Approved Minutes 3-13-2002Page 1 of 13
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE
SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3RD FLOOR
City Hall and Court House
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
Web Index
• Consent Agenda
• Communications and Administrative Orders
• For Action
• Suspension Item
• For Discussion
• Ordinances
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by Council President Bostrom.
Present - 7 - Benanav, Blakey, Bostrom, Coleman, Harris, Lantry, Reiter
Absent - 0
CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 - 29)
NOTE: ALL ITEMS LISTED UNDER CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED BY
A COUNCILMEMBER, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND
CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
Councilmember Harris requested Item 8 be laid over two weeks.
Gerry Strathman, Secretary to the Council, read the communication listed below into the record.
Councilmember Lantry moved approval of the consent agenda as amended.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
COMMUNICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
The following communications were read into the record by Gerry Strathman, City Council Secretary:
Letter from the Department of Planning and Economic Development announcing that the public hearing
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to consider the application of Christenson Corporation for preliminary plat approval for subdivision of
property bounded by Norfolk Avenue, Davern Street, and West Seventh Street to provide for
construction of new commercial and residential buildings (Gateway Village) has been rescheduled from
March 20, 2002, to April 3, 2002.
Letter from the Department of Planning and Economic Development announcing that the public hearing
to consider the application of the Saint Paul Port Authority for combined plat approval for subdivision
of property bounded by Topping Street, Como Avenue, Burlington Northern Railroad Tracks, and Dale
Street to provide for construction of new industrial buildings (Great Northern Business Center) has been
rescheduled from March 20, 2002, to April 24, 2002.
1. Claims of Justin DeNio, Cesar Dominguez, Carol Hooten, Attorney at Law (for Thomas & Linda
Kissane), and Kenrie Williams & Larry McKenzie.
Referred to the Risk Management Division
2. Notice of Filing of Orders and Amended Order Authorizing Payment of Deposit and Transferring of
Title in the matter of the Port Authority of the City of Saint Paul vs. the City of Saint Paul, et al. (Phalen
Corridor Industrial Development District)
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
3. Motion to Compel Discovery and Request for Oral Argument on Motion in the matter of Donald
Drouin, Jr., vs the City of Saint Paul, et al.
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
4. Summons in Application for Registration in the Matter of the Application of Duane Biermaier and
Melvina Biermaier to register title to the following real estate in Ramsey County: Lot 11 and the West
!� /z of Lot 12, Dawson's Rearrangement of Lots 1 to 10 of Block 31 of West St. Paul Proper; in the City
of St. Paul, MN.
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
5. Administrative Orders:
D002116 Allocating funds from the Neighborhood Investment Initiative Program in the Department of
Planning and Economic Development.
D002117 Allocating funds from the Neighborhood Investment Initiative Program to the Scenic
Overlook project in the Department of Planning and Economic Development.
D002118 Authorizing funding, not to exceed $1,800.00, for one Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) task force participant (not a city employee) to attend a Basic Data Recovery Course in Denver,
CO from June 17 -21, 2002.
D002119 Authorizing the Police Department to pay expenses, not to exceed $7,000.00, related to the
Volunteer Banquet at the Red Lion Inn, St. Paul, on April 6, 2002.
D002120 Authorizing the proper City officials to pay the Trust for Public Land, Midwest Region, an
amount not to exceed $85,000.00 as reimbursement for expenses incurred by the Trust for Public Land
in the City's behalf in the Lower Phalen Creek acquisition project.
D002121 Revising the budget in the Office of Property Code Enforcement to cover 2001 year -end
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variances.
D002122 Authorizing reimbursement to various vendors for costs incurred in conducting employee
relations and recognition programs in 2002.
Noted as on file in the City Clerk's Office
FOR ACTION
6. Approval of minutes of February 27, 2002.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
7. Resolution - 02 -190 - Approving the appointment of Howard Orenstein, by Mayor Kelly, as Assistant
to the Mayor VI.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
8. Resolution - 02 -191 - Approving the appointment of Councilmember Patrick Harris, by Mayor Kelly,
to the Ramsey County League of Local Governments.
