AGENDA FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
ALBERT LEA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
January 23, 2012 at 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CONSENT & APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A. Approve Minutes of the January 9, 2012 Regular Council Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of the January 5, 2012 Work Session
C. Licenses and Permits (See attached list)
D. Approval of the 2012 Big Freeze Event
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
V. PETITIONS-REQUESTS-COMMUNICATIONS
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Ordinance Amending Chapter 50, Article IV of City Code – Special Event Policy (2nd reading)
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Ordinance Amending Chapter 66, Article I, Sec. 66-8 – Discontinuance Of Service (1st reading)
B. Ordinance Amending Chapter 74, Signs in Residential Districts for Non-residential Uses (1st reading)
VIII. MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
IX. CITY MANAGER REPORT
X. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
XI. ADJOURN
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Chad M. Adams, City Manager
Date: January 19, 2012
Re: January 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Report (What’s Behind It)
III. CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA
C. Licenses and Permits – Licenses and permits for items on the agenda are in order. (See attached list.)
D. Approval of the 2012 Big Freeze Event – The Big Freeze Committee is requesting city approval of the third annual Big Freeze event to be held February 18, 2012. The Edgewater Bay Pavilion and Edgewater Bay Park area will be the new location for this year’s event. A certificate of liability insurance is on file naming the City as an additional insured. The committee estimates that 600 to 800 people will attend the 2012 Big Freeze. Because the Special Events ordinance is still under review, this item needs Council approval. In the future, it is expected the event will be an administrative approval. Staff recommends approval.
No attachment for this item.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Ordinance Amending Chapter 50, Article IV of City Code – Special Event Policy (2nd reading) – The first reading of the ordinance was on January 9th. The amendment repeals Article IV – Parades, and replaces it with Article IV – Special Events. It specifically states that any person or organization holding a special event on city property or using city services must first obtain a Special Event permit from the City. Prior to issuance of the permit, applicants must provide a detailed list of event activities, city services that would be needed, and file a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Albert Lea as additional insured. Additionally, discussion of fees for City employee labor (with the exception of an administrative fee) or equipment is not recommended for approval in 2012 and will be documented throughout the year for possible implementation in 2013. Staff recommends approval of the ordinance prepared for 2nd reading.
See attached ordinance.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Ordinance Amending Chapter 66, Article I, Sec. 66-8 – Discontinuance Of Service (1st reading) – The current Albert Lea City Code utilities ordinance provides for notice of a hearing on occupants of residence where a person has violated any requirement of the City Code regarding water services. This procedure has not been used over the past several years, and while permissible under the law, is an additional hurdle and procedure which complicates water shut-offs by staff. State law does allow procedures to protect tenants when landlords have failed to make timely payments. Staff recommends deleting this section of the City Code.
See attached draft ordinance.
B. Ordinance Amending Chapter 74, – Signs in Residential Districts for Non-residential Uses (1st reading) – The Planning Commission met on January 3, 2012 regarding a request to permit signs for non-residential land uses within residential districts, specifically the R-3 Multi-Family District. The Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of a proposed zoning ordinance amendment. The change will allow non-residential uses such as professional offices and clinics to have a free standing or building façade sign of up to 32 square feet per side. The previous zoning ordinance permitted signs up to 20 sq. ft. for non-residential uses but this provision was dropped from the new sign section of the zoning ordinance. A 32 sq. ft. sign is consistent with the size of permitted portable signs. The attached memo from Community Development Director Bob Graham provides an overview of the revisions and recommendation.
See attached draft ordinance.
IX. CITY MANAGER REPORT
A. General updates will be provided at the meeting as needed.