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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-15 City CouncilPage 1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and stated the meeting was being held remotely in compliance with Governor Walz’ Stay at Home Order then shared the procedure for public hearing and community comment. II. ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Members Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland. Absent: None. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. MEETING AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED Member Fischer made a motion, seconded by Member Staunton, to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. V. COMMUNITY COMMENT Andy Brown, 5512 Park Place, shared concerns about resident safety with recent carjacking, Fairview Southdale robbery incident, and others. Lori Grotz, 5513 Park Place, stated the street funding task force meetings had not been public, posted, and accessible as required by open meeting law. Heather Beal, 4236 Crocker Avenue, shared her support for the City’s data collection for the racial equity workplan. V.A. CITY MANAGER’S RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY COMMENTS Manager Neal stated no Community Comments were made at the last meeting. VI. CONSENT AGENDA ADOPTED AS PRESENTED Member Fischer made a motion, seconded by Member Staunton, approving the consent agenda as presented: VI.A. Approve minutes of the Work Session and Regular Meetings of September 1, 2020 VI.B. Adopt Resolution No. 2020-90; Extending Temporary Waiver of Utility Billing Late Fees VI.C. Approve payment claims for Check Register Claims Pre-List dated September 4-10, 2020, totaling $2,188,122.03 and credit card transactions June 27-July 27, 2020, totaling $47,340.79 VI.D. Set December 1, 2020 as the Public Hearing Date for the 2021 Levy and Budget VI.E. Approve Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement with Securian Asset Management VI.F. Request for Purchase; awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, HVAC Unit and Exhaust Fan for Braemar Golf Maintenance Garage, Horwitz, $ 28,540.00 Minutes/Edina City Council/September 15, 2020 Page 2 VI.G. Request for Purchase; awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Police Body- Worn Cameras (Revised), WatchGuard Video, $146,300 VI.H. Request for Purchase; awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, West 58th Street Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction Construction Services, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. $54,628 VI.I. Request for Purchase; awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Water Treatment Plant No. 6 Ammonia Feed System, Municipal Builders, Inc. for $115,288.00 VI.J. Approve League of Minnesota Cities Annual Membership Dues VI.K. Adopt Resolution No. 2020-86; Accepting Donations Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. VII. SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS VII.A. DECLARING SEPTEMBER 17-23 CONSTITUTION WEEK – PROCLAIMED Mayor Hovland read in full a proclamation to declare the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Edina. Member Brindle made a motion, seconded by Member Anderson, approving the proclamation declaring Constitution Week 2020 in Edina. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. Mary Kaye Brown, member of the Keewaydin Chapter National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted the Proclamation and shared history on the Constitution. VII.B. HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF DAVID HUTCHINSON UPDATE – RECEIVED Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson updated the Council on activities in the Sheriff's Office and thanked the City for the continued partnership between the agencies. VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD– Affidavits of Notice presented and ordered placed on file. VIII.A. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-89: APPROVING ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT VACATION AT 5012 BEDFORD AVENUE – CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 7, 2020 Director of Engineering Millner shared Steven Makowski and Beth Johnson had applied for a vacation of the alley right-of-way easements at 5012 Bedford Avenue and that staff would be reviewing the need for additional easements from 5321 and 5329 Interlachen Boulevard in order to ensure proper stormwater drainage. The Council spoke about vacated easements in the past and flooding in the Morningside area and asked whether staff was confident the vacation would be sufficient for proper stormwater management. Mr. Millner explained the area was 14 feet wide and staff had concerns about granting the vacation without additional easements and that would be determined prior to final action. Mayor Hovland opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. Public Testimony No one appeared. Member Anderson made a motion, seconded by Member Fischer, to extend the public hearing to noon on September 23, 2020, and take final action on Resolution No. 2020-89, vacating alley easement, 5012 Bedford Avenue, at the October 7, 2020, meeting. Rollcall: Minutes/Edina City Council/September 15, 2020 Page 3 Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. IX. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS IX.A. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-88: ADOPTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ESTABLISHING THE PROPOSED TAX LEVY PAYABLE IN 2021 – ADOPTED Mr. Neal stated Statute required the City adopt a proposed budget and levy and certify the proposed levy to the county auditor by September 30 for parcel specific notices. The City was also required to certify the final property tax levy to the County by December 28, 2020. He said the final levy could be less than or equal to, but not higher, than the preliminary levy and the resolution would set the maximum proposed 2021 tax levies at $41,787,871. He said the HRA adopted a proposed tax levy of $230,400 at their meeting on September 10 and the total of all levies included would result in an overall levy increase of 5.95 percent. Finance Director Uram shared the City’s prioritization process for the Capital Improvement Plan, explained the debt service levy and funding allocations, then stated the 2021 proposed budget and levies were consistent with the two-year budget adopted in December 2019. The Council spoke about the proposed budget and Alternate 1, whether moderating impacts on residents during the current health pandemic were necessary and suggested holding off buying down the tax rate to use if there’s a negative impact on commercial properties. Mr. Neal responded the City received 51% of property tax revenue to date and explained how the lag in the property tax system benefited market value impacts until 2022 for a better idea of impacts. He noted 82% of residential property owners would pay the same or less in 2021 as proposed. The Council supported the original proposal as it would allow more flexibility in future years, if needed, then confirmed the projected budget stabilization fund balance would not have to be deployed unless authorized. Member Staunton introduced and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2020-88 Adopting the Proposed Budget for the City of Edina for Year 2021 and Establishing the Proposed Tax Levy Payable in 2021. Member Brindle seconded the motion. