Public Safety & Welfare Committee

CITY OF VERONA PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE COMMITTEE AUGUST 16, 2018 VERONA CITY HALL MINUTES 1. Call to order: Heather Reekie called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Heather Reekie, Katie Kohl and Evan Touchett were present. Also present: Police Chief Bernie Coughlin, Sgt. Jesse Christensen, Planning and Development Director Adam Sayre, City Attorney Bryan Kleinmaier and City Clerk Ellen Clark. Ryan Richards, representing World Triathlon Corporation; and Jeff Parisi and Todd Ragsdale, co-owners of 515 Commerce Parkway, were also present. 3. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Touchett, seconded by Kohl, to approve the minutes from the July 23, 2018 Public Safety and Welfare Committee meeting. Motion carried 3-0. 4. Discussion and Possible Action Re: A Special Event Permit application from Ryan Richards for the World Triathlon Corporation’s Ironman Triathlon on Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Ironman event brings several thousand participants and spectators to the city. All police officers are assigned to this event to assist with traffic and road crossings. This is the 16th year for the event. Race Day Events will be assisting with the triathlon. Construction on CTH M will stop for the length of the event. Discussion followed regarding the event route. Motion by Touchett, seconded by Kohl, to approve a Special Event Permit application from Ryan Richards for the World Triathlon Corporation’s Ironman Triathlon on Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Motion carried 3-0. 5. Discussion and Possible Action Re: Ordinance No. 18-918 amending Titles 8, 7 and 11 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Verona, Wisconsin relating to public safety and public health issues. The purpose of this ordinance is to modify existing municipal code provisions to treat vaping the same as we treat other tobacco products by prohibiting vaping on school district property and prohibiting minors from purchasing or possessing vaping materials. It also applies a background test to registrants for transient merchants similar to that used for those applying for a license to sell alcohol. The ordinance also establishes a “sexting” ordinance to allow for lesser penalty options compared to existing state law, which requires criminal felony charges for “sexting”. This does not mean that a felony charge will never be delivered for “sexting”. Motion by Reekie, seconded by Kohl, to recommend to the Common Council to approve Ordinance No. 18- 918 amending Titles 8, 7 and 11 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Verona, Wisconsin relating to public safety and public health issues. Motion carried 3-0. 6. Discussion and Possible Action Re: Ordinance No. 18-919 amending Section 10-1-26 and 10-1-27 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Verona relating to parking on Commerce Parkway. The owner of Beale Enterprises, 529 Commerce Parkway, informed the police department of vehicles that were being parked on both sides of the street  adjacent to and across the street from their loading dock driveway. This parking is limiting, and sometimes blocking, their access to ship goods, and is creating a potentially unsafe environment. This parking situation has become more prevalent with the success of neighboring business, The Duluth Trading Company at 515 Commerce Parkway, as well as the establishment of Ordinance No. 18-910, which restricted parking near the loading dock entrance to Pure Sweet Honey Farms during business hours. Staff had discussions with the owners of the Duluth Trading Company building to try to determine other places for employees to park. This ordinance eliminates several on-street parking spaces available to businesses located on Commerce Street. Mr. Sayre remarked that there is the potential for perpendicular parking stalls on Commerce Parkway, which would add several parking spaces. There is also an area east of the 515 Commerce Parkway property that could be used for parking, but it would require significant loss of trees. Todd Ragsdale, co-owner of the building at 515 Commerce Parkway, stated this building is a return center for Duluth Trading. They will not outgrow that space, so the number of cars should not increase to a great degree. The proposed ordinance is excessive, and will result in the loss of 500 feet of parking space. Mr. Beale’s business is seasonal and primarily on weekends. If there is not a car in front of the mailbox at the Beale business, there is plenty of room for a semi to get in and out. He has a 60-foot wide street in front of him. Jeff Parisi, co-owner of the building at 515 Commerce Parkway, stated the problem is caused by new entrants on the street, not by an increase in the number of employees at Duluth Trading. Discussions with Mr. Beale about the parking situation have not gone well. Discussion followed regarding alternative on-street parking solutions for Commerce Parkway. The consensus of the committee was not to take action on this item until more information is available, and to ask staff to discuss the issue with both parties involved, and possibly have them come back to the next committee meeting. 7. Discussion Re: Creation of an ordinance relating to the keeping of chickens in the City of Verona. Mr. Sayre explained that City staff has discussed various issues regarding the keeping of chickens in the City. They are looking for some discussion and direction from the committee to Staff. This will involve public safety, and will also require amendments to the zoning code. Kohl stated the ordinance allows four hens, but no roosters. Six hens are allowed at a daycare for educational purposes. Disposal of waste is also covered in the ordinance. The ordinance requires that several steps be completed before a permit to keep chickens will be issued. Anyone willing to complete the entire permitting process is likely  to be responsible with their chickens. A special building permit for building a coop and written notification of neighbors will also be required. Mr. Sayre stated there are still a lot of things to talk about regarding how this ordinance will be worded. Mr. Touchett asked if neighbors will have the chance to restrict the owning of chickens. Mr. Kleinmaier stated that neighbors should probably not be able to veto the owning of chickens. It would result in inequity in terms of who is able to have chickens and who is not. Neighborhood covenants may apply that do not allow chickens. They will trump any City ordinance. This ordinance will be discussed at the committee meeting of August 27th. No action will be taken at that time. 7. Adjournment: Motion by Reekie, seconded by Kohl, to adjourn at 6:36 p.m. Motion carried 3-0. Ellen Clark, City Clerk