Approved Minutes 12-2-1998 SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, December 2, 1998 - 3:30 - 5:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3RD FLOOR
City Hall and Court House
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by Council President Bostrom.
Present- 5 - Benanav, Bostrom, Coleman, Lantry, Reiter
Absent - 2 - Blakey (excused), Harris (arrived after roll call)
Council President Bostrom stated that Councilmember Blakey was excused from the meeting as he was
attending the National League of Cities Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following communication was read into the record by Nancy Anderson, Assistant Secretary to the
Council:
Letter from the Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection announcing a public
hearing before the City Council on December 9, 1998, to consider the appeal of Michelle Hotzler to
a decision of the Heritage Preservation Commission denying approval of a building permit to
construct a garage at 472 Dayton Avenue.
Councilmember Coleman requested Item 6 be removed for discussion.
Councilmember Coleman moved approval of the consent agenda as amended.
Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
FOR ACTION
1. Claims of Carol Backstrom, Albert Durand, Chris Frazee, Michael Lowe, and Katherine Pfalz.
Referred to Employee/Risk Management Division
2. Administrative Orders:
D001613 Authorizing the proper City officials to lease back properties in the Hoyt-Montana
Flood Remediation Project.
D001614 Authorizing the proper City officials to remit an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 for
catering service at the Saint Paul Police Academy graduation ceremony on December 2,
1998.
D001615 Transferring $8,768 to the City General Fund for the PC Replacement Program in the
City Attorney's Office.
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 2
D001616 Transferring $15,601 to the City General Fund for the PC Replacement Program in the
Department of Planning and Economic Development.
Noted as on file in the City Clerk's Office
3. Resolution- 98-1048 - Approving the appointments of Rachel Wilcox, Laurel Frost and David
Tarnowski,by Mayor Coleman,to the Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
4. Resolution- 98-1049 - Approving the appointments of James Anderson, Perry deStafano and
Jameian Selmon, and the reappointments of David Cobb, James Denno, Allen Hester, Barbara Jones
and Jeanne Katz, by Mayor Coleman, to the Overnight Shelter Board.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
5. Resolution- 98-1050 - Approving the reappointment of Crystal LaShaun McClintock,by Mayor
Coleman, to the Youth Fund Board.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
6. (Discussed after the Consent Agenda)
7. Resolution- 98-1052 - Approving application for an Auto Repair Garage License by Quynh V.
Hoang, Partner, Phi-Tech Performance and Transmission, 388 Como Avenue. (Legislative Hearing
Officer recommends approval with conditions)
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
8. Resolution- 98-1053 - Correcting an inappropriate assessment for the Woodbridge-Front storm
sewer connection project at 555 Topping Street.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
9. Resolution- 98-1054 - Stating the City Council's support for the Safe Gun Storage Campaign and
acknowledging the importance of an anonymous donation of$25,000 by a Saint Paul resident for the
purchase of trigger locks and printing of educational materials.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
6. Resolution- 98-1051 - Authorizing the Saint Paul Police Department to charge a non-refundable five
dollar entrance fee for public auctions of impounded and unclaimed motor vehicles.
Councilmember Coleman asked if it is common practice to charge people to enter an auction.
Council President Bostrom responded that this action is an attempt to keep the auctions for people
who are seriously interested in the auctions and not just loitering in the area.
Councilmember Harris moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 3
FOR DISCUSSION
(Addendum items 1 and 2 were discussed in tandem.)
1. Resolution- 98-1043 - Establishing a City policy to identify and implement City government
solutions to the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem. (Laid over from November 25)
Councilmember Coleman moved to withdraw. Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
2. Resolution - 98-1044 - Establishing a City policy to identify and implement community solutions to
the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem. (Laid over from November 25)
Councilmember Coleman moved to withdrawn. Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
Mike O'Connor of Go-Fast appeared and explained some of the geographically widespread
implications of Y2K if the computer problems are not solved. Mr. O'Connor reviewed his handout.
Council President Bostrom stated he has talked to representatives from Northern States Power
Company(NSP). It is critical to have electricity and gas on January 1, 2000. NSP has offered to
make a presentation to the City Council in January. Mr. Bostrom requested Gerry Strathman contact
Mr. Schmidt with NSP to set up a date for an appearance before the Council.
