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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 081020261 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2026 L CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Webster called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Mayor Webster invited the Council and audience to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance. III. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor Webster, Councilmembers Lona Doolan and Jan Jenson. Absent: Councilmembers Nadia Elnagdy and Thomas Randle. Also Present: City Manager Charlie Yunker and Assistant City Manager Ashley Morello. Others Present: None. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. IV. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 10, 2026, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Doolan, to approve the City Council Meeting Agenda of August 10, 2026, as presented. Motion carried 3-0. V. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. — NONE. VI. CONSENT AGENDA. A. Approve July 28 2026 Council Meeting Minutes. B. License and Permits. C. Claims. D. Resolution 26 054 Authorizing Staff To Accept A Contract For The Installation Of Public Electric Vehicle Chargers. Motion by Councilmember Doolan, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the Consent Agenda items. VII. PUBLIC HEARING — NONE. Motion carried 3-0. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026 Page 2 1 VIII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF. 2 3 A. Ordinance 2026-OX - Amending Section 154 Of The City Code Related To The 4 Establishment Of Regulations For Sustainable Development And Building Practices. 5 6 Mayor Webster reminded the Council that they first discussed the Sustainable Building 7 Ordinance at their work session on April 28, 2026, further reviewed and set goals at the work 8 session on May 12, 2026, and continued discussing proposed language at the work session on 9 July 14, 2026. She thanked Assistant City Manager Morello and City Manager Yunker for their 10 work amending the ordinance's language and for delivering its first reading. 11 12 Assistant City Manager Morello noted that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on 13 this ordinance the previous month. She stated that the ordinance contains four key parts: 14 threshold elements, establishment of third -party rating systems, sustainability standards, and 15 compliance and monitoring. She reminded the Council that they will have two more 16 opportunities to review the Sustainable Building Ordinance. 17 18 Councilmember Jenson highlighted that there have been many opportunities to discuss this 19 ordinance. He noted that people will be able to easily see their discussions and how the Council 20 reached its decisions regarding the language of the Sustainable Building Ordinance. He stated 21 that he is in favor of the current wording. 22 23 Mayor Webster asked if there is confirmation of the ordinance number. Assistant City Manager 24 Morello informed her that a number will be assigned before the final reading to ensure that 25 ordinances are numbered in the order they are passed. 26 27 Councilmember Doolan referenced the buildings identified in Section B as within the scope of 28 the ordinance and commented that she felt these were the correct buildings to subject to the 29 ordinance's restrictions due to their higher energy consumption. 30 31 Councilmember Doolan asked about criteria for obtaining a variance. Assistant City Manager 32 Morello stated that the variance process will be the same as St. Anthony's general variance 33 process. Individuals can apply for a variance; it will be reviewed and considered by the Planning 34 Commission, and finally the Council will provide final approval. 35 36 Councilmember Doolan asked if Staff would like to add a specific number in Section D to 37 provide specific targets. She questioned if individuals will be incentivized to improve without 38 specific targets. She suggested putting more specific restrictions on publicly funded projects. 39 Councilmember Jenson reminded Councilmember Doolan that significant discussions led to the 40 decision not to include specific targets in the ordinance's language. He resisted making last- 41 minute changes to items that had been thoroughly discussed and agreed upon. He expressed 42 anxiety that the ordinance would become too restrictive. Councilmember Doolan stated that there 43 are significant differences among the third -party raters and highlighted that certain raters are 44 more specific. She stated that the different options, which have different standards, introduced 45 ambiguity. 46 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026 Page 3 1 Assistant City Manager Morello stated that the language in Section D reflects Council consensus. 2 She acknowledged and understood the differences between the rating systems in Section C, but 3 noted that the first two options are best -practice raters that many other cities are utilizing. She 4 reaffirmed the claim that these are the best possible systems available and provide a decent level 5 of consistency. Assistant City Manager Morello defended adding an equivalent substitute for a 6 new or unknown third -party system, so the City does not have to update the ordinance language 7 consistently. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Mayor Webster appreciated the similarity of the Sustainable Building Ordinance's language to neighboring communities, as this will prevent the ordinance from becoming a deterrent. Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Doolan, to approve the First Reading of Ordinance 2026-OX - Amending Section 154 Of The City Code Related To The Establishment Of Regulations For Sustainable Development And Building Practices. B. Ordinance 2026 OX - Amending Section 154 Of The City Code Related To Accessory Buildings And Establishing Regulations For Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Mayor Webster overviewed the ADU Ordinance's path to the first reading. She stated that they first discussed the ordinance at the work session on April 14, 2026, discussed it further at the work session on May 26, 2026, and concluded the discussion at the work session on July 14, 2026. She reminded the Council there was also a Planning Commission public hearing. Mayor Webster thanked Assistant City Manager Morello and City Manager Yunker for considering their discussion, and requested they provide an overview of the ADU Ordinance. Assistant City Manager Morello clarified that this is new language in the code to allow for ADUs. She stated that this has been described as a gentle increase in density and that the ADUs the City seeks to allow are attached to existing secondary or principal structures. She reviewed the Planning Commission's critiques of the definition of family and the removal of language restricting that definition. Assistant City Manager Morello noted that Staff has removed the language stating that ADUs were currently prohibited and has added language clarifying that only one ADU is allowed per property. She highlighted significant language regarding the ordinance's intent, where ADUs are allowed, and operational requirements. Councilmember Doolan asked why the word "shall" as opposed to the word "must" was used regarding utility connections. Assistant City Manager Morello stated that the word "shall" is regularly used in the St. Anthony code. Still, she will flag it, and City Planner Grittman can decide which language is most appropriate. Councilmember Doolan appreciated the changes that loosen definitions on who may live in an ADU. Councilmember Doolan asked whether existing code requires secondary structures to have their own utility box, and whether it supersedes Point J in the ADU Ordinance. She asked for clarity on what "clustering" means. Assistant City Manager Morello stated that this section of the code addresses whether an ADU requires its own utility box. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026 Page 4 2 Councilmember Jenson stated that it was his understanding that separate buildings had to have 3 their own utility boxes. Assistant City Manager Morello highlighted that the code language asks 4 the property owner to combine the boxes if possible, but appreciates that if it is determined that a 5 separate box is required, the clause has been added to address the need for a second box. 6 7 Councilmember Doolan clarified that Section D requires one additional off-street parking spot 8 for a property with an ADU. She appreciated that it does not require covered parking, as that 9 could be restrictive. 10 11 Councilmember Doolan asked if standard building code addresses fire safety requirements. 12 Assistant City Manager Morello confirmed that those items are captured in the building code. 13 14 Motion by Councilmember Doolan, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the First 15 Reading of Ordinance 2026-OX - Amending Section 154 Of The City Code Related To 16 Accessory Buildings And Establishing Regulations For Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). 17 18 IX. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL — NONE. 19 20 X. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 21 22 City Manager Yunker reported that the demonstration project at 29th and Silver Lake Road was 23 installed the previous Saturday. He thanked the Public Works Department and other Staff for the 24 work they put in. He thanked all of the Staff in all Departments for their work at VillageFest and 25 Night to Unite. City Manager Yunker noted that the City Communication Survey is still open 26 and encouraged all citizens to respond. He noted that the City received Comprehensive Plan 27 Proposals. Staff will work with the Council to schedule interviews and review RFPs. City 28 Manager Yunker finished by informing the Council that he attended his first board meeting with 29 the League of Minnesota Cities. He noted that they anticipate significant turnover at the State 30 level. 31 32 Councilmember Jenson reported that he attended five different Night to Unite block parties. He 33 stated it was a privilege to attend and that everyone was very kind. 34 35 Councilmember Doolan had no report. She thanked City Manager Yunker for participating in the 36 League of Minnesota Cities Board. 