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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC WORKSESSION PACKET 07162019If you would like to request special accommodations or alternative formats, please contact the City Clerk at 612-782-3313 or email city@savmn.com. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact us by using 711 Relay. Work Session Agenda Tuesday, July 16, 2019 7:00 p.m. 1. Pollinator Protection. Erin Jordahl Redlin, Chair, Parks and Environmental Commission Presenting 2. Friends of the Parks. Erin Jordahl Redlin, Chair, Parks and Environmental Commission Presenting 3. LED Signage. Steve Grittman, City Planner Presenting 4. Sidewalk/Walk Way/Patio. Steve Grittman, City Planner Presenting 5. Election Signs. Steve Grittman, City Planner Presenting 6. Land Use Escrow. Mark Casey, City Manager and Steve Grittman, City Planner Presenting 7. Adjournment City of St. Anthony CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION City Council Chambers Minutes June 3, 2019 Present: Mayor & Council. Jerry Faust, Mayor; Hal Gray, Councilmember; Randy Stille, Councilmember, and Jan Jenson, Councilmember. Absent: Thomas Randle, Councilmember Staff: Mark Casey, City Manager and Shelly Rueckert, Finance Director. Guests: Craig Waldron, Adjunct Faculty, Hamline and eight students from the Economic Development Certification program. Ruth Ann Marks and Karen Wiemeri, St. Anthony Sister Cities. Call to Order: Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm Hamline Economic Development Certification Program: The students presented a PowerPoint and information on the Anthony Lane Business Park. Sister Cities: Marks and Wiemeri presented a Fact Sheet and reviewed their newly created strategic plan. The group discussed various possible collaborations. Levy: Staff presented draft 2020 preliminary levy information including long term debt service levy. Upon consensus of the Mayor and Council, staff should run scenarios for an additional $25,000 and $50,000 liquor transfer increase. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by Mark Casey, City Manager. THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK CITY OF ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 19-XXX RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE POLLINATOR PROTECTION AND PROMOTING POLLINATOR HABITAT WHEREAS, pollinators, including bees, butterflies, other insects, and birds, are an indispensable component of a healthy ecosystem and food system, providing flowering plants with the pollination needed to grow fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs; and WHEREAS, the practices that help to protect pollinators, such as planting habitat with native plants that help filter groundwater, reducing pesticide use, and educating the public on conservation practices, are also beneficial for the environment and people; and WHEREAS, scientific research has shown that pollinator populations are in rapid decline in the city of St. Anthony, in the State of Minnesota, and across the United States; and WHEREAS, research has shown that the decline is a result of multiple, interacting factors, including loss of food and habitat, pathogens and parasites, climate change, and the increased use of pesticides, including neonicotinoids; and WHEREAS, neonicotinoids are a class of systemic chemical insecticides that have been shown to impair pollinators at low doses and kill them at higher doses; and WHEREAS, alternative land management practices are available that would significantly increase pollinator habitat and reduce maintenance costs; and WHEREAS, Minnesota state law preempts municipalities’ ability to regulate pesticides, but does not restrict a municipality’s treatment of the land it manages; and WHEREAS, many St. Anthony residents and businesses are concerned about the well-being of pollinators; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of St. Anthony Has declared the City of St. Anthony a Pollinator Friendly Community. The city celebrates current policies and practices that protect and promote pollinator health, including: - The City of St. Anthony has begun to plant native pollinator-friendly plants on City property, including parks. - The City prioritizes nurseries that refrain from using neonicotinoids when purchasing plants for City projects. - City of St. Anthony departments use very little pesticides. Pesticides are used in topical, contained treatments to protect against threats like the emerald ash borer. In order to preserve the quality of the playing surface on high-value sports fields, herbicides and insecticides are periodically applied to control weeds, ants, and mosquitoes. Occasionally, the City will treat individual park trees with insecticides to control pest outbreaks including Japanese beetles. - The City seeks to incorporate pollinator habitat with storm water management through the use of rain gardens and native plant buffers. - The City of St. Anthony achieved the highest designation as a GreenStep 5 City from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. - The City’s Parks and Environmental Commission hosts speakers on environmental topics. Topics covered in the past have included how to help pollinators. