08-09-10 WorksessionCITY COUNCIL MINUTES
^ ~ Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Worksession
August 9, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
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The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Pat Elliott; Fred Wroge; and Tom
Fitzhenry.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; John Stark, Community Development
Director; Barry Fritz, Public Safety Director; Betsy Osborn, Health
Administrator; Charlie O'Brien, Code Compliance Specialist; and Cheryl
Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item #1 DISCUSSION REGARDING MULTI-PET RESIDENTIAL LICENSES (CONTINUED
FROM JULY 13 AND 27, 2010; C.M. 102)
Public Safety Director Fritz explained the background and history related to the current
licensing process.
Council Member Wroge expressed his concerns regarding the current ordinance, including
the inconsistency of the number of animals that would require amulti-pet license, his belief that
staff time could be better spent on property maintenance issues, the majority of residents with
multi-pet license are not causing problems so they should not be required to go through the annual
renewal process, the process for enforcing violations, and the license fee may be too high which
could discourage residents from coming forward to obtain a license.
Director Fritz stated it may be that there are no problems with the currently multi-pet
licensed properties because the pro-active approach is working.
Health Administrator Osborn said that staff receives calls from residents who express
gratitude for the current process of the City seeking their feedback because they are more
comfortable expressing concerns.
Code Compliance Specialist O'Brien explained the State Statute regarding dangerous dogs
and also the current ordinance requirements regarding owning a dog.
Council Member Elliott stated there was no rational relationship between the number of
dogs and problems. He also expressed concerns with setting an arbitrary number.
Mayor Goettel responded that if the number is removed, it could become unlimited. She
suggested others cities be contacted regarding the criteria they used to determine the number of
animals for amulti-pet license.
Special City Council Worksession Minutes -2- August 9, 2010
City Council Member Sandahl stated she believed the current number was reasonable
considering the small lots in Richfield. She added the license fee is to cover the services provided
and needs to be reasonable and justifiable.
City Manager Devich stated this is a City Council policy which is controversial in the
community.
The City Council consensus was to have staff contact other cities regarding their fee
structure and process for multi-pet residential licenses and proceed with the possible ordinance
revisions already under review by staff.
Item #2 DISCUSSION REQUESTED BY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REGARDING
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRATION ORDINANCE (C.M. 123}
Molly Darsow, Human Rights Commission Chair, reviewed information related to exploring
the possibility of a Domestic Partnership Registration for the City of Richfield. She added the
purpose of this discussion was to ask for City Council support to open the topic to residents to gain
their feedback.
Mayor Goettel stated that State Representative Slocum encouraged the City's support of
the ordinance because the Legislature wi!{ be addressing this matter. Ms. Goettel added she
agreed with moving forward with public input.
Phil Duran, Out Front Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, explained the significance of a registry
which is largely symbolic because State law governs it.
Council Member Elliott stated the registry is worthy of consideration and supported getting
input from residents.
Council Member Wroge stated he would not support the registry at a City level but rather at
the State level so every community is handling the registry the same way.
Council Member Fitzhenry questioned who maintained and had access to the registry and if
it was public information.
Mr. Duran stated the registry is government data subject to the MN Data Practices Act.
Council Member Sandahl said the City registry was a good idea and would be helpful to
gain suppart at the State level.
City Manager Devich explained the differences between a City resolution and ordinance,
and how staff could administer the registry.
Human Rights Chair Darsow stated the commission is also requesting the City Code
Bereavement Leave Section for employee benefits be revised to include domestic partners.
City Manager Devich explained the code does not currently recognize a domestic partner in
any employee benefits.
The City Council consensus was to have the Human Rights Commission move forward with
gaining feedback from residents before proceeding with a proposed ordinance or change in the
City's Bereavement Leave Policy related to Domestic Partnership.
Item #3 DISCUSSION REGARDING PURSUING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES (C.M.124)
Special City Council Worksession Minutes -3- August 9, 2010
Tim Carter, Richfield Bloomington Honda, and Pat Brekken, Richfield Bloomington Credit
Union, discussed the possible role of the Richfield Chamber of Commerce in economic
development in the community.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimc
Date Approved: August 9, 2010
Cheryl rumho z
Recording Secretary