HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/2005LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
7:30 p.m.
Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. and asked the Administrator to call
the roll. Council members Karen Gill -Gerbig, Karen Doherty, Moose Giannetti, Clay
Christensen and Mayor Dains were present. City Administrator Brian Bakken -Heck and
Deputy City Clerk Heather Butkowski were also present.
7:35 Mayor Dains asked for any additions or corrections to the agenda. Administrator
Bakken -Heck requested the addition of an item related to a health insurance program for
city staff. Council member Giannetti requested addition information on the City
Halloween party. There being no further changes to the agenda, Council member
Giannetti moved and Gill -Gerbig seconded approval of the agenda and the motion carried
with all members voting yes.
7:38 Mayor Dains asked the council if there were any changes to the minutes for the
October 11, 2005 city council meeting. There being none, Mayor Dains called for a
motion to approve the minutes as recorded. Council member Christensen moved and
Council member Gill -Gerbig seconded and the motion carried with all voting yes.
7:40 Mayor Dains invited those who wished to address the council on items not on the
agenda to do so.
Joe Sax, representing neighborhood kids, addressed the council and addressed the issue
of construction of a skateboard and bicycle park. He stated there is a park in St. Anthony,
however; the park does not allow bicycles. Mr. Sax went on to state there is a need for
such a park and having a park would draw kids from neighboring cities. He said
skateboarders, bikers and even rollerbladers could use the park.
He mentioned a few ways to generate funds to help pay for the park, such as a bake sale,
spaghetti dinner, donations, etc. He suggested placing the skate park in the open area
near the hockey rink and added that if this location does not work, they would research
and find a different spot.
He stated there are two types of parks; wood and concrete. From his research, he stated
that wood might be more expensive due to the rising cost of lumber. He was told a
concrete park 30' by 80' is estimated to cost $70,000.
Mr. Sax finished by saying such a facility would be a great asset for the community.
Council member Christensen asked about insurance. Mr. Sax said he researched the web
and could not find any information.
Mayor Dains and the council thanked the boys for the excellent presentation. Mayor
Dains went on to say that issues involving the park are presented to the park committee
and the committee then reports to the council with suggestions and recommendations.
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LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
7:30 p.m.
He invited the boys to the next park committee meeting to discuss the topic with this
group.
7:50 Council members and the mayor mentioned the Halloween party to be held on
Monday, October 31, 2005 at City Hall and invited all kids to attend the free event. The
council and mayor also thanked all the residents who made donations for the event.
7:55 Katrina and Russ, attorney's from Hughes and Costello, presented information on
domestic assault to the council. Hughes and Costello is the law firm the City uses for
prosecution.
8:15 Administrator Bakken -Heck presented an update on the budget. He indicated
revenues are behind projections for the year, but that the city has not received the second
half tax settlement. He said expenditures are running below projections and that overall
the status of the finances for the city are doing well.
8:20 Action Items.
A) Open Burning Ordinance. Administrator Bakken -Heck updated the council
on the revisions and indicated the revisions bring the ordinance into
compliance with the International Fire Code, which the City of Lauderdale
adopted. Specifically, the ordinance extends the distance from combustible
materials and structures from 10' to 25' and restricts the height of the fire
from 3' to 2.'
Council member Gill -Gerbig asked what constitutes combustible material.
She queried if this included trees, shrubs and/or bushes. She felt a bit more
was needed in the definitions. She moved to table consideration of the
ordinance until staff could resolve the issue related to the definitions. The
motion died for lack of a second.
Council member Christensen moved adoption of the ordinance on open
burning as amended. Council member Giannetti seconded the motion and it
carried with Council members Gill -Gerbig, Doherty, Giannetti, Christensen
and Mayor Dains all voting yes.
B) November Meeting Dates. Due to the election on Tuesday, November 8, the
council discussed moving the council meeting to alternate dates. Council
member Doherty moved and Gill -Gerbig seconded changing the dates for the
meetings in November to Tuesday, November 15 and Tuesday, November 29.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Council members Gill -Gerbig,
Doherty, Giannetti, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes.