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City shall undertake its best efforts to reverse pollinator decline by adopting new policies and practices that protect pollinators, including: - -The City shall conduct an inventory to determine a baseline of existing pollinator forage in St. Anthony. - The Public Works Department will work in partnership with residents and community groups to pursue planting more pollinator forage in appropriate locations on City property, including flowering pollinator lawns and educational pollinator gardens in City parks. - The City shall seek to clarify guidelines against the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and pesticide treated plants. - The City will encourage developers seeking permits to plant more pollinator forage where appropriate. - The City Planning Commission shall also encourage private developers to incorporate pollinator friendly plantings into required landscaping. - The City of St. Anthony shall support efforts to educate the broader community about the action it has taken and the importance of creating and maintaining pollinator friendly habitat. - The City of St. Anthony shall post a copy of this resolution to the City website and periodically post a Pollinator Friendly Activities Report in the City newsletter and website. - The City shall create and periodically review an Integrated Pest Management Plan, including an inventory of all pesticides currently used by the City, to better accomplish the goal of controlling pests with the least possible disruption to ecosystems. - St. Anthony shall manage for pollinators by selecting native plantings for any future City storm water management projects. - The City will not mow rain gardens and other native plantings where bees may overwinter. - The City shall work in partnership with the St. Anthony-New Brighton School District to pursue an ongoing reduction in the use of herbicides and insecticides on managed lawns and sports fields. - The Department of Public Works shall be responsible for ensuring the success of the agenda presented in this resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of St. Anthony urges all property owners, residents, businesses, institutions, and neighborhoods to assist pollinators by adopting practices including: - Committing to avoid using pesticides, including systemic insecticides, on their property; - Avoid planting flowering plants that have been treated with systemic insecticides; - Discontinuing the sale of pesticides and plants that are treated with systemic insecticides; - Incorporating more pollinator forage into their property; - Refrain from treating lawns with herbicide and insecticide. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of St. Anthony shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Governor Tim Walz, State Representatives and Senators, U.S. Representatives and Senators, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, and will continue to advocate at the State and Federal level for pollinator friendly policies. APPROVED in the regular session of the City Council on _______, 2019. _________________________________________ Jerome O. Faust, Mayor ATTEST:___________________________ Nicole Miller, City Clerk Review for Administration: _______________________________________ Mark Casey, City Manager THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 7/9/2019 1 Silver Point Park -Garden Phases Jul | Aug Spring SummerSep | Oct Planning FallMay | Jun Legend Friends of the Park Parks & Environmental Commission Public Works 2019 2020 Funding Water Planting Proposal Recommendation Approval Weeding WaterPollinator GardenRain GardenFlowering LawnPlanting Water Planting Water Water WaterPrep Prep Signage Signage Resources & Materials Pollinator Garden Rain Garden Flowering Lawn Size:20’ x 40’5’ x 15’20’ x 60’ Plants:•350-400 Plants •3-4 Shrubs •75 Plants •1.25 lbs. of seed Material:•Weed Suppressant Mat (4 -250 sq. ft. rolls) $75/roll •Stakes (400 6” staples) •Plant Signs (60) •Garden Sign •Sign •Sign Labor:•Prepare site •Select Plants •Plant •Water weekly (1st year) •Prepare site •Select Plants •Plant •Water (1st year as needed) •Prepare site •Select seeds •Spread seeds •Water daily (1st year) Estimate:Plants: $400 -$1,200 Mat: $300 Stakes: $ 40 Plant Sign: $ 75 $415 Garden Sign: TBD Plants: $75 -$225 Sign: TBD Seed: $30 Sign: TBD ** * MWMO Grant money available until July 7/9/2019 2 Potential Plants Common Name Height Space Moisture Light Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct A Pasque Flower 1'1'Medium, Dry Full, Partial purple purple B Virginia Bluebell 2'1-2'Medium, Dry Partial, Shade blue blue C Golden Alexanders 2'1'Medium, Dry Full, Partial yellow yellow D Columbine 2'1'Medium, Dry Partial, Shade red red red E Canada Anemone 1'8"Medium Full, Partial white white F Lg. Flw. Beardstongue 2'8"Medium, Dry Full, Partial pink pink G Wild Geranium 1-2'1'Medium, Dry Partial, Shade blue blue blue H Daisy 2-3'1-2'Medium, Dry Full, Partial white white white white I Bee Balm 2-3'1-2'Medium, Dry Full, Partial purple purple J Butterfly Milkweed 1-2'1-2'Medium, Dry Full orange orange orange K Common Milkweed 2-5'2'Moist, Medium Full, Partial pink pink pink L Anise Hyssop 3'1-2'Medium, Dry Full, Partial purple purple purple purple M hoary vervain 2'1'Medium, Dry Full, Partial blue blue Blue Blue N Black-eyed Susan 1-3'1'Medium, Dry Full yellow yellow yellow yellow O P. Purple Coneflower 3-5'1-2'Medium, Dry Full pink pink P Cardinal flower 4'1-2'Medium, Dry Full, Partial red red red Q Nodding Onion 1-2'8"Medium Full, Partial purple purple R Prairie Dropseed 2-3'2-3'Medium, Dry Full rust rust rust S Little Bluestem 2-3'2-3'Medium, Dry Full