Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-17 CC MIN l ater THE IIIITMILALE OF MINMEIMTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 17,2017 SPECIAL MEETING 4:30 P.M. Vice Mayor Polehna called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Menikheim, Junker, Weidner and Vice Mayor Polehna Absent: Mayor Kozlowski Staff present: City Administrator McCarty City Attorney Magnuson Police Chief Gannaway Fire Chief Glaser Community Development Director Turnblad Public Works Director Sanders Human Resources Manager Robole Finance Director Harrison Engineering Secretary Wolf OTHER BUSINESS Presentation of Classification/Compensation Study Carol Loncar and Brandon Fitzsimmons, Flaherty & Hood, P.A., provided a presentation explaining the classification and compensation study done for the City, including the Library and Water Department. The survey included wages, insurance and additional benefits such as vacation pay and comp time. ADJOURNMENT OF SPECIAL MEETING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LABOR RELATIONS Vice Mayor Polehna adjourned the meeting to executive session at 5:00 p.m. REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Vice Mayor Polehna called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Menikheim, Junker, Weidner and Vice Mayor Polehna Absent: Mayor Kozlowski Staff present: City Administrator McCarty City Attorney Magnuson Fire Chief Glaser Police Chief Gannaway Community Development Director Turnblad Finance Director Harrison Public Works Director Sanders Engineering Secretary Wolf City Council Meeting January 17, 2017 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Mayor Polehna led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of the January 3, 2017 regular meeting Motion by Councilmember Junker, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, to approve the January 3, 2017 regular and recessed meeting minutes. All in favor. PETITIONS, INDIVIDUALS, DELEGATIONS & COMMENDATIONS Proclamation: Stillwater Soccer Team Vice Mayor Polehna read the proclamation designating January 17,2017"Stillwater Area High School Boys Soccer Team Day." Council Service Award: Daylily & Trillium Garden Club/Public Works/MnDOT for daffodil project on Highway 95 south of downtown Vice Mayor Polehna read the Council Service Award to recognize the Daylily and Trillium Garden Clubs, Public Works, and MnDOT for their beautification project along Highway 95. S.E.E.D. Program Kristin Klemetsrud and Meredith Moore gave a presentation on an incentive program available to all Washington County businesses, to promote sustainability,recycling, and composting via the Stillwater Eco Empowerment Directive. New lights downtown - Xcel Energy Colette Jurek and Ed Bieging of Xcel Energy gave a presentation on the LED conversion of 686 street lights in Stillwater. The conversion will take place in February over a two-week period. The annual cost savings is expected to be $4,246.20 and annual emissions avoided is expected to be 298,888 CO2 lbs. OPEN FORUM Laurie Schneider, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, gave an update on the state of pollinators in Minnesota, and invited the Councilmembers to a summit on March 9, 2017. STAFF REPORTS Fire Chief Glaser reported that the 2015 FEMA Safer Grant was not received, but the 2016 application period is now open. The Council authorized application for a staffing study grant as part of the program. Community Development Director Turnblad reported that the Downtown Plan is progressing. He invited the Council to the sixth meeting of the Downtown Plan Advisory Committee next Thursday. City Administrator McCarty reminded the audience that Hockey Day MN is taking place this weekend. CONSENT AGENDA Resolution 2017-011, directing the payment of bills Page 2 of 6 City Council Meeting January 17, 2017 Resolution 2017-012, approval of revised Addendum No. 1 to the City of Stillwater and Plymouth Ridge, Inc., Coverall of the Twin Cities (the Agreement) Resolution 2017-013, approving license to use real property Resolution 2017-014, approving agreement with Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (MMC) Resolution 2017-015, approving agreement with Overhead Door Company of the Northland Resolution 2017-016, resolution rescinding Resolution 2016-156 and approving the On-sale (Monday-Saturday) and Consumption& Display Permit (Sundays only) for JX Event Services LLC, DBA: JX Venue Possible approval of sanitary sewer adjustments Resolution 2017-017,resolution adopting 2017 Fee Schedule Resolution 2017-018, appointing member to Human Rights Commission Motion by Councilmember Weidner, seconded by Councilmember Junker, to adopt the Consent Agenda. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Junker, Weidner and Vice Mayor Polehna Nays: None PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No 2016-043 A public hearing to consider a request by Browns Creek West, LLC, applicant for the consideration of a Zoning Map Amendment to include the 3 adjoining parcels in the Height Overlay District, zoning them as `bluff side' for the property located at 107 3rd Street North in the CBD (continued from January 3, 2017 meeting) Community Development Director Turnblad explained that Browns Creek West, LLC, represented by Jon Whitcomb, has submitted a two-part application which would allow for the addition of three parcels to the Height Overlay District; and the height district classification of all four parcels(located at the NE corner of Myrtle Street West and North 3rd Street)as CBDB, Central Business District Bluffside. He pointed out that when the City constructed the municipal parking ramp, certain lands were rezoned Central Business District (CBD). However, those lands were not incorporated into the CBD Height Overly District, as they should have been. Therefore, while the parcel of land located at the NE corner of Myrtle and 3rd Street North is in the Overlay District area and zoned CBDBT, Central Business District Blufftop, the three parcels between it and the parking ramp lot are not. The Planning Commission recommended that the Council deny the application for Bluffside classification on the basis that the public necessity, and the general community welfare are not furthered with the amendment from the CBDBT, Central Business District Blufftop to the CBDB, Central Business District Bluffside. Staff recommends adding the three northern parcels to the map consistent with adjacently-zoned CBDBT, Central Business District Blufftop properties, rather than Bluffside as requested by the applicant. Vice Mayor Polehna opened the public hearing. Gail Olson, president of Trinity Lutheran Church, informed the Commission that Trinity recently sold the property to Mr. Whitcomb and Browns Creek. Trinity supports the City staff and Planning Commission recommendation not to change the height classification. They believe the heights should be controlled. Jon Whitcomb, applicant, clarified that he is not looking to convert all four of the properties, only to add in the three properties that do not have an overlay district, so they are classified under"bluffside"zoning. He does not wish to change the"blufftop"classification of the fourth Page 3 of 6 City Council Meeting January 17, 2017 parcel at the corner. There are no development plans for the properties yet. However he has potential developers interested in the site and has had discussions with engineers about underground parking on the site. He believes a building could be set back sufficiently so to not impede viewsheds on the corner, which he recognizes is challenging. Mr. Whitcomb pointed out that within this city block, there are six buildings that have heights higher than what four stories would look like on the parcels in question. Councilmember Weidner asked why Mr. Whitcomb would like four stories instead of three; and Mr. Whitcomb replied that the square footage of the lots is small, so the cost of developing them is high. In order to meet any kind of parking requirement, there would have to be underground parking, which increases the cost of developing the site. So a developer would have to have the extra height to make economic sense. Councilmember Weidner inquired about parking options for a three-story building; and Mr. Whitcomb responded that the property came with 40 parking stalls designated when Trinity traded land for access to the parking ramp. He assumed the City parking requirement would be about three per thousand, in other words, 90 spaces. Vice Mayor Polehna closed the public hearing. Councilmember Junker stated he would prefer this property remain consistent with the intent of the height restrictions and be categorized as bluffside rather than blufftop. Councilmember Weidner suggested that the property's future parking issues may be better suited through a variance process, since there are already 40 parking spots set aside. He feels it would be more consistent to keep the height restrictions the same as neighboring parcels. Vice Mayor Polehna stated he felt that four stories would look out of place in the neighborhood. Motion by Councilmember Weidner, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, to deny first reading of an ordinance for a zoning map amendment to include the three adjoining parcels in the Height Overlay District, zoning them as `bluffside,' for the property located at 107 3rd Street North. Councilmember Weidner then amended the motion to adopt first reading of an ordinance rezoning the three undesignated parcels to "blufftop." Councilmember Menikheim seconded the amended motion. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Junker, Weidner and Vice Mayor Polehna Nays: None Case No. 2016-046 A public hearing to consider a zoning code amendment that would require a public site plan review for any new construction or remodeling or change of use occurring in Downtown Stillwater that involves more than 20,000 gross square feet of floor space (continued from January 3, 2017 meeting) Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Council that if a Special Use Permit is not required,the current City Code does not provide for formal review of downtown projects that convert the use of a building from one classification to another. However, these conversions can have a significant impact upon public infrastructure, especially for larger buildings. Therefore, the City Council directed staff to draft a site plan review ordinance for larger building conversion projects in the downtown area. