08-28-00 Regular
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
August 28, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Kirsch led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Russ Susag; Sue Sandahl;
and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative
Services Director; and John Dean, City Attorney.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Susag, S/Stokes to approve the minutes of the (1) Special City Council Study
Session of August 14, 2000 and (2) the Regular City Council Meeting of August 14, 2000.
Motion carried 5-0.
Council Meeting Minutes-2-August 28, 2000
Item #1OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ITEMS
NOT ON THE AGENDA
Bill Duffee, 6515 18th Avenue, spoke regarding the approval process for taking their
property.
John Dean, City Attorney, addressed the timing of the process.
City Manager Orduno responded to a concern regarding the confidentiality of the
materials related to the taking process.
Item #2 COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AGENDA
M/Susag, S/Stokes to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #3 CONSENT CALENDAR
A.Approved new commercial kennel license for Animal Care Clinic, 1208 East 66th Street
S.R. No. 213
B.Approved new veterinary license for Veterinary Radiation Therapy, Inc., 1208 East 66th
Street S.R. No. 214
C.Approved itinerant food license and temporary on-sale 3.2 percent malt liquor license for
Richfield American Legion, 6501 Portland Avenue, pig roast and family picnic on
September 9, 2000 S.R. No. 215
M/Rosenberg, S/Susag to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #4PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PRESENTATIONS FROM TWO CABLE
TELEVISION FRANCHISES, EVEREST CONNECTIONS CORPORATION
AND WIDEOPENWEST, AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION
REGARDING FINDINGS OF FACT WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL FOR
CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE S. R. NO. 216
Council Meeting Minutes-3-August 28, 2000
City Manager Orduno introduced Staff Report No. 216 and turned the presentation
over to Steven Devich and Brian Grogan.
Brian Grogan, Moss & Barnett, attorney for the Southwest Suburban Cable
Commission, reviewed Staff Report No. 216 concerning a public hearing regarding
presentations from two cable television franchises, Everest Connections Corporation and
WideOpenWest, and consideration of a resolution regarding findings of fact with respect to
a proposal for cable communications franchise.
Mr. Grogan emphasized that action before the City this evening is whether these
applicants possess the necessary qualifications to proceed with this process.
Mr. Grogan responded to questions from Council Members regarding the timing of
current and potential future applications and the potential downsides of more cable
operators in the community. He explained the difference between these operators and
those which are providing competitive telephone services.
John Manka, WideOpenWest (WOW), addressed the City Council regarding an
informational presentation on WideOpenWest’s application. He stated that they would be
pursuing residential customers. Mr. Manka described the history of their firm and previous
installations as well as the basic design plan for providing this service.
Council Member Sandahl asked if Time Warner has digital capacity.
Mr. Grogan responded that Time Warner does have digital capacity.
Jane Bremer, Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, representing Everest Connections,
addressed the City Council regarding Everest Connections application. Ms. Bremer stated
that both Everest and WOW provide one stop shopping for telephone, cable, and ISP
service on one wire with one bill. She stated that the company is financed through
Utilicorp, a large utility company in the Kansas City area with a $300,000,000 investment.
Ms. Bremer further stated that material and a contractor for installation are already
secured. She summarized the human resources involved in their company effort.
Council Member Susag asked at what point the new company would be operational.
Ms. Bremer stated that she felt that the first customers would be on line about six to
nine months after the franchise was awarded.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked if the new cables would be the
same size as the existing cables and what standby power provisions they have.
John Manko, WideOpenWest, responded that the size of the cables would vary
depending on the location from the hub. With respect to phone service, they are looking at
a way to try to ensure that phone service stays on.
Jane Bremer, Everest Connections, stated that the size of the cable is related to the
design. The size should be similar to current ones. She stated that the system they are
proposingwill have extensive redundancy in the system to deal with power failure.
Council Meeting Minutes-4-August 28, 2000
Council Member Susag reviewed the documentation used by the City Council
regarding the qualifications of each applicant, including application materials and a report
provided by Mr. Grogan on each application. He emphasized that this was not in response
to service provided by Time Warner, which has provided excellent services to the
community.
M/Susag, S/Stokes to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 5-0.
M/Susag, S/Stokes that the following resolution be adopted, that it be spread in the
resolution book and that it be made part of these minutes:
RESOLUTION NO. 8922
REGARDING FINDINGS OF FACT WITH RESPECT TO WIDEOPENWEST
MINNESOTA LLC’S PROPOSAL FOR A CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE.
Motion carried 5-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8922 in Resolution
Book No. 71.
M/Susag, S/Stokes that the following resolution be adopted, that it be spread in the
resolution book and that it be made part of these minutes:
RESOLUTION NO. 8923
REGARDING FINDINGS OF FACT WITH RESPECT TO EVEREST CONNECTIONS
CORPORATION’S PROPOSAL FOR A CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE
Motion carried 5-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8923 in Resolution
Book No. 71.
Item #5CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING CITY OF RICHFIELD
PARTICIPATION IN LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES BUILDING
QUALITY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE S.R. NO. 217
City Manager Orduno reviewed Staff Report No. 217 regarding a resolution
approving the City of Richfield’s participation in League of Minnesota Cities Building
Quality Communities Initiative.
Council Member Susag stated that this initiative is very important and asked the
City Manager to read the entire resolution.
City Manager Orduno read the resolution.
Council Meeting Minutes-5-August 28, 2000
M/Stokes, S/Sandahl that the following resolution be adopted, that it be spread in
the resolution book and that it be made part of these minutes:
RESOLUTION NO. 8924
RESOLUTION APPROVING CITY OF RICHFIELD
PARTICIPATION IN LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
BUILDING QUALITY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
Motion carried 5-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8924 in Resolution
Book No. 71.
Item #6AIRPORT STATUS REPORT
City Manager Orduno stated that the airport video has been completed and will be
shown at the next Council meeting.
Item #7HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REPORT
City Manager Orduno reported that the HRA took three significant actions:
1.Acquired the Gleason Mortuary property.
2.Prepayment of a note to Richfield State Agency.
3.Approved cable casting of their meeting on January 1, 2001.
Item #8COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS
None.
Item #9CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
City Manager Orduno explained the questions that arose regarding the last Claims
and Payroll.
M/Susag, S/Sandahl that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
Council Meeting Minutes-6-August 28, 2000
RICHFIELD BANK & TRUST CO.
INT Checks: 98478 – 98502$306,063.00
H/C100000 - 100326$938,505.50
PAYROLL20425 – 20437; 21036 - 21273$475,311.42
TOTAL$1,719,879.92
Motion carried 5-0.
City Manager Orduno summarized the following meetings:
August 307:00 p.m.Special Budget Meeting
September-56:00 p.m.Special Study Session
September 67:00 p.m.Tentative
September 116:00 p.m.Special Study Session
September 137:00 p.m.Public Meeting for Draft EIS
September 186:30 p.m.Special Election Canvass Meeting
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:15 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Steven L. DevichSamantha Orduno
Acting City ClerkCity Manager