Posted: 2/12/03

Adult entertainment rules are subject of Wyoming City Council action

Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

In action taken Feb. 3, Wyoming City Council unanimously adopted a resolution amending parts of four existing ordinances establishing regulations for any adult entertainment businesses seeking to locate in the city.

Such establishments are to be limited to the southern end of the cityís industrial park. Other changes specify the internal and external features of buildings; owner and employee background checks; police investigation procedures, licensing requirements, and fees; limitations on the transfer of ownership; annual license renewal; hours of operation; health inspection requirements; and refinements to the ordinance defining nudity and prohibiting public indecency.

Chip Yeager, planning commission chair, reported no one other than commission members attended the public hearing. Letters were sent to all property owners within 500 feet of the area to be zoned for adult entertainment.

City Attorney Tom Miller reported license fees are to be set to cover the cost of inspections. Although consulted during the draft work, copies of the ordinance changes are to be sent to the police department for final comments.

Ed Andler Day

Council members were unanimous in declaring Sunday Feb. 9 as Ed Andler Day in Wyoming. Language in the letter of recognition to the former council member addressed his diligent work for the city, ìattention to detail, especially in budgetary matters.î

It details his 22 years of service to the city, from 1980 to 2002, beginning with the planning commission and on city council. Many projects in the city ìbear Ed Andlerís mark.î

In his remarks, Andler told council ìI took a lot of pride coming to the meetings prepared.î He said it was a lot of work, but ìI loved every minute of it.î

Council also passed a resolution of appreciation for Dave Bergeron, for his service on the maintenance department. While an employee with the wastewater treatment operation he received commendations from the MPCA for six consecutive years. His work was a contribution to the smooth operation of this system.

Fire topic

The council voted to support the position of Wyoming firefighters who are opposed to a proposal brought before the State Pensions and Retirement Commission, authorizing expenditure of up to $300,000 for a study relating to the management of firefighter pensions.

Tri-county Firefighters have expressed opposition to this proposal to State Sen. Bob Kierlin and former Sen. Kenric Scheevel. The concern is that this is a ìfirst step toward the elimination of local control and management of the fund.î Kierlin and Scheevel have taken the position that ìusing pension funds for a management study is totally inappropriate!î CM Martin English presented the letter to the council.

Council learned the city is to be hooked up to high speed internet service. Appropriate security precautions will be installed to protect data in each department.

Building updates

City Administrator Dennis Coryell reported there are some unresolved questions related to the Ebenezer Society Preliminary Plat.

City Engineer Lee Elfering is organizing a meeting with Ebenezer officials and surveyors to address some of the problems with access and drainage on the Fairview hospital campus in Wyoming.

Ebenezer is asking the city to be an agent for the sale of bonds to finance construction of the proposed housing. Conduit financing is an economic development tool that is available for non-profit organizations to use.

There is no financial risk to the city as it ìacts as a pass through for the bondsî to finance the building process.

A meeting is tentatively scheduled March 3 with financial advisor Kirsten Barness to provide information to council. If built, the facility would contribute to housing diversity and add to property tax revenue.

CM Lynn Koalska reported the park board is scheduling a meeting to work on an outdoor recreation grant to help pay for improvements to Goodview Park. The grants are competitive, but there are only about 80 applicants in the pool instead of 100. It is anticipated the rough draft will be ready March 1.

Kevin Teel reported the park board is waiting on bids for well and irrigation system for Goodview Park. Once bids are in a final decision will be made on whether to include the irrigation system. He will contact Wyoming Township about its contribution.

English and Coryell attended seminar on business retention and expansion. Part of the training was how to conduct interviews with business owners. Three teams are to interview owners of 19 businesses in Wyoming to find out what concerns they have and how city can help them.

With the recent snowfall, residents are reminded city parks are off-limits to motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles. Police officers will enforce the ordinances. Residents are reminded to keep sidewalks clear.

Other business

In other business, council:

ïLearned the police department may be receiving two computers for the office, from Minnesota BCA, because their computers are being replaced.

ïLearned from English the fire department wants to schedule a Saturday meeting with council.

ïLearned the DARE program is up and running at Wyoming Elementary School.

ïLearned police officer Sonnen is to be activated with the military April 1 and will be gone from the department for one year.

ïLearned from Attorney Miller, the sale of the Morrell property is stalled because the sellers want an easement across city land to the south for trucks.

ïLearned several street lights are out in the city. Xcel is responsible for replacing bulbs.

ïIs awaiting a response from the developers of Stars and Strikes on the draft development agreement and draft purchase agreement.

ïLearned that while the city has been dismissed from the suit brought by the Hackels, related to the closing of Faxton Ave., Miller and Coryell have agreed to participate in the dispute, which may include acquisition of the Hackel property.

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