Minutes - 1996/10/29 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Page 6 October 29, 1996 Mounds View City Council Ms. Trude noted that a decrease was made in the amount allocated for Code Enforcement in 1997. Mr. Kessell explained that the number of people in Code Enforcement has remained the same. Ms. Sheldon stated she feels the 1997 proposed figure is more accurate in depicting how much time is actually being spent on code enforcement in the city. Ms. Trude stated she believes the Council's original intent was to hire someone just to oversee Code Enforcement. Unfortunately, there has been such a demand for help in the Community Development Department, that much of the time that should be dedicated to code enforcement is being spent on Planning Department activities. Ms. Sheldon explained that discussions with Joyce Pruitt indicated that on an average she was spending approximately two to three days per week during the Summer months on code enforcement, however that was reduced during the Winter months. Staff must consider if the city should take a more pro-active or re-active approach toward code enforcement. If staff is to take a more pro-active approach, the time spent in this area will undoubtedly increase. • Cameron Obert, 8315 Greenwood Drive, stated he recently took a drive around the city and feels there are more code violations alone than one full-time person can handle. He feels the department needs more staff to enforce the codes and this should definitely be taken into consideration when preparing the 1997 budget. Mr. Bruce Brasaemle stated he feels the amount allocated for code enforcement is inadequate. He noted that by enforcing the code, properties will be improved, thus increasing property values which inturn brings in more revenue to the city. Perhaps this increase in revenue will be enough to offset the cost of hiring an additional staff person to handle the code enforcement. Fritz Gastreich, 5030 Bona Road, asked what is considered a "boulevard" in regard to tree trimming, and also how much the new water meters have increased the revenues from the old system due to improved efficiency. Mayor Linke explained that the boulevard is generally the first fifteen feet from the street, depending upon where the street is in relation to the right-of--way. He also explained that it is really too early to tell whether the new meters have increased the revenues and furthermore, those revenues do not go into the general fund, they go into the water fund. Cameron Obert, 8315 Greenwood Drive, asked how long residents can expect to continue paying the extra fee for the new water meters. Mr. Kessell explained that the fees bring in approximately $50,000 per year. It was felt the time frame would be three to five years. . Don Hereau, 2260 Buckingham Lane, Townsedge Terrace, stated he does not like to live next to property that is not kept up. He feels improving the properties will increase revenues for the city.