11-07-88 agenda
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Study Session Letter No. 22
Agenda November 7, 1988
Issue Statement:
Presentation of draft financial policies for the City of
Richfield.
Background:
The City of Richfield has followed established financial policies
governing most of the City's practices related to fiscal
management. These policies covered a wide range of matters and
were annually contained in the City's budget.
Two factors concerning these financial policies suggest that some
modification would be beneficial:
1. The City's Auditors have recommended the City's
financial policies be adopted and addressed as a
separate document, exclusive of the City budget.
2. Some recent developments in the area of public sector
financial management have necessitated the consideration
of additional financial policies.
The attached financial policies are a combination of the City's
previous financial policies which have been modified to mirror
the current practice in the field of public sector financial
management, plus new policies added where applicable.
The result is a solid foundation for financial management which
may be built upon in the future, as the need arises.
Recommended Motion:
None. Council review and discussion of the attached policies is
desired so that these financial policies may be scheduled for a
future regular Council meeting.
Basis for Recommendation:
1. The City should periodically update and modify its financial
policies.
2. The Auditor has recommended that the City's financial
policies be addressed as a separate document.
3. The attached policies have been carefully considered by City
staff and will serve the City well in terms of financial
management.
Alternative Recommendation:
The City Council could refer this item to another Study Session
prior to consideration at a regular City Council meeting.
?- /
Discussion/Decision Mode:
The financial policies should be discussed at the November 7,
1988, Study Session so that consideration may be given at a
regular Council meeting in the next two months.
Respectfully submitted,
James Prosser
City nager
JDP:ff
cc: Steven Devich, Administrative Services Director
Jean Mitchell, Finance Manager
0
1f
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Study Session Letter No. 21
Agenda, November 7, 1988
Issue Statement:
Consideration of alternative to present version of legal services
for the City of Richfield.
Background:
The City Council has directed that staff review legal service
alternatives. The City has retained the firm of LeFevere, Lefler
since 1954. Legal services represent a significant portion of
our general fund budget. Staff has completed an analysis of
legal service alternatives. The review included analysis of
proposals submitted by other legal firms with municipal
experience, for prosecution and general municipal representation.
The review also included examination of retaining a in-house
attorney. The complete report and recommendation is attached.
Recommendations:
Staff recommends: That the firm of LeFevere, Lefler be retained
for general corporate representation, with John Dean as principal
attorney.
That the firm of Petersen, Bell, Converse be retained as
prosecution attorney for the City of Richfield, with Marty
Costello as principal attorney.
• Basis of Recommendation:
1. The basis of recommendation is more fully outlined in the
Report of Recommendation attached. Generally, however,
it was determined that the firm of LeFevere, Lefler
provided the best combination of legal services required
by the City of Richfield, at the most reasonable cost.
John Dean has demonstrated experience in handling a
variety of legal issues facing the City of Richfield.
John Dean and the LeFevere, Lefler firm are very familiar
with the needs of the City.
2. Prosecution: The firm of Peterson, Bell and Converse has
demonstrated experience in municipal prosecution of the
type recorded by the City of Richfield. Marty Costello
has demonstrated prosecution experience and would be an
effective prosecution attorney for the City of Richfield.
Alternative Recommendations:
1. The City could retain an in-house attorney for either
or both the general prosecution or corporate
representation. However, it does not appear that
there would be significant cost saving achieved through
this process. The City may loose the flexibility
required to meet the legal service needs of our City.
The only significant advantage in retaining a in-house
attorney would be accessibility. This accessibility
however, may turn to be a disadvantage, in that staff
may increase their level of legal consumption.
2. The City could retain other firms for either prosecution
or general corporate representation. That is the desire
of the Council. A process should be established to
review proposals or to advertise and accept new
proposals for services.
Discussion/Decision Mode:
This matter will be presented at the Study Session meeting
scheduled for November 7, 1988. If a consensus is reached the
Council should take action at the next Council Meeting to direct
staff to implement the recommendations. The recommendation would
take the form of negotiating a final retainer agreement for
prosecution and general corporate representation.
