January 16, 2018 Work Session Minutes
CITY OF SPRING PARK
WORK SESSION MINUTES
JANUARY 16, 2018 – 6:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER - The work session was called to order by Mayor Rockvam at 6:01 p.m.
Council Members Present: Jerry Rockvam, Mayor; Pamela Horton; Gary Hughes; Catherine Kane Palen, and Megan Pavot
Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; Nancy Jensen Beck, City Attorney; and Theresa Schyma, City Clerk.
1. FOOD TRUCKS DISCUSSION – City Clerk Schyma stated that the owners of Back Channel Brewery, 4787 Shoreline Drive, would like to know if the City Council is open to altering or removing the annual number of operating days for food trucks in the city. She stated the current ordinance has an 84 day limit per property. She presented the food truck licensing statistics from September through December of 2017.
Mayor Rockvam asked why the restriction was written into the original ordinance.
City Clerk Schyma responded that the City Planner’s thinking was to help protect the interest of brick and mortar restaurants in the City by limiting the amount of days a mobile food vendor could operate within the city limits. While preparing the ordinance the City Planner used example ordinances from other communities that he contracts with but finding a comparable community with Spring Park’s unique makeup is difficult.
Mayor Rockvam stated he was in favor of removing the restriction and then reevaluating the issue in six months.
The City Council consensus was to remove the restriction.
City Attorney Jensen Beck suggested that the Council consider an amendment to the City Code at an upcoming meeting and then revisit the issue in one year to see if further alteration of the Code is necessary.
The City Council consensus was to have staff prepare an ordinance amendment to be considered at the February 5 City Council meeting which would remove the food truck limit of annual operating days. The Council further directed staff to put this same issue back on the Council calendar so that the change can be reevaluated at the end of the year.
2. 2017 CITY PRIORITIES RECAP – City Administrator Tolsma presented a recap of the City priorities and accomplishments of 2017.
The City Council thanked City Administrator Tolsma for his recap of a pretty successful year.
3. 2018 CITY PRIORITIES DISCUSSION – City Administrator Tolsma asked the Council for feedback on their main priorities for 2018.
Council Member Hughes asked for an update on the sidewalk repairs and replacement.
City Administrator Tolsma stated that the project is ready to go but the City did not receive any bids last year due to the time of year; the project will go out for bid again in 2018 and the results will be reviewed.
Council Member Kane Palen stated that the safety concerns at the intersection of County Roads 15 and 125 (Shoreline Drive and Interlachen Road) need to be a priority.
City Administrator Tolsma discussed the potential schedule for playground upgrades at the City’s two parks. He also discussed the possibility of putting the playground upgrades and sidewalk repairs on the same bid.
Council Member Pavot described the proposed layout upgrades to the City’s parks.
Council Member Kane Palen reminded staff that she agrees with the Planning Commission consensus about having the parks rededicated with the addition of historical markers after all improvements have been made.
Mayor Rockvam asked for an update on potential redevelopment in the City.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that the particular development group that was inquiring about properties on Shoreline Drive has moved on; however, the realtor is continuing to shop the properties around to other potential developers. City Administrator Tolsma also relayed the message to the realtor that the Council is open to possible changes in zoning for those properties.
Mayor Rockvam stated that he likes the idea of having the Planning Commission work on a commercial outdoor storage ordinance in 2018.
The Council consensus was that a commercial outdoor storage ordinance is a priority for 2018.
Mayor Rockvam requested that when photos of commercial outdoor storage issues are used in the newsletter or posted online that the images are of Spring Park properties.
City Clerk Schyma responded that the reason photos of similar situations from other communities were used is so that it didn’t look like staff was targeting specific properties in the city.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that addresses can be blurred out on photos if the Council would like only Spring Park properties to be used in the photographic examples of outdoor storage.
Council Member Kane Palen stated that if the City is looking for redevelopment then it also makes sense to consider a rental ordinance as a priority in 2018. She also would like to see a current inventory and analysis of what types of rental housing are available in Spring Park.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that the City has a wide spectrum of rental opportunities for people at all income levels. However, without a current licensing process it would be difficult to get an accurate inventory of rental properties in the City.
Council Member Hughes stated he is in favor of looking at a rental ordinance and licensing process. He does not want a tragedy to happen in Spring Park because of rental housing that has never been inspected to see if it meets minimum health and safety standards.
Mayor Rockvam stated that staff does receive complaints from renters living in bad conditions with unresponsive landlords. He added that he isn’t sure how involved the City should be in rental matters but this is an issue that should be reviewed.
Council Member Pavot stated she is in favor of a rental ordinance and licensing process.
4. MISCELLANEOUS – City Administrator Tolsma asked for Council feedback regarding the second regular meeting in February.
The Council consensus was that if there are no critical agenda items, the February 20 work session and regular meeting could be cancelled.
City Administrator Tolsma announced he would not be attending the regular meeting due to illness.
5. ADJOURN – The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:58 p.m.
Date Approved: February 5, 2018
_________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator
_________________________
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk