05-13-09 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 13, 2009 GUERIN The City Attorney reported that the attorney representing the Guerin LITIGATION Family Partnership contacted him proposing that the litigation go to binding arbitration to resolve this case once and for all. The Guerin attorney indicated that otherwise the Guerin's will litigate the matter. The City Attorney suggested that if the Council is agreeable to the binding arbitration process, he would contact the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust relative to their sharing in the costs given that binding arbitration will avoid litigation costs. The Council discussed the proposal in detail, and the consensus was that the City Attorney should determine if the LMCIT is willing to participate in arbih•ation costs. It was noted that if binding arbitration is used to resolve the Guerin issue, both the City and the Guerin Family Partnership would be bound by the arbihator's decision. The City Attorney explained that arbitrators are highly qualified legal professionals. Blesener noted that the City's exposure is likely the same whether the case is decided by the court or by an arbitrator. Mr. Keis introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTIONNO. 2009-5-104 -AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TOWARD BINDING ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE THE GUERIN FAMILY PARTNERSHIP MATTER BY CONTACTING THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES INSURANCE TRUST RELATIVE TO THEIR COST PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Boss. Ayes (4). Nays (0). Resolution declared adopted. COMP PLAN The City Planner reported that the City's Comprehensive Plan Update UPDATE has been submitted to the Metropolitan Council for their review. He indicated that the Met Council's review process is typically 30 to 45 days. PET The City Administrator presented an ordinance amendment relative to THERAPY increasing the maximum number of animals allowed in a dwelling unit LICENSING to four provided that they are pet therapy animals, as well as outlining the standards that must be met for an animal to qualify as a pet therapy animal. The Administrator noted that Delta Society certification standards are one of the criteria in the ordinance, given that these standards appear to be the most rigorous. He further noted that property owners are allowed up to three animals in a dwelling unit; therefore, these provisions only come into play if a property owner is seeking to have four pet therapy animals.