Councilmember Harris asked about setting priorities. Mike O'Connor responded items have to be fit
into "critical" and"not so critical" files.
Councilmember Coleman asked if other cities are preparing themselves. Mr. O'Connor responded
there are five things taking place: internal repair, contingency planning, communication, emergency
management function, and community preparedness. Many cities are in the stages of the first four.
Community preparedness is where Saint Paul is in the front and Mr. O'Connor feels no other cities
are looking at the situation this way. He said St. Paul's Administration has done a good job
preparing the City on this problem.
Councilmember Coleman moved to withdraw Addendum Items 1 and 2 and introduced the following
substitute resolution:
Resolution- 98-1064 - Supporting the Executive Orders issued by the Mayor and other continuing
actions of city agencies to identify and remediate Year 2000 (Y2K) Computer Problems.
Addendum Items 1 and 2 Withdrawn and Resolution 98-1064 Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
10. Report from the Department of Planning and Economic Development staff on Pawn Shop Zoning
Study.
Larry Soderholm, Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED), presented a report.
The City Council adopted a moratorium on pawn shops and asked PED to study and make
recommendations to the Council on pawn shops and tobacco shops. The Planning Commission has
set a public hearing for January 8, 1999. The recommendation in the draft is that pawn shops should
have spacing of 1000 feet between them. The second recommendation is to study the automatic
pawn system (an electronic reporting method to the police on a daily basis on material taken in by
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 4
pawn shops) in more detail to see if it can be extended to second hand stores. This system has been
effective at recovering stolen property and catching thieves. The third recommendation indicated
that pawn shops were listed in neighborhood business zones but not listed in downtown zones which
raises ambiguity. In downtown, spacing of 500 feet is recommended. The Mayor hopes it will be
possible to conclude this study and have recommendations adopted by the City Council before the
moratorium expires on January 8, 1999.
Councilmember Benanav asked if second hand stores include antique stores. Larry Soderholm
responded that there will be difficulty distinguishing between antique stores and second hand stores.
He noted that the City of Minneapolis exempts certain businesses.
11. Report from the Administration on employee survey of workplace conditions and the employees'
views on the administration and management of the Saint Paul Police Department. (Requested by
the Council on July 1, 1998, C.F. 98-600)
Chuck Armstrong, Mayor's Office, appeared and stated Council File 98-998 is now in effect which
initiated City Council authorization of$15,000 for the purpose of the survey. The reporting period
has been moved to February 17, 1999.
ORDINANCES
12. First Reading - 98-1055 - An ordinance amending Section 33.05 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code
pertaining to the City's Certificate of Occupancy Program by exempting multi-family residential
buildings that are owner occupied and providing for new inspection guidelines for renewal of non-
residential Certificates of Occupancy to be based on the hazard of the occupancy.
Councilmember Lantry moved to introduce a substitute for Page 1.
Substitute introduced and laid over to December 9 for second reading
Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
13. First Reading - 98-1056 - An ordinance finalizing City Council action approving the petition of
Mark Fuhr to rezone property at 399 Ruth Street from P-1 (Parking) to B-3 (General Business) and
RM-2 (Multiple-Family Residential) to allow construction and operation of an Amoco Certicare
Auto Repair Station. (Public hearing held October 14, 1998)
Laid over to December 9 for second reading
Suspension Item
Councilmember Harris moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution- 98-1065 -Designating December 3, 1998, as Louie Greengard Day in the City of Saint
Paul.
Council President Bostrom stated that Louie Greengard has retired from the Trades and Labor
Assembly.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 5
(The meeting was recessed from 4:15 p.m. to 5:35 p.m)
Present - 5 Absent - 2 -Blakey (excused), Benanav (arrived after roll call)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. Resolution- 98-1057 - Reciting a proposal for financing a multi-family rental housing Development
Project(Lewis Park Apartments) and authorizing the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to
exercise the powers granted in Minnesota Statutes, Sections 462C.01 to 462C.08.
