HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03-09-1999 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
March 9,1999
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
7:00 PM in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on March 9, 1999.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Harstad, Johnson, Bildsoe, and
Slavik. Councilmember Spigner arrived at 7:15 PM.
ABSENT: Councilmember Black.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Public Works
Director Moore, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Planning Supervisor
Senness, Public Safety Director Gerdes, Finance Director Hahn, Communications
Supervisor LaFave, and Deputy City Clerk Hoffman.
Mayor Tierney stated that because members of the public were in attendance, and
interested in one item on the agenda, she would accept a motion to revise the agenda.
Motion was made by Councilmember Johnson, seconded by Councilmember Bildsoe, to
place Agenda Item 3 regarding recreational vehicles as the first item on the agenda.
Motion carried, five ayes.
RV Ordinance (requested by Councilmember Slavik)
Councilmember Slavik stated it was never her intention to prohibit recreational vehicle
parking. She explained that several Ward Two residents had complaints about inoperable
and unlicensed vehicles stored in residential yards.
Councilmember Johnson thanked residents for coming to the meeting. She said she has
received calls in previous years from Ward Two residents where there had been
frustration over a lack of response to complaints and calls about the vehicles. She said it
was never anyone's intent to reopen the entire recreational vehicle ordinance issue. She
said she believed Councilmember Slavik had some valid issues in her ward over these
unlicensed and unusable vehicles.
Councilmember Spigner arrived at 7:15 PM.
Councilmember Spigner left the meeting at 7:17 PM.
Community Development Director Hurlburt explained that state regulations cover
unlicensed, inoperable vehicles. She said that St. Louis Park has developed a complicated
ordinance regarding storage and parking of vehicles in residential lots, but that Plymouth
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March 9, 1999
Page 2
had not been interested reviewing its own zoning code to reconsider regulation of vehicle
storage.
Councilmembers asked that staff review the notification process to allow for a thorough
and widespread public notice of future discussions. Councilmember Johnson thanked
residents for coming to the meeting and paying attention to council activities.
Councilmember Spigner returned to the meeting at 7:54 PM.
Youth Curfew Ordinance (requested by Youth Advisory Council)
Members of the Youth Advisory Council introduced themselves.
Youth Advisory Council Chair Sam Kelner explained the Youth Advisory Council had
been studying issues of crime during certain hours, as well as issues around young people
being out at night in public places and their concerns about curfew laws. He stated that
two Supreme Court cases found that curfews are not constitutional. He said the Youth
Advisory Council is not interested in making drastic changes, but in reviewing the curfew
as it affects 17—year olds.
Youth Advisory Councilmember Trent Eisenberg presented a comparison of curfew laws
in Plymouth with several other metropolitan suburbs. He reviewed curfew laws in
northern Minnesota, in Decorah, Iowa, in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, and in
Scottsdale Arizona. He also reviewed curfew situations in Israel, in South Africa, and in a
community in Cambridge, England. He stated the Youth Advisory Council found the
Plymouth curfew ordinance was restrictive for 17—year olds.
Councilmembers thanked the Youth Advisory Council for its efforts.
Public Safety Director Gerdes said that county laws cover curfew in areas where none
exists. He said that a community may have a more restrictive ordinance than the
County's, such as in the case of Plymouth's. He said County Sheriffs deputies were
normally the sole enforcers of the County ordinance.
Manager Johnson said that the City Attorney's office found no situations where city
police would enforce the county law. Local law officers could tell young people to
disband, however.
Councilmembers discussed the idea of aligning Plymouth curfew laws with other
communities who share the four school districts that cover Plymouth.
Councilmember Johnson said that the situation is too complex to compare with other
cities in the same school districts, but she believed the City can work on what happens
within its own boundaries. She noted that three bordering cities already have curfew set at
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March 9, 1999
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12:30 AM, and that the Youth Advisory Council is only asking for a change in the curfew
affecting 17—year olds and older. She said she would like to get a formal recommendation
from the Public Safety Advisory Board.
Councilmember Spigner left the meeting at 8:25 PM.
Proposed new format for Plymouth News
Communications Supervisor LaFave presented a mock—up draft format for the Plymouth
newsletter. Assistant Manager Lueckert introduced Robyn Lingen of Designwrite Studio,
who presented her recommendations for the changes in the use of color, graphic design
and layout for the City newsletter. Assistant Manager Lueckert stated that the plan to
produce a bi—monthly newsletter would improve the quality of article content, and would
free up staff time and effort by using outside professional design. She said the Park and
Recreation Department has also wanted to separate the recreation information booklet, to
give its programs greater visibility. She said the plan is to change the format in July, and
that the existing budget can accommodate the change through the end of the year, but that
the budget for fiscal year 2000 would reflect the increased costs for color and
professional layout.
Councilmembers thanked staff for efforts and directed them to go forward with the plans.
Seal—coating Program (requested by Councilmember Bildsoe)
Councilmember Bildsoe said he wanted to express concerns over the use and appearance
of seal—coating and slurry coating. He stated he did not find the cost benefit of using
these processes.
Councilmember Spigner returned to the meeting at 8:56 PM.
Public Works Director Moore stated he was unable to find any definitive studies on what
process will prolong the life of roadway in Minnesota. He stated that the slurry seal is a
better product, and is less expensive than seal—coating. He said he believes it is beneficial
and can extend the usage period a street surface.
Manager Johnson stated that he found references to studies and would report back to the
Council in April.
City Center Streetscape Plan
Planning Supervisor Senness presented an update on the plans for City Center Master
Plan streetscape design. She reviewed options for city lighting, and how it relates to
achieving a uniform identity for the diverse use area. She presented proposals for parking
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March 9, 1999
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along Plymouth Boulevard, as well as the effects of changes in street design on traffic
speeds. She stated that while the price tag for a total project is $4 million, staff is only
concerned about setting priorities.
Councilmembers agreed to examine priorities as part of their discussion on goals and
objectives at the March 13 Special session.
Manager Johnson said the issue of downtown development could also be put in this
year's planned resident survey, in an effort to learn the public priorities for the City
Center.
Use of City facilities and equipment
Manager Johnson explained that no policy exists about the use of City facilities and
equipment, especially at the Maintenance Facility. He asked councilmembers to review
the situation and comment on what they feel would be appropriate, and how such a policy
might be applied citywide. He said there would be controls in any policy that would limit
the City's liability. He said the City Attorney's office takes a broad view of what the law
allows.
Councilmembers agreed that they would not want a formal ban on the use of tools and
equipment by employees, but directed staff to discuss further with employees what areas
of usage would be appropriate without impinging on morale.
Reconsider date of Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting on the
Comprehensive Plan scheduled for March 31
Councilmembers discussed the appropriateness of holding a public meeting on the eve of
a major Jewish holiday. They agreed that it was too difficult to reschedule the meeting at
this point. Councilmembers directed staff to make an announcement about the meeting at
the March 16 Regular Council meeting, and to apologize for the scheduling error. They
asked that the Human Rights Commission bring forward a list of religious holidays from
all the major religions and present them as days to avoid when scheduling meetings.
Councilmember Johnson asked that the information be further passed on to the school
districts for their awareness.
The Meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.