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CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL
Monday, October 1, 2007
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Marty, Stigney, Flaherty, Hull, Mueller
PUBLIC COMMENT
Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full
name and address for the minutes. Also, please limit your comments to three minutes and sign
in on the sign-in sheet located on the podium.
Agenda Items Discussed by Consensus
_______ 1. Update on Cable TV Equipment
_______ 2. Update on Tree Preservation Ordinance
_______ 3. Discuss the Possibility of a Bee Keeping Ordinance
_______ 4. Outdoor Event Policy
_______ 5. City Administrator Position – Replacement/Recruitment Plan
_______ 6. Foreclosure Properties
_______ 7. Mounds View City Code Chapter 514 - Therapeutic Massage Licensing
Next Work Session: Monday, November 5, 2007 at 7pm
Next City Council Meeting: Monday, October 8, 2007 at 7pm
Item No. 01
Meeting Date: October 1, 2007
Type of Business: WK
WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing;
CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business
City Administrator Review _______
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Desaree Crane, Assistant to the City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Update on Cable TV Equipment
The Mounds View Cable Department is currently being organized and trouble-shooted
to ensure quality of programming and taping of meetings. Vanessa Van Alstine (Cable
TV Coordinator) finished labeling cables in the back of the cable equipment and
developed Audio and Video Diagram Flow Charts outlining where these cables are
connected to which equipment. By labeling cables and developing these flow charts,
this will help in troubleshooting equipment more efficiently if equipment fails.
It was City Council’s direction at the August 13, 2007, City Council Meeting to trouble
shoot the Projector located in City Council Chambers. The video displayed on the
projector has a greenish tint, and the City Council wished to have this corrected as soon
as possible. Attached is a journal developed by Vanessa to outline what is being done
to try to correct the problem. Staff is currently still working on this problem and will
update the City Council at a future meeting.
Vanessa Van Alstine will be available to answer any questions you may have at this
meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Desaree Crane
Mounds View
Cable Channel 16
Issue: Projector has a green color cast.
Last updated: 9/26/2007, VVA
8/13/07 Councilmember Stigney mentioned that video displayed on the projector had a greenish
color.
8/29/07 Tested the projector with laptop before the Comprehensive Plan meeting. Mark Beer
pointed out two flashing lights and suggested we power down because they indicated an error
mode.
8/30/07 Called Chuck Pearce at DS Productions about the projector error codes. The projector
displayed a warning about cleaning the air filter, then the red LAMP and TEMP indicator lights
blinked. Mr. Pearce said that the lamp had been recently replaced in the projector and the air
filter cleaned, so the warnings were in error. He tried to guide the Cable Television Coordinator
through the commands needed to reset the warning, but the menus behaved oddly. The reset
command would not clear the error message and caused the display to mirror.
8/31/07 Chuck Pearce came to City Hall and verified the improper operation of menu operations
and the erroneous lamp warning.
• Mr. Pearce said that the lamp was fine and the air filter was clean, although since the
projector was still under warranty and the menus were not responding correctly, it should
be sent in for service. He would not remove it until he could bring a loaner projector to
use during the service period.
• We troubleshot the projector for a color shift by connecting other signal sources. If the
projector itself or the lamp were the source of the problem, the color shift should appear
on any source.
o A laptop connected to the RGB1 input looked acceptable, although we did not
have color bars or a standard test signal. The red, green, blue and yellow patches
present in the Windows Start menu icon demonstrated that all colors appeared.
o We connected the City’s camcorder directly to the projector’s video input to look
at another video source. The color from the camcorder appeared more natural than
that of the ceiling-mounted cameras through the video switcher, but there was still
a greenish tinge.
• The Cable Television Coordinator white balanced the three ceiling-mounted cameras.
• Mr. Pearce demonstrated the video controls of the projector, and we adjusted the contrast,
brightness, color saturation, and hue for good performance.
• Mr. Pearce suggested that the lighting in the room is probably a contributing factor. The
color output of florescent lights has a large green component, and they are not usually
specified as the lighting instruments for television productions. He pointed out that it is
possible to buy or rent tungsten lighting instruments that could be installed in place of the
florescent ones.
9/4/07 Pat Cook, CTV, came out to assist tracing problems with the control room equipment.
Documentation of the video signal flow is from May 2006 and pre-dates the additional
equipment installed by Alpha Video.
• We traced signal flow to be able to include the new equipment in the documentation. Mr.
Cook is updating the flow chart and will have it by September 20.
• Confirmed that the phase of the video delay line coming from the Compix CG was
correct. The color of graphics was the same whether the CG was brought up directly as a
source or accessed via the downstream keyer.
• The right side of the 6x1 switcher was unterminated, leading to too high video levels. Mr.
Cook will find terminators at CTV and get them to the Cable Television Coordinator to
install.
• The right side of the frame synchronizer was unresponsive, possibly stuck in a remote
mode without the controller available. The Cable Television Coordinator will contact
Alpha Video for service.
• There appear to be three video delays. The updated flow chart is needed to identify the
function of the other two delays and then the phase should be correctly adjusted.
During the Cable Committee meeting, Committee members commented that the projector color
looked better. During the City Council Work Session, Councilmember Stigney mentioned that
the projected image still looked green.
9/12/07 Chuck Pearce, DS Productions, came with a loaner Sanyo projector and took out the
City’s ViewSonic projector to send for service. The Crestron controller will not be able to switch
input sources from the control room, but the remote control may be used in the chamber to
switch between laptop (Computer 1) and program (Video). The Sanyo projector has a slightly
different apparent color from the ViewSonic projector, but still overall greenish tint on video.
9/18/07 The Cable Television Coordinator began calibrating the television monitors in the
control room.
• Calibrated Preview, Camera 1, Camera 2, and Camera 3 monitors to color bars.
• Unable to find video controls for the Program monitor. They might need to be accessed
through a remote which is currently missing. The cover may need to be removed to
access them. Searched the manufacturers web site for documentation on the monitor, but
they did not have manuals online for models that old. The calibration is currently off and
color bars have a large hue shift. When watching video, there is a large green cast.
• The Live Channel monitor only has an RF input, so need an adaptor to get the test signal
from the video switcher to the Live Channel monitor to be able to calibrate.
• Attempted to calibrate the Test monitor, but the hue control did not have enough range to
make color bars look right. Suspect related to the unidentified video delay lines.
9/19/07 The Cable Television Coordinator used the camcorder’s internal color bar generator to
record color bars onto tape.
• Routed the Sony DCV-30 deck to Input 3 on the Test monitor and played the recording of
color bars. Bars looked correct on Test monitor Input 3 coming from the tape.
• This indicates that the monitor was correctly calibrated the previous day, and the signal
coming in to the monitor from the video switcher has a problem.
• Brought up color bars on the camera controller and routed through the video switcher to
compare. Input 1 (On-air – V Brick) and Input 2 (distribution amp) were getting the
output of the video switcher and both displayed color bars wrong, with a large change in
hue. Input 3 from the videotape looked fine.
9/20/07
• Spoke with Pat Cook from CTV about the results of the previous day’s testing of color
bars from different sources on the same monitor. Mr. Cook pointed out that since there
shouldn’t be much equipment in line with the video signal after the Grass Valley video
switcher, the problem might be originating in the switcher itself.
• Picked up the updated video flow diagram and the cable labeler.
9/21/07
• White balanced the cameras prior to the EDC meeting. Since it was still dark, the only
light source was the florescent room lights instead of the daytime mix of light through the
windows with the florescent light.
• Verified and corrected the updated video flow diagram and created cable list.
9/24/07
• Made labels for video cables and began tracing and labeling wires.
• Installed terminators on the right side of the 6x1 switcher.
9/25/07
• Finished labeling video cables as described on flow chart. Several additional cables
remain which need to be identified.
• Identified the video delay lines and recorded the current adjustment settings.
• Spoke to Pat Cook, CTV, about progress with the video system. He will come out later
this week to troubleshoot the video switcher and other equipment.
9/26/07
• Creating audio flow chart, making labels for audio cables and beginning to trace and
label the audio wiring.
Next Steps
Video Equipment –addressing general quality issues
1. Confirm operation of the control room equipment and make necessary adjustments or repairs.
2. Calibrate the Program and Live Channel television monitors.
3. Correctly phase the video delay line connected to the pattern generator.
4. Install waveform monitor and vectorscope to be able to quantitatively measure signals.
5. Look for color quality settings on the Extron scaler, which would affect video displayed on
the projector but not going out to the channel.
