Loading...
Minutes 5/5/2006 Saint Paul Planning Commission City Hall Conference Center 15 Kellogg Boulevard West Minutes May 5, 2006 A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday,May 5, 2006, at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall. Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen,Faricy,Lu,McCall,Morton, Smitten and Trevino Present: Messrs. Aligada,Alton, Bellus, Cudahy, Goodlow, Gordon,Johnson,Kramer,Mejia and Nelson. Commissioners Mmes. * Porter, and Messrs. *Commers, *Dandrea and *Kong Absent: *Excused Also Present: Larry Soderholm, Planning Administrator; Peter Warner, City Attorney,Allen Lovejoy, Allan Torstenson,Patricia James,Penny Simison, Donna Drummond,Lucy Thompson,Yang Zhang, Shawntera Hardy, Christina Danico, Jessica Rosenfeld and Kate Fleming,Department of Planning and Economic Development staff. I. Approval of minutes April 21,2006. MOTION: Commissioner Nelson moved approval of the minutes of April 21, 2006. Commissioner Farley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. II. Chair's Announcements Chair Alton announced the National Great River Park event, May 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. at Harriet Island Regional Park,Wigington Pavilion. Commissioner Johnson will attend on behalf of the Planning Commission. Chair Alton announced Commissioner Aligada will co-chair the Central Corridor Task Force. III. Planning Administrator's Announcements Mr. Soderholm reported on planning-related City Council business. The new PED Director Cecile Bedor has been appointed and will start in June. The Critical Area Task force is taking its recommendations out to District Council meetings, and there will be a joint Critical Area Task Force-Planning Commission public meeting on Harriet Island at the Wigington Pavilion,May 30, 2006, 6:30 p.m. Apparently the state legislature is considering a prohibition on the location of adult entertainment businesses 2,800 feet from any church. This would put the City in a Catch 22 between state law and the federal courts. 1 • IV. Zoning Committee OLD BUSINESS #06-047-258 Arch Service Providers-Conditional Use Permit for a transitional housing/licensed human service community residential facility with 60 residents. 135 Colorado St. E.,NE corner at Clinton. (Jessica Rosenfeld, 651/266-6560) MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to deny the conditional use permit The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. NEW BUSINESS #06-067-069 Suzanne Snaza—Conditional Use Permit for outdoor used car sales and a car cleaning and detailing business. 1229 Payne Ave., SW corner at Hawthorne. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639) MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to deny the conditional use permit. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee Agenda for the May 11,2006 meeting. V. Comprehensive Planning Committee Forum on Infrastructure for the Comprehensive Plan-The Comprehensive Planning Committee is sponsoring four forums to gather background for the Comprehensive Plan update. This is the second one, dealing with the condition of existing infrastructure and future needs. (Penny Simison, 651/266-6554) Penny Simison introduced the topic. Mr. Dave Nelson,Department of Real Estate, said the department's functions include acquiring, leasing and disposing of real estate for the city. The Design Group's focus is to provide facility engineering design;construction solutions; new construction;major renovation; CIB requests; capital maintenance repair; site planning and studies. Mr.Nelson stated the City needs to consider a Facility Replacement Schedule based on useful physical and functional life of facilities. Mr.John Maczko, City Engineer, stated there are 851 miles of streets that are at least 40-45 years old,and some that are 80 years old. There are 80 miles of unpaved streets and five miles of dirt streets. The city has 18 bridges that need major repair and 11 that need to be replaced. Each year 10-12 miles of streets are reconstructed; at the current funding levels the RSVP program will be complete in 2018,not factoring in cost increases. New water Quality Standards could add $200,000-$240,000 annually to the costs of construction. Mr.Bruce Elder,Public Works(sewers)explained Saint Paul owns and operates two separate collection systems,one for collecting and routing storm water to the river and one for collecting 2 sewage and routing it to the treatment plant. Saint Paul's sewer system is self funded through the storm sewer charge and sanitary sewer fees, one of the few utilities in the country that have an AAA bond rating and borrowing is relatively low. The system dates back to the late 1800's; maintenance is intensive and the City is investing heavily. The combined sewage and sanitary system was divided into two separate systems beginning in 1985; it was a ten year, $400 million project. It is the sanitary system that is old and the City is working to reline the system without disturbing the streets.Mr.Elder stated there are 28 sanitary and storm water lift stations;they have been rebuilt in the last eight years. There is also a sewer repair system to replace sections that cannot be relined. The Sewer Utility for many years has operated its own TV truck for pipeline inspections. In a typical year they televise about 45 miles of sewers,and in 2004 they began contracting for a similar mileage at an annual cost of about$500,000 with the expectation that they will eventually achieve a scheduled inspection of all pipes in the city on a ten year cycle. Mr. Steve Schneider, General Manager of Saint Paul Regional Water Services. Mr. Schneider stated the department services Saint Paul and surrounding suburban communities. Since 2000 they have drastically increased their capital improvement budget. Also, they are developing a five year plan for operations and maintenance. At the present time,the program includes eight