Respectfully submitted,
Jam D. Prosser
City Manager
JDP:sae
F- -I
L---A
0
??14/
CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
is Study Session Letter No.20
Agenda November 7, 1988
Issue Statement:
Discussion as to whether to amend the City code to prohibit the
parking of utility trailers in front and side yards.
Background:
The Public Safety Department has received complaints of one or
two instances where utility trailers have been parked for long
periods of time (months) in the front of a home or in side yards
which has disturbed neighbors. The issues are:
- Trailers of this nature can be unsightly.
- City ordinances do not specifically address the issue.
The ordinance regulates trailers, but is preceded by a
discussion on trucks and tractor trailers.
The City Attorney is hesitant to interpret the current
ordinance to include trailers of this nature. (Ref:
City ord. 1320.03 attached).
City ordinance 1305.27, Subd. 5 Prohibits parking of
motor vehicles in front yards except in driveways. Motor
vehicles are defined as self propelled which excludes
utility trailers.
- City ordinance 1325 deals with recreational vehicles and
they are restricted to parking in:
a. Rear or side yard.
b. Not closer than three (3) feet of a building.
C. On an established driveway and not closer than
twelve (12) feet of the curb line.
d. Can be stored anywhere on a lot for not more than
48 hours. .
Recommendations:
At the October 3 Council Workshop the Council discussed certain
alternatives to this problem. The Council then directed staff to
include utility trailers in the definition section of the
recreational vehicle ordinance (Sect. 1325.03). By doing this,
utility trailers would have to comply with parking requirements
identical to recreational vehicles.
- May park on any rear or side yard except the side yard of
a corner lot.
Not closer than three feet to any building or structure,
including fence.
In an established driveway, but not closer than three
feet to any structure and not closer than twelve (12)
feet to the curb line.
Must not be in a state of disrepair.
Alternative Recommendations:
1. The Council could elect not to do anything which would leave
the situation as is, no specific regulations as to where
these vehicles can or cannot park.
2. The Council could direct staff to prepare an ordinance which
prohibits utility trailers anywhere in a residential
neighborhood. This would be an extreme and highly
controversial.
3. Council could direct staff to prepare an ordinance amendment
that would prohibit utility trailers from parking on any
front yards except established driveways. This approach
probably would not accomplish anything.
• Discussion/Decision Mode:
First reading of an ordinance amending section 1325.03 of the
Richfield Code of Ordinances including a definition of utility
trailers into that section.
Respectfully submitted,
James 4DProsser
City Manager
JDP:sae
A.,/- _?"_
CJ's 1+, r?i 1 ? .
•
CITY OF RICHFIELD
ArM-17Mv-ST TO SECTION 1325 OF
T'dL RICHFIELD ORDINANCE CODE OF 1987
The City of Richfield does ordain:
Section 1325 of the Richfield Ordinance Code of 1987 is hereby &=ended by
aaending Subsection 132:.03 to read as follows:
1325.03. Definitions. The tar= "rscreational vehicles and equipment"
means t:ere#--t-a ? -faeltid#na-?}roso--ewe;,-.te3!c epr- -fsi#_.dow.sy
e??ese#e-seernted-temper--hoet4t-etre-lrefiers sif
eaaeersT-ss:„rereed-bases-sal-eea?ertei-mesas: T- p-en
(a) Travel trailers, including those which ta_escooe or `old dawn,
chassis mounted campers, rouse cars, motor hoes, ten: t=ailors,
sli-e-on ca:.Yers, ec=verted buses, crverted van and units that ars
desi3ned and used for hi-an lw.ag quar:er3 and mestit:g the follow-
ing qualificaticra:
(?) a:a rot used as the rssidsres of the aw-aer or occupant;
49 (2) are used for te=pcrary living quarters by the ownar or occupant
while eniaged in recreations: or vacsticn activities;
(3) a:s solif_prape:led or towed on the public streets or highways
incidental to such recreationa: or vacat:cr. activities.