Evaluate Remaining Scope and Impact of Issue
• How does the color look at residences and other locations besides City Hall?
• Does the green cast occur on all meetings from the Mounds View Council Chamber?
• Is it visible on live meetings, replays and web streamed meetings? Or just the projector?
• It should not be visible on programs coming from other settings, such as “North Suburban
Beat” or “Seniors on the Run” since they were not filmed under the same lighting conditions
and did not pass through the Mounds View control room system.
Once the video equipment is calibrated/adjusted/fixed, if there is still a greenish cast
coming from all meetings in the Council Chamber and it appears on all viewing options
(live, replay, web stream), the problem is likely the lighting.
• Bring in additional portable lighting appropriate for television. CTV has portable light kits.
• Evaluate cost and feasibility of color-correcting gels that slide over florescent light tubes and
reduce the green spectrum emissions.
• Evaluate cost and feasibility of replacing florescent lamps with more television-appropriate
lighting such as tungsten lamps. We may be able to rent them first to evaluate the
performance. According to Chuck Pearce, lights might cost $25-30 per tube, and rent for
$5/day each. Need to check compatibility with ballasts and fixtures. Lights on Minneapolis
and City Lights were mentioned as sources of this equipment.
• The yellow-green color of the paint in the Council Chamber might be picking up and
emphasizing the green spectrum emissions from the florescent lights. Evaluate the possibility
of a wall color that is more flattering to skin tones under the lighting arrangement.
Item No: 2
Meeting Date: 10/01/07
Type of Business: Work Session
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate
Item Title/Subject: Proposed Tree Preservation & Landscaping Ordinance
Background
City Council last discussed the proposed tree ordinance on April 2nd, and at that time it
was decided to hold off on any further action until after the next city newsletter went out
with information about this proposed change. In the newsletter, staff asked for feedback
from residents as to whether they supported some sort of tree preservation ordinance or
not. Staff received one phone call the day after the April Council Worksession from a
resident indicating that she was not supportive of the city putting rules on residents
removing trees from their property. The Mounds View Matters newsletter was mailed at
the end of April, and staff wanted to allow time for residents to comment. Staff received
no other responses to the tree ordinance proposal.
The Planning Commission and the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission are
supportive of having some sort of tree preservation ordinance, although both are
concerned about the City being too restrictive. At the April Worksession, Council began
to re-examine whether or not to put this tree ordinance into effect, and what the City really
wants to accomplish with the ordinance.
Both the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission feel
strongly that this ordinance should not prohibit single family property owners from doing
whatever they want on their property with their trees. The current version of the
ordinance addresses this by exempting all R-1 and R-2 zoned properties from Section
1127.05 Tree Removal on Lots without Construction or Grading Activity. Staff’s thoughts
are that the tree replacement and preservation requirements would only be in effect if
there is construction on the property, particularly a new home built. But does the City
want to impose these requirements on an R-1 or R-2 property owner who is just building a
new garage or deck?
Exempting R-1 and R-2 properties when no "development" is occurring however creates
a loophole. There are presently three or four potential infill residential redevelopment
areas in the City. Submitting a development application is the trigger for the tree plan,
inventory, replacement requirements, etc. Knowing this, the land owner(s) could clear cut
the lots without penalty PRIOR to submitting the development application thereby
avoiding any requirements whatsoever. Staff is unsure how to close this loophole without
otherwise restricting the typical single-family property owner. Staff will require some
direction from the Council regarding this issue.
After the discussion at the March City Council Worksession, the draft ordinance was
amended to increase the max fine for each significant or specimen tree illegally removed
to $750. Is the Council comfortable with this amount?
Proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance
Worksession Staff Report
October 1, 2007
Page 2
Staff was asked to review the “Tree City USA Bulletin” titled How to Write a Municipal
Tree Ordinance. The Tree City USA program suggests 15 sections for a tree ordinance.
