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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2009/01/05• PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCI CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Special Meeting January 5, 2009 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:01 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Flaherty, Stigney, Hull, Mueller, Gunn NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA • A. Monday, January 5, 2009 City Council Agenda MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the Monday, January 5, 2009 agenda as presented. Ayes - 5 Nays - 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Mike Read, 2208 Lois Drive, stated he has lived in Mounds View for 20 years, is concerned that crime has increased, and asked what proactive input the Council will give the Police Department to curtail the increase in crime. Mayor Flaherty stated the Police Chief is well aware of the crime levels in Mounds View. However, the City has a limited number of police officers so the City asks all residents to be the "eyes and ears" of Mounds View and they should ca11911 if residents see something suspicious. Mr. Read asked what can be done proactively to get more officers or equipment. Mayor Flaherty advised that in the past four years, the Council has not been afraid to spend money on the Police Department if they need additional vehicles, scanners, or other equipment. He commented on the importance of setting up Neighborhood Watch Groups, advising that one was formed due to recent burglaries and since then, there had been no more burglaries in that area. • Mounds View City Council January 5, 2009 Special Meeting Page 2 • David Jahnke, 8428 Eastwood Road, congratulated the Council and its new members and wished them well. He stated he had lived in Mounds View for 40 years so he knows what has happened in the City from dirt roads, to sewer installation, to now. He stated there had been some "good battles" back then and a few now but Mounds View has always been a good place to live and he hoped it would stay that way. Len Gustafson, 5126 Greenwood Drive, stated when completing the community survey in October, he had included a note offering to provide additional comment and received that telephone call tonight. Mr. Gustafson stated he has questions about projects undertaken in the last three years and whether Mounds View is getting its money's worth. He asked about the Random Park building moved from the golf course, the County Road 10 sidewalk, and the park on the corner of Woodcrest and Silver Lake Road that he believes is not often used, perhaps because the play set is located by the swamp. Mayor Flaherty stated the Random Park building was to be replaced in 2009 and the City saw an opportunity when the golf course property was sold to move the building to Random Park instead of constructing a new building at a cost of $500,000. He stated staff can provide Mr. Gustafson with information on the number of times the Random Park building is booked. Mayor Flaherty stated the City's trail system was inadequate so people walked and children bicycled along County Road 10. The City found that to be a safety issue because of the high . speed of traffic so the sidewalk was installed and it is used often. With regard to Woodcrest Park, Mayor Flaherty explained the play set had been located closer to Silver Lake Road until a wetland pond was created. At that point, the play set was moved farther back and cannot be seen during summer months because of the willows and tall grass. Mayor Flaherty advised that this had been an item of discussion, to keep that vegetation cut back, and the Park & Recreation Department is aware that something needs to be done about the location of the play set. He stated he does not know how much Woodcrest Park is currently being used. Mayor Flaherty stated he thinks the City is getting its money's worth from these projects, based on resident's safety and need, and considering the cost for new construction, the Random Park building was also a good deal. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Oath of Office for Mayor Joe Flaherty. Clerk Administrator Ericson administered the oath of office to Joe Flaherty for the office of Mayor. B. Oath of Office for Councilmember Roger Stigney. • Clerk Administrator Ericson administered the oath of office to Roger Stigney for the office of Councilmember. Mounds View City Council January 5, 2009 Special Meeting Page 3 C. Oath of Office for Sherry Gunn. Clerk Administrator Ericson administered the oath of office to Sherry Gunn for the office of Councilmember. Mayor Flaherty declared a recess at 6:21 p.m. to hold a short reception. The meeting was reconvened at 6:41 p.m. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. 6:05 p.m. Public Hearing, Resolution 7395, a Resolution to suspend or revoke a Therapeutic Massage License for Xiu Ju Li (doing business as Jian Kang Massage) located at 2552 Highway 10 in Mounds View. Assistant City Clerk-Administrator Crane advised the City Council that on December 29, 2008, Xiu Ju Li and Chun Wang were arrested for allegedly promoting prostitution and labor trafficking, two felony counts. Upon getting the notification, Staff immediately contacted the City Attorney to assist in the suspension or revocation process of the therapeutic massage license. The City Attorney and staff believe there is enough information to proceed to either suspend or revoke this license because of the arrest, there may have been other unlicensed therapists, and the business was closing at 10:00 p.m., one hour later than allowed by the license. Assistant Clerk- Administrator Crane stated the Council can either suspend the license indefinitely until conviction is made, which may take months or years to occur, or revoke the license. Police Chief Sommer stated in November they became aware of concerns that the therapist was possibly engaging in sexual activity with clients as part of the massage, which was confirmed through an undercover investigation by the Police Department. He advised that Chun Wang, 52 years of age, was arrested and it was found he also had felony warrants in Nevada. Xiu Ju Li, 43 years of age, was charged with felony prostitution and kidnapping or labor trafficking. These charges are still under investigation and the evidence supported the probable cause arrests and two search warrants that were conducted as part of the investigation. Mayor Flaherty opened