Community & Human Services Cte Minutes 08-17-1988 �
• MINUTES
Community and Human Services Committee
August 17, 1988
1:30 P.M.
Third Floor Council Chambers
The meeting was called to order by Janice Rettman, Chair, at 1:30 p.m.
The following were in attendance: Janice Rettman, Chair; Bob Long, Councilmember;
Roger Goswitz, Councilmember; Phil Byrne, Assistant City Attorney; Terry Sullivan,
Assistant City Attorney (late); Jim Murphy, Program Analyst; and Barbara Benson, Secretary.
The minutes of the meeting of August 3, 1988 were approved as submitted.
The first item concerned City Council Agenda 5/3/88, Item No. 16: Third Reading - 88-500 -
An ordinance amending Chapter 409.21(b) of the Legislative Code pertaining to pulltabs and
tipboards in bars by deleting the reference to charitable organizations that support
youth athletic activities. (Community and Human Services Committee recommends approval.)
(Sent back per request by Ms. Sonnen in regard to national associations having pulltabs.)
Phil Byrne's combination of two ordinances will be presented. (Laid over from July 6, 1988
meeting.) (This was laid over to August 3, 1988, as both Bill Wilson and Kiki Sonnen were
absent.) (Laid over to August 17, 1988.) Phil Byrne outlined the history of this issue,
which has long been in Committee. He has drafted an ordinance combining the two ordinances
presently pending before the Committee. This ordinance would combine an ordinance
allowing all charitable nonprofit organizations licensed by the State to operate tipboards
and pulltabs with an ordinance which would only allow up to five nationally chartered
�rganizations with little or no connection with youth athletic activities. The selection
process will be done in the same manner as used in the award of liquor licenses. The
limit on nationally chartered organizations has been set at five but this limit is still
open to negotiation. Since neither Wilson norSonnen were able to attend this meeting,
the questions have not been answered sufficiently to move this out of Committee.
E. Thomas Bauer, gambling manager of Tradelake Camp for mentally retarded citizens,
addressed the Committee. He indicated concern regarding the funds going to youth
activities/youth athletics versus the mentally retarded. He stated the policy is
discriminatory, with a blatant disregard for human rights. Kris VanHorn, Licensing,
and Joe Carchedi, Licensing, explained the process, indicating that we are talking about
pulltabs only. Carchedi noted that when anyone requests an application for this
activity, they receive a copy of the pertinent ordinance and it is read and explained to
them. They then sign an affidavit that they understand. Jerry Mickus, Rice Street VFW,
again expressed his concerns regarding notification of gambling laws. Rettman explained
that in 1985 an ordinance (409.22) was passed regarding pulltabs in liquor establishments.
She added that in July, of 1986, this was then opened to private clubs. Mickus questioned
the passage date. Phil Byrne noted the ordinance was passed on December 31, 1985. A motion
was made by Long that this be laid over to August 31, 1988 for language stipulation (five
permits versus striking youth athletics).
The next item concerned City Council Agenda 5/24/88, Item No. 2: First Reading - 88-794 -
An ordinance amending Chapter 33.02 of the Legislative Code and providing an increase in
the Certificate of Occupancy fees and to reflect the administrative merger of the
Certificate of Occupancy inspections program from the Department of Community Services-
Building to the Department of Fire and Safety Services-Fire Marshall. (For Steve Zaccard's
• report.) (Laid over until August 3, 1988 for Gene Schiller to review with Steve Zaccard.)
(New information has been received. Laid over to August 17, 1988 to review information.)
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Community and Auman Services Committee •
August 17, 1988
Page Two
This ordinance was first discussed on July 6, 1988. During this meeting, the issue of
making the certificate of occupancy inspection program self-sufficient was raised.
Steve Zaccard was asked to work with Gene Schiller to put together different schedules
which would make the program self-sufficient. Seven options have been put together. All
of the options are predicated on the passage of this ordinance. Steve Zaccard, Fire
Marshall, outlined the seven options: 1) Proposed 5Z across-the-board rate increase each
year, as well as 5� increase in minimum fee and 107 increase in maximum fee each year.