37 38 Mayor Webster noted that their House Representative, Sandra Feist, is not running for reelection. 39 She stated that one of the candidates requested a meeting with herself, Police Chief Spiess, and 40 Fire Chief Diaz, to learn more about St. Anthony's Police and Fire Departments. She stated that 41 she attended this meeting on July 29. She reported that on July 31, she walked in the VillageFest 42 parade with the Council. Mayor Webster also hosted Bingo at VillageFest on August 1 with the 43 Council. She stated that she attended seven block parties on August 4 as part of Night to Unite. 44 Mayor Webster reported that on August 5, she met with a resident who has lived in St. Anthony 45 since 1961 to answer their questions about the City's code compliance. She noted that on the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026 Page 5 2 4 XI. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 same day, she also met with Fozia, the Sustainability Intern. Mayor Webster reflected on how lucky St. Anthony is to have her with the City. COMMUNITY FORUM. Carl Neumann, a resident, yielded his time to Dr. Bibi Neumann. Dr. Bibi Neumann, a resident, reviewed her academic history, including a doctorate in psychology, a Juris Doctor, a master's in counselor education, and a bachelor's degree in social work. She stated that the Agenda for August 10 raised questions for her regarding what the resident -centered metric is. She reflected on the past meeting, stating that while City employees deserve appreciation, a City Council meeting may not be the correct forum. She noted that the presentations from the previous meeting did not show residents whether safety improved, trust was increased, missing residents were reached, or if anything changed. Dr. Neumann highlighted that in the Claims register, the Council is being asked to approve more than 759,000 dollars in payments, but that residents only receive vendor names, dates, and amounts. She asked for a distinction between liquor operations, utilities, public safety, construction, legal services, and professional contracts by fund or public purpose. She stated that the register includes a 15,837.50 dollar payment to True North Electric. Dr. Neumann pointed out that the following agenda item proposed another 20,750 dollar payment to the True North contract for EV chargers. She acknowledged that these charges may be unrelated, but the packet does not allow residents to know for certain. She commented that the lowest responsible bid is a conclusion, not an analysis. Dr. Neumann reviewed that the proposal relies on tested and reconditioned switchgear because the existing GE equipment is no longer manufactured. She stated that it no longer requires shutting down the municipal liquor store for several hours. Dr. Bibi Neumann contrasted this with the competing proposal, which has a different electrical configuration. She requested that the Council understand what the differences in the proposal mean, and what consequences the reconfigured component could have. She noted that the packet claims a grant will primarily offset the costs but does not clarify how or what it will cover. She asked that the City establish a metric of success for a Pilot, so they cannot later report only that chargers were installed. Dr. Neumann reflected that the Sustainable Building Ordinance requires reductions in energy and water usage, but provides no baselines. She stated that an ordinance should tell the public directly what the law requires, and not have requirements lie outside the text. Dr. Bibi Neumann stated that the ADU repeats Section Two, uses the wrong cross-reference, and both allows and prohibits attachment to an existing accessory building. She noted that the City refers to this as a Pilot but states that owner -occupancy, added parking, a 650-foot ceiling, and an undefined service capacity cap may suppress participation. She requested that, if only a few ADUs are built, the Council not see this as a lack of demand, since the rules could be limiting access. Dr. Neumann concluded by emphasizing the importance of the Water Cybersecurity Public Comment, noting that more than 30 Minnesota water systems were recently targeted in a coordinated cyberattack. She noted that St. Anthony plans to update their water treatment plant to allow for more automation and requested that residents be assured that operational risks, vendor access, manual -operation backups, restoration, incident response, and resident communication are being addressed before the system becomes operational. Dr. Neumann stated that a resident -centered city connects what it does to why it matters, what it costs, who it benefits, and what changed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 10, 2026 Page 6 XII. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. A. Future Agenda Items. Mayor Webster reminded all that August 11 is the Primary Election. XIII. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Doolan, to adjourn the meeting. The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Samina Crabtree TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. r ATTEST: City Clerk 14 Mayor Motion carried 3-0.