rust rust rust T Rough Blazing Star 3-6'1-2'Dry Full pink pink U Stonecrop 4"8"Dry Ful yellow yellow V Sky Blue aster 3'1-2'Medium, Dry Full, Partial Blue Blue Blue W Smooth Blue Aster 1-3'1-2'Dry Full blue blue blue X Sedum 1-2'1-2'Dry Full pink pink pink A B LK DC JIH E F G RQPONM XWVUTS 7/9/2019 3 Potential Bushes Potential Rain Garden Plantings Common Name Height Space Moisture Light Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Blue flag Iris 2-3'Wet Full purple purple Buttonbush 12-16'Wet Partial, shade white white Joe Pye Weed 4-6'4-6'Wet, Moist Full pink pink pink Swamp Milkweed 2-5'2-3'Wet, Moist Full pink pink Prairie Blazing star 2-4'1'Wet, Moist Full purple purple purple Ironweed 3-6'2-3'Moist Full, Partial purple purple purple Turtlehead 2-4'Wet Full, Partial white white white Sneezeweed 1-3'Moist Full yellow yellow yellow yellow Prairie dock 3-6'Wet Full, Partial yellow yellow yellow Bottle gentian 1-2'Moist Full, Partial blue blue blue New England aster 3-7'Moist Full, Partial Blue Blue Blue Meadow Blazing star 3'1-2'Wet, Moist Full purple purple Common Name Height Space Moisture Light Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Regent Serviceberry 6-9'4'Medium Full white white Dwarf bush honeysuckle 3'2-3'Medium, Dry Partial, Shade pink pink pink Common Ninebark 8-10'4-6'Medium Full, Partial pink white 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418-1699 Office: (612) 782-3301 • Fax: (612) 782-3302 • www.savmn.com MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Faust and St. Anthony City Council Mark Casey, City Manager FROM: Stephen Grittman, City Planner DATE: June 24, 2019 RE: St. Anthony Village – Joint Workshop – July 16, 2019 LED Signage and Graphics NAC FILE: 323.01 Recently, staff received a signage request that raised the issue of LED lighting technology, and how it is regulated in the City’s sign ordinance. Staff and the Planning Commission discussed the issue briefly at the Commission’s May workshop. The Commission agreed that the language was in need of updating. Currently, the ordinance defines any sign using LED (Light Emitting Diodes) technology as a part of a “Dynamic Display” sign, as follows: DYNAMIC DISPLAY SIGNS. A sign that appears to have movement or that appears to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components. This includes any display that incorporates a method or technology that allows the image on the sign face to change without physically or mechanically replacing the sign face or its components. This also includes signs containing parts that rotate, revolve, move, flash, blink, utilize Light Emitting Diodes (LED) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) lights, digital ink, or any other technology that allows the sign to display a series of images or displays. Dynamic Displays require a Conditional Use Permit. The purpose of the limitations within the Dynamic Display section of the Sign Ordinance, and of the CUP processing, is to ensure that these potentially distracting sign technologies are limited to minimize their distraction. The standards that apply to Dynamic Displays are required, whether or not the sign uses LED technology, or whether the sign changes copy or images (changes which are limited in scope and time). When this ordinance was adopted, LED technology was still relatively new, and its use was commonly applied to displays that appeared to imitate movement or video. However, more recently, LED lighting technology has become the dominant method of projecting most lighting, whether or not it is used in simulated video. As such, staff would suggest that two changes are made to the Sign regulations that would allow signage that is lit, but not simulating video movement, to incorporate LED lighting, subject to the same illumination standards currently in the code. These changes would include a modification to the definition of Dynamic Display, and a separate reference to any LED lighting technology incorporating the illumination standards. Those changes would result in text that reads as follows: 155.03 Definitions: DYNAMIC DISPLAY SIGNS. A sign that appears to have movement or that appears to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components. This includes any display that incorporates a method or technology that allows the image on the sign face to change without physically or mechanically replacing the sign face or its components. This also includes signs containing parts that rotate, revolve, move, flash, blink, utilize Light Emitting Diodes (LED) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) lights to simulate motion or video or which allow changeable copy at regular or irregular intervals, digital ink, or any other technology that allows the sign to display a series of images or displays. 