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Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Council members sworn in and discussion of city code, joint lobbying,Tom Hedges, Bea Blomquist,Ted W - 9/1/1984Council discusses city code, joint lobbying By JEFF BURRILL The first Eagan City Council meeting of 1984 was held Tues- day, Jan. 3, and featured a city code update reported by City Ad- ministrator Tom Hedges. "1984 will be the biggest year yet for changes in the city code," Hedges explained. "There will be a major housecleaning, along with implementation of all the amendments voted on by the council during the,past year." All ordinances passed by the council during 1983 have been for- warded to codifer Rodger Jensen for inclusion in the city code up- date, while there are additional pending ordinances which are eligible to be included in the up- date, subject to council approval. These ordinances include: dangerous weapons and articles - carrying and transporting firearms (Ordinance 9 ) ; dangerous weapons and articles -use of bow and arrow (Or- dinance 11); curfew - provision for 16 -and 17 -year olds (Or- dinance 12); and a fire alarm or- dinance (not yet numbered). Two ordinance changes are also under consideration and will require hearings. They are: day care facilities (Ordinance 6) and subdivision requirements - lot splits (Ordinance 13). These or- dinances, however, will not be in- cluded in the current code up- date. "All the ordinance changes will be outlined and made available to the council for its approval," Hedges continued. "We will be meeting with Rodger Jensen Jan. 5 to hopefully complete the code update." Council members then discuss- ed the curfew ordinance and decided that some changes should be made in it, if, in fact, it is even constitutional. "Well for one thing, there are kids working at restaurants at night who are under 18," Council Member Jim Smith said. "They certainly don't qualify as curfew breakers. And if we use the curfew just as a sweep once a month, does it really belong on the books ?" Council Member Jerry Thomas added, "The idea of the or- dinance is to use it as more of a tool to deal with loitering." Council, see page 3 SWORN IN for their new terms of office on the Eagan City Council by City Ad- ministrator Tom Hedges, left, were, from left, Council Member Jim Smith, Mayor Bea Blomquist and Council Member Ted Wachter. Smith and Wachter were reelected to four -year terms, while Blomquist's term is for two years. All four can- didates ran unopposed in last November's election. Eagan Your Community Newspaper Council continued from front "But the state has come up with a law that says age cannot be a factor for some acts," coun- cil member Ted Wachter offered. "In effect, it says that just because you're 16 doesn't mean you have any less right to stand under a light post late at night than a 19- year -old. I feel we should sit down and discuss this ruling before putting our curfew ordinance into effect. And if we do put it into effect, we must sure- ly make provisions for youths who work night shifts." Under the city code update, the council also discussed penalties for businesses with faulty fire alarm systems, including provi- sions for reimbursement to the ci- ty for the cost of sending out fire equipment on false alarms. The council will again address, then decide on the curfew and fire alarm ordinances in the near future. Concerning the city code up- date, the council voted to direct Hedges to proceed with the an- nual review of the city code, which will be voted on at a later date. The council also discussed the possibility of becoming involved in a joint lobbying process with other metropolitan area cities. "What we're addressing here is combining efforts to cut down ex- penses by sharing costs with other cities to hire a qualified lob- byist to pursue restoration of local government aid we've lost, along with additional aid we're expected to lose," Hedges said. "There are 10 to 12 metro area cities who have met to discuss a joint lobbying effort, which would give us the strength of about 500,000 people being represented. We've brainstorm- ed as to whether 12 or more cities could work together in a joint ef- fort, or if it would be better if we lobbied in lots of three to five cities, putting together cities with comparable needs. I wanted to bring these options to the Eagan council to see what its thoughts are, though I do feel if we go it alone, the cost of paying our own lobbyist would be very expensive." Following discussion by the council, Smith moved Hedges continue attending the joint lob- byist meetings and the council consider the idea of the joint lob- bying venture. The motion pass- ed. (Following a study, the cities Eagan would like to work with will be determined, with those cities seeking fiscal disparity similar to Eagan's sought out.) IN OTHER ACTION, THE COUNCIL: SCHEDULED an open house for the new city hall for Sunday, Feb. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. (Further information concerning the open house will be carried in a later issue of Thisweek newspaper.) SCHEDULED Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. to interview new planning and park commission candidates. Interviews will be held in the city council chambers. SCHEDULED an HRA meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the council chambers, with the council meeting to follow at 6:45. APPROVED the final resolu- tion for the Fish Lake Park grant application. APPROVED the sale of the us- ed police car to Metro Auto Salvage for $1,675. APPROVED the landscape plan and outdoor storage for • Equipment Rental Business. DENIED Gabbert Develop- ment's request for preliminary plat approval for Westbury development. CONTINUED consideration of another Gabbert Development request for Westbury preliminary plat approval until after the company's represen- tatives meet with the Eagan park board concerning a landlocked strip of land on the property in question. APPROVED acceptance of utilities installed in Norwest First Addition. APPROVED acceptance of utilities installed in Oakwood Heights Addition. CONTINUED consideration of public official's liability in- surance. THISWEEK JANIIARY,9, 1.984 $