08-14-00 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Study Session
August 14, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; Kristal
Stokes and Russ Susag.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative
Services Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; and Bruce Palmborg,
Community Development Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director;
Julie Urban, Zoning Administrator; John Stark, Community
Development Manager; and Betsy Christensen, Health
Administrator.
Item # IANNUAL MEETING WITH FRIENDSHIP CITY COMMISSION
Friendship City Commission Chair Bill Bullock summarized the activities of the
commission during the past year which enhanced the cultural exchange relationship with
Richfield’s Sister City, Heredia, Costa Rica. He also discussed the future activities of the
commission.
Mr. Bullock stated that there are currently four openings on the commission. He
discussed the lack of applicants to serve on the commission.
Discussion followed regarding barriers to commission membership, commission
activities and student involvement.
Special Study Session Minutes-2-August 14, 2000
Item # IIMAYOR’S REQUEST TO DISCUSS CABLE CASTING OF HRA AND
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS
Mayor Kirsch discussed his reasons for suggesting cable casting of HRA and
Planning Commission meetings to make more information available to the public.
City Manager Orduno discussed the benefits of cable casting and suggested that
this be brought to the HRA and Planning Commission for their input regarding the City
Council’s direction that this start in 2001.
It was the consensus of the City Council that staff proceed as discussed.
Item#IIIDISCUSSION OF LONG-RANGE ACTION PLAN DEVELOPED BY CITY’S
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES TEAM THAT WOULD GIVE CITY ABILITY TO
MORE EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH CHRONIC PROBLEMS IN AREA OF
MULTI-HOUSING S. R. NO. 19
Public Safety Director Scott reviewed Staff Report No. 19 regarding the proposed
development of a formal comprehensive multi-housing plan to protect the health, safety
and welfare of residents who live in multi-family housing.
Julianne Schwietz, Community Apartment Program (C.A.P.) Director, introduced
the Livable Communities Team. She gave a summary of the problems being addressed
and the barriers to successfully gaining compliance.
Betsy Christensen, Health Administrator, reviewed the goal of the Livable
Communities Team and the components of a proposed comprehensive, long range and
systematic approach to dealing with multi-housing problem properties which would assist
staff in being able to more effectively resolve on-going multi-housing problems.
Discussion followed regarding the importance of this issue and methods to address
the problems.
Council Member Sandahl suggested also looking at commercial areas.
It was the consensus of the Council to recognize the need for a comprehensive
plan to work toward resolving the issues that exist in the area of gaining compliance from
multi-housing properties and to support the development of a detailed comprehensive
multi-housing plan.
Special Study Session Minutes-3-August 14, 2000
Item#IVUPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PROCESS FOR
BEST BUY CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT S. R. NO. 20
Community Development Manager John Stark reviewed Staff Report No. 20
regarding the purpose, status and schedule for the Environmental Impact Statement
(E.I.S.) process for the Best Buy Campus development.
Julie Urban, Zoning Administrator, reviewed the role of consultants BRW, Faegre &
BensonLLP,WSB,SEH, and the City staff in the preparation of the Draft E.I.S. She
reviewed the E.I.S. process, E.I.S. content, how to comment, schedule of events and the
availability of the E.I.S. for review.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:43 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Thomas P. FerberSamantha Orduno
City ClerkCity Manager