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04-08-08 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes April 8, 2008 Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer. City Manager Tom Burt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Environmental Coordinator AI Lundstrom, Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes, City Planner Joe Hogeboom, Finance Director Sue Virnig and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre. The meeting began at 6:38 pm in the Council Conference Room. MnPass Phase II Planning Study Mark Grimes introduced Mary Vogel from the University of Minnesota Center for Changing Landscape. She provided an overview of a planning study for the MnPass 1-394 Corridor funded by the Federal Highway Administration. There were three components of the study: identifying ways to improve traffic flow in the corridor, identifying transit configurations that would work in the corridor and studying the land use implications of the selected transit configuration. Her specific charge was to look at land uses along the corridor that would support a transit spine along the south frontage road. She explained that the main nodes studied include Ridgedale in Minnetonka and Louisiana/Xenia/Park Place in Golden Valley and St. Louis Park. She presented information on the options developed for the Louisiana node in Golden Valley, taking into consideration surface and underlying hydrological features and local pedestrian and vehicular circulation. The main features of the plan include higher density residential and office/commercial uses close to the highway and a series of linear drainage ponds developed into an aesthetic buffer area. The Council inquired how this plan related to the recently completed Golden Valley 1-394 Corridor Study. Ms. Vogel suggested that they are compatible in terms of land use, but the Design Center plan is more conceptual, assuming the removal of the spur RR line and reconfiguration of the local road system, both of which are less likely to occur in the short term. Discussion then ensued on whether this concept plan should be considered as part of the Comprehensive Plan update. Concerns related to the lack of public participation or knowledge of this new plan, confusion over having multiple plans for the same area, the upcoming Comprehensive Plan Open House, and the fact that the Planning Commission has not reviewed this new plan. The Council requested that the MNPASS 1-394 Phase /I Planning Study: Golden Valley Preliminary Design be sent to the Planning Commission to consider whether and how it might be incorporated into the City's updated Comprehensive Plan and presented to the public at the May 1 Comprehensive Plan Open House. Approval of Fire Department Relief Association By-Law Amendment Regarding Pension Increases Fire Relief Association President Steve Yingst and Treasurer Mark Rosenblum reported that the Association had recently increased to $6700 the lump sum/year pension payout for retiring fire fighters. They asked the Council to approve the change in lump sum payout, which would require the City to guarantee the payout if the pension investments are not adequate to cover the liability in the future. At this time existing funds are sufficient to cover the liability. The Council generally supported the increase and asked that this item be placed on the next Regular City Council Meeting agenda for consideration. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes April 8, 2008 - Page 2 Community Tree Distribution Programs AI Lundstrom reported on the variety of programs offered by Minnesota cities to distribute reasonably priced trees to residents to enhance the urban forest. He noted that all of the programs require some support from the sponsoring city, including staff time, promotions and sometimes a subsidy for the cost of the trees. This type of program was not included in the 2008 budget. He noted that the City of Plymouth offers a program that is open to people who do not reside in Plymouth. With advance planning, the program could even be promoted to Golden Valley residents. The Council directed staff to seek a written understanding with Plymouth staff on how Golden Valley residents could participate in the City of Plymouth Bare Root Tree & Shrub Sale in 2009. Update on Recycling Contract Discussions Jeannine Clancy reported that the City of Minnetonka staff is recommending a contact with Waste Management that will include a provision for no less than 75 percent revenue sharing and would agree to match any higher level of revenue sharing secured by the City of Plymouth through a new request for proposals, if Waste Management is awarded the contract. It will be a three-year contract with an option for a three-year extension. The City of Minnetonka will consider this contract on April 28. Plymouth is still proceeding with a separate process that will expand the level of recycling provided. St. Louis Park is currently negotiating new contracts for garbage and recycling contracts, but is not willing to release information on rates in the proposed contracts, which have not been approved. The Council directed staff to bring a contract that parallels the Minnetonka contract to the Council for consideration at the next Regular City Council Meeting, with the provision that recycling collection in Golden Valley continue to be only on Fridays if at all possible. U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement The Council directed staff to look into working with an organization called Fresh Energy to provide background information to the Environmental Commission on establishing a carbon footprint for the City. They suggested that this non-profit group might be able to do a presentation at low or no cost, which would be preferable to the proposal submitted by the Environmental Financial Group. The Council supported a presentation to the combined Environmental, Planning and Open Space and Recreation Commissions as has occurred for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Jeannine Clancy will follow up on this suggestion. Request to Amend the Land Use Plan Map - 228 and 308 Meander Road Mark Grimes explained that the State of Minnesota is interested in selling two vacant lots on Meander Road that are currently zoned and guided Institutional and included in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) that includes the larger developed parcel which is the Perpich Center for Arts Education. The lots were originally platted as residential lots and meet current requirements for single-family residential lots. The PUD plat would need to be amended to remove these parcels and the lots would need to be re-guided and rezoned. The City Council has complete discretion on whether or not to consider re-guiding property. The Council suggested that they would consider re-guiding the lots and directed staff to present the issue to an upcoming meeting of the Planning Commission. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes April 8, 2008 - Page 3 Council Social The Council noted that they would like to schedule Council Socials for 2008 and discussed possible dates and locations. They decided to schedule a May 28 event at the American Legion and a second event in August or September, possibly at Piazza's. Gay Pride Day Proclamation Mayor Loomis distributed the current Council policy on adopting proclamations. The Council reviewed the policy and noted that the proposed proclamation regarding Gay Pride Day is in accord with the policy and directed staff to draft a proclamation and place it on the May 6 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda. Environmental Commission Mayor Loomis reported that the Commission is concerned that the Council did not approve the Natural Resources Management Plan contract for 2008. Commission Dinner Tom Burt identified June 18 and 25 as dates available at the Brookview Community Center to hold the Annual Commission Dinner. The Council selected June 25. Dispatch Contract Tom Burt noted that a copy of the current Dispatch Agreement with St. Louis Park was included in the agenda packet. It allows for termination of the agreement in 2010, if notice by either city is provided by January 1, 2009. Council Members suggested that staff consider this option as part of the budget process or if dispatch software or other amendments are proposed earlier. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. Jeanne Andre Assistant City Manager