08-03-1987 Study SessionCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
- CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
August 3, 1987
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Hamilton, Mayor; Ivan Ludeman; Martin
Kirsch; and Edwina Garcia.
STAFF PRESENT: James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich,
Administrative Services Director; Thomas P.
Ferber, City Cierk; Donald Fondrick;
Community Services Director; Syron Wallace,
Community Development .Director; Ron
Richardson, Police Captain; Rick Jopke, City
Planner; Jean Mitchell, Finance Manager; and
Towhid Kazi, Community Development Aide.
PLANNING
COMMISSION: Russell Kennedy, Maggi McDermott-Lindstrand,
Connie Murray, Robert Jensen, Charles Kauth,
Barbara Kitzman, Leon Lunas, and Gordon
Herrboldt.
OTHERS PRESENT: Cliff Hoffman, Dan Mayleben, and John Lila,
Deloitte Haskins and Sells.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hamilton at 7:00 p.m.
Item #1 DISCUSSION WITH MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
STUDY SESSION LETTER N0. 24.
Planning Commission Chairperson Connie Murray reviewed the
activities of the Planning Commission including the types of
cases, neighborhood meetings, Comprehensive Plan update, and
Capital Improvement Program involvement. She stated the
commission is concerned with assuring compliance to stipulation
and ordinance provision by developers and increasing
communication with the city council.
Mayor Hamilton asked if the Commission had any thoughts or
suggestions regarding the recently proposed housing maintenance
ordinance.
Commissioner Leon Lunas stated that he felt it was the wrong
approach and that the city should establish a penalty for non-
compliance enforced on a complaint basis.
Council Meeting Minutes 2 August 3, 1987
Commissioner Russell Kennedy stated that he felt it was a
good ordinance as written but should be broadened for single
family homes. He stated that in order to preserve the housing
stock such an ordinance will be necessary at some time.
City Manager Prosser asked what areas the Planning
Commission saw as important issues for the city to address.
Planning Commission Chairperson Murray stated that the
freeway strips, the airport impact on land use, and the traffic
on 76th Street were key issues.
Commissioner Jensen reviewed the success of the use of small
subcommittees in making progress on such issues as updating the
Comprehensive Plan.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the philosophical difference
in the manner in which the city c-oancil and hearing examiners
look at variances. He suggested that a workshop session on this
topic may be beneficial.
Planning Commission Chairperson Murray stated that if there
is a pattern of the city council approving certain types of
variances, an ordinance amendment may be appropriate.
Council Member Kirsch noted that the Hearing Examiner
process has worked well and allowed the Planning Commission to
spend more time on planning issues.
Commissioner Herrboldt complimented city staff for the
quality of visual aids provided for the Planning Commission. He
suggested that the issue of recreational vehicle parking be
addressed by the council.
City Manager Prosser stated that the recreational vehicle
issue is a difficult one and suggested that the Planning
Commission could get feedback .regarding this issue at the
neighborhood meetings.
Discussion followed regarding parking issues at car dealers
and the enforcement of employee parking stipulations.
Commissioner Kauth stated that landscaping details should be
presented at the time of application by developers rather than
stipulating it be provided to staff.
City Manager Prosser suggested that with the advice of the
city attorney, the Planning Commission may wish to draft such a
policy for city council review.
Council Meeting Minutes 3 August 3, 1987
Item #2 DISCUSSION REGARDING CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR WALLY
MCCARTHY AND TERRY FELDMAN IMPORTS. STUDY SESSION
LETTER NO. 23.
City Manager Prosser reviewed~Study Session Letter No. 23
regarding enforcement action relating to Wa11y McCarthy
Oldsmobile parking on boulevard, parking on city owned right-of-
way, and fire codes, and Terry Feldman .Imports parking on state
owned right-of-way, parking on boulevard, placement of signs on
state right-of-way, use of adjoining property for display and
storage of vehicles without proper zoning, and non-compliance
with offstreet parking permit.
Mayor Hamilton stated that the McCarthy building was
hazardous and should be sprinkled.
Council Member Ludeman stated that an alarm system would be
more effective than a sprinkler system which costs $80,000.
City Manager Prosser stated that a fire suppression system
for this building was imperative.
Council Member Garcia urged that city take aggressive
enforcement action on these issues.
Council Member Kirsch stated that the time has come to
enforce the code and to be consistent in seeking landscaping from
all car dealers.
Council Member Ludeman stated he favors the landscaping but
is not sure a sprinkler system is the best way to address the
fire safety issue.
Commissioner Lunas stated that the safety of the building is
important to the whole area.
Commissioner McDermott-Lindstrand stated her concern about
potential city liability if the building is not brought int o
compliance with the fire code.
Council Member Ludeman stated it seems unreasonable for the
land purchased by Terry Feldman to sit idle.
City Manager Prosser stated that it is a city council policy
issue to consider if a prohibited use in a C-3 district should be
allowed on this property.
Council Meeting Minutes 4 August 3, 1987
Council Member Garcia stated that it is their business to
sell cars but it is the city's business to sell the city and the
appearance of these dealers is detrimental to the city. She
stated her support for continued aggressive enforcement efforts
to insure car dealer compliance.
Mayor Hamilton stated that Howard Fox of Terry Feldman's
Imports had indicated that they will comply with the city's
requests.
Council Member Ludeman stated he felt the car dealers had
been good long term businesses for the city.
Council Member Garcia stated that the car dealers have not
had a positive impact on the city and could not support a mega-
dealership concept which Mr. Feldman may propose.
City Manager Prosser indicated city staff would continue the
enforcement activities and pursuing the landscaping of the
boulevards.
Item #3 DISCUSSION OF THE CITY'S 1986 FINANCIAL REPORT STUDY
SESSION LETTER N0. 25.
Cliff Hoffman of Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells, reviewed the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1986.
Dan Mayleben of Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells reviewed the
suggestions contained in the management letter to the council.
John Lila of Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells reviewed
comparative 1981 and 1986 data and the benefits of establishing a
financial policy.
Discussion followed regarding unfunded liabilities, Police
and Fire Pension investments, accounting practices, and making
the ice arena and swimming pool separate enterprise funds.
It was the conclusion of the auditors that the city's
financial status was good and that management was performing well
in managing the financial aspects of the city.
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Council Meeting Minutes
ADJOURNMENT
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homas P. Ferber am s crosser
City Clerk Ci Manager
5
The meeting was adjourned at 9:5
Oate Approved: 8/1/87
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August 3, 1987
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