City Council Workshop

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Dr Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop *While this is a public meeting where interested persons are welcome to attend, it is a work session for Council and staff to discuss issues before them. It is not for the purpose of receiving public input. Thursday, February 4, 2016 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. 2 Roll Call Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Clark Arneson; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Public Services Manager Bob Therres; Finance Director Joe Huss; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Chris Olson; Fire Chief Nyle Zikmund; Communications Technician Roark Haver; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; City Clerk Catherine Sorensen; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 5 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Clark, and Councilmember King Absent: 2 - Councilmember Bourke, and Councilmember Herbst 3 New Business 3-1 WS 16-05 REPLACEMENT OF AERIAL/LADDER DEVICE FOR SBM FIRE DEPARTMENT Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund stated SBM is proposing to transition from two aerial/ladder devices to one. He stated the typical life for a ladder truck is 15 to 20 years and both have exceeded their typical life. He noted both trucks are over 24 years old, need repair and Ladder 12 has experienced mechanical failures and is currently out of service. He stated if a new ladder is purchased, Ladder 12 would not be repaired and both ladder trucks would be sold. He noted that surrounding cities’ fire departments have ladder trucks and SBM could call upon their fire departments if Council chose not to approve purchase of a new truck. He stated if the process to purchase started now the truck would not arrive until City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 4, 2016 late 2017. Councilmember Swanson asked if SBM would get the bond. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund replied nonprofits cannot sell bonds so the City would need to bond. Finance Director Huss stated the City would bond in 2016 with other bonds and use the funds in 2017. He stated is would be less expensive for the City to bond in 2016. Mayor Ryan commented the aluminum on the truck is worn out after 24 years. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund noted Blaine owns the equipment. Councilmember Hovland asked if SBM has to have two ladder trucks. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund replied no, SBM is currently down to one ladder and getting by. City Manager Arneson asked if the purchase would be made from State or National contract. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund replied there is no State bidding for fire equipment. He stated the purchase would be made through Fire Rescue GPO or Houston Galveston. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Zikmund asked Council direction on selling Ladder 12. Council consensus was to sell Ladder 12 at this time. Discussed 3-2 WS 16-06 CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PARKS/ SPECIAL EVENTS/GUN CLUBS City Clerk Sorensen stated only non-intoxicating malt liquor is currently allowed in City parks and staff is suggesting the expansion of the definition to allow intoxicating liquor with the proper licensing. She stated this change would allow for the on-sale of intoxicating liquor by a State licensed caterer for events such as the Blaine Festival and concessions as part of a tournament. She stated staff is also suggesting amendments for merchandising, advertising, signage, special events definition, and gun club ordinance definition. Councilmember Clark asked if only the Blaine Festival has served intoxicating liquor in a City park. City Clerk Sorensen replied yes. Councilmember Clark asked if the ordinance applies to the National Sports Center and Metro Gun Club. City Clerk Sorensen replied no as both have on-sale 3.2 licenses. Councilmember Hovland commented event promoters typically rope off areas where alcohol is being served. He asked about family gatherings in parks. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 4, 2016 City Clerk Sorensen replied neither intoxicating nor non-intoxicating liquor is allowed in parks without a license. Councilmember Clark commented a food vendor at the Lakeside Commons Park could serve intoxicating liquor. City Clerk Sorensen replied the proposed amendment would allow a licensed caterer with appropriate liquor liability insurance to sell at Lakeside Commons Park. Councilmember Clark asked what other cities allow intoxicating liquor. City Clerk Sorensen replied 75% of the other cities allow intoxicating liquor in their parks with the proper licensing. She noted another option would be to allow serving intoxicating liquor at only City sponsored events. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson commented the Blaine Festival utilized a caterer to sell intoxicating liquor during the festival last year and this amendment would make the language consistent with the past practice. Councilmember Swanson clarified that only an event with a caterer can serve intoxicating alcohol. City Clerk Sorensen replied yes, current City ordinance allows the promoter to hire a nonprofit such as a Lions Group to serve non-intoxicating liquor only but if Council would like that license could be expanded to include intoxicating liquor as well as it is allowed by Statute. Councilmember Clark asked if the license would be ongoing or event specific. City Clerk Sorensen replied the event license would include specific dates and times of service. Councilmember Clark asked if the City could designate which parks would be allowed. City Clerk Sorensen replied staff could work with Park and Recreation to specify which parks intoxicating liquor would be allowed. Councilmember Clark stated he would be in favor of allowing intoxicating liquor only in community parks such as Aquatore, Blaine Baseball Complex, and Lexington Athletic Complex but not neighborhood parks or Lakeside Commons. He said he would also be in favor of expanding the temporary license to include intoxicating liquor for nonprofit groups. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson stated the City has gun manufacturers that need to have a range to test fire arms and this is where a definition of a gun range is necessary. City Manager Arneson noted Infinite Campus is planning to have a private range in the lower level of their facility for employee use. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson commented he does not foresee any impact to the existing gun club and that staff will contact the owner to explain the proposed ordinance amendments. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 4, 2016 Discussed OTHER BUSINESS Firearms Sighting Systems Purchase Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson stated the Police department has been made aware of concerns on the holographic sighting systems that are mounted on all Police department issued rifles and have removed the defective sighting systems. He stated the manufacturer may reimburse the City for the original purchase; although reimbursement is not for sure and may end up in a class action lawsuit. He stated the sights need to be replaced as soon as possible and that he will be asking for a budget amendment in order to purchase replacement sights. Councilmember Clark asked if funds could be shifted within the Police department’s budget. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson replied no and is asking for additional funds to purchase new sights. Councilmember Hovland asked if the manufacturer refunds the City for the purchase, would the funds go back into the General Fund. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson replied yes. Councilmember Clark asked if funds could be used from the capital budget. City Manager Arneson replied there are no funds available in the capital budget and suggested funds could be used from a capital note. City Manager Arneson stated the Council retreat is scheduled for March 10, 2016 and asked Council to forward proposed agenda topics. Councilmember Clark stated the hockey association may be approaching the City on creating an outdoor refrigerated rink. He also asked that staff consider proposed improvements for Aquatore Park as the park is in need of updates. Discussed ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4