All of these sections are addressed either through current practice and the city code, or
are included in the new ordinance.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council review and discuss this draft ordinance, and
determine the next steps. Staff has some suggestions in regards to further action by the
Council:
1. No further action. Council may decide to not move forward at all with this proposed
Tree Preservation ordinance, or,
2. Edit the current draft to be less restrictive to existing home and business owners.
Council could consider removing Section 1127.05 Tree Removal on Lots without
Construction or Grading Activity – this would eliminate any tree removal restrictions for
property owners with existing homes and buildings; and revising Section 1127.04 Tree
Removal on Lots with Construction or Grading Activity to only be applicable to new
construction; residential and/or commercial.
Staff asks that Council consider at least moving forward with Section 1127.06
Landscaping, since the city code currently has virtually no requirements for
landscaping with new developments. Another important issue that this section
addresses is in subdivision 7, maintenance of landscaping. This requires property
owners to trim damaged trees and remove uprooted or diseased tree stumps.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Heller
Planning Associate
Attachments:
1. Page from May/June Mounds View Matters with Tree Ordinance Information
2. Tree City USA Bulletin
3. Proposed Tree Ordinance
4.
CHAPTER 1127
DDDRRRAAAFFFTTT
333--
TREE PRESERVATION & LANDSCAPING
SECTION:
1127.01: Purpose
1127.02: Definitions
1127.03: General Tree Protection Requirements
1127.04: Tree Removal on Lots without Construction or Grading Permits
1127.05: Landscaping
1127.06 Appeal Process
1127.07 Violation and Penalties
1127.01: PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to identify trees and woodlots
which are to be preserved in general and saved when development is occurring or at
any point thereafter. It is the City’s goal to ensure that development is compatible with
the natural environment and is accommodated without destroying desirable
environmental features and natural amenities. It is not the City’s intent, however, to
preserve significant trees or woodlots where substandard subdivision design, poor
drainage, excess slope in streets and driveways or inefficient utility construction will
result.
1127.02: DEFINITIONS: When used in this Chapter, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the
context clearly indicates a different meaning:
DRIP LINE: The imaginary line at the outer edge of a tree or shrub, the point where
water would drip to the ground from the outermost branches or leaves.
HIGH VALUE TREES: Any tree from the list below.
Birches (River & Paper)
Black Walnut
Catalpa
Cherry
All Firs
Flowering Crabapples &
Hawthorns
Hackberry
Hybrid American Elm
Ironwood
Japanese Tree Lilac
All Lindens
All Maples
All Oaks
Ohio Buckeye
Pines (except Jack)
All Spruce
ROOT ZONE: That area of effective tree rooting (out to the extent of the branches plus
5 five feet).
-222888---000777
1
2
SIGNIFICANT TREE: A significant tree is defined as any live healthy High Value tree
measuring eight (8) inches in diameter or greater, measured at 4.5 feet above the
ground.
SPECIMEN TREE: Any High Value Tree over 16 inches in diameter, or any other
species over 30 inches in diameter.
TREE CROWN: The upper part of a tree, including the branches and leaves.
WOODLOT: An area of trees of significant or specimen size on at least twenty-five (25)
percent of the total lot area.
1127.03: GENERAL TREE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS. Developers,
landowners, and builders shall attempt to preserve the maximum number of significant
and specimen trees on lots as possible by using creative design techniques for the
location of structures and other improvements within property boundaries.
Subd. 1. Preservation Standards.
a. Structures and other amenities shall be located in such any manner that the
optimum number of trees shall be preserved.
b. Prior to the granting of a permit, the person requesting the permit shall
demonstrate that there are no feasible or prudent alternatives to the removal
of significant or specimen trees on the site.
c. Forestation, reforestation or landscaping shall utilize a variety of tree species
and shall not utilize any species presently under disease epidemic.
d. Development including grading and contouring shall take place in such a
manner that the root zone, as defined in Section 1127.02, of existing trees
shall not be affected
1127.04: TREE REMOVAL ON LOTS WITH CONSTRUCTION OR GRADING
ACTIVITY
Subd. 1. Tree Plan Required. A tree plan, which would include a tree inventory,
prepared by an arborist, landscape architect or forester, shall be submitted for
any project in which trees will be impacted as a result of said project. Tree
inventories shall identify existing healthy significant trees, specimen trees,
woodlots and smaller groups of non-significant trees within the limits of the
proposed project area. The inventory should clearly indicate which trees would
be lost as a result of the project and which trees would be saved. The tree
inventory shall be submitted at the same time as any other required application
submittals. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Community
Development Director and the City Forester.
