08-28-2023 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 14, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 12 1 Valerie Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, questioned if this contract would cost the City more than 2 hiring someone full time. She inquired if this was a good fiscal decision. City Attorney Riggs 3 reported many cities hire consultants during an interim period while they conduct a search for a 4 new candidate. City Administrator Zikmund stated it was not easy to hire a planner and the City 5 needed time to evaluate the position. 6 7 Acting Mayor Meehlhause discussed the work being done by Community Development Director 8 Sevald at this time, noting he served as the City Planner and the Community Development Director 9 who oversees three employees. He explained the consulting planner would not be responsible for 10 overseeing these employees, but rather this responsibility was going to be assumed temporarily by 11 Assistant City Administrator Beeman. 12 13 MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9796, 14 Approving contract services with Stantec for City Planner services. 15 16 Ayes — 4 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 17 18 I. Second Reading, Ordinance 1007, Prohibiting use of Cannabis in Public 19 Places. ROLL CALL VOTE 20 21 City Attorney Riggs requested the Council adopt an ordinance prohibiting the use of cannabis in 22 public places. He explained the Council introduced this ordinance at the August 7 Special City 23 Council meeting. He commented further on the ordinance and definitions for public places. He 24 explained State Statute defines public places more as a setback situation or distance requirement 25 from certain places. He reported the cannabis act contains significant language on what a public 26 place is and State law worked to protect minors. He reiterated that this ordinance was a tool relative 27 to where usage can be made so the police department can educate people. He indicated the use of 28 cannabis in a public place was not a criminal act, but rather was a petty misdemeanor. He 29 commented further on the proposed ordinance and recommended approval. 30 31 Acting Mayor Meehlhause requested staff speak to the medical marijuana exception. City Attorney 32 Riggs reviewed the language within the ordinance that addressed medical marijuana usage. 33 34 Council Member Lindstrom reported he liked the distance suggestion better than a flat out ban. He 35 reiterated that the intent of the State legislation was to protect minors. City Attorney Riggs 36 commented this ordinance would be a tool that the Council could enact. It was noted the council 37 could take their time when approving and considering the final language. 38 39 Joyce Jones Strait, 7728 Knollwood, asked how a person was to know where a home daycare was 40 located and questioned if both commercial and home daycares would have prohibited use. City 41 Attorney Riggs explained both commercial and home daycares were included within the 42 ordinance. He stated this regulation came down from the state and marijuana use was not allowed 43 within 500 feet of any daycare. He reported State Statute puts the onus on residents. 44 45 Dennis Frohm, 7840 Bona Road, reported the use of cannabis should be similar to alcohol and 46 tobacco use. He recommended cannabis requirements be similar to tobacco and should not be