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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 12-02-2002 Special 2Adopted Minutes Special Council Meeting December 2, 2002 Mayor Tierney called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 7:45 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on December 2, 2002. COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers Hewitt, Slavik, Black, Johnson, and Stein. ABSENT: Councilmember Harstad. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Fire Chief Kline, Police Chief Kline, Public Safety Education Specialist Cwayna, Fire Captain Hurr, Fire Captain Evenson, Community Development Director Hurlburt, and City Clerk Paulson. Consideration of Lawful Gambling Request Police Chief Gerdes reported on May 21 the Council discussed the request of the Plymouth Lions and Plymouth Crime and Fire Prevention Fund to allow pull -tab operations within the City. The Council directed the Public Safety Advisory Board PSAB) to assist with drafting a gambling ordinance. The PSAB discussed the item at their July 18 meeting and of the six members present, four were in favor, one was opposed, and one was undecided. Therefore, the PSAB made the following recommendations: 1. The Ordinance be written to allow all forms of gambling except bingo. 2. Licenses should be limited to on -sale liquor license establishments. 3. The Ordinance should include a 3% local gambling tax as allowed by State Law. 4. The City receive 10% of the gross profits as allowed by State Law. Councilmember Slavik asked if the proceeds could remain in the trade area. Police Chief Gerdes replied every city that is contiguous to the City would be considered the local trade area. Ed Stanke, President of the Plymouth Lions, stated they would be the licensee, and they intend to split the proceeds with the Crime and Fire Prevention Fund. He stated the State is very strict with their enforcement. In addition, they are limited to the amount of funds that can be allocated to the administration, and the State approves all expenditures. The Owners of Jake's Sports Bar and Grill stated they have lawful gambling at their other establishments, and they require the charitable organizations to keep the proceeds in the Adopted City Council Minutes Special Meeting of December 2, 2002 Page 2 of 5 communities. They agreed with Mr. Stanke that the gambling is very heavily regulated by the State. Councilmember Hewitt asked if the proposed 3% tax would cover the City's costs. Police Chief Gerdes replied yes, and the use of overtime to perform the compliance checks would be supported by that tax. Councilmember Hewitt asked if bingo could be conducted in the City. Police Chief Gerdes replied yes, and that is through a lawful exemption permit. The owners of Jake's Sports Bar and Grill stated that all game rules and where the proceeds go towards are clearly posted in the establishment. They haven't had any problems with their four other establishments where lawful gambling is currently. conducted. They do not rely on the pull -tab business but view it as a compliment to their business. Councilmember Slavik asked where the City's 10% of the proceeds would be spent. Police Chief Gerdes replied there are statutory regulated areas where the proceeds can be spent that are at the discretion of the City. Councilmember Stein stated that he views lawful gambling as a form of entertainment. Motion was made by Councilmember Stein, and seconded by Councilmember Johnson to accent the recommendations of the Public Safetv Advisory Board and to Mace this item on the December 17 Council agenda. Councilmember Hewitt asked how the gambling would be monitored. Police Chief Gerdes replied through the annual compliance checks conducted by the City, the State's compliance checks, and complaints. Councilmember Black stated she wouldn't support the motion. She complimented Jake's Bar and Grill for operating a good establishment, but there could be other liquor: establishments in the City that could be requesting gambling. She also stated the Plymouth Lions and the Crime and Fire Prevention Fund are wonderful organizations, but she is concerned about the method on how the funds are being raised. Councilmember Slavik asked if the Ordinance would require a public hearing, as she would like proper notice given to residents. City Manager Johnson replied Ordinances do not require a public hearing. Adopted City Council Minutes 1 Special Meeting of December 2, 2002 Page 3 of 5 Councilmembers Johnson and Slavik stated they would support a public hearing on this item. Councilmember Stein suggested that there be a press release/article in the Sun Sailor as well as a notice on the City's website that this would be considered at the December 17 meeting. Mayor Tierney suggested that an announcement also be played on Channel 12 and Channel 16. Councilmember Slavik asked if there would be any problem in delaying this item until January 2003. Councilmember Johnson stated she believes that it's wise to postpone this to a later date as allowing pull -tab gambling in the City would be a philosophical change. . Councilmember Hewitt agreed that there