Laid over to March 27 Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
9. Resolution - 02 -192 - Authorizing the Marketing and Promotions Division to accept a gift of a round -
trip airline ticket from the Minnesota Film Board for the local film liaison to attend the annual Los
Angeles "Ice Pack" event on February 25 -27, 2002.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
10. Resolution - 02 -193 - Authorizing the Marketing and Promotions Division to accept a gift of round -
trip airline tickets from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce for Mayor Randy Kelly and Carl
Kuhl to participate in the Chamber's annual conference.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
11. Resolution - 02 -194 - Authorizing the Marketing and Promotions Division to accept a gift of a
round -trip airline ticket from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce for Erich Mische to tour
Baltimore School for the Performing Arts.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
12. Resolution - 02 -195 - Accepting the Planning Commission's recommendation regarding District
Councils and requesting a partnership with the Administration to explore the recommendations further.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
13. Resolution - 02 -196 - Approving payment of $17,500.00 to Jer Thao in full settlement of her claim
against the City of Saint Paul.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
14. Resolution - 02 -197 - Authorizing City PERA contribution for the Executive Assistant to the Mayor
be paid into the City's Deferred Compensation Plan.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
15. Resolution - 02 -198 - Accepting a $5,000.00 grant from the American Lung Association to the
Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection to conduct tobacco compliance checks.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
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16. Resolution - 02 -199 - Amending the legal description in Council File 01 -1203 of an easement
retained in vacated Wilson Avenue.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
17. Resolution - 02 -200 - Establishing a 2002 spending and financing plan for the Safe and Sober Grant
in the Police Department.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
18. Resolution - 02 -201 - Amending the budget in the Division of Code Enforcement to authorize use of
Weed and Seed grant monies in the East Consolidated, District 6 Planning Council, area and authority to
enter into the agreement to provide the contract services.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
19. Resolution - 02 -202 - Accepting a grant from the State of Minnesota for pedestrian crosswalk safety
from February 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002, implementing an agreement with the State of
Minnesota, and approving the changes to the 2002 budget.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
20. Resolution - 02 -203 - Approving a Release of License document which releases certain easement
rights held by the City of Saint Paul for the Board of Water Commissioners in Ramsey County.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
21. Resolution - 02 -204 - Amending the 1999 Capital Improvement Budget for the Trout Brook
Corridor Acquisition Project by accepting additional funding from leased property rental payments.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
22. Resolution - 02 -205 - Amending the 1999 Capital Improvement Budget for the Dunning Recreation
Center Project to accept additional funding from private donations.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
23. Resolution - 02 -206 - Amending the 1998 Capital Improvement Budget for the Highwood Park and
Preserve Acquisition Project to accurately reflect project funding received by the City.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
24. Resolution - 02 -207 - Accepting a grant from the Metropolitan Council and establishing a budget for
Phase I restoration of the Como Conservatory Fern House.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
25. Resolution - 02 -208 - Authorizing the proper City officials to apply for, and upon approval of the
application, enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Outdoor
Recreation Grant Program for the North Dale Recreation Center Play Area and Site Work project.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
26. Resolution - 02 -209 - Authorizing the Division of Parks and Recreation to apply to the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, Local Trail Connections Grant Program, for the Commercial Street
Connector to Indian Mounds Regional Park project.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
27. Resolution - 02 -210 - Authorizing the Division of Parks and Recreation to apply to the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, National Recreation Trail Program, for the Lowertown Connector to
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Bruce Vento Regional Trail project.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
28. Resolution - 02 -211 - Authorizing the proper City officials to apply for, and upon approval of the
application, enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Outdoor
Recreation Grant Program, for the Homecroft Recreation Center Play Area and Site Work project.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
29. Resolution Approving Assessment - 02 -212 - In the matter of the assessment of benefits, cost and
expenses for the installation of a twin lantern style lighting system on both sides of East Seventh Street
from Sinnen Street to Mounds Boulevard, and setting date of public hearing for April 24, 2002. (File
No.18897)
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Susbension Items
Councilmember Lantry moved suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 02 -213 - Supporting the Grant application of Historic Saint Paul to the Knight Foundation
and pledging $5,000 from the City if the grant is awarded to Historic Saint Paul.
