CITY OF RIVER FALLS: 5/8/12 Council Meeting Minutes

CITY OF RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN

COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

May 8, 2012

Mayor Dan Toland called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall.

City Council Members Present: Tom Caflisch, David Cronk, Christopher Gagne, Randy Kusilek, Scott Morrissette, Jim Nordgren, David Reese

City Council Members Absent: None

Staff Present: John Behling, City Attorney; Carl Gaulke, Utility General Manager; Roger Leque, Police Chief; Julie Bergstrom, Finance Director/Assistant City Administrator; Scott Nelson, Fire Chief; Mike Moody, Assistant Fire Chief

Others Present: Debbie Griffin

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

April 24, 2012, Regular Meeting Minutes

MSC Cronk/Morrissette move to approve minutes as submitted. Unanimous.

April 17, 2012, Organizational Meeting Minutes

MSC Morrissette/Caflisch move to approve minutes as submitted. Unanimous.

APPROVAL OF BILLS:

City Bills - $2,116,502.04

MSC Morrissette/Caflisch move to approve the bills subject to the comptroller. Unanimous.

PUBLIC COMMENT, PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND

COMMUNICATIONS:

Alderperson Kusilek reported that $13,500 was raised for the LUCAS campaign. The hospital is providing matching funds so the Ambulance Service can get two LUCAS devices. He thanked Jeff Rixmann for his hard work.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Resolution Approving 2011 River Falls Fire Department Annual Report -- Pulled by Nordgren

Resolution Regarding City Fee Schedule -- Pulled by Morrissette

Resolution No. 5600 - Approving Job Description for Youth Services Librarian

MSC Cronk/Morrissette move to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Unanimous.

Resolution No. 5601 - Regarding City Fee Schedule

Alderperson Morrissette asked City staff to check and see how many Home Occupancy permits were issued in the last six years. He said one permit per year was issued. He felt that raising the fee to $100 was too much.

MS Morrissette/Cronk move to reduce the fee from $100 to $50 for a permit.

City Administrator Simpson provided clarification on the number of permits issued and also their length of term.

Reese asked for an explanation about special assessment and utility searches. Finance Director/Assistant City Administrator Bergstrom said the charge was for outside parties requesting information. She said it was to cover any research charges incurred by the City.

With no further discussion, the Mayor asked for a vote on the amendment. The amendment passed unanimously.

MSC Morrissette/Gagne move to pass the resolution as amended. Unanimous.

Resolution No. 5602 - Approving 2011 River Falls Fire Department Annual Report

Nordgren said he pulled the report so Chief Nelson could give an overview. Chief Nelson explained that he could highlight the report and also do the Inspection Report at the same time and then stand for questions. MSC Reese/Nordgren move to approve the resolution. Unanimous.

REPORTS:

Fire Inspections Report

Fire Chief Nelson introduced Assistant Fire Chief Moody. Chief Nelson provided a brief update. He noted inspections were done for safety purposes for firefighters, emergency responders, and for the workers and customers of the property. It is also required by law. He said there are 572 properties inspected in River Falls and 125 outside the City limits. He talked about the basic things they look for such as exits, fire extinguishers, and sprinkler and alarm systems. Chief Nelson explained the history and the evolution of the inspection program. He talked about falling short of the number of inspections required by the state. Chief Nelson said goals were put in place to try and help the situation. Chief Nelson turned the podium over to Assistant Chief Moody.

Chief Moody listed the goals as: inspect all commercial properties yearly, provide consistent inspections, and maintain an easily accessible database. He talked about the inspectors and their duties. He also talked about benefits of updating the records management system and the software. He talked about inspection frequency and adopting an ordinance to change the frequency of inspections to yearly.

Alderperson Gagne asked about the wording of the possible ordinance change. There was further discussion and clarification about wording and the number of inspections. Alderperson Reese asked about ‘dead spots’ in the City. There was further discussion.

Alderperson Caflisch asked a clarifying question about changing the ordinance. Chief Moody indicated the code would allow a change. Administrator Simpson told the Council more information would be provided to them. Alderperson Gagne asked if more inspectors could be added. Chief Nelson said by having four inspectors, the inspections are more consistent. There were further discussions about the frequency of inspections.

Administrator’s Report

City Administrator Simpson provided information about the spring cleanup, a Council workshop and a Chamber Business Breakfast.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mayor’s Appointment

POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION AND AMBULANCE

COMMISSION

Reappointment of Dan Vande Yacht to the Police and Fire Commission and Ambulance Commission through April 2017

MS Caflisch/Morrissette move to approve reappointment. Reese asked if he was a City resident. Simpson said yes. The reappointment was approved unanimously.

MSC Morrissette/Cronk move to approve the Mayor’s appointments. Unanimous.

National Preservation Month Proclamation

The Mayor read the proclamation.

CLOSED SESSION:

MS Caflisch/Cronk move to recess into Closed Session at 7:11 p.m. per Wisconsin State Statutes § 19.85 (1)(g) for the following purposes:

“Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved; to-wit: legal issue: update on current legal cases involving the City of River Falls.”

The roll call vote to recess into Closed Session was unanimous.

Council had discussion on items for Closed Session consideration.

RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION:

MSC Caflisch/Cronk move to adjourn into open session at 7:50 p.m. Unanimous.

MSC Cronk/Caflisch move to adjourn meeting at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristi McKahan, Deputy City Clerk

_______________________________ (Pub. 05/31/12) WNAXLP

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