miles of water mains replaced each year; replaces 140 hydrants per year; and replaces 600-1000 water services per year. There are thirteen elevated storage tanks and they need to be rehabilitated on a thirteen to fifteen year cycle, so one is completed each year. The current issues for the Water Department are to upgrade the treatment facilities and to invest in training for existing employees because there will be many retirements in the next five to ten years. Sergeant Kathy Wuorinen,Executive Sergeant to the Assistant Chief of Support Services, and Mr. Steve Hitchcock, Chief Custodial Engineer from Saint Paul Police Department. Sgt Wuorinen described the current Police buildings and locations,their functions, and if they are owned or leased. The department either leases or owns 17 buildings. Some of the leased spaces are now causing problems. The Headquarters building is over 100 years old and has been renovated,but it still has water problems and insufficient parking. The community feels the Central District Office should be located in the Central Area,where it would be more accessible than the Headquarters building. The East District Office is ten years old and is relatively in good condition but needs to be expanded. There are two West District Offices,North and South,which will be combined. The Port Authority has given notice that the Impound Lot will not be available to lease in the next ten years so other options will be needed. The Outdoor Range will need a new location in the future. The Ordnance Disposal Unit(Bomb Squad) is working well where it is. The Communications and the Narcotics and Vice units are still located in the old Headquarters building and need to move to make way for redevelopment of the downtown block. The K-9 unit is in Maplewood,where the parking is insufficient. The Horse Patrol stables are leased and these are fine. Mr.Dave Pleasants,Assistant Chief, and Mr.Dave Hiveley, from the Saint Paul Fire Department. Mr. Pleasants stated the Fire Station# 8 opened on May 5, 2006. It was built because of result of development project and not replacement plan. The average age of the Fire Stations in Saint Paul are sixty plus years. Four of the stations were built when horses pulled fire equipment; some modern equipment is being installed in stations. Operational decisions are being made for infrastructure instead of operational needs. Station#10 was built in 1885 and has the worst existing problems. They have World War Two era portable classrooms buildings used for training. Siren system was built after World War Two. The Headquarters building plans are to be completely out of the old Fire Station building on 11`h Street by 2007. 3 Mr.Bob Bierscheid,Director, and Mr. Jason Wirka from Parks and Recreation.Mr.Bierscheid said one of the critical things that must be done is to have a sound asset management system developed. Three years ago an inventory was done on the properties and amenities but now they need to be assessed and find what condition they are in. Decisions about capital expenditures during the last several decades were not made on an objective data base analysis. An assessment was done two years ago on tot lots/playgrounds and the department ranked them in order of need based on eight variables. This is now being done for tennis courts,ball fields,basketball courts, ice rinks, and soccer and football fields. Mr. Bierscheid stated some buildings have infrastructure needs,but one simple way to maintain the appearance and longevity of park buildings is regular painting. Replacement of floors is important. Also, in certain circumstances,the department is using artificial turf to replace real turf. Security systems are needed for the safety and security of employees and the public. At Midway Stadium the department is partnering with the Saint Paul Saints to bring in private money for the facility. Mr. Lee Williamson from Saint Paul Public Libraries.Mr.Williamson stated the libraries are in fairly good condition;they seek CIB funding for any major repairs such as boilers,roofs and parking lot repairs. Many projects have been approved in recent years because funding has increased. Management has identified three facilities that will need to expand in the future—the West Seventh Branch Library,the Sun Ray Branch Library,and the Highland Park Branch Library. Mr. Williamson announced the Grand Opening of the Rondo Community Outreach Library,461 North Dale Street, on September 9,2006. Discussion followed the forum. Central Corridor Development Strategy Task Force: - Draft Planning Commission resolution establishing the Central Corridor Development Strategy Task Force for review. (Donna Drummond, 651/266-6556) MOTION: Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen moved the Comprehensive Planning Committee recommendation to approve the resolution. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. VI. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee East Grand Avenue Overlay District -Release draft for public review and set public hearing on June 2,2006. (Yang Zhang, 651/266-6659) MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved the Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee's recommendation that the East Grand Avenue Overlay District Plan Draft be released for public review and that the Planning Commission set a public hearing for June 2, 2006. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. VII. Long-range Planning Committee No report 4 VIII. Communications Commission No report IX. Task Force Reports No report X. Old Business None XI New Business None XII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m. Recorded and prepared by Kate Fleming, Planning Commission Secretary Planning and Economic Development Department, City of Saint Paul Respectfully submitted, Approved D py0 (D 6aQvf\tia-'- Larry Soderholm Mar' yn Porter Planning Administrator Sec etary of the P1 nning mmission PED\Fleming\May 5,2006 5