10-08-02 Worksession
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
October 8, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:35 p.m.
Members Present:
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Gertrude Ulrich; John Enger; and
Sue Sandahl.
Staff Present:
Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Dan
Scott, Public Safety Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development
Director; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item #1
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. TREET PARKING BAN IN RICHFIELD
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City Manager Orduno stated Council Member Enger indicated an interest in surveying
neighboring communities regarding their requirements for on-street parking. She said staff has
provided for City Council discussion, the survey and the pros and cons for on-street parking.
Council Member Enger stated he believes the City needs to restrict overnight on-street
parking due to a huge influx of new residents who have many cars. He also stated the ordinance
restricting front yard parking needs to be enforced more strictly - the ordinance permits one parking
space for each garage stall on the driveway plus one more space other than the driveway. Mr. Enger
referenced the vehicles parked at 71 st Street and Portland Avenue as being in violation of the
ordinance.
Public Safety Director Scott stated the City has been liberal with adding residential parking
spaces. He added that the vehicles at 71 st Street and Portland Avenue do meet the spirit and intent
of the ordinance because they are currently licensed and operable. Mr. Scott said this location would
again be checked for compliance.
Council Member Enger stated he originally introduced an 11 :00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on-street
parking ban, but after further thought he believes a 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. ban more appropriate because it
would allow time for residents to entertain. He explained a ban would control the number of vehicles
on the street, especially during the winter and the problem with snowbirds, which may restrict
emergency vehicle access to go down the street.
Council Member Sandahl stated mixed feelings for the ban - if there was a choice of parking
in the front yard or on the street, she preferred street parking. She said ticketing for street parking
may only move the vehicle to the front yard.
Council Member Enger said people wouldn't do that if front yard parking was illegal.
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October 8, 2002
Council Member Ulrich stated the City needed to be stricter in their enforcing the parking
ordinance, because vehicles parked all over detracts from the community. She said she receives
more calls on this issue than any other. She favored some kind of ban for overnight parking, but was
uncertain of the hours. She also favored restricting excessive front yard parking.
Council Member Sandahl stated Richfield currently has a 24-hour parking rule and a 2" snow
event rule.
Public Safety Director Scott said there are snowbirds during the day as well as at night. He
was not aware of emergency vehicles being unable to drive down the streets because of snowbirds.
Mr. Scott said many Richfield homes do not have large parking areas.
Mayor Kirsch said part of the problem is because garages are used as storage areas rather
than for parking the vehicles.
Council Member Rosenberg stated total opposition to any overnight parking ban because her
area of Richfield may be most affected due to the narrow streets, alleys and lot size. During the
summer street resurfacing, she received calls from residents complaining about there being no where
to park.
Council Member Rosenberg requested two citizen in-put meetings to receive testimony on an
overnight on-street parking ban, especially in the Jefferson and Madison Park areas. She believes
there will be resistance to a ban from residents in northwest Richfield.
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Council Member Ulrich expressed support for the citizen in-put meetings. She asked Council
Member Rosenberg why alleys complicated parking.
Council Member Rosenberg said space is limited between the alley and the garage because
of narrow alleys.
Public Works Director Eastling stated that 10% of Richfield's lots, mostly in the Jefferson Park I
area, have alleys with narrow lots and streets.
Council Member Enger said the narrow streets would confirm the need for an on-street
parking ban.
Council Member Sandahl stated she is not opposed to street parking, but is opposed to front
yard parking. She suggested a careful examination of the front yard parking ordinance first. She
supported conducting the citizen in-put meetings. Ms. Sandahl said the 24-hour parking rule in
Richfield was a good one.
Council Member Enger said the 24-hour rule does not work and described an instance where
it did not.
Mayor Kirsch stated the biggest issue is the front yard parking and suggested the Planning
Commission review the ordinance.
City Manager Orduno stated the three issues that appeared to be the City Council's concern
include: consideration of a timed parking ban; revision of the ordinance to restrict front yard parking;
and continued multiple parking on property. She said the Planning Commission could explore options
with the public input meetings.
Council Member Ulrich said instituting a ban might result in cleaning out garages so cars can
be parked in them.
Council Member Enger said the City might want to conduct a Junk Collection Day.
City Manager Orduno said a collection day is beneficial, but very costly. She added that
having such a day might not get at the core of the problem - cleaning garages.
Council Member Sandahl said a parking ban would not make sense if it were only related to
potential snow plowing problems, because tickets can be issued. She believed there to be other
methods to deal with this issue.
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Special Worksession Minutes
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October 8, 2002
Council Member Ulrich asked if snowplow violators can be towed.
Public Safety Director Scott said yes.'" He explained the different methods staff uses to
communicate snow event rules and parking restrictions.
Council Member Enger stated a reason for the parking ban is due to an increase in rental
property that used to be single family homes and now have lots of people with lots of cars. He added
a ban is a way to control the number of people in a house, which could cause safety or health
concerns.
City Manager Orduno said enforcement of this housing ordinance is very difficult. Supreme
Courts in many states have not supported enforcement of an ordinance related to unrelated people
living in a single family home. She said cities could address this problem by limiting the parking.
City Manager Orduno stated staff would contact the surveyed cities regarding the
effectiveness of their on-street parking ban. She said a ban might be the only effective and legal way
to control multiple residents in one home.
The City Council consensus was to have the Planning Commission conduct neighborhood
meetings to include the entire City to obtain input regarding an on-street parking ban and return to the
City Council with options after these citizen meetings at a concurrent City Council and Planning
Commission Worksession.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:21 p.m.
Date Approved: October 22. 2002
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Cheryl Krum Iz tJ
Recording Secretary
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