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LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
7:30 p.m.
C) Amendment to Ehlers Agreement for consulting work on Larpenteur Avenue
project. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and Doherty seconded the
motion to approve the agreement amendment with Ehlers and Associates.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with members Gill -Gerbig, Doherty,
Giannetti, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes.
D) SCORE Grant. The city is receiving a grant for recycling in the amount of
$4,378. Council member Christensen offered and moved resolution
#102505A — A resolution Accepting 2006 SCORE Funding from Ramsey
County for the Lauderdale Recycling Program. The resolution was seconded
by Council member Giannetti and carried on a roll call vote with Gill -Gerbig,
Doherty, Giannetti, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes:
8:35 Administrator Bakken -Heck presented an update to the council on the progress of
finding an alternate provider for the city's health insurance program for employees.
Bakken -Heck said he and Heather Butkowski met with Mr.. Jim Alt and received answers
to some questions raised by the council at the previous meeting. Bakken -Heck requested
council authorization to complete application with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Minnesota
for employee health coverage. Moved by Christensen to authorize the Administrator to
make application for coverage through Blue Cross / Blue Shield, second by Gill -Gerbig
and carried with Gill -Gerbig, Doherty, Giannetti, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting
yes.
8:45 The council moved into a work session to discuss the first draft of the Rental
Licensing Ordinance and the six month review of the City Administrator.
Bakken -Heck introduced the Rental Licensing Ordinance for council discussion and
comment. He stated the provisions for licensing rental property were included in an
existing ordinance covering maintenance requirements for multi -family property.
Mayor Dains asked for general comments from the council on the concept of licensing.
All council members agreed with the concept and the mayor asked for specific comments
on the draft language.
Giannetti asked about the inspection timing and the fee. She wants to make sure the
license fee is adequate to cover the cost of administration. Bakken -Heck said that the
period of licensing has not been specifically addressed. He stated it could be calendar so
that all units come due at the same time, or based on 12 months from the date of issuance
thus staggering license expiration. He also said the license fee is not indicated.
Butkowski stated she is gathering information on fees from other cities and will include
this in the review. She stated St. Anthony assesses a $7.00 per unit fee. Staff will check
with other cities licensing fees.
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LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
7:30 p.m.
Gill -Gerbig stated the fee needs to be reasonable and provide for covering the costs of
administration. She then commented on the process needed to get landlords to improve
property if they are not to code and questioned if this type of program could be expanded
to include non -rental property in the city. She wondered about making a landlord bring a
home up to code before being able to rent it, but not an owner occupied dwelling.
Mayor Dains indicated he would like to hear from a smaller city that has instituted a
similar program to find out what they experienced in adopting and implementing such a
program.
Resident Marcia Hoffman requested permission to speak on the issue. Ms. Hoffinan's
main concern centered on the number of unrelated individuals who could reside in a
dwelling and she used her neighbors as an example and also stated a provision in the
existing City Zoning Ordinance restricting the number of roomers in an R1 zoned area.
The council then discussed the number of calls to a building. Christensen suggested there
be a staggered number based on the number of units a building has. He did not feel it
equitable that a building with 50 units be held to the same level as a single-family unit
used as rental.
Following further discussion, Bakken -Heck summarized his understanding of the areas
staff needs to conduct further research. He outlined them as follows:
1. Fee structure for the license.
2. Fine schedule or administrative fee for non-compliance with the ordinance or
license provisions.
3. Suggest number of police calls for the building/unit.
4. Acquire information from a small city with licensing provision to get information
on their experience.
5. Can the city require landlords to conduct background checks on prospective
tenants?
6. What methods can the city use to ensure landlords remove problem tenants?
7. Can the city have a license fee based on the landlords' place of residence (i.e.
landlords who reside in Lauderdale have lower fee)?
9:30 Administrator six-month review. Overall, the council felt the Administrator is doing
a good job. All stated the Administrator needs to take a bit more time and pay a bit more
attention to detail.
There being no further business, the council adjourned at 10:20 p.m. on a motion by
Christensen and a second by Gill -Gerbig.
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