Tom Sanchez, Department of Planning and Economic Development(PED), appeared and explained
the resolution which refers to the final sale of the apartments to the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority(HRA). There is no obligation to the City, HRA, or any other jurisdiction. The project
was built in 1978 for Section 8 and the Section 8 contract continues through Year 2019.
No one appeared in opposition; Councilmember Reiter moved to close the public hearing and
approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
(Items 15 and 16 were discussed in tandem)
15. Final Order- 98-1058 - In the matter of improving the alley in Block 2, Ryan Place (bounded by
Randolph,Mount Curve, Hartford and Montrose)by grading and paving with bituminous material.
(File#18881)
Councilmember Harris moved to layover for three weeks and to continue the public hearing.
Laid over to December 23 for continuation of public hearing. Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
16. Final Order- 98-1059 - In the matter of condemning and taking an easement in the land necessary
for the slopes, cuts, and fills in grading and paving the alley in Block 2, Ryan Place (bounded by
Randolph, Mount Curve, Hartford, and Montrose). (File#18881-S)
Councilmember Harris moved to layover this matter for three weeks and to continue the public
hearing.
Laid over to December 23 for continuation of public hearing. Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
(Items 17 and 18 were discussed in tandem.)
17. Final Order- 98-1060 - In the matter of improving streets with bituminous roadway, construction of
concrete curb and gutter, concrete driveway aprons and outwalks, boulevard sodding, tree planting,
construction of a lantern style lighting system, and all other work necessary to complete the
Grotto/Hoyt Area Street Paving and Lighting Project. (File#18884)
No one appeared in opposition; Councilmember Reiter moved to close the public hearing and
approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 6
18. Final Order- 98-1061 - In the matter of construction of water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer
service connections, if requested by the property owner, in conjunction with the Grotto/Hoyt Area
Street Paving and Lighting Project. (File#1884C)
No one appeared in opposition; Councilmember Reiter moved to close the public hearing and
approval.
Councilmember Reiter noted that Paul St. Martin was at several meetings regarding this project and
commended him for the good job he did in addressing concerns of property owners.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
(Items 19 and 20 discussed in tandem)
19. Final Order- 98-1062 - In the matter of improving streets with bituminous roadway, construction of
concrete curb and gutter, concrete driveway aprons and outwalks, boulevard sodding, tree planting,
construction of a lantern style lighting system, and all other work necessary to complete the
Chatsworth/Hoyt Area Street Paving and Lighting Project. (File#18885)
No one appeared in opposition; Councilmember Reiter moved to close the public hearing and
approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
20. Final Order- 98-1063 - In the matter of construction and/or repair of sanitary sewer, storm sewer
and/or water service connections, if requested by the property owner, in conjunction with the
Chatsworth/Hoyt Area Street Paving and Lighting Project. (File#18885-conn)
Joe Tucker appeared and asked when a storm sewer will be installed at a particular corner. Council
President Bostrom stated Paul St. Martin will discuss this with Mr. Tucker.
Holly Warner appeared and stated she sent a letter requesting a 10%reduction so that the curb and
gutter would not be replaced along her churt'h's property. Paul St. Martin responded that there are a
few blocks of street that have a fairly new curb and gutter. This will be left in place, and there will
be a reduction in the assessment.
Councilmember Reiter moved to close the public hearing and approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
21. Public hearing to consider the application of West 7th/Fort Road Federation to rezone property from
RT-1 (residential duplex) and I-2 (industry) to RT-2 (residential townhouse)to allow construction of
22 town homes at 375, 381, 383, 387, 391 and 397 Colborne Street, 398 and 412 Duke Street, and
497 Palace Avenue.
No one appeared in opposition; Councilmember Coleman moved to close the public hearing, adopt
the findings of Planning Commission Resolution 98-70, and approve the application.
Motion of Intent - Application Approved Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
December 2, 1998, City Council Summary Minutes Page 7
Councilmember Harris moved to adjourn the meeting. Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
ADJOURNED AT 5:45 P.M.
Danie ostrom, Council President
ATTEST:
Minutes approved by Council
Nancy son o1'Z, M`1
Assistant Council Secretary l
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