09-27-2023 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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WORKSHOP MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 D. Miller asked about public places and which ones would be included in the definition, such as city buildings, vehicles, etc. The Parks & Rec Director explained that tobacco use in city vehicles and buildings is already prohibited for city staff. Fischer suggested that the city's policy should be similar to the other cities that are controlled by Ramsey County Sheriff to help with ease of enforcement. D. Miller stated sidewalks should be included in the public places definition. Kwapick asked about apartment buildings and if smoking is banned there, how would it work if you are not able to do these things in your home. He asked if only homeowners are allowed to use tobacco and cannabis then. Gutierrez noted these rules will be an issue for the Bingo Hall and the sober softball teams who smoke. The Administration Fellow asked what definitions the council wants to use for cannabis. T. Miller stated that really all cannabis products could create poor behavior or smoke and odors, so all cannabis products should be prohibited. The City Administrator reported that Ramsey County had adopted an ordinance last year prohibiting smoking and noted there was good language that could be duplicated in the city's ordinance so the requirements would be similar to the existing rules on the county properties in Little Canada. He reported that Ramsey County's ordinance also prohibits smoking within 25 feet of all entrances, exits, windows and ventilation intakes of public places and places of employment throughout the county. Fischer requested that the Ramsey County policy be followed as closely as possible. The Administration Fellow stated that Ramsey County included trails and walkways, but not sidewalks in their policy. Fischer stated some cities policies include all public sidewalks, but questioned if we want to do that. The City Clerk suggested it could be everything except sidewalks. She stated staff will include all tobacco and cannabis products and bring ordinances to the next Council meeting for review. PIONEER PARK PHASE 11 PLANNING DISCUSSION The Parks & Rec Director stated that the city has been considering purchasing the property at 2884 Centerville Road for many years and the owner is now willing to sell to the city. He explained that this property is adjacent to both Pioneer Park and the Public Works Shop. He stated that the cur -rent owner would like to continue to have indoor storage on the site for his personal items for a period of 10 years, so there a few options to incorporate that. He reviewed five different examples of how the site could be used, and the impacts of each scenario, and talked about future potential uses for a community building here. The Council is supportive of community engagement efforts for getting feedback from the community to determine the future community building. There was Council consensus to continue working with the property owner to purchase the property at 2884 Centerville Road. The Council liked the ideas shown in the five scenarios, and favored plans that offered additional parking. M