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07-10-07 Worksession-2 ....... CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession July 10, 2007 I CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 8:07 p.m. I ROLL CALL Members Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Fred Wroge; and Susan Rosenberg. Members Not Present: Bill Kilian. Staff Present: Steven Devich, City Manager; Brad Sveum, Fire Services Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Pat Smith, Community Development Manager; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary; and Corrine Thomson, City Attorney. Others Present: Julianne Schwietz, Consultant. Item #1 DISCUSSION REGARDING PARKING ON 7600 BLOCK OF ALDRICH AVENUE (COUNCIL MEMO NO. 117) City Manager Devich stated there is an on-going street parking issue on the 7600 block of Aldrich Avenue with Kensington Park employees and consumers. The residents on the even side of the block presented a petition to the City Council on June 12, 2007 requesting consideration of permit parking to alleviate the problem. Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the options for parking restrictions, including pros and cons. 1. Sign the street One Hour Parking from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 2. Sign the street No Parking from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. similar to the parking limits on streets around the two high schools. 3. Require resident permits to park on the street during the day (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and place parking signs on the block. 4. Install parking meters on the street for parking during the day (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) 5. Close off the sidewalk along 77th Street connecting Aldrich Avenue to Kensington Park. Public Works Director Eastling discussed the existing residential parking policy and possible new residential policy. He suggested the Transportation Commission with the Planning Commission Special Worksession Minutes -2- July 10, 2007 input, if the City Council desired, could draft a new policy and make a recommendation to the City Council. Council Member Wroge asked what happened if the Transportation Commission did not agree on a policy. Public Works Director Eastling said the Transportation Commission acts in an advisory capacity only; the City Council would still make the decision on the policy. Council Member Wroge questioned why metro cities, schools and colleges were not contacted regarding parking policies. . Transportation Engineer Foley stated other entities were contacted but did not respond. Mayor Goettel asked what parking restrictions have been tried in Richfield. Public Works Director Eastling explained there are no current permit restrictions in place. There are administrative fees; some negative impacts on the residents, Le., visitors, parties; and parking may be shifted to neighboring streets. Council Member Wroge said he believed it was common sense to have and easy to administer parking permits. He added that residents would know it is their obligation to notify the City and ask for special consideration when they're having visitors or a party. Transportation Engineer Foley said some cities issue one-day permits. Council Member Wroge said he would not support charging for a permit because residents pay taxes and it's their right to park on their street in front of their house. Issuing permits could be dealt with on a block-by-block basis. Transportation Engineer Foley stated the permits are a service over and above the typical City services provided and there are administrative and enforcement costs. Jane Parker, 7600 Aldrich Avenue, stated her driveway has been blocked, friends need to park a block and a half away, there are speeding and safety issues and the garbage hauler is unable to pick up her garbage. Chad Wiederholt, 7626 Aldrich Avenue, stated his child is not allowed to play on their front yard because of speeding and safety issues and the trash from consumers. Dale Brody, 7632 Aldrich Avenue, stated there is speeding, his driveway is used as a turnaround, children are not safe, inability to park in front of his house, and family and friends need to park blocks away. He added the Kensington employees and consumers park on the street. He believes restricting the time of day to park would not work. Deborah Williams, 7614 Aldrich Avenue, said she cannot park in front of her house and is unable to get some services like mail delivery. Mr. Brody submitted a letter from Matt and Jen Lux, 7620 Aldrich Avenue, expressing their concerns. Council Member Sandahl asked the residents present if the multi-housing residents across the street also have concerns. Mr. Brody said he is not aware of their concerns, but their guests park in front of their townhomes. The residents present stated some park and ride commuters also park on their block. Special Worksession Minutes -3- July 10, 2007 Council Member Sandahl suggested the progressively more restrictive parking options be used to be the least intrusive to the residents. Council Member Wroge asked the residents present what they wanted. The residents present stated five of the seven residents believe permit parking would work best and if they would have a big function, they would ask for City permission. They asked about enforcing the time restrictions if that's what's in place. Council Member Wroge said permits would use less, not more, staff time, especially for enforcement. The City owes the residents to be made whole and not have them possibly move because of a development the City has done or is doing. Council Member Sandahl stated the problem may be moved across the street so she'd like feedback from the townhome residents. City Manager Devich explained the City has tried to encourage Kensington employees to park at the Hampton Inn lot (until 3 p.m.) and the recently