ALEXANDRIA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

Monday, March 16, 2015

A regular Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Ken Ryan.

The following members were present: Parrott, Jensen, Thalman, Ryan, Miller

The following members were absent: Anderson

The following advisory members were present: Weber, Schoonhoven

Under the procedures established by the Commission on October 1, 1973, the minutes of the February 17, 2015 meeting were approved.

1. Old & Other Business

A. Final Plat – “South Lawn First Addition”

This is a replat of existing platted property for the purposes of providing new descriptions for the area of burials on the southerly end of Sunset Memorial Park at Kinkead Cemetery. No new construction is contemplated as a result of this replat.

Authorization: This final plat process is authorized by City Code Section 11.03, Subdivision 3. Since this is a replat of previously platted property, no public hearing is required.

Location: The property is located east of CSAH NO. 22, north of Alexandria Industries (formerly Alexandria Extrusion).

Utilities: The site is served by existing public water and sanitary sewer. No change in utilities is contemplated.

Park Dedication: Since this is a replat of previously platted property, with no increase in residential density, no park dedication or park fee is required.

Vacation of Public Ways: In addition to this replat, a portion of the existing public ways as dedicated in the original plat of South Lawn has been previously vacated. (Planning Commission and Council action taken in June, 2014).

Recommendation: Since it appears this proposal meets or exceeds the relevant provisions of the City Code, staff recommends approval as presented.

Mike Weber, City Planner, updated the Commission on the replat.

Following further discussion a motion was made by Parrott and seconded by Jensen to approve the Final Plat for “South Lawn First Addition”.

The motion carried by the following vote:

YES: Parrott, Jensen, Thalman, Miller

NO: None

ABSENT: Anderson

B. Continuation of Hearing – Rental Registration Ordinance

Local property owners who have multiple-site rental properties were asked to join us this evening to give input on the current rental registration process. We also received correspondence via email:

Vern Jackson, 3706 Tolena Rd NE, owns several rental properties in Alexandria. The following email was received from Mr. Jackson on February 12, 2015:

Hi again Mike. A few thoughts: Current HRA inspection program is adequate from our perspective. If it raises the bar even a little, it is better than no program. It seems each of our units in the city limits are inspected about every 3 years more or less. Kelly G. sends out notices about 2-3 weeks in advance to us. She is always punctual and so am I in meeting her at the property and notifying our renters. She always tells me our units are some of the best she views, which they are. She spends perhaps about 15 min max in our units and has a check list but always looks for egress windows in basements, broken window panes, leaky plumbing fixtures, seals on refrigerators and smoke detectors on each level other items. Now what I really feel is important: Smoke detectors should be required in each sleeping room in addition to each level. I had a long discussion w. fire marshal today and he and I agree regardless of the age of the unit. I do as a landlord place them in each sleeping room although they are battery operated and not connected to a system as they are in new construction. Yes, some renters take the batteries out (but is is rare for my renters) and I usually catch the culprits. CO detectors too are required within 10 feet of each sleeping room. Your program is fair from our viewpoint. What about the landlords who are under the radar? In the city and in the county-there are probably many who do not report their rental units for a host of reasons. Perhaps your focus should be on them. Call me anytime 815-2078. I really don’t like meetings in the evenings, so unless there is a compelling reason, I decline your invite. Vern

Mary Jo Thompson, 120 Carlos Avenue, owns several rental properties in Alexandria. The following letter was received from Ms. Thompson dated February 4, 2015:

Hi Mike! I had the Minneapolis rental license department e-mail me a copy of one of our old rental licenses. I know Alex is open to ideas and help from other cities-look at the new taxi licensing. Haven’t seen a taxi since! Now that I’ve picked myself up from the floor laughing about that…! Here-for maybe the last time-is my argument for changing the physical structure of city licensing for rental properties. Quit printing out licenses that are supposed to be in or near every single unit. Only motels post things on their doors, and usually that’s just a notice about getting a life-time sentence for defrauding an innkeeper! My tenants don’t want to look at these on or near their apartment entries, and certainly not anywhere inside! I wouldn’t, and don’t! I would expect them to get ripped off and placed in the circular file or, if we’re lucky, the recycling bin.

Minneapolis requires one license be conspicuously posted. Ours was always inside the front entry. If you have a locked entry, they can be framed and mounted outside the entry. I think the landlord’s phone number(s) and possibly an email address should also be on the license so all means of communication are public. A one-page license per building is a thing of beauty; information readily available to anyone who wants it. Several centuries ago when I was a renter, I used the information on posted rental licenses to contact landlords about upcoming vacancies in buildings which interested me. Additionally, anyone having a concern about anything about my property can use the posted information to contact me.

I also like the full listing of the ordinance on the license, plus the information about the Minnesota Attorney General. The existing licenses are pretty much a waste of paper and ink, methinks! You have probably figured out by now there isn’t anything about them that I like. Although the licenses have probably all been mailed for this year, I think this should go into effect immediately. I’m still thinking about posting all of mine. Haven’t done it yet. Don’t want to. Might not! Haven’t been this rebellious since 1965, and it feels great! By the way, I think I’m going to name our home on Lake Aggie “Brigadoon”. Where else could I live and when the snow falls, Virgil’s house across the lake disappears, only to reappear later? Best Regards, Mary Jo Thompson

Mr. Weber indicated the public hearing will remain open for a few more months. He is hoping to have draft language drafted by June or July with any changes effective in August or September before the October 1st mailing goes out. Whatever changes are recommended will need to go to the Legislative Committee for review and forwarding to the Council.

