HomeMy WebLinkAboutgr00090_000035_pg143October 28, 1974 Page 4
Attorney Meyers stated there is a question of city liability if it
allows the Center to temporarily operate without the special use
permit. He stated that action could be brought against the city and
that even should the city win the case, legal costs would be incurred.
Mayor Neisen stated the important point is that the Center is operating
illegally.
Councilman Baumgartner asked the fire chief whether adequate safety
precautions could be instituted within one day.
Chief Fagerstrom answered that they would probably take longer than one day
but that they could be implemented within two or three days.
Councilman Baumgartner felt such precautions should be implemented before
the school is allowed to resume operation.
MS (Neisen - Baumgartner) that operation of the school and bible college
be discontinued until a special use permit is granted, the fire code
is complied with and state approval of the educational program is received.
Mr. Robert Chandler, 1616 Pioneer Building, St. Paul, noted that he is
council for the Center. He stated that the bible college is not really
a school but part of the normal operation of any church. He asked
that it be allowed to continue without interruption. He questioned
whether constitutionally a church could be investigated by a govern-
mental agency. He agreed with Attorney Meyers that it was proper for
the city to regulate churches with regard to land use. He felt the Council
should be concerned with probabilities; that the probability of a fire
in the Center should be weighed against the probability of damage to the
lives of children attending this school if its operation is interrupted.
MSP (Baumgartner - Pickar) to amend the motion above to state that the
school be discontinued until safety precautions meeting the satisfaction
of the fire chief are implemented.
Councilman Pickar stated that this would not require the school to be
shut down for the entire time before a permit can be issued.
Councilman Johnson asked the fire chief if there is any way to implement
adequate safety precautions without the Center investing a substantial
amount of money in improvements.
Chief Fagerstrom answered that some form of temporary solution could
be found and suggested that the Center could employ one or two people
as fire monitors during school hours. This would not require purchase
of any equipment.
A roll call vote was taken on the amendment.
Pickar Aye
Baumgartner Aye
Johnson Naye
Hodges Aye
Neisen Naye