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City Council/Mana erV. valle�
November 12, 2019 — 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
The meeting began at 6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Present: Mayor Harris and Council Members; Rosenquist, Schmidgall, Clausen and Fonnest.
Staff present: City Manager Cruikshank, City Attorney Cisneros, Physical Development Director
Nevinski and Assistant City Engineer Kakach.
1. Discussion of 2019 Legislative Priorities
City Manager Cruikshank presented the 2019 Legislative Priorities that include various issues the
City supports, some of which require Legislative approval and funding through the State. The City
Council invited members of the Legislature to present and communicate to them the City's
Legislative Priorities for 2020.
Senator Ron Latz thanked outgoing Council Members for the dedicated service. He discussed the
upcoming State Legislative Session and explained that it will not focus on the State's main two-year
budget, since it was set last spring. He also explained that there are about 4 billion dollars' worth of
projects that require State funding in 2020. Currently, there is no fiscal capacity nor consensus by
Legislators on both bodies to award funding to all of them. Funding for capital projects will likely be
closer to 1 billion dollars for the upcoming year. Senator Latz shared that the largest category that
the State tends to focus on is state owned properties- by enlarge regional properties and state
owned buildings (prisons, university buildings, regional water treatment facilities, highway
infrastructure, airports, etc.). Lower level projects with a narrower geographic range, for example,
funding for bike and pedestrian safety improvements to State Highway 55, is not a project that is at
the top of the funding awarding list. However, the political balance and budget for 2021 may reflect
a shift after elections and redistricting. Right now, areas like greater Minnesota receive a higher
percentage of funding because they have many fixed needs and not as many resources as
communities in the Metro area.
Council Members thanked the Senator for his time and dedication. Senator Latz is the chief author
of the bonding proposal for the underpass at Douglas Drive/ Hwy 55 Intersection.
The Council will revisit the Bus Rapid Transit corridor topic as part of the 2020 Legislative Priorities
discussion on the January 14, 2020 Council/Manager meeting.
City of Golden Valley City Council/Manager Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2019 — 6:30 pm
2. Basset Creek Trail Discussion
John Vlaming, Associate Superintendent for Three Rivers Park District (TRDP), and Dan Freeman,
TRPD Commissioner, provided Council Members with an overview of the master plan approved in
2012 and reviewed the existing trail corridor.
The regional trail is currently missing a final segment along Golden Valley Road. An application for a
grant was submitted in 2018 and was not awarded. After analysis by TRPD staff and discussion with
City and County staff, it is being suggested that another application is made in 2020. The new
application for federal funding would include trail improvements from Regent Street West to
Douglas Drive and complete 60% design plans for the trail. These components will raise City scores
and increase the likelihood of a federal grant award.
The Council discussed the project, in particular the financial and budget considerations. Completion
of 60% design plans and submission of the application for federal grant is projected to be funded by
TRPD.
The Council thanked THRPD staff for their partnership with Golden Valley and extensive work in
Sochacki Park.
3. 2020 Pavement Management
Assistant City Engineer Kakach presented the staff report with focus in two main considerations:
Street Widths and Contract Incentives. He mentioned that the Pavement Management Policy
(Policy) was originally adopted in 1995 and amended in 2009. Since the Policy adoption, discussion
on street width has been included. The Council discussed economic impacts of street width,
landscape impacts, storm water, traffic calming and the City's Infrastructure Renewal Program that
is established every 20 years.
On the issue of incentives, the Council discussed pros and cons of date completion incentives to
large public improvements projects, as well as the implications of potential penalties for projects
that would not be completed within the period specified in the contract.
On the issue of streets width, the Council debated adjusting the Policy and Pavement Management
Program and the effects of constructing all local streets to a 26-foot wide standard measured from
face of curb to face of curb while maintaining parking arrangements.
Council consensus was to accept the 26 foot width standard and have staff work on adding
flexibility in the language, specifically additional considerations in the event that geographic or
topographic conditions would necessitate deviation from the existing conditions.
The Council will revisit the topic at its November 19 Council meeting.
City of Golden Valley City Council/Manager Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2019 — 6:30 pm
4. Human Rights Commission Discussion - Racially Restrictive Covenants
Chris Mitchel, Human Rights Commission Chair, presented the topic of racially restrictive
covenants, which the Commission has been discussing for a few months. He explained how
historically, racially restrictive covenants have been used as tools of segregation and discrimination
used to prevent people of color from renting and owning property in "Caucasian neighborhoods".
Mitchel explained how these covenants are still tied to properties nowadays (even though
unenforceable) and many homeowners are not aware of this. In 1953, Minnesota Legislature
prohibited the use of racial restrictions in real estate documents. In 2019, the Legislature passed a
law allowing property owners to reject racially restrictive covenants.
City Attorney Cisneros shared her own experience with racially restrictive covenants — which she
discovered were included in the title of her family's home — and explained that there is cost
associated with title research for private homeowners. The Human Rights Commission and City
staff have been exploring possibilities to collaborate with Hennepin County Library and law firms in
order to reduce or remove costs associated to title research. Cisneros expanded on the process,
specifically on the difference between Torrens and Abstract land registration systems. If present on
the Torrens certificate, there is no cost to remove the covenant contained on one of the
documents, the landowner can email the registrar of titles and request the removal of reference of
the racially restrictive covenant. In the case of Abstract properties, the landowner is required to file
a form with the State and pay a recording fee.
The Council thanked the Human Rights Commission for their thorough work and encouraged the
Commission to add the topic to the 2019-2020 work plan.
S. Human Rights Commission Discussion — Conversion Therapy Ban
Human Rights Commission member, Jonathan Burris, provided an overview of the topic, including a
presentation on this discredited practice. Conversion therapy aims to change a person's sexual
orientation, or a person's gender expression or identity.
Commissioner Burris presented the example of the City of Denver, Colorado and Superior,
Wisconsin, which have banned the practice.
The Human Rights Commission is recommending the Council to add conversion therapy ban as part
of the Council's 2020 goal setting process and annual strategic planning for 2020.
The Council discussed the implications of drafting a City ordinance and its enforceability and
regulation.
6. Review Council Chambers Remodeling Plans
Physical Development Director Nevinski discussed plans for the Council Chambers Remodeling. The
project is a complete remodel of the Council Chambers with design in 2019 and construction in
2020. The Council Chambers have not been updated in over 29 years.
The remodel will more accurately match the City's current and future needs of the room. Nevinski
explained the layout, including re positioning the main entrance, the dais location and introducing
City of Golden Valley City Council/Manager Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2019 — 6:30 pm
a new mobile podium for public comment. Led lighting would also be a new addition to the project
as well as a seating alcove that would be set right outside one of the doorways.
Funding for this project is included in the 2019 - 2023 Capital Improvement Program (B-036).
$50,000 is budgeted for 2019 and $350,000 is budgeted for 2020. $200,000 is budgeted for
replacement of AV equipment (C-001).
The Council discussed the proposed amenities and additions while considering their alignment with
the current needs of the room.
Nevinski said that the bid award for the project would tentatively be presented to the Council by
January of 2020.
7. Council Review of Future Draft Agendas: City Council November 19, City Council December 3,
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Work Session December 10 and Council/Manager
December 10, 2019
No changes were submitted for future drafts agendas.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.
She and M. Harris, Mayor
ATTES
Tomas Romano, Assistant to the City Manager's Office
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