Councilmember Lantry said this grant will help the city make direct connections between how historic
preservation and economic development are tools that can help the city with some education efforts in
its historic district and for historic buildings.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Councilmember Coleman moved suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 02 -214 - Approving changes to the 2002 budget and in the interest of improving cultural
relationships on behalf of the citizens of Saint Paul, accepting the contributions for the Mayor's Summit
on Cultural Relations.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Councilmember Coleman moved suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 02 -215 - Relating to enforcement of ordinance provisions requiring that all beer and
intoxicating liquor sold by liquor licensees along parade routes be dispensed only in plastic or paper
containers.
Councilmember Coleman said he received requests from some of the liquor establishments along the St.
Patrick's Day parade route. The City Code indicates that if an establishment is within one block of a
parade route, alcohol can only be served in a plastic cup on the day of the parade. This resolution would
suspend enforcement of that rule after 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2002 and also requests the Administration
to review that part of the ordinance to determine if changes should be made.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
FOR DISCUSSION
30. Resolution - 02 -146 - Requesting Mayor Kelly to enter into discussions with the appropriate officials
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regarding merging the City of Saint Paul and County of Ramsey public library systems. (Amended and
laid over from February 27)
Gerry Strathman, Council Research Director, appeared. He referred to the "Ramsey County Local
Government Services Study Commission." The Commission was a result of legislation that was created.
It specified that the Commission would have 25 members. There were 12 public officials and 13 citizens
on the commission. Their mission, as charged by the Legislature, was to examine the consolidation,
operation, restructuring, or sharing of any service, groups of service, or local government structures.
Five areas were studied by the Commission: libraries, public health, public works, law enforcement and
prosecution. Recommendations were made in all of the areas except prosecution.
A library subcommittee was put together which consisted of seven staff members representing the
jurisdictions involved. Two of them were from the City of St. Paul, one a high level librarian, three from
Ramsey County, one being the head librarian for the Ramsey County system, a staff member from the
Metropolitan Council, and a staff person from Moundsview. The subcommittee did a lot of financial
analysis and presented their findings. They examined personnel issues, finance issues, data processing
concerns, property concerns, and legal issues. They also addressed the issue of union representation.
One of the concerns was that all of the St. Paul library staff are union members and at this time about
half of the Ramsey County library staff are union members.
Different salary levels for similar jobs were looked at and they generally found that the salaries for city
employees were higher than those for county employees.
The computer systems were not compatible between the two library systems. Also, they use different
book classification systems. The city's library system operates under the executive control of the Mayor
and the county has a separate library board. There were also different levels of expenditures per capita
between the two systems. There was concern about Ramsey County's $15 million debt that they had
taken on to build a new library and who would be responsible for that debt.
Staff brought forward two recommendations: 1) the Commission should be in favor of a regional library
system and a single taxing authority, and 2) total consolidation of the two library systems, including
facilities, personnel, other resources and a study to improve coordination with public school systems.
The recommendations were taken to the Commission and they changed the first recommendation and
instead recommended the Legislature support the consolidation of the libraries on a seven - county
regional basis with a single taxing authority and that the Legislature take an in -depth look at this
approach. They also recommended a moratorium in 1992 on new library construction, no substantive
expansion of library facilities, and no major investments in technology after December 31, 1992, until
the legislative review was completed. The Commission also recommended that schools be included and
the new regional library system should include a reasonable amount of local control.
The second staff recommendation for consolidation was rejected by the Commission on a vote of 15 -8.
After the failure of the consolidation recommendation, a motion was made that the city and county enter
into a joint powers agreement and that there would be a single library system. Savings of $416,000 per
year were referred to in the motion. This amount came from the staff report which was their estimate of
the savings available from consolidation. The motion failed on a 12 -11 vote.
Mr. Strathman noted that the Commission report in its totality was not broadly supported by the
Commission members. A dissenting report was written and signed by 11 of the 25 members which
claimed that the majority of the report had fallen short of its potential for eliminating unnecessary
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duplication and achieving cost effectiveness while maintaining service and accountability.
