10-08-01 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
October 8, 2001
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 6:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Gertrude Ulrich (arrived at 6:08 p.m.); John
Enger; and Sue Sandahl.
Members
Not Present:Susan Rosenberg.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager;Mike Eastling, Public Works
Director; George Atkinson, Engineering Supervisor; and Cheryl
Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item # IDISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL ATTENDANCE AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS
City Manager Orduno stated that City Council attendance at community meetings was
before the City Council to discuss how to handle a quorum of the City Council at a
community meeting when the meeting has not been posted as required by the open meeting
law. She said the City Council may want to establish guidelines for posting meetings. She
said that if every community meeting is posted, City Council attendance records could
become an issue.
Council Member Sandahl suggested that each City Council Member contact the City
Manager’s office if they are attending a community meeting. If a quorum is attending, the
Manager’s office will post a Special City Council meeting notice. If the meeting is not posted
and a quorum becomes present it’s a first come, first serve situation as to who stays or
leaves.
Special Worksession Minutes-
2-October 8, 2001
Council Member Sandahl asked how far in advance a meeting notice needs to be
posted.
City Manager Orduno answered the notice needs to be posted for three full days prior
to the meeting.
Council Member Enger suggested that the meetings that affect the entire City be
posted.
Council Member Ulrich stated that if she does not contact the City Manager’s office, it
means she would not be attending the community meeting.
The City Council requested staff to post the following Special City Council Meetings:
x
October 20 at 9:00 a.m. League of Women Voter Meeting
x
October 23 at 7:00 p.m. Richfield 2020 Forum
x
October 24 at 12:00 p.m. Chamber of Commerce General Membership
Meeting
x
October 24 at 7:00 p.m. Richfield 2020 Forum
x
November 24 at 9:00 a.m. League of Women Voter Meeting
The Council agreed to inform staff of the community meetings that should be posted
as Special City Council meetings during the Council Discussion portion of the Regular City
Council meeting agenda or by contacting the City Manager’s office.
Item # IIDISCUSSION OF DATE AND TIME FOR 2002 CITY COUNCIL/CITY STAFF
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSESSION
The City Council tentatively selected the following dates and times for the 2002 City
Council/City Staff Strategic Planning Worksession:
FridayJanuary 4, 20029:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
and
SaturdayJanuary 5, 20029:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Mayor Kirsch asked the City Manager’s office to contact Council Member Rosenberg
when she returns to confirm her availability on these dates. If she is not, the City Council will
revisit this matter.
City Manager Orduno said Carl Neu would again be the facilitator of the worksession.
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Item # IIIDISCUSSION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 805 OF
RICHFIELD CITY CODE RELATED TO BUS BENCHES AND SHELTERS
City Manager Orduno stated that discussion of bus benches and shelters was before
the City Council at their request. She said staff is seeking a course of action on how to
proceed on this matter.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the concerns raised at the July 23 City
Council Worksession. He said it was difficult to put restrictions on advertising.
Aaron Isaacs, Metro Transit representative, explained the metro area transit stop
installation and maintenance process. He said, generally, there is a bus shelter for every 15
bus stops; there are 10 shelters in Richfield. He said a certain level of ridership, a standard
of 25 people, needs to be met before a bus shelter is considered. He stated it is difficult to
find good sites and that Richfield streets have limited right-of-way space available. He said
Metro Transit capital money is constrained and there are higher priorities. Mr. Isaacs
encouraged the City Council to take advantage of a private company that could provide
these services.
Craig Piernot, Outdoor Promotions, Inc. representative, provided background on how
his company became involved in Richfield. He said his company has an 18-year history of
providing private bus shelters, which includes maintenance services.
Rollie Danielson, U. S. Bench Corp. representative, provided background on his
company’s services in Richfield. He said the bench advertising is from mostly local
businesses. He expressed concern about the trash maintenance element because his
company could not afford to place a trash receptacle with each bench. He said the public
and businesses could be educated to help keep the area clean. He said his company makes
a consistent effort to pick up trash when the routes are checked.
Public Works Director Eastling stressed the trash maintenance issue and advertising
as two concerns.
Council Member Sandahl said that having both benches and shelters made sense.
She understood that the way the ordinance is drafted allows staff to decide on space
availability. She suggested leaving benches as they are and have public service
announcements dealing with the trash issue. She added that the shelters should proceed
based upon Mr. Isaac’s presentation. She supports the encouragement of using mass
transit.
Council Member Ulrich said she did not approve of both benches and shelters
because she believed shelters to not be pedestrian friendly and created greater obstruction
for walkers. She said she would consider both benches and shelters on certain commercial
type corners. She complimented Metro Transit on keeping their schedules on time and
believed that as long as bus routes are on time, waiting is limited. She expressed skepticism
on the shelter advertising.
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4-October 8, 2001
Council Member Enger said he had no problem with additional shelters because some
locations need both benches and shelters. He asked about the Metro Transit cleaning
schedule.
Mr. Isaacs replied that the schedule is based upon how fast an area gets dirty.
Council Member Enger said it appeared shelters collected more litter and suggested
trash be collected once per week. He said the benches need to be cleaned periodically and
supported encouraging the businesses with shelters in front of their building to assist in the
litter pickup. He asked the two company representatives to comment on the length of the
permit period, which is currently one year.
Mr. Piernot stated the permit and contract need to be longer to allow the collection of
revenues.
Mr. Danielson stated that economically, a five-year permit would be needed.
Mayor Kirsch said he saw a need for additional shelters and they should co-exist with
benches. He expressed concern about the advertising.
The City Council advised staff to return to them at a future meeting with a map
showing specific locations in high density areas of proposed bus shelters; also trash
maintenance with benches need not be provided, but the shelters would provide trash
maintenance.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:57 p.m.
Date Approved: _________________
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Cheryl KrumholzSamantha Orduno
Recording SecretaryCity Manager