155.21 General Standards (G) Illumination. External illumination for signs shall be so constructed and maintained that the source of light is not visible from the public right-of-way or residential property. All external illumination for signs shall have a shielded light source. Any sign illuminated and located within 200 feet of a lot line of a residence shall be diffused or indirect so as not to reflect rays of light into adjacent residences or a street and shall not be illuminated between 10:00pm and 6:00am; provided, however, such signs may be illuminated at any time when the use identified by the sign is open for business, unless otherwise determined by the City Council through the Conditional Use Permit process. Any sign or other illumination of the property incorporating LED technology shall adhere to the limitations of Section 155.29 (O)(1), regulating Dynamic Display Sign Brightness. There is one outstanding issue to discuss in this regard. Some commercial enterprises have incorporated LED “banding” (similar to what we may remember as “neon” lighting) as an architectural element or feature. One of the most common in the Twin Cities is Holiday gas stations use banding their canopies and outlining their building edges. Other businesses have included this technique. Currently, “Fluorescent Tubes, Neon, and Fiber Optic Light Sources” are included in the list of “Prohibited Signs”. If this policy is to apply to current technology, “LED banding” or similar LED lighting treatments should be added to this section. Prohibited Signs: 155.22 (B)(23): (23) Fluorescent tubes, neon, LED banding or similar use of LED lighting treatments, and fiber optic light sources THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418-1699 Office: (612) 782-3301 • Fax: (612) 782-3302 • www.savmn.com MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Faust and St. Anthony City Council Mark Casey, City Manager FROM: Stephen Grittman, City Planner DATE: June 24, 2019 RE: St. Anthony Village – Joint Workshop – July 16, 2019 Sidewalks/Walkways and Patios NAC FILE: 323.01 Over the past several months, City staff have encountered a variety of proposals that have raised questions as to how the current ordinance provisions apply (or don’t apply) to specific land use proposals. One of these (Sidewalks and Patios) resulted in a complex application due to gaps in definitions, among other issues. The Planning Commission initially discussed this issue at a Commission workshop meeting in May. Staff is now bringing this forward for consideration the City Council. The discussion below is intended to frame the issues, and provide an outline for recommended alternatives based on Commission discussion and staff experience. If ordinance changes are desired, the next step would be for the City Council to call for a Planning Commission public hearing to consider formal ordinance amendments. Sidewalks, Walkways, and Patios. As the Planning Commission has observed, and as discussed as part of a Council application issue recently, this item is rooted in lack of definition in the current Zoning Ordinance related to private property improvements that can be confused with other improvements that are both defined and regulated. Specifically, the zoning ordinance defines “Patios” as: PATIO. A courtyard or other finished exterior ground surface open to the sky constructed of rock, brick, concrete, stone, or similar materials and commonly used for relaxation, socializing, or dining. Patios are included in a list of private improvements that are required to meet a minimum 5 foot setback from side and rear property lines. Sidewalks or walkways are not defined, nor are they required to meet any particular setback. As issue in the previous planning application was whether a paved concrete pad was a walkway or a patio. Staff proposed an interpretation for the purposes of dealing with the application in hand, but as noted by the Commission, the City would be well served with better definitions and more complete standards. As a part of the discussion, staff would propose the addition of the following definitions in Section 152.008 as a starting point: SIDEWALK: A paved path typically located in a public right of way, on publicly owned property, or a public easement that is open to members of the public traveling as pedestrians, and if designated, open to non-motorized wheeled traffic (such as bicycles or similar vehicles). The term Sidewalk may include public Trails or Pathways, or similar public improvements. WALKWAY: A hard-surfaced path (consisting of pavement, rock, stone, brick or pavers) located on private property for the purpose of providing internal access to occupants or visitors to the uses on or adjacent to the property. A Walkway shall be no greater than three (3) feet in width. Any surfaced area greater than three (3) feet in width shall be considered a “Patio”. In the Commission’s discussion, staff discussed a potential threshold of four feet, but the consensus was to use three feet as the limitation for private walkway. This dimension is adequate to accommodate most accessibility needs, which would be a minimum threshold for City regulation. The Commission also discussed a minimum setback for any paved “Walkway” of one foot. This space would allow for fence construction (which is allowed to be constructed within the setback as long as the fence is completely on the property of the fence owner). Section 152.77 provides for “Encroachments in Yards”. Selected exceptions to the normal setback requirements in this section include: (D)Steps, stoops, and porches which extend into a front yard not more than 5 feet; (E)Terraces, steps, stoops, uncovered porches, and patios which extend into a side yard not more than 5 feet and are not closer than 5 feet from any property line; (F)Breezeways, covered or uncovered porches, patios, steps, stoops, and picnic shelters in a rear yard which are not closer than 5 feet from any property line; As a part of this amendment, staff would propose the following additional exception, to read as follows: (K) Walkways, as defined in this ordinance, which do not encroach closer