07-27-04 Worksession-2
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
July 27,2004
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:32 p.m.
Council Members
Present:
Staff Present:
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Gertrude Ulrich; John Enger; and
Sue Sandahl.
Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Bruce
Palm borg, Community Development Director; Christine Costello, Zoning
Administrator; Betsy Osborn, Health Administrator; Cheryl Krumholz,
Recording Secretary; and Corrine Thomson, City Attorney.
Item #1
City Manager Orduno stated the Public Safety Department and Community Development
Department have gathered information to address the issues raised by the City Council regarding
front yard parking regulations.
Council Member Ulrich expressed disappointment that the public was not present because
she receives several calls regarding parking.
Gravel Surfaces
Council Member Sandahl stated support for the option to upgrade the gravel driveway to
compliance as part of the point of sale inspection. She suggested there may be other points of time
to upgrade.
Council Member Rosenberg said the proposed changes may be an over reaction to a problem
that is not there.
Council Member Enger said this is not an over reaction. He expressed support for the point of
sale inspection and any kind of building permit as the time to upgrade a driveway.
Council Member Enger stated he supports one line of parking of as many cars as will fit in
front of each garage door on the driveway plus one additional space for one additional car.
Mayor Kirsch said he favored the point of sale inspection and building permit as the time to
upgrade.
Special Worksession Minutes
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July 27,2004
Council Member Sandahl cautioned that homeowners may be discouraged to upgrade
buildings because a driveway upgrade would be necessary at that time also. She said the building
upgrade should be major, like a home addition.
Council Member Ulrich asked how to establish a certain amount of an improvement to trigger
a driveway upgrade so it is not challenged legally.
City Attorney Thomson stated the amount may not make a difference because there needs to
be rationale to support how the amount was determined and that the rationale does not discourage
improvements.
Council Member Ulrich said gravel driveways add a problem to the sewer system.
City Manager Orduno asked why gravel driveways are disliked.
Council Member Enger stated these driveways are an eye sore, have weeds and reduce the
property value.
City Manager Orduno said the point of sale could be problematic because it may not obtain
the goal of property maintenance issues and neighborhood consistency.
Council Member Enger stated a sunset date could be established and advance notice sent to
property owners so they could budget accordingly for the upgrade.
Council Member Sandahl suggested a sunset of five years.
Council Member Enger stated that was too long and suggested no more than three years.
Council Member Ulrich stated she favored the point of sale, but was concerned about rental
properties. She expressed support for a sunset date and notification to property owners.
City Manager Orduno said the ordinance could be written with a selection of sunset dates for
the City Council to decide on at first reading, with a letter of notification to property owners sent
following approval of the ordinance.
Council Member Sandahl suggested the point of sale inspection could be used in the interim,
whichever is sooner.
The City Council consensus was to upgrade gravel driveways citywide into compliance at the
time of point of sale inspection and consider including certain building improvement values.
Number of Vehicles
Council Member Enger stated corner lots that have two driveways should be limited to parking
on only one of the driveways.
Council Member Sandahl asked if the issue is the number of cars in the backyard or in
driveways.
Council Member Enger said on the lots.
Mayor Kirsch stated it is becoming a bigger problem with very little grassy areas left in front
yards.
City Manager Orduno stated it appears turnarounds on arterial streets are not being used as
intended and have become parking spots.
Council Member Enger proposed one additional spot for a turnaround or one additional
parking spot.
Council Member Ulrich expressed support for limiting the number of vehicles visible on a
property to a fixed number because limiting the number of vehicles to licensed driver plus one is
harder too enforce and more complicated.
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July 27,2004
City Manager Orduno stated carsivvithcollector plates could be required to be stored in the
garage or off site. ' . .
Council Member Sandahl asked what should be the number of cars on a property.
The City Council consensus was to limit the number of vehicles visible on a property to the
paved space available.
Location of Parkino
Council Member Enger said he did not have a problem with an additional vehicle parked in the
turnaround space.
Council Member Sandahl said she wanted to eliminate the unsightly number of cars parked in
front of homes and had no problem with driveway parking. She suggested the ordinance permit
paving enough of the front yard for a turnaround not intended for parking.
Council Member Enger said a turnaround takes up more of the front yard and suggested an
additional strip along the side of the driveway up near the house, not by the street.
Council Member Ulrich asked about alleys, especially on arterial streets, because that
changes the parking spaces.
City Attorney Thomson suggested not limiting the number of vehicles, but limit the portion of
the yard that can be paved with no vehicles parked on unpaved surfaces.
Health Administrator Osborn asked about the removal of driveways in excess of this surface.
City Attorney Thomson stated that because non-conforming use guidelines have changed
significantly, she requested time to review the requirements to meet performance standards before
responding.
The City Council consensus was to allow citywide unlimited parking in driveway (area between
garage and street) with paved surface in front of the house only for turnaround purposes or limited to
one parked vehicle.
Commercial Vehicles
Council Member Enger said he favored no commercial vehicles on the driveway, street or side
yard. He asked about how to allow some types of commercial vehicles to park in residential
neighborhoods.
Council Member Ulrich said commercial vehicles need to be defined.
City Attorney Thomson stated the current ordinance already prohibits a vehicle in excess of
one ton. She said other cities' ordinances define commercial vehicles by tonnage, wheel base and/or
number of axles.
Council Member Enger said a commercial vehicle is 9000 pounds plus. He added most cars
are two ton so the ordinance needs to be revised in that respect.
The City Council consensus was to continue to allow some types of commercial vehicles to
park in residential neighborhoods and address tonnage limitations and noise in the ordinance
revisions.
Recreational Vehicles
Council Member Enger expressed support to allow no recreational vehicles be parked on
residential property. He added boat trailers need to be included.
Health Administrator Osborn stated these trailers are in the recreational vehicle ordinance.
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July 27,2004
Due to lack of time remaining before the Regular City Council meeting, the City Council
consensus was to continue discussion of recreational vehicles at a future City Council Worksession.
City Manager Orduno stated the suggestions presented by the City Council tonight will be
included in the first reading of the ordinance at a future City Council meeting.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:27 p.m.
~~~
Recording Secretary
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~~Kirs~
,~~~
City Manager
Date Approved: August 10" 2004