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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985/09/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL September 23, 1985 1. The study session was called to order at 7:40 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Lyle Hanks and Council members Larry Mitchell, Jerrold Martin and Ronald Backes. Also present were the City Manager, Assistant to the Manager, Finance Director, Assistant Finance Director and the Director of Inspections. 2. Housing Inspection Program - Councilman Martin began a lengthy discussion owe City's housing inspection program by expressing a desire for more consistency among the inspections being performed by City staff. Harvey McPhee, Director of Inspectional Services, responded that enforce- ment is often a matter of judgment and that his staff had been attempting to follow what they felt was the intent of the City's housing inspection program. Mayor Hanks said that the original intent of the program was to maintain the City's housing stock and to provide for the health and safety of the residents. Council members asked a variety of questions concerning the Uniform Housing Code and the Uniform Building Code, portions of which have been incorporated into the City's ordinance code. Councilman Backes suggested that it was important to consider the differences between enforcement of the code vs. enforcement of the life safety provisions of the City ordinance. The City Manager commented that it was important that inspectors be allowed the use of some discretion in enforcing building and housing requirements. Councilman Martin asked that staff provide responses to four major questions which should be reviewed by Council prior to making any final decisions on this program: What codes are applicable and when should they be applied? 2. What should be enforced and what should be left alone? 3. What is the major distinction of health vs. safety? 4. What is the City's liability for failing to completely enforce all aspects of the building/housing code once an inspector is in a house? Councilman Backes asked staff to research the City Council meeting minutes dating to 1912 when the program was initiated. Councilman Mitchell also asked for staff to provide a count of the number of inspections which have been completed to date. He also asked that staff obtain a legal opinion concerning the City's liability as relatedto the entire housing inspection program. Councilman Backes alsoasked staff to review the legal basis for requiring back flow preventers and a determination of the year in which the City adopted that portion Of the Uniform Housing/Building Code. It was agreed that staff would respond to the Council requests for additional information and would provide a report prior to the next study session. 3. Budget Items a. Legal Fees - Councilman Backes reported on a meeting which he had attended with Councilman Meland and the City Attorney regarding staffing and scheduling. Following a discussion concerning the quantity and quality of legal work being provided under the existing agreement with the City Attorney's office, it was moved by Councilman Backes, seconded by Councilman Martin, to increase the monthly retainer to $5,000. The motion passed 4-0. Council discussed the current hourly rate being charged by the City Prosecutor. Councilman Martin stated that he felt an increase in the rate was in order due to the effective and efficient manner in which prosecutions are currently being handled. It was moved by Councilman Backes, seconded by Councilman Martin, to increase the hourly pay rate for the City Prosecutor to $58/hr. The motion passed 4-0. b. Domestic Abuse Program - Mayor Hanks stated that he supported the concept of a domestic abuse program but felt that St. Louis Park should not pay for the entire project. It was moved by Councilman Backes, seconded by Councilman Mitchell, to remove funding for the domestic abuse program as a line item in the 1986 budget and to transfer those funds into the account for general unallocated expenditures. The motion passed 4-0. c. Licenses and Fees - Council briefly discussed the changes proposed by staff in the existing fee structure for licenses. It was moved by Councilman Backes, seconded by Councilman Martin, to accept staff's recommendations for proposed fee changes. The motion passed 4-0. d. Bassett Creek drainage project - The City Manager provided Council with an update on proposed future capital improvement projects within the Bassett Creek drainage area. e. Centennial financing - Mayor Hanks reported on the results of a meeting he had with representatives from the Centennial committee. He suggested that Council consider appropriating funds for a part-time position (Activities Coordinator) as well as for Centennial publicity efforts. It was moved by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Backes to reserve a total of $20,000 in funding in the 1986 budget to cover the cost of an Activities Coordinator and publicity and also to direct staff to work on a funding agreement with the Centennial committee which would encourage their participation in fund-raising efforts. The motion passed 4-0. The City Manager reported that the St. Louis Park Rotary Club had determined to purchase a showmobile as their contribution to the community's Ce ntennia] efforts. f. Council salaries - The City Manager brought Council up to date on the process which is required to approve salary increases for the City Council. 4. Cable TV Issues Sharon Klumpp, Assistant to the City Manager, reported on procedures and policy considerations regarding the proposed transfer of the cable tv franchise. She also discussed information relating to the status of the proposed new owners and indicated that more information would be available within a week's time. Council commended Ms. Klumpp for the quality and thoroughness of her report and asked her to keep them apprised of the situation. 5. Highway 7 study The City Manager provided Coucil with information relating to the proposed market study to be conducted along the Highway 7 corridor. Mayor Hanks asked staff to contact the consulting firm and ask for further information regarding the cost of expanding their study to include all potentially developable property between Wooddale and Louisiana Ave. It was agreed that staff would request additional information from the consulting firm and report back to Council at a future meeting. 6. Meadowbrook Apartments parking lot The City Manager reported to Council on a request from the management of Meadowbrook Apartments regarding a request to temporarily remove fire lane parking restrictions in the apartment complex during construction of an additional parking facility. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. C. A. Gears Recording Secretary