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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_94Jul13 1 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 13, 1994 Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. were Hoyt, Asleson, and Filla. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS ~. 3 ~. Also present Mayor Baldwin presented an award clock to Mr. Vincent Wright, former Public Works Foreman, in recognition of his 22 years of service to the city. MINUTES OF JUNE 22, 1994 Council approved minutes as presented. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Council approved the addition of items C-5 and C-6 to the Consent Agenda and approved said agenda by unanimous consent: 1. Disbursements a. General disbursements through 6/29/94, $44,328.11 b. Payroll, 6/1/94 to 6/30/94, $21,092.61 c. General disbursements through 7/6/94, $29,402.95 2. Licenses 3. Appointment of Jeff Alexander to the Ramsey County Strategic Planning Project, Solid Waste Committee 4. Appointments to the Fire/Rescue Department 5. Request for a change in the Park and Recreation Commission meeting date to the third Wednesday of the month from the second Monday of the month 6. Official recognition and acceptance of the retirement of Mr. Vincent Wright POLICY AGENDA Council approved the addition of item P-3, "Discussion of schedule for council meetings in July and August 1994" to the policy agenda. PROPOSED ORDINANCE REVISIONS FOR TOBACCO SALES Administrator Hoyt reviewed proposed changes to the city's tobacco ordinance. These changes were brought in response to direction from the Council. The changes concern penalties for selling tobacco to a minor. The current code allows for a Page 2 City Council Minutes July 13, 1994 1.3 misdemeanor penalty to the seller but there is no penalty to the tobacco license holder. The revised ordinance provides for penalties to both the seller and the license holder. City Attorney Filla explained that the revised ordinance is similar to that of other cities because it provides first for administrative fines rather than taking the seller and/or the vendor through an expensive court misdemeanor process. He further explained that this system would apply only to situations where tobacco had been sold to a minor as a part of city compliance checks and police reports of crime, not to individual complaints. Fake ID's are not used in compliance checks. Councilmember Hustad commented that there seemed to be a large jump in penalties between the third offense (5 day revocation) and the fourth offense (license revocation) for license holders. He wondered if the city could have any flexibility in determining the length of the revocation. Councilmember Jacobs stated that he believes the proposed penalties are too lenient. He suggested that a fine and suspension be the penalty for a second violation within 12 months and revocation be done for the third violation in 12 months. The Council debated several alternative penalty systems for license holders with respect to number of compliance checks, fine amounts, and suspension lengths. The Council asked staff to reword the ordinance to the following penalties for vendors: 1) first offense, $200 fine; failure to pay in 30 days results in 2 day suspension; 2) second offense, $500 fine and a five day suspension of license; failure to pay in 30 days results in a 10 day suspension; and 3} third offense, revocation for up to one year. The penalties for the seller would be a $25 fine on the first violation, a $100 fine for the second violation, and prosecution of a gross misdemeanor on the third violation, all in a twelve month time frame. The ordinance will be reworded for consideration at the Council's next meeting. All tobacco vendors in the City will be notified of the date, time, and subject of the meeting. Councilmember Jacobs asked if there was some way that the city could reward those license holders that consistently pass their compliance checks, perhaps by lowering the establishment's tobacco license fee. Administrator Hoyt responded that license fees are not punitive; they reflect the real costs of administration and compliance checks. There may, however, be alternative methods of recognition, i.e. publicity, that could be employed. PROPOSED RIDE ALONG PROGRAI~i FOR THE FIRE DEP1?-RTHENT Administrator Hoyt explained that the fire/rescue department would like to provide opportunities for citizens to ride along in Page 3 City Council Minutes July 13, 1994 1.3 fire and rescue vehicles. Toward this end, staff has developed guidelines for citizens on ride alongs that addresses selection criteria, attire, and conduct. These guidelines have been reviewed by the city's insurer and the city attorney. Councilmember Gehrz expressed some concern about respecting the privacy of patients on ambulance calls. For example, it might not be appropriate to take ride along participants to suicide and psychiatric calls. She suggested that perhaps the program be limited to fire calls only. Councilmember Gibson Talbot noted the confidentiality clause in the ride along agreement. Both fire and rescue calls are traumatic and require confidential treatment. Administrator Hoyt suggested that the agreement be amended to include a listing of situations that are of a confidential nature and not appropriate for ride along citizens. This list could be compiled with the assistance of the fire/rescue captains. Councilmember Gehrz stated that this program would be a wonderful opportunity for youth to see the workings of the fire/rescue department, but that there are some situations where confidentiality should be protected. Mayor Baldwin suggested that the council approve the fire department portion of the program but wait for more information from staff regarding the rescue portion. The Council concurred with the Mayor's suggestion and asked that the Fire/Rescue Chief be present when this issue is addressed in the future. DISCUSSION OF SCHEDULE FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR JULY AND AUGUST 1994 Due to the need for budget workshops, the Council's July and August meeting schedule was amended to the following: no meetings held on July 27 and August 10; regular meetings followed by budget workshops on August 3rd, August 17th, and August 24th (all beginning at 6:30 p.m.). UPDATES Councilmember Gibson Talbot reminded the public of the Ice Cream Social on July 28th. Councilmember Gehrz updated the Council on the status of the Human Rights Commission's work on "Turn Off the Violence" day on October 22nd. Administrator Hoyt made note of several improvements being done in the city (seal coating and park work), a meeting scheduled on Larpenteur Avenue, and studies being conducted by staff on parking and traffic issues. 1 _~ I Page 4 City Council Minutes July 13, 1994 BUDGET WORKSHOP The Council reviewed goals Hoyt. At the next budget budget will be brought to ADJOLfRN~T 1.3 ~. for the 1994 budget with Administrator workshop, a preliminary operating the Council for consideration. The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Carla Asleson Recording Secretary ~~ Tom Baldwin, Mayor