12/03/2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 3, 2007 APPROVED DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES : December 3, 2007 . 5:30 P.M. . 8:15 P.M. : Council member Carlson, O'Donnell, Stoltz, and Mayor Bergeson : Council Member Reinert Staff Members Present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Finance Director, Al Rolek; City Engineer, Jim Studenski; Community Development Director, Michael Grochala; Public Safety Director, Dave Pecchia; City Clerk, Julie Bartell 15 Miller's on Main — Chad Wagner, owner of Miller's on Main, asked to share 16 information as a follow up on the Blue Heron Days festival weekend. Mr. Miller stated 17 that on the Saturday night of the festival, during the special event at his bar, there was 18 some type of sting operation whereby there were officers from 14 different cities 19 patrolling around Miller's on Main. He is not promoting drinking and driving but the 20 impact of that presence was a severe decline in the number of people attending his event; 21 he took a big hit on business. After surveying people, Mr. Wagner found the general 22 perception is that it wasn't appropriate. It was a frustrating situation and he wants the 23 council to be aware. He believes it will have an impact into the future on not only the 24 concert but also on the festival as a whole. 25 Chief Pecchia noted that the city is a member of the DWI Task Force. Member 26 communities normally have the presence of officers during their community festivals to 27 promote a safe environment. The work of the task force has brought DWI fatalities 28 down. The goal is not to stop drinking but to stop driving after drinking. It is a safety 29 issue for everyone involved in the festival and the enforcement activities serve as a 30 learning experience for the public. 31 Wagner recalled the history of the Blue Heron Days event. In 2003 and 2004 there were 32 no more DWI's given than an average weekend. This is a perception problem — even 33 people who don't drink and drive are frightened away. The reality is that it crushed 34 attendance for all the area businesses that weekend. 35 Responding to a question on the membership of the task force, the Chief explained all the 36 city and county law enforcement agencies within the county are participants. It is 37 governed by a group of liaisons representing the communities involved. 38 A council member expressed support for the work of the task force and the importance of 39 their public safety work to the community. 40 It was noted that both activities, the festival and the DWI enforcement work, are good 41 efforts and there should be a way for both of them to operate. 42 Charter Amendment — The council acknowledged that the Commission met the statute 43 imposed deadline for responding to the council's proposed charter amendment. The