HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/06/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session JCITY OF City Council Study Session
ST. LORIS June 9, 1997
PARK 7:00 p.m.
The meeting convened at 7:10 p.m.
Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Beverly Flanagan, Jim Brimeyer, Jeff
Jacobs, Ron Latz, Sue Sanger, Robert Young, Jeff Jacobs and Mayor Gail Dorfman.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Director
of Community Development(Mr. Harmening); Fire Chief(Mr. Gill); City Clerk (Cindy
Larsen)
1. Political Signs
Ron Latz suggested that Council adopt an ordinance prohibiting multi-family housing
owners from prohibiting the placement of political signs on building balconies, windows
and other personal spaces. Ron stated that he believed it was legal for the City to impose
its authority and that this kind of statement of political belief is constitutionally
guaranteed.
Questions considered by Council were whether the City had power to override a contract
clause between two private parties, whether the proposed ordinance should be for both
rental and owner occupied multi-housing units, whether issue-oriented signs should also
be included and if time frames for sign display should be included.
After discussion it was decided that Mr. Meyer would contact the Multi-Housing
Landlord group that meets regularly to determine their views on this proposed ordinance.
2. Commercial Vehicle Task Force
Tom Harmening updated the Council on progress made by the Commercial/Recreational
Vehicle Task Force. He indicated that there were several issues the entire group agreed
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upon as well as some issues about which the group was not able to reach consensus. Mr.
Tim Fleming, a Task Force member, addressed Council about the process and progress
made by the Task Force. He felt that dimension rather than use should be the standard
measure of vehicles. He also stated that the Task Force members had done an excellent
job of educating themselves about the different kinds of vehicles and had performed some
valuable work.
Several Councilmembers expressed a wish to become more familiar with the types and
sizes of vehicles before making final decisions on the issue. Staff suggested that this be
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discussed at a future study session and visual materials can be made available to Council
at that time.
Council discussed whether the City's policy should be more or less restrictive and how
these restrictions could affect commercial vehicle operators who need their trucks near
their homes to earn their livelihood.
This issue will be brought to the July 14th Study Session.
3. Tree Replacement Ordinance
Tom Harmening reviewed the proposed ordinance point by point. He also presented
handouts and a slide presentation to illustrate how the proposed ordinance compares to
the existing ordinance.
Sue Sanger stated that the proposed ordinance has a number of good points, namely that
it includes language regarding subdivisions and recognizes the increased value of
hardwood vs. soft wood trees. She also wondered why this ordinance exempted private
property owners. Jeff Jacobs stated his opinion that private owners already understand
the importance of trees as they relate to comfort, aesthetics and property values and
cautioned Council against dictating what private yards should look like.
Mr. Harmening pointed out that both the existing and proposed ordinances set very high
standards -higher than many of our neighboring communities. This will be presented to
Council for a public hearing and first reading on Monday, June 16th.
4. Overview of Fire Department Cost and Service Trends
Fire Chief Bob Gill presented a brief five-year review of changes reflecting costs, service
delivery, and performance measures in the City's Fire Department. The report illustrated
how changes in organization and procedures made five years ago have benefited Fire
Department operations. He also educated Council about potential issues the Fire
Department will be facing in the future related to Emergency Medical Services.
Council commended Chief Gill on the success of his department and asked that he keep
them informed of future changes that may affect the City's emergency services
operations.
5. Solicitation of"Requests for Qualifications" for Legal Services
Staff asked Council for direction regarding the solicitation of RFQ's for the specialized
areas of EDA, Housing Authority, and Bond Counsel, as well as the possibility of hiring
an environmental counsel.
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Council asked whether our current firm, Campbell, Knutsen, Scott and Fuchs, are
qualified to deliver these specialized services. Mr. Meyer responded that especially in the
area of environmental law a specialist would be preferable, but that other areas could
probably be handled by the firm. Council supported using Campbell, Knutsen, Scott and
Fuchs for Housing Authority services and seeking RFQ's for Bond Counsel and EDA.
Following discussion it was agreed that it would be more productive to target requests for •
proposals to a few select firms rather than opening up the process further. Staff agreed
that a smaller, less formal process would be agreeable.
Staff will keep Council informed as the process continues.
6. Retreat Follow-up
Staff presented Council with final notes from the Council/staff retreat and requested
Council's support in preparing policy statements that reflect the common ground reached
for future Council discussion.
In reference to the conversation about separation of church and state that took place at the
last Council meeting, Gail Dorfman stated that"partnerships with churches"was stated as
a major goal in the original PILOT program outline adopted in April of 1996.
Discussion focused around the development of parameters and guidelines to help Council
in determining what decision making discretion neighborhood groups should have and
when that decision should be made by the Council. Mr. Meyer stated that problems
Council was having with establishing these parameters seemed to relate mainly to
language. He stated that he felt it would be possible to develop a process similar to that
used in creating the strategic plan with the final product or outcome to be a set of criteria
to guide the interaction between neighborhoods and Council.
Council asked that staff begin to work on this project and bring the results forward to a
future study session.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
110 (D•
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Gail Dorfman, Mayor
Re ording Secretary
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