07-24-2002 Council Workshop Agenda

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The Rice Street Bicycle Shop at 2950 Rice is currently using a semi trailer for storage. I spoke with the business owner and property renter, Ed Mickelson. He felt that the trailer was there for years and should be "grandfathered" in. However, he sees the trailer as a safety concem for his employees. He is trying to buy property along Rice Street for his business. He agreed to have the trailer removed by 9 -30 -2002. I told him that would be acceptable. (If I were to issue a citation we wouldn't even get to court until October or November.) All American Recreation at 2940 Rice Street is using two semi trailers for storage. I'm still waiting for a response to my second letter to them. Ryan Industrial Park: We've made some progress this past year, but we still have a long way to go. There is a tot of overlap here with the auto related licensing issues. Amtec, Belland's, Benchmark, Eich, Exact, FAD, North Metro, Rossow, Sigma, Valor, and Wally's are all in Ryan Industrial Park. I issued Jeff Jacobsen, 3173 Spruce Street his second citation for maintaining a public nuisance (several cars and trucks unlicensed, inoperable or junk). He has thirty days and $700 suspended from the previous violation. The court ordered that he complete his clean up, landscaping, screening and paving and striping by 6- 30 -02. None of that was done. I issued the citation on 7 -1 -02. I have sent several letters to Ms. Mary Fasching regarding her property at 3151 country drive. In the last one, dated 7 -3 -02, I offered to issue a citation, start abatement proceedings or both. She has not written to or spoken with me, but there has been an amazing flurry of activity there. It has a long way to go but is cleaner than it has been in years. I will stay with it. I have sent letters and am inspecting 193 Ryan Drive, Bellands'. They have a parking problem and I'm trying to give them some ideas on how to resolve the issue. Russ Fischer owns 200 -208 Ryan Drive. "Happy Hooker" Towing, owned by a John Ackelson III, was running an open -air wreck storage business on the west end of the property. After repeated warning letters, I tagged him. FIe left and took the mess with him. Amtec runs a pretty clean business. Roger Stanke owns 209 Ryan Drive. He has a few relatively minor issues. I don't want to put pressure on him when there are so many other gross violations to deal with in the industrial park. His is one of the best properties in RIP. The Comfort Bus maintenance facility at 196 Ryan Lane has had ajunlcyard on the south end of their lot. There were several busses in various stages of dismantling and on their sides, and over a dozen unlicensed, inoperable or junk cars. After two letters they are in the process of cleaning up their mess. This list could go on. I'm working on it. Enforcement Approach /Style: This is an area where each individual needs to work out an approach or style that works for them. After twenty -two years with the Sheriff's department I have an "ingrained, automatic" style that has served my employer and me well. When I analyzed my approach for this review I broke it down into three primary styles, all of which may be either verbal or written. The first is "Officer Friendly." I show friendliness. I smile. I am very outgoing. I Shake hands. I try to avoid "formality." I make some "small talk." I try to be as non - authoritarian as I can. I try to work the issue into the conversation and deal with it in a "low key" manner. I let them know I want to work with them to resolve the violation. I let them set a reasonable deadline. If they can't meet the deadline, "call me and we'll work out an extension."