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft ordinance and after discussion recommended adopting it with one Page 4 of 6 City Council Meeting January 17, 2017 change:that the Planning Commission would take action on the Conditional Use Permit,rather than making a recommendation to the Council for action. Councilmember Junker asked if language should be added addressing the aggregate total number of square feet converted,for instance a situation where a building owner would convert 10,000 square feet and then convert the other 10,000 square feet of the building at a later time. Mr. Turnblad responded that the proposed ordinance states that if conversion, change of use, new construction, or any combination of those things causes 20,000 square feet of converted space, then that aggregate number of square feet is what becomes the threshold tripping a review. Councilmember Weidner inquired what if the conversion or change in use is spread over several years; and Mr. Turnblad responded that according to environmental law in Minnesota, a project is defined in relation to its combined impact over a number of years. Staff could add language similar to that, to prevent circumventing the ordinance by phasing a conversion project over several years. He asked Mr. Weidner how many years he would want to consider "phasing;" and Mr. Weidner responded ten years. Vice Mayor Polehna opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Junker remarked that the ordinance was developed to provide more Council oversight over the approval process. He would like the Council to retain final approval authority rather than the Planning Commission. Other Councilmembers agreed. Motion by Councilmember Weidner, seconded by Councilmember Junker,to approve first reading of an ordinance amending the zoning code to require a public site plan review for any new construction or remodeling,or change of use occurring in Downtown Stillwater that involves more than 20,000 gross square feet of floor space, with the addition of phasing language and a sunset provision. Councilmember Weidner questioned if the threshold triggering review should be a certain percentage of 20,000 square feet, because as currently proposed, he felt that a building owner could literally come in and convert 19,000 square feet without triggering a review. He expressed concern about the ability to get around the intent of the ordinance by staging building conversion incrementally. Community Development Director Turnblad responded that the ordinance language could be amended to state that if the total cumulative project converts 75% of the total square footage, it would still require the review. Councilmember Weidner amended the motion to include the provision that any conversion or change in use of two-thirds of the total square footage, in aggregate, would trigger the review. After seconding the original motion, Councilmember Menikheim, accepted the amendment to the motion. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Junker, Weidner and Vice Mayor Polehna Nays: None Page 5 of 6 City Council Meeting January 17, 2017 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion on Aiple property Concept Park Plan Community Development Director Turnblad summarized that at the last Council meeting, most of the concept plan was found acceptable with the exception of the possible demolition of the Aiple residence. He stated that discussions have taken place since that time with a number of people. The result is that the LCCMR staff does not consider home demolition mandatory based upon the final work plan that was associated with the grant documents. They believe the way it is written, it can be flexible if the Council wants to keep the option open to retain that building and repurpose it, as long as the reuse of the building does not interfere with the conservation purposes for which the grant was awarded. So the Council could adopt the concept plan as presented previously, adding a footnote stating if a use for the house can be found that is consistent with the conservation purposes of the LCCMR and Land and Water Legacy programs, then it may be repurposed for that use. If an appropriate reuse is not found, it could still be demolished. He agreed to bring back the concept plan with the added language for action at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTS There were no communications/requests. COUNCIL REQUEST ITEMS There were no Council request items. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Junker, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, to adjourn the meeting at 8:57 p.m. All in favor. Michael olehna, Vice Mayor ATTEST: . 92/444A,4 J. T somas McCarty, Acting tf'y Clerk Resolution 2017-011, directing the payment of bills Resolution 2017-012, approval of revised Addendum No. 1 to the City of Stillwater and Plymouth Ridge, Inc., Coverall of the Twin Cities (the Agreement) Resolution 2017-013, approving license to use real property Resolution 2017-014, approving agreement with Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (MMC) Resolution 2017-015, approving agreement with Overhead Door Company of the Northland Resolution 2017-016,resolution rescinding Resolution 2016-156 and approving the On-sale (Monday-Saturday) and Consumption& Display Permit (Sundays only) for JX Event Services LLC, DBA: JX Venue Resolution 2017-017,resolution adopting 2017 Fee Schedule Resolution 2017-018, appointing member to Human Rights Commission Page 6 of 6