HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC WORKSESSION MINUTES 10302007CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
CITY COUNCII/STAFF WORKSESSION
City Council Chambers
October 30, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Present:
Council: Jerry Faust, Mayor; Hal Gray, Councilmember; Randy Stille, Councilmember; Brian
Thuesen, Councilmember.
Staff: Mike Mornson, City Manager; Kim Moore - Sykes, Assistant City Manager; Roger Larson,
Finance Director; John Ohl, Police Chief; John Malenick; Fire Chief, Jay Hartman, Public Works
Director; Rich Lundeen, Code Inspection; Don Drusch, Fire Marshal.
1. Call to Order.
Meeting called to order by Mayor at 6:30 p.m.
2. Police Staffing Update.
Chief John Ohl provided the City Council with recruitment and hiring update on the
two sworn officer positions approved by the Council for 2007. He has two
candidates that have risen to the top of the process, which will be finished Thursday
once the physicals are taken. Chief Ohl advised that his goal is to make these hires
in 2008 with no affect on the 2008 budget.
Councilmember Stille asked what benefits these two hire would bring to the City
and Department. The Chief reported that there are between 30- 40 new businesses at
Silver Lake Village; 1000 new residents expected as part of the Silver Lake Village
development, and calls for service have increased over the last few years. Chief Ohl
reported that the national average of police officers per residents is 2.1- 2.5 per 1000
residents. Councilmember asked if there would be more visibility of the officers in
the community; Chief Ohl indicated that by hiring these additional officers, he
would be able to reduce his overtime usage because he wouldi t be taking personnel
from patrol functions to cover community activities such as DARE, school liaison,
etc.
The City Manager reported that while the actual budget figures for the 2008 budget
stays the same; the text of the budget message will include mentioning of the
additional police officers to the police department staffs.
The Finance Director also indicated that despite the new hires scheduled for 2008,
the police budget should stay on schedule with planned increases through 2009.
The Council and Staff discussed the various options.
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3. A. City's Emergency Plan Presentation.
Fire Chief, John Malenick, reported that the City of St. Anthony has been involved
with the North Suburban Emergency Management and Planning Group (NSEMPG)
and an active participant in its emergency planning for 10 years. He indicated that
there are 14 cities in addition to St. Anthony that are also involved. The Chief
reported that the group is working to make the plan universal so that anyone can fit
into the plan and any government unit can use it. The goal, he reported is to make it
a standardized fit for any organization that wishes to adopt and use it.
Chief Malenick reported that since this plan was originally written, there have been
three new amendments dealing with Domestic/ Exotic Animals in emergency
situations. This addition came as a result of the many hurricane events, particularly
Katrina, whereby animals have had to be left behind or abandoned because shelters
wouldn t allow them. The other two amendments deal with Terrorism and
Volunteers/ Donations. It is another goal of NSEMPG to deal with new and
emerging issues.
Chief Malenick reported that once the plan revisions are finished, it will be available
for Council to review.
Councilmember Stille asked if Ramsey County and Hennepin County have similar
plans. The Chief responded that the plans for Hennepin and Ramsey counties are
very similar and local jurisdictions are able to go back and forth between them.
The Mayor asked if by accepting the plan, the Council is giving away any autonomy
from the City. Chief Malenick indicated that it does not because the plan does not
require the City to send its resources if asked.
B. Fire Code Update.
Fire Marshal Don Drusch reported on the updates to the City Fire Code that he has
been working on. Drusch indicated that the language in the Fire Code recently
adopted by the State necessitates revisions to the language of the code currently
being used by the City.
The Mayor asked if the fire code information is on the City's Web site. Drusch
indicated that he is working on getting it online.
The City Manager asked if the City is currently covered by the updated State
adopted fire code. Drusch reported that the City is by the older version and is not as
specific as the new code.
Drusch was directed to work with the Assistant City Manager in getting the new
code included with the re- codification process. He was also asked to check with the
League of Minnesota Cities.
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C. Property Maintenance Code.
Fire Chief Malenick reported that many communities are using the International
Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) to keep their housing stock up to code to protect
property values. He recommends that the Council adopt the IPMC.
He reported that in the last few years, he and the Code Inspector have noticed that
more single family homes are being purchased and turned into rentals. As such, he
would recommend that rental properties be separated from the property
maintenance section of the City Code. He would suggest that Section 1335 Pro er
Maintenance would include all residential property; and new Section 1336 be created
for Rental Property, including single - family homes being rented. He would propose
adopting this revision as part of the City recodification in 2008 before the situation
becomes a problem.
Chief Malenick is also proposing to adopt a fee schedule that would fund the cost of
adding single family homes that are turned into rental properties to the inspection
schedule and the addition of an additional inspector based on the workload.
The Chief reported that the new code would include enforcement authority; after
three (3) violations, the property owner would be subject to hearing procedures. If
the property owner is found to have committed violations against the Code, the
owner would lose the ability to rent vacant units.
The Council suggested that the Planning Commission would not be involved with
the hearings and that the Chief should look at what other cities are doing with single
family rentals. They also discussed the need for the inspection fees to be more
proportional to the value o the property but they should also reflect the inspection
expenses to the City.
The Council suggested that the code needs a bit more tweaking and asked that if be
sent to the City Attorney for his review. They would like to see it back before the
Council, perhaps in January, once ifs been reviewed by the City Manager.
4. Broadband.
Councilmember Gray reported on his attendance at the NATOA conference in
Philadelphia. He stated that the United States is currently ranked 16th in Internet speed;
eight years ago, the US was ranked first.
He reported that four cities in Utah formed a consortium, UTOPIA, which took the lead
in deploying fiber optic cable to individual properties, FTTH /FTTP. He said that it was
reported at the conference that this model has been very successful as it provides
availability of broadband to all property owners and open access to any private provider
that wants to use the fiber infrastructure. It also serves as a backbone support for WiFi
access, which is more mobile for those users who desired that mode of accessing the
Internet.
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Councilmember Gray described the various service delivery options open to cities:
closed access which only involves a private provider or closed access that would involve
only the city; partnership where a provider and the city create a partnership to build
and deliver internet services; or open access whereby the city builds, owns and leases
access to any provider.
5. Other Business. There was further discussion on the City's interest in providing high-
speed broadband to the community. It was agreed that staff will continue to monitor
the issue as this technology continues to evolve.
6. Adjourn. The worksession adjourned at 9:35pm.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kim Moore - Sykes.
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