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11-13-01 Worksession CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession November 13, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:31 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Gertrude Ulrich; John Enger; and Sue Sandahl (arrived at 5:37 p.m.). Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager;Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Robert Hintgen, Acting Utility Supervisor; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary. Item # IDISCUSSION OF SEARCHLIGHT REGULATIONS IN RICHFIELD City Manager Orduno said the discussion of searchlight regulations in Richfield was requested by the City Council in response to a question from David Borun, 2827 Stevens Avenue. Because Mr. Borun was notified of tonight’s Worksession but was not yet present, City Manager Orduno suggested the City Council proceed with the other items on the agenda until Mr. Borun arrives. Item # IIDISCUSSION OF RICHFIELD’S CONDITIONS FOR CROSSTOWN COMMONS REDESIGN Special Worksession Minutes- 2-November 13, 2001 Public Works Director Eastling stated Council Member Sandahl requested the discussion regarding the Crosstown Commons redesign at tonight’s Worksession because in her capacity as a member of the I-35W/Crosstown Legislative Advisory Committee, she will be asked to comment on possible revisions to the City Council approved layout for the proposed construction of the Crosstown Commons. He said the committee meets at Richfield City Hall on November 14. Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the proposed Crosstown Commons layout alternative options. Council Member Sandahl said she is concerned about protecting Richfield, unsnarling congestion, reducing closures and increasing safety. She asked the City Council to consider the importance of possible conditions that could be placed on any City approval of a revised layout. Public Works Director Eastling read the following conditions: 1.Closures of portions of the Crosstown during construction should be eliminated to the greatest extent possible. 2.A noise wall should be added to the Crosstown between Penn Avenue and I-35W. 3.Access from Lyndale Avenue to northbound I-35W should be restored. 4.An additional eastbound lane between Penn Avenue and I-35W and two lanes (in each direction) for the Crosstown through the Commons Section should be constructed in order to keep regional trips off 66th Street. 5.Any remnant land remaining after any takings should be made available to the City for biking/hiking trails, parkland (in accordance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and community directives) and replacement housing. 6.Sufficient capacity should be built into I-35W north of the Commons to accommodate the I-35W and Crosstown traffic. 7.Minimize the amount of additional right of way needed in Richfield to meet the above conditions. Council Member Enger asked for an estimated number of lost Richfield homes. Public Works Director Eastling said there were no exact numbers yet. Mr. Eastling reviewed the drawing concepts and explained the differences related to the original proposal which required the closure of Crosstown. Council Member Sandahl said it is Minneapolis’ position that they do not want new lanes into Minneapolis. Council Member Rosenberg said she’d like to have an additional condition stating a noise wall from Penn to Xerxes Avenues for safety purposes. She supported moving this project along. Council Member Enger stated that right after Crosstown was built, it was deemed dangerous and it doesn’t seem much better now with the new concepts. He said there Special Worksession Minutes- 3-November 13, 2001 should be double stacking and totally separate I-35W from Crosstown. He said this is a good case for the State to rectify a bad situation. Public Works Director Eastling said stacking was a visual concern. Council Member Rosenberg said she thought stacking was unattractive and confusing. Council Member Ulrich said stacking would increase funding which could delay the project for years. Mayor Kirsch said the Crosstown Commons needs improvement. He said Richfield should hold firm and not give up any more homes than necessary. He supported the sound wall from Penn to Xerxes Avenues for increased safety. City Manager Orduno said Richfield’s policy position on the Crosstown design is on tonight’s regular City Council agenda, so action can be taken on providing policy direction. Item # IIIDISCUSSION OF FEE WAIVER REQUESTS City Manager Orduno said discussion of fee waiver requests was placed on the agenda as requested by the City Council. Public Safety Director Scott reviewed the background of waiving fees for churches, schools and community organizations/events. He said the fees are based upon State Statutes. He said that in the business licensing and housing inspections area, it appears that the amount of revenue currently waived and not collected could come close to $18,735 annually. Council Member Ulrich said that the City Council who decided years ago to waive fees had considerable resources, which currently is not the case. She said cutbacks and making a government lean necessitates charging fees for service. She said the City is not a charitable organization and can no longer afford waiving fees. Mayor Kirsch asked if the current fee covered Bloomington inspection services. Public Safety Director Scott said the inspection is still conducted, but the fee is not collected. Council Member Rosenberg said that waiving fees is a way to instill participation in the social aspects of the City. She said eliminating the waiver could result in the stopping of these events. Council Member Ulrich said she believed it would not be a breaking point for holding the events. Special Worksession Minutes- 4-November 13, 2001 Council Member Sandahl said she believed, in most cases, paying the fee may mean less profits at the events, but the