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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/30/1991URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF APPLE VALLEY April 30, 1991 1. CALL TO ORDER The April 30, 1991 meeting of the Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall large conference room by Chairman John McKay. Members Present: Chairman John McKay, Members Pam Sohlberg, Sharon Schwartz, JoAnne Ellison., Robin Curran, Van Holston, and Shirley Doering. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Scott Hickok, Captain Terry Cook, Mary Mueller, Peggy Tittle, and Dennis Welsch. Others Present: None. 2. ACRPiOALEDGEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BARBARA SAVANICR Chairman John McKay on behalf of the Urban Affairs Advisory Committee expressed his appreciation and thanks for the years of service that Councilmember Barbara Savanick provided to the City and the special support and friendship that she provided to the City's Urban Affairs Committee, as well as to the various environmental groups throughout the community including the Girl Scouts. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA OF APRIL 30, 1991 With the following additions, the agenda proposed. for the April 30th meeting was approved. The additions included: 1. Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Attendance Policy. 2. Retailer recycling comments. 3. A message from Tom Melena regarding cemeteries. 4. APPROVAL OF THS MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 27, 1990 A motion was made by Member Schwartz, seconded by Member Ellison, to approve the minutes of the November 27, 1990 meeting with the following corrections: Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 2 1. On page 5, paragraph D, change "7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m." to "10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m." 2. Page 6, number 4, should read "servicing of automobile" 3. Page 6, item E should read "nauseous" vegetation instead of "nosiest" vegetation. 4. Page 3, item B3, should read "The exposed wood window product.1° MOTION: The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously. Chairman John McKay noted that former Member Jeannine Churchill has been asked by the City Council to serve on the Planning Commission. She has resigned from the Urban Affairs Committee. On behalf of the Urban Affairs Committee, Chairman McKay extended his thanks and best wishes to Jeannine Churchill in her new volunteer position. 5. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS Chairman McKay asked new members,. Robin Curran and Van Holston., to introduce themselves and explain their background to the other members of the Urban Affairs Committee. The other members of the committee reintroduced themselves as well. 6. ENERGY PROGRAM IIPDATE Scott Hickok reported on the Energy Program activities and introduced Peggy Tittle, Director of the Self-Reliance Center, which is the prime contractor for the City's Energy Program. Peggy Tittle explained that there are two types of housing audits provided within Apple Valley. One type of landscape energy audit also done here. She asked the committee to provide feedback regarding the program which will last through 1992. She explained the Mayor's Energy Audit and the articles placed in the papers, as well as the kickoff events done in February in the Apple Valley Square Shopping Center. Tittle explained that the Apple Valley Program is unique in that it provides more than a house energy audit. The landscape energy audit allows the City Forester to inventory the exterior of the house and suggest vegetation which might reduce the energy consumption of the home, especially in the hot summer months. The landscape energy program has sold 272 trees. There have been 140 Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 3 inquiries for the landscape audit, of which 130 actually signed up for the audit. In addition, Minnegasco is providing an energy audit for low and modern income households as well as a $10.00 audit for households not qualifying for the Minnegasco Free Audit. Minnegasco will pay for 180 home energy doctor visits and 800 energy check-ups throughout the two year grant program. Scott Hickok related information regarding an energy audit completed on his own home. He noted that a video of this process will be available for members of the committee as well as Star Cablevision. Chairman McKay urged Peggy Tittle to use the school system to distribute information. Member Schwartz said it had been difficult to find the information in the local newspapers. Member Doering said that the City Newsletter was a good source of information. Peggy Tittle suggested the use of a mail back card with additional information which the committee thought was an excellent idea. A general discussion ensued regarding the use of landscape energy audits in townhouse associations. Scott Hickok noted that the landscape audit program can work in a townhouse association.. However, the association must approve of the landscape audit process and planting of trees prior to actually commencing the program. B. ORDINANCE REVIEWS B-1) Accessory Structures. Scott Hickok provided an overview of accessory building and structure ordinance revisions which would include a section on the maintenance of accessory storage buildings. The committee agreed that the language should be changed to read "all accessory building shall be suitably anchored in a manner approved by the building inspector, that the structure will withstand wind loading to 80 miles per hour." The committee urged that item (i) be eliminated since it is a redundant statement on anchoring of buildings. The committee also approved of a revision to item (g) in which an accessory building shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in height and seven hundred fifty (750) square feet in area (this is a change from twelve (12) feet in height and five hundred (500) square feet in area). The committee also approved of a change which states that any accessory building in excess of one hundred twenty (120) square feet in size shall be constructed to the Minnesota State Building Code Standards (the proposed code stated one hundred forty four (144) square feet). Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 4 B-2) Recreation Vehicles. Scott Hickok provided a review of a portion of the City Code related to general parking requirements. A section of the general parking requirements would add a specific requirement for the parking and use of recreation vehicles. In this section, the committee recommended that a fourteen (14) day parking period is adequate; that no notification of the zoning administrator is necessary; that a definition of recreation vehicle should be written into the ordinance; and that a definition of housekeeping for purposes of use of a recreation vehicle should also be written into the ordinance. B-3) Noise Standards. Scott Hickok reviewed a section of a draft ordinance prepared for the committee on excessive noise standards. Code Section 14-75 regulates noise and noise prohibitions. The committee reviewed this information and approved of the draft after deciding that the noise prohibitions from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. were more appropriate for the City as a whole, whereas the 6:30 garbage pick- up requirements should remain within the code for garbage haulers. B-4) Weeds. Scott Hickok provided background information on a weed ordinance to replace Code Section it-9. In this proposed ordinance amendment, weeds and grass in excess of 12 inches in height would be considered a public nuisance if they are "closer than 150 feet included natural areas such as woods, pastures, parks, bogs, marshes and. agriculture areas. The committee found this ordinance revision to be much clearer and acceptable. C. TA%I CAB ORDINANCES City Clerk Mary Mueller explained the current taxi cab licensing and regulations. She noted that the current ordinance is extremely out of date because Apple Valley licenses vehicles only and does not even require information on drivers. She recommended that if amendments are considered, licensing should be ordinances similar to Bloomington and/or the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport ordinance. One of the reasons for licensing cabs in Apple Valley is that is provides a local operator with the ability to deliver passengers to the airport, without having to have an airport license. Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 5 Member Holston stated that in most cases, to survive as a cab company in the Twin Cities area, cab companies must have licenses to operate in Minneapolis and in the airport area. A general discussion ensued regarding the need fora taxi cab license and the ability to regulate the cab companies based on our current ordinance. Captain Terry Cook of the Police Department stated that it is unenforceable as an ordinance today. MOTION: Member Doering moved, seconded by Member Holston, to recommend an ordinance to the City Council which removes the taxi cab section from the City Code because there appears to be no need for the City to license taxi cabs. The motion carried 7 - 0. D. SAUNA/MASSAGE PARLOR LICENSES City Clerk Mary Mueller provided a background report on Apple Valley's ability to license sauna and massage parlors. She noted that a second type of massage parlor is now available in the Southern Metropolitan area. It is called a therapeutic massage. This is a health related massage of the entire body done by a qualified masseuse. The current business definition in the ordinance is not adequate to address a therapeutic. massage. She noted that in Burnsville, a conditional use permit is issued for each therapeutic massage and is attached to a home occupation permit. In other communities, beauty shops, regardless of whether they are in the home or in a retail business area offer therapeutic massage. Mary Mueller also noted that currently there are no state certifications, no definitions, or qualifications for a therapeutic masseuse. It is difficult to write a description of the training or classes necessary for a therapeutic masseuse. Chairman McKay asked Mary Mueller to provide a background packet at the next committee meeting. The committee will discuss whether individual and business licenses should be required, and if so, what the qualifications for such licenses should be. In addition the committee will discuss limiting the license to a business address and determining in which zoning districts this activity would approximately located. The committee may also wish to consider whether a health club is a legitimate place to operate a therapeutic massage operation. Captain Terry Cook noted that from a police department perspective it would be more appropriate to keep the activity on a licenses premises. He did note that many therapeutic masseuses will travel to the office or work site for a neck, shoulders and back massage. Additional information will be available at the next Urban Affairs Committee meeting. Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 6 7. REVIEW OF BYLAWS Dennis Welsch distributed examples of bylaws which have been written for the City Planning Commission. Chairman McKay polled the Committee on the need for an attendance policy. Member Doering stated that a schedule, such as the Urban Affairs Committee has which is irregular, makes it difficult for each member to attend all meetings. She gave the example of a member attending classes on a regular basis when Urban Affairs Committee meetings are inadvertently scheduled over the same evening. Member Ellison noted that with the School Advisory Council there are two types of absences, an excused and an unexcused absence. An excused absence is related to sickness or work. If a member of the School Advisory Council has two or more unexcused absences, a Staff Member or the Chairman of the Council is requested to call the non-attending member and ask if they are interested in continuing to serve or whether they should resign at this time. The Committee felt that the phone calling system may be more personal and address the issue better than a simple number of absences after which automatic resignation occurs. Chairman McKay noted that even when a member is absent from the. meeting, they may be able to study the issues and provide a report in advance of the meeting to either the Staff or the Committee, thereby still providing the key function of a key member (feedback). Member Sohlberg noted that the most difficult part of being a member of the Urban Affairs Committee is that the Committee does not meet regularly. If there was a regular schedule which could be counted on year round, members would align their personal work and family schedules to allow for the Urban Affairs Committee meetings. More discussion will occur on this at future meetings. 8. CEMETERY BURIAL NEEDS IN APPLE VALLEY Dennis Welsch distributed a background report addressed to the Urban Affairs Committee from Thomas Melena, City Administrator, in which he requested that the Urban Affairs Committee discuss whether Apple Valley should encourage (through private investment) or build a public cemetery within the city limits. Chairman McKay asked the Committee to review the April 30th memo from Tom Melena and to be prepared to discuss whether this is a need of the City at the next meeting. If the Committee feels Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 1991 Page 7 there is such a need, at that time the Staff will begin a detailed study of the issue. The next meeting the Staff will simply prepare additional background information regarding cemeteries in surrounding communities. 9. SCHEDIILE FOR N8%T MEETING Chairman McKay and Committee Members agreed that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 4th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall. Items on the agenda will include: 1. Attendance policy. 2. Update on the garbage and recycling issues, especially as it relates to commercial buildings and restaurants from Jeff Weldon. 3. Cemetery issues. 4. Sauna and massage parlor issues. 4. Other study or code issues. 10. ADJOIIRNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. The Staff was asked to submit a completed sign-up sheet regarding the Community Energy Audit Program to Peggy Tittle. Members of the Urban Affairs Committee provided names and addresses for this audit.