HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/07/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES
ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
PARK July 17, 2006
The meeting convened at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers present: John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran
Paprocki, Susan Sanger, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening); City Attorney (Mr. Scott); Director of
Technology & Support (Mr. Pires); Finance Director (Mr. DeJong); Management Assistant (Ms.
Honold); City Clerk (Ms. Stroth); Police Lieutenant (Mr Kraayenbrink); Assistant Zoning
Administrator (Mr. Morrison); Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Environmental Health
Official (Mr. Camilon); and Recording Secretary(Ms Samson).
1. Off-Sale Liquor Licenses
Staff has returned to Council with information regarding the sale of liquor and staff
recommendations.
Councilmember Omodt favors the staff recommendation on signage. Councilmember
Finkelstein said the Council may need to revisit limiting the number of liquor stores.
Councilmember Carver favors a $2000 fine for the first offense of selling to a minor and begin
suspensions the second time. Councilmember Omodt agrees with Councilmember Carver.
City Clerk Nancy Stroth said, currently, there is nothing in the City ordinance regarding a
timeframe for violations City Manager Tom Harmening said staff is suggesting, for the sale of
beverages to minors, a fine for the first offense and then suspension for all offenses thereafter
within a three-year penod, and a three-day suspension, i.e., for the liquor portion of an
establishment
Police Lieutenant Chad Kraayenbnnk said liquor store owners are offered alcohol compliance
training from the City for their employees.
Councilmember Sanger asked if a liquor establishment is cited for noncompliance, may the City
require mandatory alcohol compliance training or that the liquor establishment furnish
certification from a pnvate vendor. Mr. Harmening thinks that would be a possibility
Councilmember Sanger asked if compliance checks could be done more than one a year.
Management Assistant Marcia Honold responded yes Ms Honold said Police Chief Luse
indicated to her that he would like to increase the frequency of the checks based on failure rates.
In regard to the sale of liquor to a minor, Lieutenant Kraayenbrink said the cnminal offense goes
to the person who served the alcohol and the civil penalty to the establishment.
Councilmember Basill said bars on windows were not covered in the staff report. There is no
reason for bars on windows Councilmember Basill wants to limit the number of liquor stores in
St Louis Park. Assistant Zoning Administrator Gary Morrison said he is not aware of anything
that prohibits bars on windows. Mr. Harmening said staff will try to fit that in for Council's
adoption.
Councilmember Carver asked if the City could adopt an ordinance to require buyers to provide
identification. Councilmember Paprocki suggested getting owners more concerned. Council and
staff discussed venfying identification electronically. Mayor Jacobs asked what the public
policy for the passage of tonight's suggestions would be. Mr Harmening said staff will have
conversations with liquor store owners and get their feedback.
Study Session Minutes -2- July 17, 2006
Mr. Harmening summarized: There is a consensus to limit signage of exterior windows, avoid
negative aesthetic and appearance issues to not allow bars on windows; there is no consensus to
limit the number of liquor establishments, there is some interest in adopting some minimal
distance between liquor establishments and sensitive uses such as schools and churches, but not
for existing establishments; there is a consensus to increase penalties and impose a timeline of
three years; in regard to compliance checks, after one violation mandatory training will be
required; and staff will check about requiring showing identification.
Councilmember Finkelstein may want to take the signage issue to the Business Council for their
input.
2. City Wireless Project Update
Director of Technology and Support Services Clint Pires presented an update on the Wireless
Project Mr Pires said support requirements were higher than anticipated. Mr. Pires suggested
the Council start thinking about including the benefits of public service and safety.
Mr. Pires strongly suggested the unknowns be answered before going forward. Mayor Jacobs
asked how long it would take to get the needed information, and Mr. Pires responded about three
months.
Councilmember Finkelstein would like to continue with the study and to consider WiMax.
Councilmember Paprocki would like to continue with the study.
Mr. Harmening said the staff recommendation is to continue the pilot and go for bids; Council
agreed. Councilmember Omodt refrained from comments due to a conflict of interest. Mr
Harmening said this item will return on August 7th for formal process.
The Study Session meeting ended at 7.29 p m
The meeting reconvened at 7.53 p.m.
Director of Inspections, Mr. Hoffman and Environmental Health Official, Mr Camilon provided
Council with background on the Flame Metal facility, how they operate and a summary of
complaints that have been filed with the City about smoke and odor emissions. Staff also
updated Council on the PCA analysis and their position on licensing the facility.
3. Flame Metals
Council and staff discussed Flame Metals.
4. Future Study Session Agenda Planning
Mr. Harmening and the Council discussed study session agenda planning.
The meeting ended at 8:58 p.m.
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City Clerk M yor,