than one (1) foot to any side lot line, provided that the property owner controls drainage to avoid increasing stormwater impacts on adjoining property. With these changes, it is believed that there will be fewer opportunities to misconstrue the intent of the ordinance, and fill a gap as it relates to private walkway definition and regulation. THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418-1699 Office: (612) 782-3301 • Fax: (612) 782-3302 • www.savmn.com MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Faust and St. Anthony City Council Mark Casey, City Manager FROM: Stephen Grittman, City Planner DATE: June 24, 2019 RE: St. Anthony Village – Work Session – July 16, 2019 Local Election Sign Regulations NAC FILE: 323.01 This memorandum is intended to serve as the basis for the City’s notifications to potential candidates for the upcoming local Council elections scheduled for November 5, 2019. Because the City receives numerous questions about campaign signs, this memorandum was put together as a summary of the materials that the City will include for any candidates that file for local office when the filing period opens in August. There are commonly a few areas of confusion that relate to campaign signage, and particularly, signs that relate exclusively to local elections, as follows: Sign posting and location. First, the City’s sign regulations limit posting of signs in the right of way, or on utility poles, on trees, or similar structures. This applies to all signs, regardless of message, whether commercial or non-commercial in content, or any other factor. Campaign signs do not have any special exemption to these provisions. General allowances for non-commercial speech. Second, the City’s sign regulations allow signs containing non-commercial speech at all times. The limitations to these signs (which include political campaign and opinion speech) include no more than one sign per property at a size of up to six square feet in sign area. These signs are unrelated to any particular election or date, and can be posted year-round. State General Election Signage. The state legislature adopted statutory language that expands the allowance for campaign (and other non-commercial speech) signage in a general election year (even-numbered years) to provide for unlimited size and number of election campaign signs from a period that begins 46 days before a state-wide primary to 10 days following the general election. (See MN Stat. Section 211B.045). During this period, campaign signs may be posted in any size and number. However, such signs are still required to comply with local prohibitions related to right of way and other location-based limitations (trees, utility poles, etc). Local Election Signage. In contrast to the state general election rules, the same statute provides that purely local elections are regulated by local ordinance. In this case, that section is in St. Anthony’s sign regulations, Section 155.23.F. In this section, the City expands the allowance for non- commercial signs to any number and size, for a period that begins 4 weeks prior to the election date to 5 days following the election. For 2019, that means that campaign sign allowances begin on Tuesday, October 8, and run through Sunday November 10. All such signs are required to be set back from any property line or street curb by at least 10 feet. As noted above, while the size and number of such campaign-related signage is expanded during this period, signs are still required to comply with the routine limitations that prohibit their posting on utility poles, trees, or within rights of way. Signage can not be placed on private property without the consent of the property owner. Within these limitations, non-commercial signs are allowed without requirement for City permitting. Questions can always be referred to the office of the City Clerk. 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418-1699 Office: (612) 782-3301 • Fax: (612) 782-3302 • www.savmn.com MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Faust and St. Anthony City Council Mark Casey, City Manager FROM: Stephen Grittman, City Planner DATE: June 24, 2019 RE: St. Anthony Village – Joint Workshop – July 16, 2019 Land Use Application Fees and Escrows NAC FILE: 323.01 When property owners file applications for land use permits that are necessary to accommodate building plans (such as variance requests or conditional use permits), the City requires the payment of a base fee and an escrow amount that is intended to cover additional costs of review. The current base fee for most residential applications is $250, and escrow amounts vary depending on the size and scope of the project. It has been the City’s intention that such applicants cover the costs of the review and processing of these applications, on the understanding the costs of a request for land use development that exceeds the basic zoning allowances should not be borne by other property owners in the Village. There is commonly a certain amount of confusion among applicants over several aspects of the land use application process. That confusion includes the discretionary aspect of the Planning Commission and City Council reviews, and how the applications fees and escrows are used by the City. Staff works to minimize this confusion through pre-application meetings or conferences, however, staff is proposing some incremental changes to the process to promote greater clarity and