HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/09/2006LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY % 2006
Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked administrator Bakken
Heck to call roll.
Council members present:_ Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay
Christensen and Mayor Jeffrey Dains.
Staff present: Jim Bownik and Heather Butkowski.
Mayor Dains asked for additions or deletions to the agenda. There being none, council
member Gill -Gerbig wanted an update on a property on Eustis Street. Christensen moved
and Doherty seconded the agenda and the motion carried.
Mayor Dains asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes of April 25, 2006. There
being none, council member Hawkinson moved and council member Gill -Gerbig seconded
the minutes as presented and the motion carried.
Mayor Dains asked for questions on the claims. Hawkinson asked about the purchase of soap
dispensers and indicated the one in the women's room needs to be replaced. Council member
Gill -Gerbig moved and Hawkinson seconded approval of the claims in the amount of
$66,461.81 and the motion carried.
Mayor Dains stated this is the time for members of the audience to address the council on
items not on the agenda. There was no one in attendance who wished to address the council.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any items on the consent agenda that members wished to
remove. There being none, the mayor asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda.
Council member Christensen moved approval of the consent agenda approving the use of the
City Park on July 29 by Karen Erwin-Bulena for a large group activity and approving the
appointment of John Harpel, Kathy Lerfald and Kendra Kauppi to the PCIC. Council
member Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried.
Bownik provided the council with information on the upcoming city wide garage sale. He
said the city is making a map of locations and placing an advertisement in the paper. New
this year will be a listing of select items people have for sale. The council thanked Bownik
for his work on this annual event.
Mayor Dains opened the public hearing on the Animal Control Ordinance at 7:37 p.m.
There being no one present to speak on the ordinance, Mayor Dains closed the public hearing
at 7:38 p.m.
Council member Christensen moved passage of Ordinance #5-3; an Ordinance Amending
Sections 5-3-1, 5-3-3, 5-3-4, 5-3-5, 5-3-6, 5-3-7, 5-3-8, 5-3-10, 5-3-11 and 5-3-12 of the
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LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY % 2006
Code of Ordinances regarding Animal Control. Council member Gill -Gerbig seconded the
motion and the motion carried with Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains
voting yes, and council member Gill -Gerbig voting no.
Bownik presented information on the Walkable Community Workshop that took place this
afternoon from 1-5 p.m. The event was sponsored by Active Living Ramsey County and the
National Center for Biking and Walking. The group who attended the event watched a slide
presentation and walked around the community to assess how well the community
accommodates bikers and walkers. The group then discussed what they observed on the
walk and provided several good suggestions and comments. Several comments focused on
the section of Eustis south of Larpenteur. Also suggested was a path along the east side of
Fulham south of Roselawn to Larpenteur and a path along Roselawn from Walnut Street to
Pleasant Street that completes the path from Highway 280 to Hamline in Falcon Heights.
Also suggested was a path along the north side of Larpenteur to Eustis and up Eustis to
Roselawn. This would create a nice 1+ mile walking route in the city. A pedestrian safety
concern exists at the Larpenteur/Fulham crossing and with the timing of the pedestrian walk
light at Larpenteur/Eustis. Council members thanked Jim for his work on this program.
Mayor Dains stated now is a good time to begin discussing the county road turn back
situation and expanding the walking path along Fulham.
The Mayor introduced the Personnel Policy Manual for consideration by the Council.
Bakken Heck provided background on the item stating the changes suggested by the Council
were made and the issue of domestic partners and political activity were discussed with the
attorney and appropriate changes were made. He indicated he is currently working on a
transition to calculating vacation per pay period. He will bring proposals to the Council at an
upcoming meeting.
Council member Hawkinson commented on listing amounts for meal reimbursement. She
felt the specific amounts should be left out and the council should set the per diem rate
annually.
Council member Hawkinson moved approval of the Personnel Policy and Procedures manual
as amended. Motion second by Gill -Gerbig and carried with all members voting yes.
The Mayor introduced the Day in the Park item. Bownik stated the PCIC narrowed the day
to July 29 or August 19. He stated the park is reserved on July 29, leaving the August 19
date for the celebration. Bownik also discussed with the Council setting a permanent date for
the event.
Council member Gill -Gerbig moved to hold the annual "Day in the Park" on August 19 this
year and every third Saturday in August thereafter. Second by Doherty and carried with all
members voting yes.
The council set the agenda for the next meeting. Some of the items include approving the
administrator's evaluation and a closed session to discuss litigation and the union contract.
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LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2006
The council moved into the work session at 8:15 p.m.
Bakken Heck provided the Council with an updated draft of the proposed rental housing
license. He stated this draft has not been to the city attorney for review, but will be
forwarded following the discussion tonight. He outlined the main points of the alterations.
The main alteration is the creation of two licensing levels. A property moves from one tier to
the next based on violations to the ordinance. The main difference in the two levels is cost
and that tier two licenses involve property inspections.
Council member Christensen asked whether a tier two property could again become a tier one
property. Bakken Heck stated this provision is not in the current ordinance; however, he
suggested keeping the tier two for a defined period of time and upon demonstration of
compliance, the owner could apply for a tier one license.
Gill -Gerbig would like the term "resident" or "occupant of the property" used, not renter as
the actual occupant may not actually be renting.
Bakken Heck stated staff will include the reference to going back to tier one as well as
definitions and have the attorney look at the ordinance.
Bakken Heck discussed with the Council the issue of properties in disrepair or in such a state
of ill maintenance that complaints are made as to its impact on neighboring property. He said
the existing controls .on nuisances do not address exterior maintenance issues such as peeling
paint, broken windows, and dilapidated siding. Hawkinson asked how long the city allows
the nuisance to stay before taking action on the nuisance property.
Bakken Heck suggested the city look at developing some type of housing maintenance
requirements. He indicated the council should have a policy statement regarding the exterior
of the homes. Council wanted to know if there are other communities that have such a
requirement. Staff noted several cities that do. Council directed staff to evaluate and
research condemnation proceedings as well as abandoned property. Staff is also to research
what other cities do in regard to housing maintenance regulations.
A question was asked about criteria. Doherty has mixed feelings on the issue. The ordinance
seems to be too subjective, what is a garden to some may be a brush pile to others.
Christensen is frustrated with not being able to back up action with an ordinance. He would
like to explore working on an ordinance to address this type of property.
The evaluation of the Administrator was laid over until the next meeting.
There being no further items for discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. on a
motion by Hawkinson and second by Christensen.
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