Mr. Strathman said he has not made an effort to track the exact path of the Commission's
recommendations once they left the Commission and he did not know where they went once they went
back to the Legislature.
As a side note, Mr. Strathman said that one of the recommendations made by the Commission quite
decisively was that the two public health departments not be merged.
Councilmember Blakey asked if the Commission's report ever came to the City Council. Mr. Strathman
said he did not believe that was part of the process. The Commission was set up by the Legislature and
they reported back to the Legislature. Councilmember Blakey said he was not tied to the idea that there
has to be a merger at this point but he is tied to the idea that he feels they have to do all they can to find
cost savings and that is why he is interested in doing a study.
Councilmember Blakey moved approval of the resolution.
Councilmember Coleman said it is the Council's obligation to look for cost savings but he felt the more
appropriate action would be to have someone compile a report on the appropriate areas to look at. There
is very broad support for the library systems in the city. What is continually heard is that people want
extended hours, better service, more computers, and better programming through the library system. He
felt a commitment was made a couple of months ago to look at this as a potential change in how the
library system is operated. If they are looking at ways to save money, it should be done more
systematically rather than picking out one department at random.
Councilmember Benanav said when this is looked at from the city's perspective, what might be
beneficial to the county may not work for the city. Also, the needs of the citizens of St. Paul may be
different from other areas of the county.
One of the first things that should be done, Councilmember Lantry said, is to make phone calls to the
Ramsey County Commissioners and survey them of their interest. Council President Bostrom said
language in the resolution indicates that the City Council is interested and they are asking the Mayor and
Council Research to work with the county to see if they are interested. Also, a merger would have to be
in the interest of the citizens of St., Paul and provide a financial savings. The resolution does not bind
the city to do anything.
Councilmember Harris expressed concern that it may appear the city is only trying to save money when
the real goal is to provide a library system that serves the community in the best possible way. He
suggested laying the resolution over until it goes through the legislative process.
Councilmember Blakey said he feels a layover would give the appearance that the city is not serious
about wanting to do the study. The previous study was done at least ten years ago and systems change
over time, especially the computer system. He felt it sends a bad message to the Legislature to suggest
that the City does not want to do a study for cost savings but in the same breath talk about raising taxes.
Councilmember Coleman responded that to call what is being floated at the Legislature a tax increase is
a misunderstanding. It allows a separate taxing authority which would then remove that budget off line
of the regular city budget process and would allow independent discussion that would focus specifically
on libraries. The reason the Friends of the Library looked at that was because they realize that every year
they come in during budget deliberations and the library budget is on the chopping block even though
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there is always overwhelming support of the St. Paul citizens to increase services.
Councilmember Benanav said they could be looking at merging various things and he questioned why
they are targeting the library.
Councilmember Blakey moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 4 Nays - 3 (Coleman, Harris, Reiter)
31. Resolution - 02 -167 - Ordering the owner to remove or repair the building at 920 Jackson Street
within fifteen (15) days from adoption of resolution. (Legislative Hearing Officer recommends
approval) (Laid over from February 27)
Gerry Strathman, Legislative Hearing Officer, reported that he held a hearing on this matter and no one
appeared to take responsibility for the property; therefore, he recommended approval.
Councilmember Reiter moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
32. Resolution - 02 -189 - Establishing a Legislative Advisory Committee to make recommendations for
the naming of a street for Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr. (Laid over from March 6)
Councilmember Blakey presented a substitute resolution. The committee will consist of nine members.
The Mayor's Office asked to have their office name four members to the committee. The Council will
name three members, one member will be from the Planning Commission, and one from the Heritage
Preservation Commission.
Councilmember Blakey moved approval of the substitute resolution.
Substitute adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
33. Report from Gerry Strathman, Director of Council Research, on: 1) the number of street miles
parking enforcement officers (PEOs) are required to patrol; 2) how much revenue is generated from
fines for permit parking violations and if it would be cost effective to add additional (PEOs); and 3)
whether the fine for permit parking violations should be increased.
Gerry Strathman distributed a handout which he reviewed. He noted that there are 874 miles of streets in
the City of St. Paul, and 1,748 curb miles. All parking in this mileage is enforced by the Police
Department. Each parking enforcement officer has a beat and every street in the city is covered by
someone at some time.