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. IX.B. SKETCH PLAN FOR 7001 AND 7025 FRANCE AVENUE – RECEIVED Community Development Director Teague shared the Council was asked to consider a sketch plan request to redevelop the southeast corner of 70th and France. The applicant would tear down the existing 66,200 square foot office and bank and construct a 24-foot tall 6,000 square foot US Bank building with drive-through (Phase 1), a 10-story 184,000 square foot office/retail building – 737 parking stalls, a 23- story, 254-unit residential tower – 425 parking stalls, and a 7-story, 100-unit apartment building – 107 parking stalls. He said sketch plans had been considered on this site from a different developer and the current proposal was generally similar but had less surface parking and no drive-through for retail use. The proposed bank did not have a drive-through behind the building and the applicant had worked to follow the Southdale Design Experience guidelines as well as include affordable housing units. Ted Carlson, Orion Investments, introduced the project team and plans to align site with the Small Area Plan (SAP) and shared the neighborhood meeting held that would incorporate neighborhood input. Neil Reardon, USG, shared site and massing diagrams that included smaller blocks with internal streets, higher density for mixed use environment, new pedestrian links, and flexible spaces. He said Site A would include a residential building with 250 units and 360 enclosed residential parking stalls, 60 commercial/retail parking stalls and have a strong street presence with a large outdoor amenity deck, and exterior balconies, Site B of 150,000 square feet of office space and screened structured parking of 650 stalls, building entry Minutes/Edina City Council/September 15, 2020 Page 4 points along the internal north/south street, and Site C with 100 units and 100 enclosed parking stalls with smaller size units and a strong urban character and pedestrian grid. He said Site D would be Phase 1 with the relocation of US Bank that would include transparent visibility, community room, and drive-through. Mr. Reardon described shared the green and landscape elements that included rain gardens, onsite storm water management, generous setbacks at France Avenue frontage, and trellis along building façade. He then shared more about the framework, strong outdoor rooms, connections, and urban designs. The Council shared their response to the proposed project and suggested something on the southeast corner that mirrored what was happening on the west corners for a gateway effect. The Council felt the bank was underwhelming and should be more prominent and better balanced. The Council stressed emphasis of the human scale, how the site felt massive, and the need for green amenities around the retail office and create walkways beneath the large building for more openness. The Council commented on how the pandemic could change office use in the future and suggested flexibility be considered, if needed, that could include more senior housing or corporate or medical office space. The Council asked questions about the proposed bedroom mix and if the amenity deck had a public purpose, and area for deliveries. The Council spoke about workforce housing and strict compliance with the affordable housing policy, noting some units could result in attainable housing with reasonable rents. The Council stressed the need for more green space and to consider stacked parking for employees. The Council asked about stormwater best practices and possible water table issues. The Council felt the need to draw buildings together for better flow and aesthetics and provide better access to the promenade. The Council asked for inclusion of solar panels, where possible. The Council spoke about healthy building concepts and the need for ionic building filters then spoke about phasing and current vacancy and absorption rates, the need for relief on 70th and France, and how sidewalks needed to be larger to promote biking and pedestrian traffic. The Council cautioned against being under parked and if the proforma would include any TIF financing then spoke about the design experience guidelines and importance of interior streets and street rooms. The Council shared the need to better meet the needs of US Bank with regard to drive-through lanes and trash enclosures and challenged the applicant to work to become more innovative. The Council shared the Greater Southdale District Design Experience Guidelines adopted in 2019 and highlighted aspirations for the District that focused on human activity on every block, parks and public spaces, street networks that encouraged pedestrian movement and better traffic patterns, and stressed not having backs of buildings as the site changed over time. The Council suggested expansion of below grade parking under the housing and street elevations for a better pedestrian experience and review of the Think Bank on Hazelton that included a patio in the community room with four front entrances parallel to the promenade, locations for sidewalk cafes, and mixing affordable units with the market rate apartments as opposed to buy-in to make a better project. Due to technical difficulties Member Anderson left the meeting at 10:30 p.m. X. CORRESPONDENCE - Received X.A. Mayor Hovland acknowledged the Council’s receipt of various correspondence. X.B. COMMISSION CORRESPONDENCE (MINUTES AND ADVISORY COMMUNICATION) 1. MINUTES: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: JULY 14, 2020 2. MINUTES: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: AUGUST 10, 2020 XI. AVIATION NOISE UPDATE – Received XII. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS – Received XIII. MANAGER’S COMMENTS – Received XIV. CALENDAR OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND EVENTS – Received Minutes/Edina City Council/September 15, 2020 Page 5 Member Anderson returned to the meeting at 10:43 p.m. XV. ADJOURNMENT Member Anderson made a motion, seconded by Member Brindle, to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. Rollcall: Ayes: Anderson, Brindle, Fischer, Staunton, Hovland Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Allison, City Clerk Minutes approved by Edina City Council, October 7, 2020. James B. Hovland, Mayor Video Copy of the September 15, 2020, meeting available.