04-05-99 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
April 5, 1999
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Russ Susag; and Kristal
Stokes.
Members Not
Present:Sue Sandahl.
Council Member Sandahl had informed Acting City Manager Devich that she would
be arriving at the airport this evening and would try to come directly to the meeting if
possible.
StaffPresent :Steven Devich, Acting City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk;
Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; William
Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; Michael Eastling, Public Works
Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; John Thom, Utility
Coordinator; Betsy Christensen, Health Administrator; Jean Flesher,
Health Assistant/Licensing Specialist; and Larry Miller, Hennepin
County Principal Appraiser.
Item # IANNUAL MEETING WITH ADVISORY BOARD OF HEALTH
Janet Pierson, Co-chair of the Richfield Advisory Board of Health, presented and
discussed the 1998 Annual Report of the Advisory Board of Health including some of the
following activities:
Study Session Minutes-2-April 5, 1999
Revision of the City's tobacco ordinance
Focus on youth and additive behaviors
Support of anti-drug poster program for 5th graders
Alcohol compliance check program support
Participation in Tri-City Partners projects regarding alcohol prevention strategies
with youth
Addictions workgroup
Family issues workgroup
The Advisory Board of Health members were also in attendance for the Council
discussion of the review of the Water Quality Report and civil enforcement
recommendations for establishments that failed recent liquor compliance checks.
Item # IIREVIEW AND CONSIDER STATUS OF MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNITY
CENTER PROPOSAL AND WORK OF TASK FORCE. S.S. LETTER NO. 8
Rick Jabs, Chair of the Multi-Purpose Community Center Task Force, presented the
following status report on the Multi-Purpose Community Center planning process:
Background
Citizen make up of the Task Force
Study started September 17, 1998
Mission/Vision of the Task Force
Task Force efforts to gather citizen input
Community input meetings, articles, Your City article and response
Question and Answer Brochure
Current Conclusion and Anticipation Facility Program
Conclusion that there is a need
Ten most important program spaces
Anticipated Schedule for Completion of Study
Completion of the study by the end of May
Presentation to the City Council for consideration in June
Discussion followed regarding the condition of the existing outdoor pool facility and
the desire of competitive swimming groups to include a competitive swimming pool
element in the MPCC with the potential of outside funding sources.
Council Member Susag suggested that the City Council visit a community center
facility with similar elements to the design proposal the consultant prepares.
Item # IIIREVIEW OF WATER QUALITY REPORT TO CONSUMERS OF RICHFIELD
WATER. S. S. LETTER NO. 9
Study Session Minutes-3-April 5, 1999
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed Study Session Letter No. 9 regarding
presentation of a Consumer Confidence Report entitled City of Richfield 1998 Drinking
Water Report. He requested feedback from the City Council on the draft report prior to
distribution to the public.
Utility Coordinator John Thom discussed the congressional requirement that every
water utility produce an annual report about the quality of water produced along with any
violations, where a maximum contaminant level has been exceeded, such as lead, salts,
and minerals. He stated Richfield has no violations of standards, however, some trace
elements, minerals, and other substances were detected in the water. He discussed how
the reporting of these trace elements, even though they are below standards, may
unnecessarily concern the public. He stated he had suggested to the Health Department
that the reporting of the trace elements should not be required.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, objected to Mr. Thom's suggestion that
trace elements should not have to be reported.
Utility Coordinator Thom discussed the trace level reporting issue and the level of
contaminants related to his preference that the requirement be dropped in the future.
Council Member Susag stated that the trace element information is in the report as
required.
Dennis Manson, 6901 Park Avenue, suggested that it be communicated that the
City's water is better than bottled water.
Discussion followed regarding the high quality of Richfield's water.
Item # IVREVIEW OF 1999 BOARD OF EQUALIZATION PROCEDURES. S.S.
LETTER NO. 10
Larry Miller, Hennepin County Principal Property Appraiser, reviewed and discussed
Study Session Letter No. 10 regarding the 1999 Local Board of Equalization process
including the following:
Average residential value
Average selling price
Growth by property class
Revaluation areas by assessment year
Residential value history
Assessed value to sales ratio
MLS average sales price
Examples of subject and comparative property data including sales
comparison/adjustment grid
Duties and responsibilities of the Local Board of Equalization
Customer service survey
Study Session Minutes-4-April 5, 1999
Item #VDISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION
FOR HANDLING CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OF ESTABLISHMENTS THAT
FAILED CITY'S RECENT LIQUOR COMPLIANCE CHECKS. S.S. LETTER
NO. 11
Public Safety Director Scott reviewed Study Session Letter No. 11 stating that a
recent liquor compliance check found the total number of establishments that sold alcohol
to underage youth was 14 of the 31 checked. He discussed a recommendation to
suspend each license holder's license to sell alcohol for a range of one to three
consecutive days and require a fine be paid in the amount of $2,500. He discussed the
development of a formal policy regarding the determination of civil penalties.
Discussion followed regarding City Council direction for staff development of a
proposed resolution delineating discipline and civil penalties related to the sale of alcohol
to underage youth.
Acting City Manager Devich stated that staff would present recommendations for
handling civil enforcement of the establishments that failed the City's liquor compliance
check and a resolution to establish discipline and civil penalties at a future regular City
Council meeting.
Item #VISTATUS UPDATE OF EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM (CITY MANAGER
RECRUITMENT) PROCESS. S.S. LETTER NO. 12
Jim Lynn, Lynn and Associates, presented and discussed a proposed schedule of
milestone dates and timetable for the City Manager recruitment.
Discussion followed regarding adjustments to the timetable, scheduling issues, and
the availability of community leaders.
Mr. Lynn presented and discussed the City Manager Recruitment Profile
Development process.
Discussion followed regarding the community leader interviews and public forum
meeting, the time frame, and identification of participants.
Mr. Lynn reviewed a schedule of events for the interview of candidates and
selection of a new City Manager.
Item #VIISTATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ISSUES. S.S. LETTER NO. 13
Study Session Minutes-5-April 5, 1999
Acting City Manager Devich reviewed Study Session Letter No. 13 regarding the
following airport related issues:
Runway 4-22
Legislative Initiatives
Low Frequency Noise Policy Committee (LFNPC)
MASAC
Council Member Stokes noted that therewill be 24-hour truck traffic at the 66th
Street/Trunk Highway 77 interchange resulting from airport runway construction work. She
summarized some of the issues discussed at the last MASAC meeting.
Item #VIIIUPDATE ON 1999 TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS S.S. LETTER NO. 14
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed and discussed revised plan drawings
presented by the Metropolitan Airports Commission for the reconstruction of the 66th
Street and Trunk Highway 77 interchange. He suggested a citizen and business
participation plan for presentation and input regarding the proposal.
Public Works Director Eastling stated that installation of the new traffic signal at
64th Street and Portland Avenue will be delayed until after approval from the Municipal
State Aid District office and therefore, would not be in place for the Fourth of July
celebration.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, requested better bicycle/pedestrian
access across Trunk Highway 77.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the reasons why alternative routes might
be better and why bicycle/pedestrian trails were not included in the plans.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:54 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberSteven L. Devich
City ClerkActing City Manager