(b) Slip-on caxYers are mounted into a pick-up truck in the pick-up box,
either by bolting through the floor of the pick-up box. or by firmly
cluing to the side of the pick-sp box.
(c) Snow--eb'_les and snowmobile trailers, boats aid boat trailers. all
tar:ain vehicles and a-l tarraLl vehicle trailers, and utility
trailsrs, ' which for the vuE2oee of this Sec::cn shall mean arv
otorlsss vehicle having a carrying capacity o:jC.,(roouncs or
less and used for carrying orooer•v on 'ts oar- structure v^" a be'
dray= by a motor vehicle.
:ae--?- faeiadee-=-sa--and--R?-t--essfieseT-?oa?s--ewd
beet--are: -sr-?c--rr?--t -_ -venfe=ea--smz+--s==- -vebieie
ers4ieret
Tth:e to = does not include rcbile homes or house trailers as dafinad
' Y.' es to Statutes, Sectica 168.011, S::bd. B.
I
n
U
Passed by the City Council of the City of Richfield this day of
• ? 1988.
Steven J. Quamo Mayor
ATTEST:
Thomas Ferber. City Clark
0055OD14.E14
•
2
Richfield City Code
1325.01
•
Section 1325. Parking: recreational vehicles.
#/ y
1325.01. Declaration of purpose. The standards established for recreational
vehicles and equipment in this section are designed to regulate their storage
and commercial use and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the
community. The standards are established to promote the safe use, storage and
parking of recreational vehicles and equipment and to eliminate those conditions
or misuses which are unsafe and cause deterioration of property and property
values.
1325.03. Definitions. The term "recreational vehicles and equipment" means
travel trailers, including those which telescope or fold down, chassis mounted
campers, house cars, motor homes, tent trailers, slip-on campers, converted
buses and converted vans:
(a) Travel trailers, chassis mounted campers, house cars, motor homes,
tent trailers, slip-on campers, converted buses, converted van and units that
are designed and used for human living quarters and meeting the following
qualifications:
(1) are not used as the residence of the owner or occupant;
(2) are used for temporary living quarters by the owner or occupant
while engaged in recreational or vacation activities;
(3) are self-propelled or towed on the public streets or highways
• incidental to such recreational or vacation activities.
(b) Slip-on campers are mounted into a pick-up truck in the pick-up box,
either by bolting through the floor of the pick-up box or by firmly clasping to
the side of the pick-up box.
The term includes snowmobiles and snowmobile trailers, boats and boat trailers,
and all terrain vehicles and all terrain vehicle trailers; the term does not
include mobile homes or house trailers as defined in Minnesota Statutes, sec-
tion 168.011, subdivision 8.
1325.05. Permitted uses. Subdivision 1. General rule. Recreational vehicles
and equipment may be parked or stored in a residential zoning district or in
portions of planned unit development districts designated for residential uses
as follows:
(a) on any rear or side yard of a lot except the side yard of a corner lot
adjacent to the street.
(b) not closer than three feet to any building or structure, including
fences.
(c) in an established driveway of a lot but not closer than three feet to
any building or structure not beyond the lot line and not closer than 12 feet to
the curb line of the street abutting an established driveway.
0
Richfield City Code 1325.05, Subd. 2
Subd. 2. Loading. A recreational vehicle may be stored on a lot without
regard to the location on the lot for the sole and express purpose of loading
and unloading for a period not in excess of 48 hours.
Subd. 3. Slide-in pickup campers. Unmounted slide-in pickup campers must
be stored no higher than 20 inches above the ground and must be securely sup-
ported at least at four corners by solid support blocks.
1325.07. Prohibited uses. A recreational vehicle may not be stored, parked or
utilized in residential zoning district or in portions of planned unit develop-
ment districts designated for residential uses as follows:
(a) recreational vehicles and equipment shall not be used as a permanent
residence;
(b) a recreational vehicle which is in a state of externally visible
disrepair or partial construction must be stored or parked in a rear or side
yard but not closer than three feet to any building or structure and for not
more than one year.