Of the 1,748 curb miles, 75 miles have no parking, 25 miles have residential permit parking, 8 miles are
covered by meters, 13 miles where parking is limited in some way, 152 miles that are restricted during
street cleaning times, and 25 miles that have rush hour restrictions.
With regard to parking meters, approximately 3.5 parking enforcement officers (PEOs) are assigned to
work downtown. It costs just over $41,000 per year to field PEOs, so about $144,000 per year is spent
enforcing parking meters downtown. Collections from parking meters are approximately $1,350,000 per
year. Approximately $300,000 per year is collected from people who do not put money in meters and
the city gets two - thirds of that amount from the Violations Bureau. There is a net gain on parking meters
of almost $1 million per year.
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With regard to residential permit parking, Public Works indicated that the administration costs are about
$31,000 per year. Pertaining to how much it costs to enforce the residential parking permit zones, the
best staff could do was guess how much time the officers spend in these zones and that guess is about
one -third of their time. Mr. Strathman said it was impossible to calculate the exact amount because the
data is not collected in such a way that it's possible to tell whether a violation was in a residential
parking zone or whether it was some other type of parking violation. The cost estimate for enforcement
of residential parking is $130,000 but it could be $150,000- $160,000.
Approximately $150,000 is collected for permit fees for permit parking.
For violations revenue, it is not known how much of it is attributable to residential parking violations
and how much is for other parking violations but the best guess is about $94,000. If the calculations are
accurate, the city is bringing in about $144,000 /year from residential parking permits and a net loss of
about $17,000 /year. With just the violations revenue, it is thought the amount is about $100,000 and that
about $130,000 is spent on enforcement.
Neighborhood parking enforcement does not pay for itself. Since both the enforcement of meters and
enforcement of residential parking are in the same unit in the Police Department, the unit is making its
budget but one way of looking at it is that the violation revenue created by the officers working
downtown is offsetting some of the costs of enforcing neighborhood residential parking.
Mr. Strathman said they looked into what some other cities were charging for parking violations: St.
Paul - $15, Minneapolis - $30, Seattle (depending on the area) up to $27, Portland - $40, Boston
(downtown) - $30, other areas of Boston - $20, Chicago - $50, Kansas City - $38, Milwaukee - $20,
Omaha - $16, Rochester, MN - $10, St. Cloud - $5 or $10, and Duluth - $6.
Staff recommended that the fines should be increased for parking violations for two reasons: 1) It's clear
that the fines for residential permit parking are not paying for the cost of enforcement even if the
revenue from fees is added in; and 2) St. Paul has very low penalties for residential parking violations as
well as parking meter violations. While the meters are not losing money, there are advantages to
increasing the fines. However, that is not entirely within the Council's control. An ordinance can be
passed to increase the penalty but it has to have the approval of the Chief Judge.
Councilmember Benanav recommended increasing the fine to $25 for residential parking violations.
Gerry Strathman said that was the same amount staff had suggested. Whether the Council wants to
increase the meter rates is a separate question, Strathman said. There may be some logic in doing that
but it is a different logic. The violation rate may not be high enough to be a disincentive to people.
Mr. Strathman said one of the problems they feel exists is that there is not currently much of a
connection between the activities of the parking enforcement officers in writing tickets and the amount
of revenue that goes into the parking enforcement activity. Therefore, each year a budget is established
that indicates the number of PEOs and the amount of money to pay for them. If the PEOs generate
additional money, it makes no difference in their budget. Staff feels that a better budgeting process
might create better incentives for how to determine how many parking enforcement officers are wanted
and where they go.
Councilmember Bostrom asked how much other cities charge for parking permits. Katie Krile, Council
Research Policy Analyst, responded that the majority of the cities charge $10. Milwaukee does not
charge residents.