the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. Katie Viere, Property Manager for Kraus Anderson Realty Company, noted the business owner has not yet been convicted. Ms. Viere stated they do not want illegal activity occurring on their property but do want to understand where they stand and what direction they can take. She advised the City Council that this tenant is current on their rent. Police Chief Sommer clarified that the owner and associate have been arrested on very serious charges. He stated it would be in the best interest of the property management company to not be associated or attached to that business. Police Chief Sommer stated this public hearing can put the property management company on notice that there have been arrests for very serious charges for activity occurring in that building. Mounds View City Council January 5, 2009 Special Meeting Page 4 • Council Member Mueller asked when the two search warrants and property raid were conducted. Police Chief Sommer answered it occurred on December 29, 2008, one remains in jail, and one was released pending charges. Council Member Gunn asked if they are operating their business now. Ms. Viere stated they were operating on Friday and were not open to the public today but people were going to and from the site. She stated she had not been able to reach the business operators so she does not know their intentions. Mayor Flaherty explained that as of December 30, they were notified their license would be reviewed tonight and they could provide comment. He stated there are serious allegations at this time and the City Attorney has indicated there are enough grounds to consider revocation or suspension of the therapeutic massage license. Mayor Flaherty stated the City will work with the management company and suggested Ms. Viere contact City staff. Council Member Mueller referenced the letter that was hand delivered to the owner of the business on December 30, 2008 indicating: "you are not to operate a therapeutic business in Mounds View until a public hearing takes place and determination has been made on your license eligibility by the City Council." She noted if they were doing business on Friday, January 2, it was a flagrant disregard of this order. Mayor Flaherty closed the public hearing at 6:51 p.m. Council Member Gunn stated that as much as the City wants business, and considering the amount of work that went into meeting City Code for this business, she still supports revocation of the license based on the type and number of violations. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Gunn. To Approve Resolution 7395, a Resolution Revoking a Therapeutic Massage License for Xiu Ju Li, Doing Business as Jian Kang Massage, located at 2552 Highway 10 in Mounds View. Assistant City Clerk-Administrator Crane read the resolution in full. Ayes - 5 Nays - 0 Motion carried. Assistant City Clerk-Administrator Crane advised that the Council will discuss the therapeutic massage license ordinance issue at the February 1, 2009 Work Session to assure it contains adequate provisions for enforcement. B. Resolution 7396, Selection of the Official Newspaper, Acting Mayor, • Treasurer and Official Depositories for 2009. Mounds View City Council January 5, 2009 Special Meeting Page 5 • Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane presented the draft resolution that included designation of the official newspaper, noting The Bulletin and Sun Focus had both submitted quotes but the Council had expressed interest in selecting the Sun Focus. She advised that the St. Paul Pioneer Press, which had been the City's secondary newspaper, did not submit a quote this year. However, it can be left as a secondary newspaper. Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane noted the draft resolution also designates the Acting Mayor and selection of the Treasurer and Official Depositories for 2009. Mayor Flaherty asked for volunteers for Acting Mayor. Hearing none, he noted that Council Member Stigney has been Acting Mayor in the past and does a good job. The Council agreed. MOTION/SECOND: Guru~/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Approve Resolution 7396, Appointing Official Newspaper, Councilmember Stigney as Acting Mayor, Official Depository and Treasurer for the Year 2009. Council Member Stigney noted the official newspaper would be changed to the Sun Focus. Council Member Mueller stated her support for this change by pointing out that the cutoff with The Bulletin is the Friday before a Council meeting date so any Council news cannot be reported until the following week. On the other hand, the Sun Focus is able to report about Council events in the same week because of their later cut off. Also, she believed the Editor of the Sun Focus had done a good job in thoroughly covering community events, conducting interviews, and supporting community events with photos and articles. Ayes - 5 Nays - 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 7397, Appointing City Council Members and City Staff as Representatives for City Commissions and Other Organizations. • Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane stated the draft resolution makes appointments to Commissions and other organizations. The Council indicated organizations on which they would volunteer to serve. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve Resolution 7397, Appointing City Council Members and City Staff as Representatives for City Commissions and Other Organizations, including the following appointments: Ramsey County League of Local Government Human Resources Committee Human Resources Committee Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fireman's Relief Association YMCA Advisory Committee YMCA Advisory Committee Council Member Mueller Council Member Mueller Council Member Stigney Council Member Stigney Council Member Hull Council Member Gunn Mounds View City Council January 5, 2009 Special Meeting Page 6 Northwest Youth Family Services Council Member Hull Northwest Youth Family Services (Alternate) Mayor Flaherty I-35W Corridor Mayor Flaherty I-35W Corridor (Alternate) Council Member Gunn Council Member Mueller read the resolution in full. Ayes - 5 8. Next Council Work Session: Next Council Meeting: Nays - 0 Motion carried. Immediately following this meeting. Monday, January 12, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m. to Work Session. Transcribed by: Carla Wirth Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. s •