agreed upon 11 stalls at the Lyndale Liquor Store lot. However, one Kensington business refuses to not park on the Aldrich Avenue because the manager says it is public parking. Ms. Parker said the LaMode Salon employees park on the street. The City Council consensus was to have the Transportation Commission address the parking restriction policy, including obtaining feedback from the townhome residents and to have staff send a letter from the City to LaMode Salon regarding street parking so it is on the record. City Manager Devich suggested that while the Transportation Commission is reviewing the policy, administratively, the parking could be restricted so there is no delay in trying to address this problem. Public Works Director Eastling stated restricting by time of day would be the least disruptive to residents, enforceable and signs could be posted quickly. Council Member Sandahl said this would be a high priority enforcement area. It would also tell where parking would be shifted. Public Safety Director Scott stated if there is clear signage, tickets can be issued. He suggested the businesses be notified so there are no surprises. Council Member Wroge stated restricted parking may solve the problem. City Manager Devich added that the residents would need to follow the restrictions. Mayor Goettel suggested the letter to businesses also include alternative parking options. Th City Council and residents present discussed the options regarding the length of time for restricted parking. City Manager Devich suggested the even side of the block try no parking from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. He added there is no perfect solution but this could be done in the interim. The City Council and residents present agreed to restrict parking from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Special Worksession Minutes -4- July 10, 2007 Item # 2 DISCUSSION REGARDING MULTIPLE POLICE CALLS TO RESIDENCE This item was continued from the earlier Special City Council Worksession. Public Safety Director Scott explained the current excessive nuisance calls ordinance and process for multi-family homes, which has been fairly successful. Single-family home calls are not currently tracked but that may be possible with the new computer system in Public Safety. Public Safety Director Scott reviewed the City of Eagan's ordinance, which includes service fees for repeated nuisance calls. Discussion of a similar ordinance for Richfield is scheduled for the August 14 Special City Council Worksession. Public Safety Director Scott briefly discussed police activity on July 4. Council Member Wroge suggested the appeal process include a fine. City Attorney Thomson stated a service fee could be imposed if the case is not appealed and then additional costs included if there is an appeal. Council Member Wroge asked about the unpaid fees being assessed to the property tax. City Attorney Thomson said the authority to specially assess the property needs to be reviewed. . Council Member Wroge asked about fees continuing to be added if calls keep being made. Public Safety Director Scott said the process needs review but it may be similar to the alcohol compliance check process. Council Member Sandahl requested a summary of the list of calls to 7326 Pleasant Avenue distributed by Mr. Glass at the earlier Worksession this evening. She said the proposed ordinance should move forward but not include calls beyond the property owner's control, i.e. theft, domestics. Public Safety Director Scott reviewed the calls made to 7326 Pleasant Avenue. He also said domestic calls and certain other calls would not be included in the proposed ordinance. Council Member Wroge asked about repeated calls to restaurants. Public Safety Director Scott said that issue will be reviewed to determine reasonable versus excessive calls. The intent of the proposed ordinance discussed this evening is to address single family homes. Item # 3 DISCUSSION REGARDING RECREATIONAL FIRE ISSUES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS (COUNCIL MEMO NO. 116) Fire Services Director Sveum stated currently, the City's restrictions on recreational fires are contained in the Minnesota Fire Code and only cover types of materials that can be burned and distances from other structures. Since about 1990, the Fire Department has had guidelines for recreational fires but they are not established in ordinance. He said the policy seems to work well for complaints and enforcement, but does not address nuisance-type smoke. Special Worksession Minutes -5- July 10, 2007 Council Member Wroge expressed concern that this may be going too far if the complaint is on a nuisance basis and then the person is told to put the fire out. Fire Services Director Sveum said there are some discretionary factors and a balance is reached. Council Member Sandahl asked if staff is requesting an ordinance on this issue. Fire Services Director Sveum suggested the new fire code be re-adopted by ordinance, which includes some changes in recreational fires. He also suggested the ordinance not include a ban or restriction on recreational fires but could include the required distance from a structure and type of materials burned. Council Member Sandahl stated she thought the current policy was adequate but there should be a late hour restriction. Council Member Wroge said the time should not be restricted. The City Council consensus was to maintain the requirement of adult supervision and include a 12 noon to 11 p.m. time restriction. Council Member Wroge asked about the definition of a nuisance. City Attorney Thomson explained a nuisance is a term defined as unreasonably annoying to a reasonable person and a standard is established that could constitute a criminal violation. I ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:45 p.m. Dale Approved: Ju1y 24. 2007 i:J' ~ Debbi r c~~o~ 'e Recording Secretary