3
Subd. 2. Replacement Standards. Replacement tree species shall be approved by the
City Forester in accordance with Section 1127.05.
a. For every significant tree removed, the permit holder or property owner shall
plant a new tree on a one-to-one replacement basis, up to five new trees on
lots less than an acre and up to ten new trees on lots one acre or larger. No
additional plantings shall be required on lots less than one acre where five or
more replacement and high value trees over eight inches in diameter would
remain or on lots one acre or larger where ten or more replacement and high
value trees over eight inches in diameter would remain.
b. For every specimen tree removed, the permit holder or property owner shall
plant five new trees on lots less than an acre or ten new trees on lots one
acre or larger.
c. Replacement trees shall be planted no later than twelve months beyond the
date of tree removal. The owner or permit holder shall guarantee the survival
of the replacement trees for two full growing seasons beyond the year of
planting. In cases where replacement cannot occur within the specified
timeframe, an extension may be granted at the discretion of the City Forester
or Community Development Director.
d. Replacement Quantity Reductions. The number of required replacement
trees may be reduced when deemed appropriate at the sole discretion of the
City Forester based on existing site conditions.
e. Exceptions. Replacement requirements shall not apply to trees lost as a
result of utility trimming or maintenance, work conducted by or on behalf of a
governmental agency in pursuance of its lawful activities or functions,
disease, storms or other acts of natural occurrence.
Subd. 3. Trees within development areas designated for preservation shall be protected
from construction damage by placing a snow fence or flags in a perimeter five
feet beyond the tree’s dripline, within which area no equipment shall traverse or
materials, debris or fill shall be placed.
Subd. 4. Additional Removals. If, through the course of a development activity, it
becomes necessary to remove additional trees beyond what was previously
approved in the Tree Plan. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to submit
such request to the City in writing, explaining the reasons necessitating the
additional removals, and obtain written approval of the Community Development
Director or designee before proceeding.
4
1127.05 TREE REMOVAL ON LOTS WITHOUT CONSTRUCTION OR GRADING
ACTIVITY 1 :
Subd. 1. No more than two significant or specimen trees shall be permitted to be
removed per year on lots upon which no development or grading activity is
occurring, unless an approved Tree Plan has been obtained. Trees removed
because they are an obstruction to traffic or power lines, or trees removed
because they pose a hazard to structures or sewer systems, or have been
identified by the City Forester as diseased or hazardous, shall be excluded from
these requirements.
Subd. 2. Tree Plan: A tree plan will be required if more than two significant trees and/or
specimen trees per year are removed. If determined necessary by the
Community Development Director or City Forester, the tree plan shall be
prepared by a forester, arborist or landscape architect, and may be reviewed by
the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission prior to approval by the
Community Development Director and City Forester. The tree plan shall include
the following information:
a. A scaled map designating all forested areas and existing and proposed uses
of such areas.
b. Location of all existing structures, roads, utilities, and driveways on the site.
c. A written narrative describing specific activities and reasons for developing
the plan, and how these actions and activities will affect the forest. Specific
examples include, but are not limited to: better forest management (thinning
or removal of dead or diseased trees), improved wildlife habitat, recreational
use, outdoor education, and trails.
Subd. 3. Tree Replacement. As a condition of a tree plan approval, tree replacement
may be required.
1127.06 LANDSCAPING:
Subd. 1. Applications for development in the R-3, R-4, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1 and PUD
districts shall be accompanied by a detailed landscape plan. The landscape plan
should be developed in accordance with the site plan submitted for approval.
Subd. 2. Detailed landscape plans shall include the following information:
a. General: name and address of developer/owner, name and address of
architect/designer, date of plan preparation, date and description of all
revisions, name of project or development, scale of plan, north point
indication.
1 Parcels in the R-1, Single Family Residential, and R-2, Single and Two Family Residential zoning districts are
exempt from the provisions of this section.
5
b. Site analysis: Boundary lines of property line with dimensions based upon
certified survey, name and alignment of proposed and existing adjacent on-
site streets, location of all proposed utility easements and right-of-way,
location of existing and proposed buildings, topographic contours at two (2)
foot contour intervals, location of parking areas, water bodies, proposed
sidewalks, and percentage of site not covered by structures and impervious
surfaces.
c. Landscape data: A planting schedule table shall include symbols, quantities,
common names, botanical names, size of plant materials, root specifications,
and special planting instructions.
d. Typical sections and details of fences, retaining walls, berms and other
landscape improvements.
e. Typical sections of landscape islands and planter beds with identification of
materials used.
f. Details of planting beds and foundation plantings.
g. Delineation of both sodded and seeded areas indicated in square footage.
h. Where landscape or inorganic materials are used to provide required
screening from adjacent and neighboring properties, a cross section shall be
provided at a legible scale illustrating the prospective of the site from the
neighboring property and property line elevation.
Subd. 3. Number of plant materials required: In order to achieve an appropriate and
complete quality landscaping of a site, the following minimum number of plant
materials shall be provided as indicated below:
a. One (1) overstory deciduous shade tree for every two thousand (2,000)
square feet of the total building footprint.
b. One (1) coniferous tree for every two (2,000) square feet of building or one (1)
coniferous tree for every two hundred (200) feet of site perimeter, whichever
is greater.
c. One (1) understory shrub for every three hundred (300) square feet of
building or one (1) shrub for every thirty (30) feet of site perimeter, whichever
is greater.
d. One (1) ornamental tree for every two thousand (2,000) square feet of
building or one (1) ornamental tree for every two hundred (200) feet of site
perimeter, whichever is greater.
e. The number of plant materials required in Subdivision 3 a-d may be reduced
by fifteen percent in each category in the I-1 districts.
6
f. In the event a site plan layout does not have adequate space to
accommodate plant quantities as required herein, such quantities per species
can be reduced, provided that total required height or caliper is maintained.
The Community Development Director and City Forester must approve all
changes.
Subd. 4. Minimum size of plantings and species requirements:
a. Only tree species from High Value Tree list or other tree species as approved
by the City Forester shall be used.
b. Overstory deciduous – 2 ½ inch caliper.
c. Coniferous – 6 feet in height as measured from grade.
d. Shrubs – 24 inch plant (potted).
e. Ornamental trees – 2 inch caliper.
Subd. 5. Method of installation: All deciduous and coniferous trees shall be ball and
burlap and staked and guyed per National Nurserymen’s Standards. All shrubs
shall be potted.
Subd. 6. Use of Landscaping for Screening:
a. Where natural materials, such as trees or hedges are approved in lieu of the
required screening by means of walls or fences, density and species of
planting shall be such to achieve screening year round.
Subd. 7. Maintenance. Property owners shall be responsible for the upkeep of all
required plantings and landscape materials. Upon written notice from the City, a
property owner shall be required to trim broken or damaged tree boughs, remove fallen
trees or storm damaged trees and remove diseased trees as identified by the City
Forester.2 Uprooted or diseased tree stumps shall be removed or ground down below
grade.
1127.07 PLAN REVIEW PROCESS
All tree inventories, preservation plans and landscape plans shall be reviewed by the
City Forester. The Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission may also review
such plans at the request of the Community Development Director or the City Forester.
When such plans are required as part of a development application (e.g. development
review, conditional use permit, minor or major subdivision) the Planning Commission
and City Council shall have approval authority. For such plans submitted when no
official planning action is necessary, the Community Development Director and City
Forester shall retain administrative approval authority.
2 Refer to Chapter 605, Tree Disease Control.
7
1127.08 APPEAL PROCESS
Administrative decisions by the City Forester and/or Community Development Director
may be appealed to the City Council. An appeal shall be filed in writing no more than
fourteen (14) days following the date of the administrative decision by the City. The
appeal shall be scheduled for consideration by City Council at the next regularly
scheduled City Council meeting which is at least seven (7) days from the date of the
appeal.
1127.09 VIOLATION AND PENALTIES
Except as provided herein, no significant or specimen tree shall be removed from any
property in the City. Any violation of any provision of this Chapter shall constitute a
misdemeanor offense. Property owners or permit holders having been cited for illegal
tree removal may be fined up to $750 for each significant or specimen tree illegally
removed. In addition to the punishment specified in this section, the City may enforce
this Code by any other appropriate form of action which could include withholding a
Certificate of Occupancy, forfeiture of all or part of a bond, escrow or financial
guarantee and stoppage of the project.
