HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_08Aug27Regular Meeting of the City Council
Minutes of August 27, 2008
Members present: Mayor Lindstrom, Council members Harris, Long, and Mercer-Taylor, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk, and City Attorney Kirchoff.
Absent: Council member Kuettel.
Mayor Lindstrom called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Council member Long made a typo correction to the minutes and they were approved unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
Council member Harris was excited to see two women apply as firefighters. Mayor Lindstrom stated Jamie Bribois, the applicant for parks/rec who is a sophomore at RAHS, would be a great
asset to the commission.
Council member Harris moved to approve the following five items on the consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
1. General Disbursements through 8/21/08: $83,116.51
Payroll through 8/15/08: $20,431.27
2. City Licensing
3. Human Rights Commission Grant Application
4. Firefighter appointments
5. Parks and Recreation Commission appointment
Policy Agenda:
1. Recreational Fire Code Amendment
Administrator Miller began the item by explaining there have been increases in the number of recreational fire complaints of late. With the new codification, the city code follows the
state code in reference to size and distance from buildings and structures. He added there was additional information before the council in relation to other city’s codes.
Council member Long asked Miller to elaborate on the nature of these complaints. Miller responded some had to do with noise, late hours, smoke, and distance from structures (close to
homes/fences/etc.)
Craig and Ginny Allen, 1490 Idaho, were present and Ginny presented to the council photos and letters she had exchanged with her neighbor regarding his fires and made a few suggestions
to the draft ordinance. Namely, they wanted to see more specific language that could be used for enforcement – add “dry,” to the list of acceptable burning materials, list 1-inch diameter,
and the suggestion of more stringent language regarding setback from structures.
The council discussed at length restrictions and specific definitions to ordinance terminology.
Council member Long stated he thought the hourly restriction of 11 p.m. was too stringent. He said if noise, odor, or nuisances were the issue, they are already covered elsewhere in
the code.
Council members Mercer-Taylor and Harris wanted to keep the hourly restriction.
Ginny Allen said they have raised the issue with the city regarding the fires being nuisances, and were told that unless the language is spelled out in the ordinance police do not easily
enforce it. Miller replied the code depended a lot on its interpretation.
Connie Iverson, 1482 Idaho, addressed the council and said the fires aren’t an issue for her because she doesn’t open her windows, but she was concerned with rules regarding where fires
can be built (on lawn, not in a pit). She said she brought a fire pit to the neighbor who was illegally burning; he uses it and it’s not a safety issue anymore, but is still an issue
for Craig and Ginny. She said she has noticed fire pits all over the place – right now they are very popular. She said other communities have provisions in their code on noise.
Miller added that discussing this ordinance was not the result of just one complaint, but that others have been called in to police because of fires placed too close to houses.
Mayor Lindstrom said he was open to more restriction, but was open to argument in Northeast with the big, deep lots. He said, in Northome, he had a hard time seeing the purpose of a
fire at any time while on a big property he could see the appropriateness.
Attorney Cynthia Kirchoff was present and made a suggestion to include ’fire is at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material,’ which would remove line 6 from the draft.
More discussion followed on what constituted combustible material, the hour restrictions, and what is allowed to be burned in any fire pit.
Administrator Miller suggested to the council they table the issue, and staff can do more research and bring the draft back for September 10.
2. Dogs in City Parks Trial Period Discussion
Council member Long, a member of the Parks Commission, presented the item to the rest of the council, explaining allowing dogs in the parks arose as part of the comp plan discussion.
An online survey was posted, and 67% of respondents were agreeable to allowing leashed dogs in the parks. The city has been concerned with safety and the cleanliness of the parks,
but the commission was not sure if those concerns were valid or if they were speculation. Thus, a pilot program allowing dogs in parks was suggested for a one-year trial period.
Council member Mercer-Taylor made a friendly amendment to the trial, suggesting signage be posted “no dogs in playground area.” The rest of the council agreed.
Administrator Miller added the current code says dogs must be in control and on a leash of 6-feet. Typically, dogs that are not brought to the park as their destination and are just
passing through on the path have been allowed.
Council member Harris thought this would be something people would want to try, but added there would need to be special rules for the Ice Cream Social.
Mayor Lindstrom suggested Memorial Day – Labor Day 2009 for the trial, including the signage, and lots of promotion throughout the city.
Miller stated money was budgeted in the CIP for signage.
Council member Long made the motion for approval Memorial Day – Labor Day 2009, including adequate signage, playground prohibition, and promotion throughout the city. The motion passed
unanimously.
3. Dynamic Sign Ordinance Amendment
Administrator Miller began the item by explaining the ordinance before the council was a six-month process that started with the Planning Commission and included public hearings and
public comment periods.
Council member Harris said the Planning Commission had done a thorough job, and she supported the ordinance as it was written.
Mayor Lindstrom agreed the commission did a great job, and was happy they were able to reach a consensus after some contention on the issue. He said that due to the commission’s
unanimous support, he supported the ordinance as it stood. Council member Mercer-Taylor agreed.
Council member Harris moved to approve the dynamic sign ordinance. The motion passed unanimously.
Information/Announcements:
Council member Mercer-Taylor said there was excellent attendance at the National Night Out party at Curtiss Field, about 50-75 people turned out.
Council member Harris agreed it was a great success. She announced the Human Rights Commission poster contest needed entries, and would be open until Sept. 15.
Mayor Lindstrom congratulated Richard Bartz for the winning photograph in the Falcon Heights photo contest.
Council member Long reminded residents that school was about to start, and to be mindful of students on foot and on bikes.
Lindstrom added that fair time is upon Falcon Heights, and wanted to know about the noise.
Administrator Miller replied city hall has taken calls regarding the noisy grandstand shows and late fireworks. Fair officials have stated they are going to buy a decibel meter and
will keep track of the sound.
Mayor Lindstrom congratulated Harris for her blue ribbon-winning Minnesota sesquicentennial cake. She replied cake decorating is her hobby and she loves the fair, and was very excited
to win.
Lindstrom added he had gotten to do some fun activities as mayor - toured the new U of M football stadium as part of the task force, was in the Back to School parade for FH Elementary,
and participated in a puff pastry cooking demo at the Fair.
Administrator Miller announced the Larpenteur Avenue Streetscape Committee had met and had some good ideas on improving the corridor. The next meeting is September 15, where they will
refine those ideas further. There are two commission openings – one seat each on the Human Rights and Planning Commission. Finally, he announced the September 3 workshop would cover
the CIP, special revenue fund, and general fund levy.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk