Approved Minutes 11-4-1998 SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, November 4, 1998 - 3:30 - 5:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3RD FLOOR
City Hall and Court House
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Council President Bostrom.
Present - 6 - Benanav, Blakey, Bostrom, Harris, Lantry, Reiter
Absent - 1 - Coleman (arrived after roll call)
CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 - 14)
Councilmember Harris requested Item 8 be removed for discussion.
Councilmember Coleman moved approval of the consent agenda as amended. Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
FOR ACTION
1. Approval of minutes of October 7, 1998.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
2. Claims of Roger Christianson, The Sell Group and Seng Yang.
Referred to Employee/Risk Management Division
3. Letter from the Real Estate Division announcing a public hearing before the City Council on
November 12, 1998 to consider the vacation of a portion of the alley in Block 1, Westminster
Addition for better access to the abutting property.
4. Letter from the Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection announcing a public
hearing before the City Council on November 12, 1998 to consider the appeal of Melvin Spiegler
Properties LP to a decision of the Planning Commission to approve a parking ramp proposed by
Park N Jet at 2751 Shepard Road.
5. Administrative Orders:
D001608 Allocating funds from the STAR Business Revolving Loan Program for $55,000 to
the Rice Street Meat & Grocery project.
D001609 Allocating funds from the Neighborhood Investment Program to the Grand Avenue
Business Association for the Grand Avenue Business Lighting Project.
D001610 Authorizing payment, not to exceed $4,000, to JR's Powerhouse Gym for a
professional wrestling event to be held at Rice & Arlington Sports Dome.
Noted as on file in the City Clerk's Office
November 4, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 2
6. Resolution - 98-997 - Approving the 1998-2001 Maintenance Labor Agreement between the City
of Saint Paul and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local No. 1 of Minnesota. (To be laid
over one week for adoption)
Laid over to November 12 for adoption Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
7. Resolution - 98-998 - Contracting with and authorizing expenditure for an independent survey
research organization to conduct an employee survey of workplace conditions in the Saint Paul
Police Department and survey results report to the City Council by February 17, 1999.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
8. (Discussed after the consent agenda)
9. Resolution - 98-1000 - Concurring with action taken by the Board of Water Commissioners
establishing the water rates for 1999. (To be laid over to November 12 for public hearing)
Laid over to November 12 for public hearing Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
10. Resolution - 98-1001 - Requesting that the City of Saint Paul release its interest of an abandoned
utility sewer easement in order for North East Neighborhood Development Corporation to develop
30 town houses in the Clarence-Maryland area.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
11. Resolution - 98-1002 - Authorizing the purchase of four properties located on Hoyt and Montana
Avenues as part of Phase I of the Hoyt-Montana Flood Remediation Project.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
12. Preliminary Order - 98-1003 - In the matter of the Hewitt/Aldine Residential Street Paving and
Lighting Project, and setting date of public hearing for December 9, 1998. (File #18886)
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
13. Preliminary Order - 98-1004 - In the matter of construction of storm sewer connections, sanitary
sewer connections and water connections, at the request of the property owner, in conjunction
with the Hewitt/Aldine Street Paving and Lighting Project, and setting date of public hearing for
December 9, 1998. (File #18886C)
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
14. Preliminary Order - 98-1005 - In the matter of acquiring easements in connection with the lighting
improvement of Hamline Avenue between Marshall and Concordia Avenues, and setting date of
public hearing for November 25, 1998. (File #18889E)
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
November 4, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 3
8. Resolution - 98-999 - Approving a budget revision transferring funds from Specified Contingency
Reserve to the Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection for the Historic Saint
Paul Foundation.
Councilmember Harris noted that in 1997 the Council allocated $100,000 to the Historic Saint
Paul Foundation in order to move some of the historic preservation efforts closer to the
neighborhoods and allow the Foundation to raise money and try to set up another process by
which historic preservation can be accomplished. Although the money has already been spent,
Harris said he felt budget limits should be imposed. He noted that 27% of the funds that were
given to the Historic Saint Paul Foundation last year went to activities which Harris cited and
questioned if they were appropriate expenditures. He felt the money should be dedicated to
restoration type projects and conditions should be placed on how this general fund money is used.
Councilmember Lantry moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
FOR DISCUSSION
15. Update by the Administration on the progress of the Electronic Computerized License Inspection
and Permit System (ECLIPS). (Update requested by the Council on September 9, 1998)
Bob Kessler, Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection, appeared and reported
that the past two months have been spent preparing, analyzing and evaluating a request for
proposal. A vendor has been selected and staff is presently in contract negotiations. Mr. Kessler
said he was confident that the system will be completed by August, 1999, and it will be under-
budget. Half of the system is presently working and they expect to buy the buildings and issue
new certificates of competency out of the new ECLIPS certifications module in November, 1998.
