04-28-09 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
April 28, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council convened the Special City Council Worksession by unanimous consent at
6:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor (arrived 6:07 p.m.); Pat Elliott; Fred Wroge; and Tom
Fitzhenry.
Members Absent: Sue Sandahl.
Staff Present: Steven Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; John
Stark, Community Development Director; Robert Hintgen, Assistant Utilities
Superintendent; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item # I PRELIMINARY PRESENTATION BY PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING
REGARDING PROPOSED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 7440 PENN AVENUE
(COUNCIL MEMO NO. 65)
Chris Dettling and Chris Wilson, Project for Pride in Living (PPL), provided a PowerPoint
presentation (City Clerkâs File No. C-448) regarding the PPL multi-family housing proposal and
concept for Penn Avenue/75th Street. The concept is for 51 dwelling units that are affordable rental
housing with 1.25 parking stalls per unit. There would be approximately 10 permanent supportive
housing units targeted to ISD 287 South Education Center (SEC) students. Units will be openly
marketed and the school will not be given preference. There is a financing gap that they would like
to discuss with the City Council at a later date.
Community Development Director Stark explained projects similar to this require local
government support such as financial or zoning concessions. He added the zoning ordinance
requires two parking spaces per unit in residential districts and 1.25 spaces in high-density
residential if factors are warranted, i.e. transit access.
Council Member Wroge expressed concerns regarding parking, especially residential street
parking.
Mayor Goettel agreed with Council Member Wroge.
Mr. Dettling stated the site is currently tax-exempt and the proposed project would add
property taxes estimated at $40-70,000 a year.
Council Member Elliott said he understands the necessity of developing the site but maybe
not multi-family housing on Penn Avenue.
Special Worksession Minutes -2- April 28, 2009
Community Development Director Stark explained in order to develop the site for multi-family
housing the Comprehensive Plan would need to be changed depending upon the number of units and
then it would need to be rezoned. It appears that few, if any, variances would be needed based upon
the current site plan.
Council Member Fitzhenry expressed concern about losing the neighborhood texture with the
area getting too dense.
Council Member Wroge expressed concern regarding the potential use of tax increment
financing (TIF) when the area is not blighted. He again voiced concern regarding adequate parking.
Mayor Goettel stated she did not support subsidizing the project, it needs to fit into the
neighborhood to scale and there should be mixed rate housing because studies indicate students
perform better in that living situation.
Community Development Director Stark suggested the City Council consider establishing a
process for envisioning what the City Council, school, and public wish for the site.
The City Council consensus was to have more discussions on this matter and have PPL
obtain feedback from the neighborhood on their acceptability of this project.
Item #2 DISCUSSION REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION RATE STRUCTURE
(COUNCIL MEMO NO. 66)
Public Works Director Eastling discussed the Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) requirement of all water supply systems serving more than 1000 residents adopting a
Conservation Rate Structure. He made a PowerPoint presentation defining the issue and process
(City Clerk File No. C-449). A rate structure should be established by September 2009 and must be
implemented on January 1, 2010.
The City Council consensus was to have staff, not a consultant, proceed with clarification of
the DNR guidelines, gather data from other cities and Richfield data based on homeowner, not renter,
usage to establish a structure for a City Council review and discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:56 p.m.
Date Approved
May 12, 2009
~~YLB
Cheryl Kriamho z
Recording Secretary