Item No. 04
Meeting Date: October 1, 2007
Type of Business: WK
WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing;
CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business
City Administrator Review _______
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Desaree Crane, Assistant to the City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Outdoor Event Policy
The Mounds View City Council wanted Staff to research into a policy for special outdoor events.
Many businesses have requested to hold special outdoor events to include Moe’s. Staff was
directed by the City Council to research what other cities did in regard to Special Outdoor
Events. This was discussed briefly at last June’s Work Session.
Staff received responses from the City of Chanhassen, Coon Rapids, New Brighton, and North
St. Paul, Vadnais Heights and Woodbury on their outdoor events policies. Attached are the
policies and examples of application forms. Fees range from no fees to $100.00.
There are many items to consider in regard to Outdoor Special Events. The first is noise
compliance. Noise Compliance should be stated in the Outdoor Event Policy or stated in the
application to e nsure that the noise compliance policies are enforced. Another consideration is
parking. Parking would be an issue for establishments that do not have adequate parking
spaces. If these establishments conduct outdoor events in their parking lot, then this would
greatly reduce the parking spaces. Many cities require the applicant to submit a parking plan.
For example the City of Vadnais Heights requires the applicant to submit a proposed parking
plan, a security plan and a clean up plan as part of the application process.
Please review the attached policies from the cities of Chanhassen, Coon Rapids, New Brighton,
and North St. Paul, Vadnais Heights and Woodbury. Staff could draft a policy for Council
consideration, to include fees, for a First Reading as early as the end of October. Staff would
need direction from the City Council at this Work Session on the requirements of the permit, and
the fees associated with it.
Respectfully submitted,
Desaree Crane
Item No. 05
Meeting Date: October 1, 2007
Type of Business: WK
WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing;
CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business
City Administrator Review _______
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Desaree Crane, Assistant to the City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: City Administrator Position – Replacement/Recruitment
Background
At the September 4, 2007 Work Session, the Mounds View City Council discussed options for
replacement/recruitment for the vacant City Administrator position. The following options below
were discussed at this meeting:
Replacement/Recruitment Plan
The City has several options in filling the City Administrator position:
1. Appoint an employee to the permanent position without an external search or recruitment.
Advantages:
- This would be the quickest option and could be accomplished within 30 days.
Interviews would be conducted by the Council of any interested internal candidates.
- The Council and staff have a good working knowledge of any internal candidate.
Disadvantages:
- Candidate pool is limited to existing staff and benefit of “outside” knowledge
brought to the position is limited.
2. External recruitment utilizing City staff to manage the process.
Advantages:
- This would be the least expensive external option, but because of staff
workload would likely take longer than if managed by a consultant (e.g., 60 – 180
days).
- Would provide external candidates to weigh against internal candidates.
Disadvantages:
- Existing staff does not have the available time to conduct this level of effort.
- Staff expertise is limited in doing organizational profiles or candidate analysis.
3. External recruitment utilizing an outside consultant (i.e., an executive search firm) to
manage the process.
Advantages:
- Provides professional expertise in organizational profiles or candidate analysis (e.g.,
60 – 120 days).
- Timelines can be managed better with a consultant focused on the effort.
- Large candidate pool can be accessed, increasing the probability of getting a
candidate with the “perfect fit” for the organization.
- Would provide external candidates to weigh against internal candidates
- May be combined with work by City staff to reduce some costs.
Disadvantages:
- This is the most expensive option ranging inn price from $7500 to $15,000, and up
(see attached proposals). Cost savings from staff vacancies could be used to fund
the position.
Discussion
At the September Work Session, Staff recommended option three. Option three would be the
most desirable because of the current workload and staffing of city departments. Due to these
staffing levels, Staff feels it will be difficult to keep on schedule in the hiring process of such a
high level position.
Staff will be meeting with the Human Resources Committee prior to this meeting to discuss the
hiring process further. Staff would like guidance from the City Council at this Work Session on
how to proceed with the recruitment process.
Respectfully submitted,
Desaree Crane