The license system is up and running and it is hoped that the final permit portion will complete a
system that will be functional and operational.
Mr. Kessler said he will provide the Council with copies of the contract.
An additional update will be provided on January 6, 1999.
16. Report from the Administration regarding any City funds to be spent on Titanic, The Exhibition.
(Requested by the Council on October 28, 1998, C.F. 98-995)
Councilmember Coleman moved to lay over one week at the request of the Administration.
Laid over to November 12 Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
November 4, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 4
17. Resolution - 98-996 - Directing the Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection to
conduct a dangerous dogs community notification pilot project and to conduct a research study
examining threat posed by dogs already declared dangerous. (Laid over from October 28)
Councilmember Blakey moved approval.
Councilmember Coleman asked if there will be any budget implications for this project. Bob
Kessler, Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection, appeared and said he was
confident this would be done within the budgeted resources. He is working with the Budget
Office to try to find additional funds to restore an animal control officer. The resources needed to
restore the position, Kessler said, are between $30-40,000 and they will be provided through an
ordinance which was also considered on this date. The funds will be raised through increased fees
as called for in the ordinance.
Councilmember Coleman noted that in the proposed budget there is an elimination of a position in
the Animal Control Division which is about the same amount of money that was being discussed at
this time. Coleman said he did not like to see a position lost in order to conduct a study.
Mr. Kessler responded that they are proposing to take the additional money that will be generated
by this program to fund the one position. With that staff complement, they feel there will be
enough staff to implement the additional safeguards for the dangerous dogs.
Councilmember Coleman said he felt this was an issue that should be discussed during the budget
deliberations and as well as the issue of whether the animal control officer should be funded that is
now being recommended to eliminate.
Councilmember Harris questioned if it is expected that it will take one full-time person to do the
study. Mr. Kessler responded that the study will be done as part of the Office of LIEP 's normal
course. However, there are additional safeguards and requirements to identify and track
dangerous animals which will take the services of an additional animal control officer and will be
funded through the fees charged.
Councilmember Harris asked if the fees generated from the ordinance would be sufficient to
restore one staff person to Animal Control. Mr. Kessler responded in the affirmative but also
noted that $20,000 has been identified in the Department of Public Works which they have been
willing to contribute. The $20,000 combined with the fees generated will provide full funding for
the position.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
November 4, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 5
ORDINANCES
18. Final Adoption - 98-866 - An ordinance amending Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 409.26;
reducing the presumptive penalties for noncompliance of liquor licenses. (Substitute introduced
October 7)
Councilmember Reiter moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
19. Final Adoption - 98-942 - An ordinance amending Chapter 200 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code
entitled "Animals" to provide for particular penalties in various situations and establishing various
conditions in the disposition of dangerous animals. (Substitute introduced on October 28)
Councilmember Benanav moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
20. Final Adoption - 98-941 - An ordinance finalizing City Council action approving the application
of Lower Afton Seniors LLC to rezone property at Lower Afton Road (201 feet west of McKnight
Road) from B-2 to RM-2 to allow construction of 56 units of senior housing on the currently
vacant site. (Substitute introduced on October 14)
Councilmember Lantry moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Suspension Item
Councilmember Blakey moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 98-1008 - Approving expenditure, not to exceed $500.00, from the City Council
budget for a public purpose tour and meeting by The Frogtown Steering Committee.
Councilmember Blakey stated that revitalization work has been done in the Frogtown area. A tour
of the community is planned for the members of the Steering Committee and the $500 expenditure
will be used for a trolley and lunch for the people taking part in the tour.
Adopted Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
The meeting was recessed from 3:50 - 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Present - 6 Absent - 1 (Blakey)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
November 4, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 6
21. Resolution - 98-1006 - To consider the vacation of a portion of Stevens Street in Langevin's 4th
Addition.
Councilmember Coleman moved to close the public hearing and approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0 (Blakey not present for vote)
22. Resolution - 98-1007 - To consider the vacation of McAfee Street cul-de-sac 450' north of
Maryland Avenue.
Councilmember Harris moved to close the public hearing and approval.
Adopted Yeas - 6 Nays - 0 (Blakey not present for vote)
(Blakey arrived)
Councilmember Harris moved to adjourn the meeting.
ADJO ED AT 5:33 P.M.
aniel Bostrom, Council President
ATTEST:
Minutes approved by Council
Nancyo ders r . ck \y�
Assistant Council Secretary
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