CC PACKET 04141998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 24, 1998 • Page 15 1 Cavanaugh questioned why retail users come in for sign ordinances and then are allowed to put 2 banners on their fences. He noted that the Freedom Store window is 100% covered when only 3 50% is allowed. 4 Mayor Ranallo stated it was a relief to some people in the City to see Larry Hamer retire because 5 now they can put a sign up anywhere. When Hamer was the Public Works Director the signs 6 were removed. Ranallo noted there is "catch up" work to do on this issue and suggested that the 7 Fire Chief may need some addition help. 8 Thuesen stated the City should aggressively approach the junk cars. There is no reason that they 9 should be allowed to sit on property with expired tabs. He also suggested the City look at what 10 help the Fire Chief needs for better enforcement. 11 Faust noted many of these violations were in existence before the Fire Chief began code 12 enforcement. He noted that the prosecuting attorney has a difficult time prosecuting these 13 violations. Faust stated he believed that if this list was given to the Fire Chief, most of these 14 violations would be resolved within a minimal amount of time. The Council has to decide as a 15 body how aggressive the code enforcement should be and then provide that direction to the code 16 enforcer. They then have to be willing to take the legal risks of that decision. isMayor Ranallo suggested that a special work session be held with the prosecuting attorneys and 18 the Chiefs of Police and Fire to discuss this issue. 19 Faust noted that the new code enforcer is attempting to correct the violations through education. 20 He suggested that the eyesores and the issues that are City-related could be taken care of and the 21 Council could then address the more difficult problems of the cars in the backyards, etc. 22 Mayor Ranallo suggested it would be beneficial for someone to take a camera and photograph all 23 the violations in the City. This could then be utilized at the work session. 24 Cavanaugh stated he would do this. He expressed appreciation for the Council's time and stated 25 the work session would be a good place for discussion. He believed that people who are 26 concerned with their property values will support this issue. He also noted that White Bear Lake 27 and Minnetonka are utilizing an administrative citation and that this might be worth 28 investigating. 29 Tom Nelson, 2840 Silver Lake Road, stated that while the Council was discussing the fire truck 30 issue at their last meeting, he had come to City Hall to address the Council and had found the 31 lights out and the door locked. Mayor Ranallo stated this is the second time this has happened in 20 years. The City Manager has spoken with the janitor and she had an emergency and had to leave the building. It is her job 34 to secure the building and she did this when she left.