04-22-08 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
April 22, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; Fred Wroge and
Bill Kilian.
Staff Present: Steven Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; John
Stark, Interim Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation
Services Director; Barry Fritz, Acting Public Safety Director; Tom Foley,
Transportation Engineer; Kristin Asher, Assistant City Engineer; Charlie
O’Brien, Code Compliance Specialist; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording
Secretary.
Item # I DISCUSSION REGARDING PRIVATE UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING (COUNCIL
MEMO NO. 60)
Assistant City Engineer Asher made a PowerPoint presentation related to the
undergrounding of private utilities. (City Clerk File No. C-436)
Gregg Wenzel, Xcel Energy Designer, discussed power outages with or without weather
events, differences between TAP & feeder lines, and difficulties with undergrounding at just crossing
points due to different voltages and fusing.
Council Member Sandahl asked about new suburbs undergrounding utilities.
Mr. Wenzel stated that undergrounding typically occurs but is not mandated.
Council Member Wroge asked about the cost to underground all of Richfield.
Mr. Wenzel responded that was very difficult to estimate.
Council Member Sandahl stated she had no problem with the visual aspect of utility poles in
backyards but she does see the wires/poles crossing streets.
Council Member Kilian discussed financing options for residents.
Special Worksession Minutes -2- April 22, 2008
Item # 2 DISCUSSION REGARDING RICHFIELD CIRCULATOR BUS (COUNCIL MEMO
NO. 61)
Transportation Engineer Foley made a PowerPoint presentation regarding a Richfield circulator
bus service. (Clerk’s File No. C-437)
Council Member Kilian discussed intra-travel, that a circulator bus would meet the needs of
residents wanting to go to places in Richfield.
John Dillery, Metro Transit, stated that compared to other first ring suburbs, Richfield is a
leading community in transit levels and is the best served.
Council Member Wroge stated the system is great in Richfield.
Mayor Goettel said there have been transit service cuts, especially on the weekend, at the
elderly high rises in Richfield.
Item # 3 DISCUSSION REGARDING ORDINANCE RELATED TO PARKING OF OVER-SIZED
VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS (COUNCIL MEMO NO. 62)
City Manager Devich stated that following direction previously received from Council and
administration, staff has prepared a draft ordinance amendment to address parking and storage of
oversize vehicles in residential districts. Previously, the same ordinance section addressed vehicles
by weight, which was difficult to accurately ascertain and enforce.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien presented that following discussion with Council, staff
was instructed to prepare a draft of an ordinance addressing oversize vehicle storage in residential
districts and that the allowed dimensions are to be: twenty-two feet (22’) in length, seven feet (7’) in
height, and seven (7’) in width.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien continued that in the process of preparing this draft
staff, noticed some new types of passenger vehicles being manufactured that would be disallowed
by the standard directed at the July 10, 2007 Worksession. This information was forwarded to the
Public Safety Director and City Manager. After considering this information and measuring some
vehicles in the City Hall parking lot, the City Manager directed staff to use the measurement of 7½’ x
7½’ x 22’ instead of 7’ x 7’ x 22’ in the draft ordinance.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien added that “commercial” was changed to “over-sized”
vehicles. The Engineering and Zoning Divisions also reviewed the proposed ordinance. This
proposed ordinance addresses only residential zoning areas.
Mayor Goettel asked about the impact on stretch limousines.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien stated that recreational vehicles are addressed in a
separate ordinance.
Council Member Kilian asked about addressing PODS and dumpsters in place for long
periods of time. He also requested changing “and” to “or” in the dimensions so any single dimension
could be a violation.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien stated PODS and dumpsters are not considered
vehicles.
Special Worksession Minutes -3- April 22, 2008
City Manager Devich said the “and” to “or” change would be made.
Council Member Wroge discussed the issue of semi-trucks parked on City streets, especially
behind Menards. He said this should be addressed now and enforced with an ordinance by
including commercial areas.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien responded that PODS or dumpsters on streets would be
addressed by Engineering and those on private property would need to meet regular garbage hauler
regulations.
Council Member Kilian requested the residential part of the ordinance proceed now with
these other issues addressed later.
Mayor Goettel expressed concern regarding limiting Menards’ ability to have trucks park to do
business.
Council Member Sandahl agreed that the residential area ordinance should move forward
and amend or establish a separate ordinance to address commercial area.
Code Compliance Specialist O’Brien suggested the City Council consider a sunset clause to
give residents time to make alternative arrangements.
Acting Public Safety Director Fritz stated that warnings would be issued in the beginning
before tagging.
The City Council consensus was to proceed with the ordinance including the amended
dimensions and changing “and” to “or”.
Item # 4 DISCUSSION REGARDING OPEN FORUM (COUNCIL MEMO NO. 63)
City Manager Devich stated at the April 8, 2008 City Council meeting, the City Council
requested a worksession discussion regarding cablecasting the Open Forum portion of Regular City
Council meetings.
Mayor Goettel asked about the ability to cut the microphones if the speaker exceeds the
current time limit of three minutes.
City Manager Devich responded that could probably be done but could appear harsh to the
public.
Council Member Wroge stated that depending upon the subject, the speaker should be
allowed to exceed three minutes.
Council Member Kilian suggested a light be installed to monitor time and provide prompts.
Council Member suggested the open forum begin at 6:50 p.m. with televising and the City
Council Meeting starting promptly at 7 p.m. An open forum could be held again at the end of the
City Council Meeting if there were additional speakers.
Council Member Wroge suggested starting at 7 p.m. and televising the open forum because
the residents have a right to be heard.
Council Member Rosenberg stated she would support giving televising a try on a trial basis
with explicit, clear rules. People want to know what is happening during the meeting when it is not
televised.
Special Worksession Minutes -4-
Apri122, 2008
Council Member Kilian stated he would not support televising because there are no rules at
this point. If televising begins, there could be orchestrated and campaign-type efforts by the public on
some issues. If there were rules limiting the speakers or only one person on any given subject, he
would be closer to supporting the televising.
Council Member Wroge said he would want limited rules. There should be freedom to speak.
City Manager Devich suggested an open forum speaker be permitted to address the City
Council one time a month unless it was a rebuttal to a previous forum.
Mayor Goettel stated further discussion is needed.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:54 p.m.
Date Approved: May 13, 2008
Cheryl Krumho
Recording Secretary
City Manager