be a public hearing so the Council could receive input from residents. She stated based on her previous work experience in the social services field, she doesn't support lawful gambling. Motion was made by Councilmember Black, and seconded by Councilmember Hewitt, to amend the main motion to conduct a public hearing on January 28 on the nronosed Ordinance. With all members voting in favor but Tierney, the motion carried. The Council voted on the amended main motion and with all members voting in favor but Black and Hewitt, the motion carried. Discussion of Fire Department Report Fire Chief Kline and Fire Captain Hurr presented a five-year strategic plan for the Fire Department. By 2007, staff plans to measure their success by evaluating their ability to achieve the goal of having six operational firefighters on the scene of an emergency anywhere in the City within six minutes, regardless of the time of day or day of the week at least 80% of the time). In order to achieve that goal, staff recommended immediate, mid-term (in 2004), and long-term (in 2007) measures. The immediate recommendations are to: 1. Continue the duty crew program, adding a second full-time field supervisor and a fifth operational firefighter to each shift. Adopted City Council Minutes Special Meeting of December 2, 2002 Page 4 of 5 2. Adopt appropriate Staffing Committee's "daily operations" recommendations. These changes include considering a general alarm percentage requirement for all members to ensure adequate staffing at major incidents, expanding the duty crew program to include the "traditional" holidays on which crews currently are not scheduled to work, and changing the vacation days program to require all members to submit their vacation requests ahead of time. 3. Continue efforts to recruit and retain paid -on-call staff members. The mid-term (in 2004) recommendations are: 1. Expand the duty crew program into the daytime weekend hours. In addition, during duty crew hours, two fire stations would be staffed rather than just one. Each station would be staffed with a crew of three operational firefighters, including one who is a field supervisor. To support the expanded hours of operation, staff recommends that a minimum of two full-time positions be added (one supervisor and a firefighter/mechanic). 2. Postpone planning for a fourth fire station due to issues of adequate staffing and response time. 3. Continue efforts to recruit and retain paid -on-call staff members. The long-term (in 2007) recommendations are: 1. Expand the department's duty crew program in order to provide coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Staffing such a program would involve mandatory participation by the paid -on-call members of the department. However, the ability to fully staff these duty crew shifts may require the addition of full-time personnel to supplement the paid -on-call staff. 2. Renovate two or more fire stations to include sleeping and living quarters. The stations would be renovated to include apartment -like living quarters to be provided at a free or reduced cost to paid -on-call members in exchange for a commitment to complete station duties and response to fire calls during designated times. 3. Continue efforts to recruit and retain paid -on-call staff members. Fire Chief Kline stressed that the department needs to be competitive to other large on- call fire departments. If individuals take advantage of the program, it could be very beneficial to them. A considerable amount of discussion was held on alternatives to provide housing. Staff indicated that it wasn't in the best interest of the City to utilize the homes that were purchased on County Road 101. This option would've been very costly, as it would've only benefited a small minority of the department. Staff felt it was more prudent to focus j on expanding the duty crew program as that would allow more people to participate, it would reduce the time commitment, and it would assist in retaining firefighters. Adopted City Council Minutes Special Meeting of December 2, 2002 Page 5 of 5 Councilmember Johnson requested that staff provide a report to the Council on what the funding trend has been the past few years to the Fire Department (what percentage is it of the budget). The Council thanked staff for the report. Schedule Future Studv Sessions Councilmember Johnson suggested that the Council attend the League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Day on January 15. She stated after this event, the Council could meet with its legislators at the State Capital. She indicated her willingness to coordinate this. Councilmember Hewitt reported the League of Women Voters has scheduled a meeting with four of the area legislators on December 7 at 9:30 a.m. at Lund's, if anyone is interested in attending. The Council stated a Study Session would be scheduled the first part of 2003 to discuss the maintenance of ponds in the City. All of the Councilmembers requested that goals and priorities be added to the pending Study Session list. Adjournment adjourn the meeting at 10:25 p.m. With all met,, voting in fayef, the motion carried. R. Paulson, City Clerk