13-15.09. Variances. The council may grant variances to the literal provisions
of this section in the same manner and subject to the same requirements that
apply to variances granted under section 545 of the zoning code.
•
.
0
Richfield City Code
Section 1320. Parking: outside storage.
1320.01
1320.01. Declaration of nuisance. The outside parking or outside storage, on
or near residence district properties, or vehicles, materials, supplies or
equipment not customarily used or needed for use in connection with the occupan-
cy of residential property for residence purposes, is found to create a nuisance
and detrimental influence upon the public health, safety, prosperity, good order
and general welfare in such district, including obstruction of view on streets
and on private properties, bringing unhealthful and noisome odors and materials
into residential neighborhoods, creating a cluttered and otherwise unsightly
areas, preventing the full use of residential streets for residential parking,
introducing commercial advertising signs into areas where commercial advertising
signs are otherwise prohibited, and otherwise adversely affecting residential
property values and neighborhood patterns.
1320.03. Unlawful parking. It is unlawful for any person owning, driving or in
charge of a vehicle of any of the types hereinafter specified to cause or permit
such vehicle to be parked or to stand continuously for more than two hours on
any residence property or on any public street in the city. This prohibition
applies to the following vehicles and other similar vehicles.
(a) any bus designed to carry more than nine persons.
(b) any motor truck or pickup truck having a capacity of one ton or more.
(c) any tractor, truck-tractor, truck-trailer or any type of trailer.
• 1320.05. Exceptions. This section does not apply to the following vehicles:
(a) a motor truck, pickup truck or similar vehicle being used by a public
utility, moving company, or similar company, which is actually being used to
service a residence not belonging to or occupied by the operator of the vehicle;
(b) a vehicle which is actually making a pickup or delivery at the loca-
tion where it is parked. Parking for any period of time beyond the period of
time reasonably necessary to make such pickup or delivery and in excess of the
two hour limit shall be unlawful; or
(c) Recreational vehicles and equipment.
1320.07. Unlawful storage: special permit. It is unlawful for a person
owning, keeping, driving or in charge of any house trailer, mobile home, air-
plane, construction or home-occupation machinery, equipment or supplies, or
other machinery, equipment, supplies or materials not customarily used or needed
in connection with the occupancy of residential property for residence purposes,
to cause or permit the same to be stored outside of a building on any residen-
tial zoning district property for a total of more than 30 days during any
calendar year without first obtaining a permit to do so in accordance with this
section.
0
Richfield City Code
1320.09
1320.09. Permit. Subdivision 1. Application. Applications for permits issued
pursuant to this section shall be made to the manager.
• Subd. 2. Issuance of permit. No permit shall be granted if the manager
determines that granting the permit will create, or be likely to create, an
adverse influence upon the residence district involved, or upon persons or
property in the vicinity of the location for which the permit is sought.
1320.11. Appeal. A person aggrieved by a decision made as to the administra-
tion of this section may appeal to the board of adjustments and appeals.
1320.13. Inoperable vehicles. Subdivision 1. General rule. It is unlawful
for a person in charge or control of any property within the city, whether as
owner, tenant, occupant, lessees or otherwise, to allow a nonoperating, wrecked
or discarded vehicle, or a vehicle (i) not displaying a current license valid
for the vehicle, or (ii) not equipped for lawful operation on a public street or
highway, or (iii) lacking in its vital component parts to remain on such proper-
ty longer than 96 hours. No person may leave such vehicle on property within
the city for a longer time than 96 hours.
Subd. 2. Exceptions. This section does not apply to (i) a vehicle in an
enclosed building; (ii) a vehicle on the premises of a business enterprise
operated in a lawful place and manner, when necessary to the operation of such
business enterprise; or (iii) a vehicle in an appropriate storage place or
depository maintained in a lawful place and manner by the city.
Subd. 3. Definition. "Vital component parts" means, for the purposes of
• this section, those parts of a vehicle essential to its mechanical functioning.
1320.15. Variances. The council may grant variances to the literal provisions
of this section in the same manner and subject to the same requirements that
apply to variances granted under section 545 of the zoning code.
r7
L_ J