Inspections will continue to be scheduled annually for commercial properties and every
three years for residential properties; 2) Same increase as for 4�1, but with the
inspection schedule adjusted so that both commercial and residential properties are
inspected every two years; 3) 107 across-the-board increase in fee rates each year, as
well as 107 increase in minimum fee and 20Z increase in maximum fee. The inspection will
continue to be scheduled each year for commercial properties and every three years for
residential properties; 4) Same rate increases as for ��3, but with inspections every two
years for both residential and commercial properties; 5) Annual across-the-board increase
of 107 each year and an additional 57 increase in the minimum rate and an additional 25Z
increase in the maximum rate each year. Inspection schedule remains at one year for
commercial properties and three years for residential properties; 6) Same rate increases
as 4�5, but adjusts the, inspection schedule to each two years for both residential and
commercial occupancies; 7) Reflects the desire of the Committee to see what happens when
the maximum rate is eliminated. With 10� across-the-board rate increase and 5� annual •
raise of the minimum fee, revenues will meet or exceed expenses in 1990. Zaccard
recommended Option ��5. He stated minimums and maximums may be adjusted. Discussion ensued
regarding deletion of certain options, inspections performed on residential versus
commercial properties. Bill Buth, Saint Paul BOMA, addressed the issue of trained fire
safety personnel conducting the inspections. He noted that most cities do not have the
restrictive type of occupancy program which Saint Paul presently has. Comparisons of
other cities were discussed. Goswitz stated he would be interested in seeing insurance
rate comparisons, also. Maureen Heap, of the Merriam Park Community Council, applauded
Saint Paul�s Certificate of Occupancy program, noting that homes and buildings in several
areas of the towr. are one hundred years old and more, noting statistics would not be
comparable in the newer suburbs surrounding the city. Suggested comparable study with
like cities. This ordinance issue was laid over to August 31, 1988 so Zaccard may compile
and present comparative data.
The next item concerned Part III - Report on Gross Unsanitary Homes. (Laid over from
August 3, 1988.) Rettman presented three ordinances for discussion: An ordinance
amending Section 33.01 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to building
official; an ordinance amending Chapter 33 of the Saint Pau1 Legislative Code entitled
"Building Code and Inspection" by adding a section 33.03(f) thereto pertaining�to the
issuance of permits for vacant, dangerous and abandoned buildings; and an ordinance
amending Section 33.06 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to certificate of
compliance. A flow chart for a proposed housing court system was presented. Rettman
stated it would be most helpful to have a City Attorney assigned to housing, and place
the tagging procedure into the housing court system. The City Attorney's Office and the
Mayor's Office have indicated positive responses. Discussion ensued regarding the
ordinances. A motion was made that these ordinances be supported, with a friendly amendme�
,
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Community and Human Services committee
•August 17, 1988
Page Three
to Chapter 33.03(f) adding performance bond. This was approved.
The next item concerned City Council Agenda 7/21/88, Item No. 19: Resolution - 88-1184 -
Amending rules to the Community Festival Revolving Loan Fund and Grant Program to allow
for reducing scale of grants and changing due date for grant applications. Bill Peterson,
Division of Parks and Recreation, addressed this resolution. The program began in 1987;
its purpose was to help festivals which are struggling financially or ones which are just
beginning. A festival may apply for up to $2,000. If the application is approved, the
festival may not reapply. The application deadline would be changed from February 1 to
April 1 of each year; this would allow more time for the planning of festivals.
Vic Wittgenstein, Division of Parks and Recreation, stated that much feedback is expected
this year. Rettman asked whether this still involves Riverfest funds. Wittgenstein
answered affirmatively, and indicated $58,000 was collected in 1987, $40,500 in 1988.
Goswitz made a motion that this resolution be approved. This passed on a 3-0 vote.
Two items were laid over to August 31, 1988:
City Council Agenda 6/30/88, Item No. 5: First Reading - 88-1071 - An.ordinance amending
Section 310.03 of the Legislative Code pertaining to Uniform License Procedures for
investigation and review of new applications for BCA and FBI checks of Class III licenses.
(Laid over to August 17, 1988 so that Jerry Segal may review author's potential amendments.)
This was further laid over because Kiki Sonnen was unable to attend this Committee meeting
• to address this ordinance, which she authored.
City Council Agenda 7/12/88, Item No. 3: Appeal of Dick Warwick to a decision of the
Truth in Housing Board pertaining to his cancelled license. Dick Warwick was present
and requested at this time that the issue be laid over to August 31, 1988.
The last item was the child care discussion. Rettman suggested this be discussed in
Committee one section at a time. A timeline will be set up as to when things will be
done. Rettman observed that meetings will begin at 1:00 on these days to better
accommodate the issue. All will be scheduled for the September 7, 1988 meeting agenda.
She noted that her office has received several calls from people favoring this.
Patti Kester, from the Adults and Children's Alliance, presented a letter from the
Alliance applauding the efforts of the Committee in conjunction with this issue.
Milne Kintner-Dee introduced herself, congratulating the Committee for taking a stance
on this issue. Rettman stated that each Committee member should forward names to her
office of those they wish to have apprised of the child care issue by no later than
Tuesday, August 18.
A motion was made to adjourn. This passed unanimously on a 3-0 vote. The meeting
adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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