timing, set within this format. Councilmember Harris stated this looks like a great approach to synthesize the process, and she likes the tie back to the comprehensive plan as well. She asked how the new work plan would work for commissions or boards that have had task forces or work groups. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated council will approve the larger format on this process and work groups or sub groups can then be incorporated into the work plans of each board or commission. Councilmember Hallfin stated this is all well and good, but he thinks this is actually too much work, adding he doesn't believe there are any issues that need to be resolved. He added this process will load the boards and commissions with too much process work, and he would like them to have freer reign. He stated what might work for one commission, does not work for another, but he is fine trying out the new process. He added he would rather have organic ideas presented to the council, from boards and commissions, but noted there will be times when the council will need to ask them for help on items also. Councilmember Mavity stated if this process helps staff spend less time on ideas going in different directions, then the process will be worthwhile. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen stated Councilmember Miller noted he really likes the simplified strategy and asked how this new process will ensure boards and commissions will not take on Study Session Minutes -3- November 26, 2018 too much. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated this will be a learning process, and will involve checks and balances and also a review of workloads, and adjustments will be made as the process moves forward. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen added the council will still receive work plans from boards and commission; however, this process will formalize things. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen also noted that Mayor Spano is fine with the timeline on this process, asking how staff will work to diversity the pool of candidates. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated this will be discussed and the council will come to a mutual agreement with the boards and commissions during the joint work session. She also noted she will be working with Ms. Sojourner on the annual recruitment process and utilize resources to reach others, as well as the website. Staff will schedule interviews with council, and council will rank applicants. Mr. Harmening added staff will reach out into the community and identify opportunities. Ms. Deno noted the recruitment process will be more focused and a more concerted effort. Councilmember Mavity asked if there will be coordination with the schools as well. Ms. Deno stated yes, adding that St. Louis Park is further ahead than other cities on this process. Councilmember Harris stated she is talking with a couple folks from ward 3 and working to recruit them to a board or commission. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen added he does not want to discourage someone by putting them on another commission where they might not be interested, adding it doesn't cost the city anything to include more members to a commission. Councilmember Mavity asked if there is any model for encouraging non-voting members to be part of commissions, and part of the process, adding she doesn't want too many voting members on commissions. Ms. Deno stated all meetings are open to the public and folks do come to learn and hear, but do not vote. Councilmember Hallfin stated he likes that students are involved in the process, and would still be interested in adding a youth commission, with some at -large members also. He added that many cities bring their youth to the NLC meetings, and he would like to do the same. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen agreed. Councilmember Rog also agreed, suggesting council and staff pause to figure out how to engage youth more. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated the annual meeting for boards and commissions with the city council will be February 25, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. Study Session Minutes -4- November 26, 2018 3. Review revised draft of 2019 legislative issues and priorities Ms. Carrillo Perez referenced the revised draft and updated list of legislative issues and priorities. She asked council for feedback on the document, and if they agree with the listed priorities and the top priorities. She stated the 2019 session begins January 8. The final version will be presented at a special study session on December 3, to the city's legislators, county commissioner and Met Council representative. Ms. Carrillo Perez said the affordable housing fee was an item added after the conversation on affordable housing initiatives, which allows for a broader perspective. She also noted the Perspectives bonding request was included as council had indicated they wanted to think about this a bit more. Councilmember Harris asked how frequently does the city collaborate with entities and collaborate on bonding requests. Mr. Harmening stated this is the first time, and in the past Hennepin County has collaborated on bonding requests. Councilmember Harris asked if there is any cost to the city other than administration time. Mr. Harmening stated some staff time during the legislative session, along with the city's lobbyist attending hearings. He indicated there would be some legal costs also. Ms. Barton added the city attorney would also be reviewing all documents. Councilmember Harris asked about the chances of Perspectives for acquiring the bonding. Mr. Harmening stated it's hard to say; however, he would be surprised if they did not receive the funding. He added this might be a question better posed to the legislators on December 3. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen stated his concern about the council endorsing Perspectives, besides the costs, are mainly that Perspectives is not a priority for the council. Councilmember Hallfin stated he is concerned the city might lose out on other priorities if they prioritize Perspectives. He asked for a staff recommendation. Councilmember Mavity stated it might be best to not be in the top priorities, adding she wants the right balance on priority items. Councilmember Rog added her interest in a community center. She stated Perspectives serves a portion of the city's youth, but a community center would serve all youth. Mr. Harmening stated staff thought there was compatibility on Perspectives and affordable housing, so therefore assumed it would be an item the council would be interested in pursuing. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated climate action plan and criminal background checks for firearm purchases are also on the priority list. The council agreed both items need to be included as priorities. Councilmember Mavity noted her preference would be to not include inclusionary housing with affordable housing. She stated she is not sure this has much momentum right now, and while Study Session Minutes -5- November 26, 2018 she does support it, she does not support it specifically. She added this is a good tool for the city's tool box to help fund affordable housing. Councilmember Harris asked if it is in the city's favor to link city initiatives to the federal level, and possibly pursue environmental issues at the federal level since Rep. McCollum in interested in environmental issues. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen noted Mayor Spano's comments which asked if the city should lobby the state to adopt the same goals of the climate action plan. Councilmember Mavity added the same request should go to Hennepin County and the Met Council as well. Councilmember Harris stated she would like to see similar entities adopt similar climate goals as St. Louis Park, and if more voices make it more difficult, then have one session with the legislators and another with the watershed district. Councilmember Mavity stated the council should invite the other entities to attend the legislative session and listen. Councilmember Mavity stated housing looks to be the city's key priority, followed by transportation and then climate action plan. She noted, for the conversation with legislators, they should receive the full list of priorities. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen also noted legalization of cannabis as a discussion item with the legislators, adding the California model taxes cannabis for both state and local tax, and could this be considered as a model for Minnesota and St. Louis Park as well. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen also noted Mayor Spano's comments on SWLRT, and that he would like the city to be more aggressive and ask for $15 million for each light rail stop, as well as public art at the stations. Councilmember Mavity stated she is not sure this is the best timing for this request. Ms. Carrillo Perez stated she will take the council's feedback and update the priority list and send it to the legislators for review prior to the December 3 study session. 4. Retail, service and off -sale liquor store size requirements Mr. Walther and Mr. Morrison presented planning commission recommendations on potential zoning map and zoning code amendments. Mr. Morrison stated that liquor stores are not permitted in the C1 district. Therefore rezoning areas from C2 to C1 would further limit where a liquor store can locate. Councilmember Mavity asked if the rezoning impacts limiting multi -family housing buildings, or if that would be separate from this. Mr. Walther stated C1 does allow for a modest amount of Study Session Minutes -6- November 26, 2018 housing, but it is pretty limited. Staff will review the code again for the potential impacts to the adding housing on commercial sites. Councilmember Mavity continued she would support zoning that would accommodate a future council's desire to create more housing densities, adding she wants to be careful not to limit housing in these areas by rezoning. Mr. Morrison clarified that housing is allowed in the C1 district as part of a commercial development. He added if changing to C1, staff would do notices and talk to property owners for feedback before any changes were made. Councilmember Harris asked about redevelopment at Texa-Tonka, and if row housing or senior housing would be considered, given the rezoning. Mr. Walther stated staff will be doing a study on that area, and would look at appropriate land use and zoning for that site, and the surrounding area. He added C2 is probably not appropriate in the long term in that area. Councilmember Harris asked if there is a timeline set for this study. Mr. Walther stated it is budgeted for 2019. Councilmember Hallfin asked if the zoning changes will move any further off -sale liquor licenses to C2. Mr. Walther stated this would remain the same, but existing license holders in any zoning district where liquor stores are no longer permitted, would be allowed to continue for as long as they continue as a liquor store. If the liquor store goes out of business and it is abandoned for a period of time, the license would not be able to be re-established. Councilmember Harris asked if the locations noted on the map near Texa-Tonka are close enough where folks could bike or walk to the destinations. Mr. Walther stated on Minnetonka Blvd, neighborhood commercial districts are spaced a half mile apart, which means most residents are within a quarter mile walk from businesses. He noted residents would still be within a two-mile bike ride from one of the remaining larger C-2 commercial areas. Mr. Walther stated there is an opportunity to extend the current temporary limit on the number of off -sale liquor licenses in the city to allow time for zoning amendments to be completed. The council agreed to this policy consideration. The council discussed the various square footage they would support for liquor stores within the C2 areas. Some councilmembers asserted that 20,000 feet is too large, but that they could support 5,000 -10,000 -square -foot stores. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen stated he is supportive of all staff recommendations. Councilmember Harris asked staff if a neighborhood -oriented area, with walkable streets, and low-density residential neighborhoods, with small lots fit better with C1 zoning vs. C2. Mr. Walther stated yes. Study Session Minutes -7- November 26, 2018 Mayor Pro Tem Brausen added it is difficult to impose limitations on already established neighborhoods. Mr. Walther stated staff will return to planning commission for another study session with more information on this in the near future, and staff will relay the city council's feedback. Communications/Meeting Check -In (Verbal) Councilmember Rog mentioned the passing of Walter Dziedzic, a former Minneapolis City Council member and former Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner, who had been an inspiration to her and many others. Councilmember Harris noted Block Restaurant will hold neighborhood focus group sessions on December 4 and 12. Mayor Pro Tem Brausen noted a groundbreaking ceremony for SWLRT on Friday, November 30, at 2:30 pm. in Hopkins. Mr. Harmening distributed a big picture overall look presentation regarding SWLRT to the council for their review. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 5. October 2018 monthly financial report 6. Zoning guidelines for ground floor window transparency requirements A - Q I - Meliss ennedy, City Cler Jake Spano, Mayor