events would continue. Council Member Enger said he believed there would not be a reduction in events and supports charging the full rate for licenses. Council Member Ulrich said the City Council would receive feedback from these organizations if the fees are no longer waived. Public Safety Director Scott asked how fees for City-sponsored events should be handled. Council Member Ulrich said she supported not changing the fee waiver for totally City- sponsored events. Fees for partially City-sponsored events needed further discussion. City Manager Orduno said if the City Council requests staff to abide by the fee for service and user fee policy discussed at a previous Worksession, this issue would not come before the City Council. However, if the City Council wishes to establish a policy, it would be brought before the City Council for consideration and formal action. Council Member Sandahl said if the fee waivers changed, it will be perceived as a policy change. City Manager Orduno said it would be a change in practice. She said staff could prepare a letter to notify the organizations who currently have fee waivers that, effective January 1, 2002, the waiver would no longer be considered and payment of the full fee would be required. Council Member Ulrich requested that the City Council review the letter before it is sent. Council Member Sandahl requested that any organizations yet to come before the City Council in 2001 should be notified that the fee waiver would be considered this year, but discontinued on January 1, 2002. Council Member Rosenberg said she had concerns about discontinuing the fee waivers, but would go along with the City Council majority. Item # IVDISCUSSION OF DELINQUENT UTILITY BILL PAYMENT PROCESS Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the current delinquent utility bill payment process. He said City administrative costs and water charges are recovered. He said he believed the current process works well. Special Worksession Minutes- 5-November 13, 2001 Acting Utility Supervisor Hintgen said that a survey of other cities indicated the majority used the certification process. He said Bloomington currently shuts water off, but is considering changing that practice largely due to employee safety issues. Council Member Ulrich said it appeared certification was the much preferred process Council Member Rosenberg asked if shutting the water off in the winter created more problems with pipes freezing. Public Works Director Eastling said there was a slightly higher risk of that happening. Council Member Rosenberg asked how many properties and the amount certified this year. Acting Utility Supervisor Hintgen said there were 272 properties and the total was roughly $133,000, which is higher than last year. Mayor Kirsch asked if any properties certified were commercial. Mr. Hintgen said four were commercial. Council Member Rosenberg said that shutting off water appears to be labor intensive. The majority of the City Council indicated not to change the current delinquent utility bill payment process. Item # VDISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL OPEN FORUM REGISTRATION City Manager Orduno said discussion of the open forum registration is presented for discussion at the City Council’s request. She reviewed the pre-registration process as outlined in Resolution No. 9068. Council Member Enger said he has a problem with seemingly forcing people to call in to register to speak at a City Council meeting. He said a lot of people don’t know the procedure. He suggested having registration cards in the Chambers for people to use. He said the City Council needs to allow people to speak and needs to formalize the process. He said the City Council needs to relax from the pre-registration. Council Member Rosenberg said the City Council needs to be consistent on the registration procedures. Council Member Sandahl said she did not have strong feelings regarding pre- registration and she does like the registration card use at the meeting. She said those who pre-register should speak first, before those who register at the meeting. Mayor Kirsch said he agreed with registration cards at the meeting. Special Worksession Minutes- 6-November 13, 2001 Council Member Ulrich said she likes the registration cards at the meeting, but said no one address City Council without the card. She said she does not want any other Open Forum changes other than the registration card at meetings. City Manager Orduno said the resolution would be revised and brought to the City Council for consideration and action. The City Council consensus was to continue with the pre-registration to speak during the Open Forum and provide registration cards at the meeting, with those pre-registered speaking first. Council Member Enger said he has been uncomfortable with his vote regarding not cable televising the Open Forum. He said people deserve 15 minutes on television. He said people at home should be given the opportunity to hear what fellow residents have to say. He said people believe it to be a waste of time to address the City Council and question why their right to address the City Council was taken away. He said he has received considerable feedback from his ward on this issue. Council Member Ulrich said she was totally opposed to televising the Open Forum. She said people have contacted her stating they are relieved the Open Forum is not on television. Council Member Sandahl said the Open Forum is a time to address the City Council, not an opportunity to air differences on issues. The City Council consensus was to keep the Open Forum untelevised. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Borun did not arrive at the Worksession. Therefore, the discussion related to searchlights was canceled. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:45 p.m. Date Approved: _________________ Martin J. Kirsch Mayor Cheryl KrumholzSamantha Orduno Recording SecretaryCity Manager