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Councilmember Benanav asked if there is a way to distinguish parking violations in permit parking
zones versus other areas. Mr. Strathman responded the reason they cannot now distinguish is largely
because of the way the ordinances are structured. One ordinance covers the University of Minnesota,
one covers William Mitchell College of Law, and one covers St. Thomas University. A fourth ordinance
covers everyone else. When PEOs are writing a ticket, they have to cite which ordinance is being
violated. Mr. Strathman said staff is recommending there be one ordinance for residential permit
parking, give it a specific code, and train the officers that whenever they are dealing with a residential
parking violation, they use the new code.
Councilmember Coleman said the report was good but he did not feel it answered the more difficult
question pertaining to the few miles of residential parking zones. The problem is that where the miles
are is where it matters and solving the issues surrounding that. Mr. Strathman said for the most part, in
residential parking zones people don't just get one parking permit, some people get several of them and
the average in Highland Park is four.
Councilmember Lantry said all of the permit parking areas are numbered and if they want to keep track
of where there are the most violators and where efforts should be concentrated, the PEOs could write
down what area they were in or the number of the permit area.
Councilmember Harris said he felt the fines should be increased so the city is at least breaking even. In
the budget process, the PEOs should be accounted for as a function of revenues and expenditures. He
said they need to look at the larger picture of how they are doing the processes and whether it makes
sense to be doing it they way they currently are. Councilmember Harris asked Mr. Strathman if they
looked into how other communities handle their parking zones. Gerry Strathman said they did not do
that but they did pick up information about zones. He said he would be willing to look into this.
Report from the Police Department regarding enforcement statistics on permit parking. (A report was
presented on February 13, 2002, and an additional reported was requested)
Mike Morehead, Division of Code Enforcement, and former Commander of the Traffic and Accident
Unit, said he was contacted by several people in the city recently seeking a memorandum he prepared
about 5 -6 years ago and which he was not able to locate. At that time there was controversy over
residential permit parking. He prepared another memo and did additional research which he said
complements Mr. Strathman's report but he took a slightly different tact to it which is that patrolling the
streets of St. Paul is a good way to control the quality of life. He asked if the City of St. Paul has a long -
range plan or goal as to what they want the city's parking situation to look like 20 -25 years from now.
Without a plan, there is a piecemeal attempt to regulate parking and doing a variety of things with no
consistency to it and it's very confusing. He suggested to the Council that they try to formulate a long -
range 25 -30 year goal and use it as a policy guideline for making some decisions in these areas. The
suburban counterparts are maintaining quite a high quality of life in residential neighborhoods simply by
controlling parking.
Mr. Morehead said that many lots in the City of St. Paul are only 40 or 50 feet wide. When there are 24
legal parking spots on both sides of a block and a resident can get six permits per household, he
questioned what is going to be done when there are 60 permits for 24 parking spots. He suggested a
thorough review of a neighborhood be done by Traffic Engineering before residential permit parking is
authorized and find out how many cars in a neighborhood can park legally off - street, how many cars can
be parked legally on- street and determine who needs the permits and who doesn't. This would greatly
help improve the quality of life in a number of the neighborhoods.
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Mr. Morehead asked the Council if they would consider appointing a committee of people from
pertinent departments to do about a six -month in -depth study on parking throughout the entire city
whose purpose would be to set a long -range goal for the city and bring it back to the Council for review.
Councilmember Blakey suggested a resolution be brought in to do a long -term study on parking.
The Council Research Center was directed to develop a proposal for Council review which includes
issues and recommendations raised at this meeting and return to the Council with a report on March 27,
2002.
34. Presentation on Bus Rapid Transit, the Riverview Corridor transit project, and transit - oriented
development in transit station areas.
Allen Lovejoy, Department of Planning and Economic Development, and Suzanne Rhees, Senior
Planner with URS Consulting, presented a report on Transportation Oriented Development. Mr. Lovejoy
said this comes out of the Riverview Corridor transit project but it's not exclusive to the project. He said
it's significant not just with respect to any individual corridor but in the Land Use Plan that the City
Council recently adopted, there is extensive talk about redevelopment within corridors. The transit
oriented development is one of the key tools they want to use in the redevelopment process.
Mr. Lovejoy distributed a book entitled "Planning More Livable Communities with Transit - Oriented
Development" which is the Metro Council's guidebook for transit - oriented development.
