08-01-1988 Study SessionCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
August 1, 1988
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steven Quam, Mayor; Michael Sandahl; Martin
Kirsch; and Edwina Garcia.
ABSENT: Ivan Ludeman
STAFF PRESENT: James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich,
Administrative Services Director;. Thomas P.
Ferber, City Clerk; Donald Fondrick,
Community Services Director; Byron Wallace,
Community Development Director; John Erskine,
Public Safety Director; William Fillmore,
Liquor Operations Director; Jean Mitchell,
Finance Manager; and Mike Eastling, City
Engineer.
COMM-UNITY SERVICES COMMISSION:
Suzanne Sandahl, Emily Day.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Quam at 7:03 p.m.
Item #I DISCUSSION OF STORM SEWER STUDY. STUDY SESSION LETTER
N0. 11
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 11
regarding the storm sewer study conducted by Orr-Schelen-Mayer &
Associates, Inc. and the stormwater improvements recommended by
the Community Services Commission.
Community Services Director Fondrick reviewed the role of
the Community Services Commission in developing criteria to
prioritize recommendations for stormwater management
improvements.
Peter Willenbring, Orr-Schelen-Mayeron 1fc Associates Inc.,
reviewed the criteria used by the Community Services Commission
in prioritizing their recommendations as follows:
- Benefit/cost ratio for the improvement project must be
greater than 1, or
- Flooding must take place for rainfall events having a
greater than 29K chance of occurrence.
- Improvements should be constructed on public property.
- Improvements should be funded through the storm sewer
utility.
City should provide technical expertise and education to
- residents in areas not meeting these criteria.
_ City could reasonably support improvements with a total
cost ranging from $500,000 to 1 million dollars.
Study Session Minutes -2- August 1, 1988
Mr. Willenbring then reviewed the stormwater improvement
recommendations of the Community Services Commission.
City Manager Prosser stated that the improvements would
increase the level of protection from flooding but there is no
guarantee that properties will nat flood. Mr. Prosser stated
that an approximate 20X increase in the storm sewer utility will
be proposed excluding the financing of the proposed storm water
improvements recommendations.
Mr. Willenbring stated that an addendum to the original
report had been prepared as a result of additional information
provided by residents.
Mayor Quam acknowledged the efforts of the Community
Services Commission regarding this report. He directed that
staff finalize the report for formal public and council
presentation as soon as possible with reasonable public
notification.
Ites #II PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT. STUDY SESSION LETTER
N0. 12.
Cliff Hoffman and Mike Pung of the City's auditing firm of
Deloitte, Haskins and Sells reviewed the City of Richfield
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1987. They also reviewed their findings and
recommendations concerning internal control and other matters
resulting from the audit of the City's 1987 financial statements.
The auditors stated that the City ws in a very solid
financial condition and commented staff for the City's fiscal
management.
Item #III CONSIDERATION OF ADVANCE REFUNDING BONDS FOR
OUTSTANDING CITY BOND ISSUES. STUDY SESSION LETTER
N0. 13.
1
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed the
advantages of refunding outstanding bond issues when specific
conditions exist. He stated that an analysis of advance
refunding opportunities for the City reveals that there are three
bond issues with potential savings to the City.
It was the consensus of the council that city staff initiate
actions to accomplish the advance refunding of these bonds.
Study Session Minutes -3- August 1, 1988
Item #IV DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PARKING OF TRACTORS/TRAILERS
ON CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY.
STUDY SESSION LETTER N0. 14..
City Manager Prosser reviewed the issues related to the
parking of tractor trailers in public, school, and private
parking lots throughout the community.
Public Safety Director Erskine reviewed the following three
options to address this issue:
1. Preparation of an ordinance amendment which would
include private, City owned and school district owned
parking lots in the definition of the current
ordinance.
2. Preparation of an ordinance that gives Public Safety
the authority to enforce laws on non-City owned
property provided an agreement is signed between the
owner of the property and the City.
3. Do nothing.
It was the consensus of the council that city staff initiate
Option ~~1.
Ite^ #V DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PARKING OF UTILITY TRAILERS ON
SIDEYARDS AND FRONTYARDS. STUDY SESSION LETTER N0. 15
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 15
regarding the issues related to the parking of utility trailers
in front and side yards in the community.
Public Safety Director Erskine reviewed the following
options to address this issue:
1. Do nothing.
2. Revise 1320.03 to include a definition of utility
trailers, which would prohibit them from parking
anywhere for more than two hours.
3. Revise 1305.27 to include a definition of utility
trailers, which would prohibit them from parking in
front yards except in established driveways.
4. Revise ordinance 1325 dealing with recreational
vehicles to include a definition of utility trailers.
Mayor Quam stated that it would be most appropriate for
staff to begin by presenting option ~~3 to the council for
consideration.
Study Session Minutes -4- August 1, 1988
Item #VI DISCUSSION REGARDING THE USE OF PROPERTY AT 6945 PENN
AVENUE. STUDY SESSION LETTER N0. 16
City Manager Prosser reviewed the issues regarding
modification of the proposed development at 6945 Penn Avenue from
a use exclusively for dental offices to general office use.
It was the consensus of the council that because the
rezoning was not conditional upon the dental use, that it was not
appropriate for council reconsideration. It was the consensus of
the council that it was appropriate for the HRA t.o review this
matter as part of the final development agreement consideration
on August 15, 1988 and that mailed notices to the neighbors be
provided for that meeting.
Item #VII DISCUSSION REGARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LEGAL
SERVICES. STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 17
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 17
regarding a draft Request for Proposal for Legal Services. He
stated an analysis of the use of an in-house attorney is also
being undertaken.
Mayor Quam related several suggestions for changes to the
Request for Proposal.
Discussion followed regarding alternative methods of
reviewing the proposals.
Item #VIII DISCUSSION OF NOMINATION PETITION ISSUE. STUDY
SESSION LETTER N0. 18
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 18
regarding issues about provisions of the City Charter and State
Statutes relating to the qualifications to sign nominating
petitions. Mr. Prosser indicated that in reviewing this matter
the City Attorney found that the Charter requires that candidates
for office be registered voters. State Statute does not make
this requirement. The City Attorney is concerned that the City
Charter requirement may not be supported if challenged in court.
Therefore, this matter will be referred to the Charter
Commission.
Study Session Minutes -5- August 1, 1988
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Sandahl reviewed the request of the NOISE
organization for Richfield, and adjacent communities to host the
1989 NOISE Conference. He stated that NOISE would request some
funding from the host cities for the conference.
-TMe meeting ~+as at#~ou-r-ned-a~-8;-34-~-.-m.
Date Approved : 8/22/88 ,~
~~~-CZLaQ .
Thomas P. Ferber
City Cierk
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D. Prosser
Manager