understanding. Two such changes are a part of this workshop discussion. First, the attached draft cover sheet is recommended. This cover letter reiterates some of the information included in the summer newsletter article, but is more specific to actual applicants rather than the general newsletter reader. The second proposed change is to the fee structure. As noted, the current fee is $250, with the escrow reserved for review costs beyond the fixed expenses that the City incurs in processing these applications. Those expenses include internal staff review for completeness, advertising notice in the St. Anthony Bulletin, preparing and mailing notices to all property owners within 350 feet of the applicant’s property, and various clerical costs in establishing and tracking the permitting process – as well as the public meeting expenses that result from the application. Review costs from the City’s consulting planner, engineer, and attorney, when required, are commonly applied from the escrow. Many applicants misapprehend the purpose of the escrow, and are surprised when after the City Council has taken action, there is little escrow remaining – instead thinking that the escrow serves as a sort of “damage deposit” which they expect to have returned in majority or in whole. Another common misunderstanding is the relationship between an application and the applicant’s expectations. Many property owners mistakenly believe that the mere act of application will result in approval – a belief that staff works hard to dispel, particularly when an application is at or near the edges of the City’s land use policies. To manage these expectations, staff is suggesting a change to the structure by increasing the fee portion of the application, from $250 to $500 at this time, and perhaps an additional increment at the City’s yearly fee ordinance review. The review costs are almost always more than this, and it is believed that this change will help to clarify the real costs of review for an applicant’s request. As with any such proposal, the clearer and more complete the set of application materials, the more likely it is that review costs can be kept to the minimum. Further, while applicants tend to believe that their particular project is the most reasonable and certain, staff works hard to caution applicants that no outcome is certain – and indeed, sometimes unlikely - and the costs of application can be high. The attached draft cover letter, combined with the changes to fee and escrow, are intended to help potential applicants think carefully about their request, and increase understanding when the do decide to apply. Comments and questions at the workshop are welcomed. Dear Land Use Applicant: As a part of the Land Use Permit you are seeking, you will be asked to provide funds to cover the City’s expected costs of review and processing of your request. There are two components to this amount. The first is a base fee, which is a non-refundable amount. This fee covers several expenses, including: • The City’s costs of internal review of your application for completeness; • Ensuring that all required materials are available to properly process your request; • Public hearing notices which must be published in the City’s official newspaper (the St. Anthony Bulletin); • Mailed notice to all neighboring property owners within 350 feet of your property; • This base fee also covers a portion of the City’s costs in preparing staff reviews and reports to the appropriate public officials who will consider and ultimately make a decision on your request. For most applications, this includes the Planning Commission, which prepares an advisory recommendation following a formal public hearing on the matter, and the City Council, which makes the final decision. Other public bodies may be involved as well, depending on the exact nature of your request. The second component of the funds is an escrow amount, above the base fee. While the base fee covers most of the fixed expenses, it is common that staff and consultant review will exceed the base fee. To ensure that the costs of extraordinary review are not borne by neighbors, the City requires the escrow from which to draw those costs. You can minimize the amounts necessary to review your application by making sure it is complete and clear. Properly drawn plans and thorough narrative descriptions all help to streamline the City’s processing, which leads directly to lower costs. Following the final decision on your application by the City Council, staff will account for costs and review the escrow. If any funds remain, those will be refunded to you. It typically takes a couple of months to assemble final invoices before the City’s finance department can reconcile the account. The staff works diligently to finalize accounts as soon as possible, so please be patient. If you are curious as to the status of your escrow, feel free to contact City Hall. Before you begin this process, please consider a pre-application conference (by phone, email, or in person) with City community development staff. We are ready to assist in helping you understand the complexities of the review process, and the standards on which a potential application will be considered. We can also advise you on the materials that will help ensure you have a complete and clear application. _____ contact information _____ Thanks for your interest in improving your property and reinvesting in the St. Anthony Village community.