Suzanne Rhees said the status of the project is uncertain at this time in terms of implementation of the
actual transit improvements. She gave a Power Point presentation on what the Riverview Line is as it
has been planned through the latest phase, what Bus Rapid Transit is, and what is Transit - Oriented
Development and how might that be a tool for revitalization along many corridors within the city.
Council President Bostrom asked where they actually are now with the action taken by the Legislature.
Mr. Lovejoy responded that it leaves them with very little money. There is a little money left in the
original budget of $26.1 million. A meeting was scheduled with Metro Transit on March 14 to discuss it.
As they look at allocation of the remaining funds they have to first find out how much is left. They have
some obligations that have been encumbered as part of this project including some of PED's staff costs
which were to be paid out of this budget.
Mr. Lovejoy said they want to continue with the station area planning. The East group that has met
twice is very enthusiastic about wanting to continue. The West group is a little bit more animated about
some opinions. The people who are at the table are very interested in some of the planning issues so staff
would like to continue that. Staff has said they want to do an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) that
would improve the connection between Shepard Road and I35 -E and between Shepard Road and the
Highway 5 bridge at the southwest end. They believe that a lot of traffic that's on that stretch of West
Seventh Street, which in some areas is over 38,000 vehicles per day, could be diverted onto Shepard
Road if there were better connections at the east and west ends.
They are waiting for the legislative session to conclude, Mr. Lovejoy said, to see if there are other
avenues of funding to continue the project. He said they have an advantage in that they will have
sufficient time to look at exactly what the city wants and have some detailed discussions with the
community in terms of what individual neighborhoods are looking for with redevelopment.
Councilmember Harris said he does not think another study should be done unless the money is
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available to do the project. He is concerned about going forward with planning something that may
never happen. He asked who the remaining money belongs to and who is paying for the rest of the
study. Mr. Lovejoy responded that the original budget was $46.1 million; $44 million of that came from
the Governor's surplus of two years ago and $2.1 million is additional money through the Metropolitan
Council for this project. All the money being talked about is the remainder of what was allocated by the
State for additional studies. He said that most of what they are intending to do as part of the stationary
planning is to complete some of the planning efforts that have already begun or to look specifically at
plans that have already been adopted and how they might be able to push the agenda a little harder.
Ms. Rhees added that future federal funding requires a certain amount of planning to have been done.
The level of planning that has taken place now, such as the Central Corridor, in advance of any
transportation investment is one example.
(Lantry left the meeting)
Councilmember Coleman commented on the level of investment that has taken place and the
opportunity that has been lost. He said he hopes they don't settle on less money and then the benefits
that were perceived out of the project all of a sudden become all the negatives without the benefits.
Mr. Lovejoy said he was not sure what form the reincarnation of this concept will take. Where they have
been patient and stayed the course, they have been very successful in terms of redevelopment. There are
so many component pieces that can be funded individually but they have to keep their eye on on what
the overall concept is, what they're trying to do, and find the money where they can. He said he expects
this will take time and it will likely be implemented at a pace and in ways that might surprise them but
they will continue that course.
ORDINANCES
NOTE: AN ORDINANCE IS A CITY LA W ENACTED BY THE CITY CO UNCIL. IT IS READ AT FO UR
SEPARATE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND BECOMES EFFECTIVE AFTER PASSAGE BY THE
CO UNCIL AND 30 DAYS AFTER P UBLICATION IN THE SAINT PA UL LEGAL LEDGER.
35. Second Reading - 02 -185 - An ordinance amending interim Ordinance 01 -648, adopted November
20, 2000, which imposed a moratorium on the use of property in the area presently under study for the
Arcade Street Area Study pending completion of the study and any possible amendments to the City's
Comprehensive Plan or Zoning Ordinance deemed necessary to give effect to the study.
Laid over to March 20 for third reading /public hearing
Councilmember Blakey moved to adjourn the meeting.
Yeas - 6 Nays - 0 (Lantry not present)
ADJOURNED AT 6:40 P.M.
April 10, 2002
Daniel Bostrom, Council President
ATTEST:
Minutes approved by Council
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Page 13 of 13
Nancy Anderson
Assistant Council Secretary
mce
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