C. Continuation of Hearing – Mobile Vendors

Letters of invitation were sent out or hand delivered to all brick-and-mortar restaurants in the City, inviting their attendance or comments. We also received correspondence via email:

Carrie Thompson, Bellas on Broadway. The following email was received from Ms. Thompson on March 10, 2015:

Hi Mike, Thank you for giving a voice to restaurant owners in this matter. As a restaurant owner in downtown Alexandria, we have had to deal with a recession, parking lot construction one summer, construction from the Glenwood to Alex road another summer, another parking lot remodel, and a whole tear up of Broadway Street. This has been devastating to say the least. We were all hoping we would have ONE summer where we could actually run our business without something that hinders our progress. Thanks for your time! Carrie Thompson, Bellas on Broadway

Mary Anderson, Bellas on Broadway. The following email was received from Ms. Anderson on March 10, 2015:

Hi Mike, I write you this email not only as a employee of Bella’s on Broadway, but also a family member to the owners of Bella’s, and the owner of the building Bella’s on Broadway is located within. I represent myself, as well as Luke Anderson and Sharon Beseke who are also co-owners of the building. We are HIGHLY against the proposal to allow food trucks in town. We have seen how Bella’s on Broadway has struggled to stay open for 7 years. This is certainly not for a lack of trying. They have (and continue) to work so hard…not only for themselves but also for their employees AND the customers.

This is also not only because of the recession. The recession was such a punch in the stomach for ALL businesses, but especially small town, locally owned “Mom and Pop shops”. Food, beer, and wine costs have continued to rise tremendously in spite of this recession. Restaurant owners have had to drop prices to get people to just walk in their doors even though their food/beer/wine costs have risen. Restaurants also have to pay extra fees such as licenses for food and a separate license for drink. There are only just 2 examples of the extra cost that restaurants have as compared to other retail business. I could keep going on the extra cost restaurants have compared to regular retail stores, but I think you probably see my point.

I’m assuming most of these food trucks would be mainly downtown. Let’s not forget that just within a block or two of Bella’s on Broadway downtown we have SIX restaurants already: Bella’s on Broadway, Broadway Bistro, Rappers, Travelers, Downtown Diner and 6th Ave Wine and Ale. Competition is always good…but come on…this is too much for a small town where these restaurants rely on just 4 SHORT months of the year to survive. These 4 SHORT months are supposed to pay the bills throughout the year??? It’s pretty much impossible already and imagine what you would do to these small town, LOCALLY OWNED, YEAR ROUND businesses if you add even more competition; especially during their “busy” months. It would be devastating. It is simply not fair. You will soon see 6 EMPTY buildings in downtown Alex. I’m not exaggerating a bit. It is a reality. Is that really better for our downtown? As the owner of one of these buildings-it is certainly not my ideal.

Let’s also not forget about the employees (who have families) that these restaurants employ. What about them? The public would probably think that restaurant employees come and go. Not true in small town restaurants. At Bella’s alone we have 9 full time employees. Out of these 9 employees, 6 of the employees have been with Bella’s well before Bella’s on Broadway in Alex opened. They started almost 15 years ago when Café Bella in Glenwood opened. This is a REAL job to them. A REAL job that will be threatened by a hot dog truck. Just a side not-I’m not including all the part-time employees Bella’s employs. In our eyes they matter too!! This may sound a bit dramatic but it is really a reality.

The only word I think of when I hear this idea is devastating. I really hope the city will reconsider this idea. These businesses that will be affected by these trucks are here YEAR round Mom and Pop shops and they contribute to our town YEAR round. They provide YEAR round jobs, they pay taxes YEAR round, and they MAKE A DIFFERENCE to the people in our town YEAR round. Will the food trucks do the same? Alexandria is not Minneapolis…Alexandria is not St. Paul…Alexandria is not big enough to have food trucks. Please reconsider. Mary & Luke Anderson, Sharon Beseke

Matthew Jensen, Broadway Bistro. The following information was received from Mr. Jensen on March 12, 2015:

1. Supports the idea of licensing food trucks, believing that such competition would be good.

2. Does believe that protection for existing brick-and-mortar restaurants is vital. Would like at least a two-block buffer (700 feet?) from brick-and-mortar sites.

3. Food trucks should be allowed City-wide, including private property at the request or invitation of the property owner (Douglas Machines, for example), public property such as parks, and on the street (particularly near the courthouse or Big Ole Central Park).

4. We should define what a brick-and-mortar establishment is quite carefully-would a grocery store with a sandwich bar/deli be considered such?

5. Set a clear limit on the number of licenses available – no more than 12 perhaps?

6. Food trucks should be licensed annually, and allowed to operate year-round, keeping the same hours as bars do.

7. Could we reserve or lease on-street spaces near the courthouse or Big Ole Central Park?

8. Overnight parking – where, for how long?

Andy Rassat, Raaper’s Eatery & Ale. The following email was received from Mr. Rassat on March 15, 2015:

Mike, Thanks for giving us a heads up on the Food Truck Vendor issue being discussed at the city council meeting on Monday. I will be unable to attend the meeting, but I would like to thank you for your time and efforts in passing on my input regarding this subject.

The following items are concerns that I have regarding the “Brick & Mortar” establishments versus “Mobile Vendors”.

1. Health Inspectors will be spread even thinner than they already are, leading to increased costs and inefficiency.

2. We spend a lot of money in advertising to sway customers downtown – the food trucks will benefit from our advertising dollars if they are allowed to setup downtown.

3. The food trucks will take up valuable parking spaces and stalls resulting in loss of business for all downtown businesses.

4. Increased trash on the streets or in city provided trash receptacles resulting in increased cost of garbage removal and beauty of our downtown.

5. Food trucks do not provide restrooms or hand washing stations for customers resulting in people using our facilities and increasing our expenses.