01-15-08 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2008
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer. City
Manager Tom Burt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Director of Planning and
Development Mark Grimes, and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre
The meeting began at 6:52 pm in the City Council Conference Room.
Request to Waiver of Sign Code - Westview Liquor/Grocery Store
Mark Grimes reported that the owner of Westview Liquor store would like to raise his pylon
sign above the height currently allowed in the City Code and has requested a waiver to do
so. Since state law does not allow waivers to City Code (other than variances to the Zoning
Chapter) a code amendment applicable to all properties would need to be adopted to
accommodate this request. After some discussion the Council determined that it is not
interested in amending the sign code.
2008 Legislative Policies
Tom Burt explained that staff had updated the 2007 policies and added a new position on
Fiscal Disparities as directed at the last meeting. He suggested that the Council may want
to reduce the number of policies and focus on the ones of greatest significance to the City.
The Council decided to drop the policies on firefighter recruitment and retention, sale of
graffiti materials, early childhood education and after school programs, but add a new
policy regarding adequate funding for K-12 education that incorporates early childhood and
after school program funding. The Council requested a shorter format with a brief
background and specified response and asked that the League of Minnesota Cities and
Metro Cities policies be placed in an appendix. The Council requested the policies to be
listed in the following order: Fiscal Disparities, Group Residential Facilities,
Inflow/Infiltration, Transportation Funding and Management, K-12 Education Funding, and
Clean Water and asked that local information and statistics be added when possible,
specifically for group residential facilities and inflow and infiltration. Staff will circulate a new
draft of the policies for Council comments prior to creating the final policy booklet to be
presented to the legislative delegation at the February Council/Manager Meeting.
Inflow/Infiltration Program
Council Member Scanlon requested that this item be placed on the agenda to determine if
the program could be effectively implemented in a way that is less burdensome to property
owners. Jeannine Clancy distributed a report on properties inspected to date for either the
pavement management or point-of-sale programs. She also distributed a list of strategies
employed by other metro cities in response to inflow and infiltration issues. The CounCil
discussed reducing the scope of the inspection to include only inflow issues or major
infiltration issues. Ms. Clancy explained that the inspection process has criteria, but
application of the criteria is subjective by nature and the program has tried to limit the
scope of corrections when possible. The Council discussed the environmental impact of
leaking sewage and the problem of meeting the Metropolitan Council requirements for
reduced clear water in the system without knowing the main source of this water. They
could suggest no modifications to the program that would assure compliance. At a future
meeting staff will review the sewer inspection process with a demonstration tape and
identify the type of infiltration that is flagged for repair. Staff will also work on identifying an
approach for a local loan program as well as a plan to lobby for additional funding for
Metropolitan Council loans.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2008 - Page 2
Human Rights Commission (HRC)
Council Member Scanlon asked to add this item to the agenda. She attended the last HRC
meeting at which the members expressed an interest in revising the by-laws to meet
monthly instead of bi-monthly. This by-law change needs to be approved by the City
Council. The Council indicated that the request could come forward and no Council
opposition was voiced. Council Member Scanlon noted that one of the HRC Members has
expressed an interest in taking a leave of absence to attend school. The Council
consensus was that members who cannot regularly attend meetings should resign, as
continuity of participation is important.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager