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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-02 WSCITY OF LAKEVILLE COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING. MINUTES MAY 29, 2002 Present: Mayor Bob Johnson, Council Members Mulvihill, Luick, Bellows and Rieb; City Administrator Bob Erickson; Assistant to City Administrator John Hennen; Police Chief Dave Martens; Fire Chief Danny Barth; City Attorney Roger Knutson; Tim Bartlett, Sun Current News; and Deputy Clerk Judi Hawkins. ITEM NO. 1. DISCUSS LEGISLATION REGARDING SALE OF FIREWORKS. The City Council received information from the Fire Chief, the City Attorney and the State Fire Marshal regarding new legislation which allows the sale, possession and use of certain fireworks in Minnesota. Fire Chief Danny Barth explained that legalized fireworks are limited to those that are non-aerial and non-explosive, such as sparklers. The State regulations further state that purchasers must be 18 or older and fireworks are not allowed on public property. City Attorney Roger Knutson stated that the City of Lakeville would be allowed to adopt an ordinance which would be more restrictive than the new State legislation. Local government ordinances can require permits for the sale and storage of the fireworks or can prohibit the sale, use and possession of fireworks within the City. • City Administrator Bob Erickson stated that enforcement of any ordinance that is adopted will .present certain challenges.. Mayor Johnson asked Chief Martens if the Police have experienced much trouble in the past with people shooting off fireworks illegally. Chief Martens stated that there are many calls each year around the Fourth of July. Officers respond as time permits. The City is responsible for storage of confiscated illegal fireworks in an appropriate safe container, until a private firm picks them up. Proper disposal of the fireworks is very expensive. City Attorney Knutson stated that other cities are also discussing the possibility of a mandatory license, issued by the City Clerk, for sale or storage. He reminded the Council that license fees are only allowed to be sufficient to cover direct administrative costs such as inspections and compliance checks. The City can regulate whether the building must have a sprinkler system for storage of a specified amount of fireworks. A permit or license would also be valuable to the Fire Department to inform them if fireworks are stored in a building. Limiting fireworks storage to sprinkled buildings would most likely eliminate the sale or storage in many buildings in the community, especially in the historic downtown. It would also prevent peddlers and vendors from putting up a tent or stand to sell from. Mayor Johnson asked if broader legislation is anticipated from the State during the next legislative session. He suggested that at a minimum a strong letter from the Fire Chief and the City Attorney be sent to local legislators stressing the importance of appropriate and responsible legislation regarding the sale and use of fireworks. • Chief Martens stated that education would be important and would assist retailers in making good choices. Council Member Bellows stated that without even being Legal, fireworks are City Council Work Session Minutes May 29, 2002 Page -2- • one of the top 10 causes of accidents in the state.. He is concerned that the new legislation will contribute to increased accidents. Mayor Johnson stated that he doesn't want to adopt ordinances that are unenforceable. Council Member Rieb suggested that an informational brochure could accompany permits for sale or storage. City Council Members agreed that a $50.00 permit fee would be reasonable. City Council directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance requiring a permit to sell fireworks within the City of Lakeville and further directed staff to place the item on the next regular Council agenda. ITEM NO. 2. DISCUSS DAKOTA COUNTY PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT FOR VERMILLION RIVER WATERSHED. City Attorney Roger Knutson briefed City Council Members on the history of the Vermillion River Watershed. Until its expiration in 2000, a joint powers agreement governed the Vermillion River Watershed. Wheri the agreement was not extended, Dakota County became the watershed management organization. In order to fund its share of management costs, Dakota County is proposing to create a special taxing district comprised of benefited property owners. Council Members are concerned that property owners will be taxed at a much higher rate than previously. A draft ordinance has been prepared, which the Dakota County Board of Commissioners will consider at a public hearing scheduled for June 4, 2002 • at 9:00 AM. Council directed the City Attorney to provide written comments on the proposed Dakota County resolution on behalf of the City of Lakeville which will indicate that Lakeville is aware of the issues associated with Dakota County's management of the Vermillion River Watershed. ITEM NO. 3. REVIEW AND DISCUSS SUMMER TRAFFIC INITIATIVE. Police Chief Dave Martens requested City Council consider dedicating officers to traffic education and enforcement throughout the summer months in order to improve overall safety on Lakeville roads. Officer Rick Bussler has expressed an interest in filling the primary position. The program would focus on seat belt use, aggressive, discourteous or inattentive driving (i.e., cellular phone use), crosswalk and pedestrian safety and impaired driving violations. In addition, a 1996 Monte Carlo that was obtained through a drunk driving seizure could be equipped as an undercover squad car. The car was available in the parking lot of City Hall for inspection by the City Council Members. Mayor Johnson stressed the importance of educating the public as the main focus of this program. Council directed the Police Chief to proceed with a traffic initiative for the summer • months and to educate citizens on the program through the use of printed handouts and the Messages page. City Council Work Session Minutes May 29, 2002 Page -3- • ITEM NO. 4. STATUS UPDATE ON NEW RECORDS SYSTEM AND POLICE INFORMATION INTEGRATION PROJECT. Police Chief Dave Martens presented a status update on the efforts to upgrade software for the purpose of sharing records and information with various other agencies. The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system of the leading vendor is excellent, however, the Records Maintenance System (RMS) package is less developed. For that reason, it was decided to wait for the next version to be released prior to ordering the software. The criminal justice information sharing software programs are also ahead of schedule in development. Chief Martens stated that the City has prepaid the acquisition of the new system. The funds have been set aside into an interest-bearing account. He added that Lakeville is the first department to e-mail reports to the County Attorney and to send tickets via e-mail to the court system. He stated, "It's a matter of getting the right information into the. right hands at the right time." Council directed the Police Chief to continue to pursue the new records system with LOGIS. ITEM NO. 5. DISCUSS NATIONAL THREAT AWARENESS SYSTEM FROM THE OFFICE OF • HOMELAND SECURITY. At the direction of the United States Department of Homeland Security and Director Tom Ridge, the Police Chief, Lakeville's Emergency Management Director, briefed City Council Members on the color coded Security Advisory System. The purpose of the system is to provide a comprehensive and uniform method. of reacting to changes in the threat assessment levels in the country and in our community. Lakeville includes several sites or facilities that could be considered vulnerable such as the Water Treatment Facility, the railroad system and natural gas pipelines. Chief Martens explained the five threat levels and what each would mean in response from the City. Council thanked the Police Chief for providing this update. ITEM NO. 6. CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO CEDAR AVENUE TRANSITWAY STUDY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Council Members received a letter from Will Branning, Chair, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, asking them to consider appointments to two committees (Management and Technical Advisory) for the purpose of conducting environmental work and feasibility studies for extension of the Cedar Avenue Transitway Corridor south to County Road 70 in Lakeville and southwest along I-35E/I-35 to County Road 46. This Phase 2 study includes the stretch from County Road 46 to County Road 70, including on which side of Cedar Avenue the Transitway would be built. • City Council Work Session Minutes May 29, 2002 Page -4- Council Members expressed their belief that the study is very important, but also has the potential of requiring a significant time commitment. Other upcoming obligations will include Council representation on studies for Highway 50, Highway 70 and the east/west corridor. City staff is also involved in many issues associated with the City's rapid growth. The letter from Dakota County did not indicate whether meetings would be held during the daytime or evening hours. Council Members also questioned whether Scott County would be represented on the committees. Council directed staff to find out more details of when the meetings will be held and the anticipated project duration.. ITEM NO. 7. OTHER BUSINESS. City Administrator Bob Erickson informed City Council of several items of interest: ^ Valley Paving was the apparent low bidder on the County Road 60/I-35W interchange project, opened earlier in the day at Dakota County. ^ The City of Lakeville was successful in receiving a $90,000 grant from the DNR #or the Klamath Trail (Phase III) Trailway improvement project. ^ Results of a recent FEMA study will provide homeowners in the Valley Park area the option of discontinuing flood insurance. • City Administrator Bob Erickson was a guest speaker at the Hopkins Center for the Arts and observed that Lakeville is the envy of many communities and the preeminent community in the suburban arts world. ^ May 30`h is the State of the City Address. ITEM NO. 8. ADJOURN. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, ~~ Judit R. Hawkins, Deputy Clerk •