Public Protection Committee
Monday, January 8, 2007, 6:00 P.M.
City Water Department, 300 Bliss Avenue

Present: Ald. Sevenich, Barber, Robinson, Trzebiatowski, Slowinski

Also Present: Clerk Moe, Mayor Wescott, C/T Schlice, City Attorney Molepske, Ald. Walther, Ald. Hanson, Ald. Wiza, Ald. Molski, Ald. Stroik, Ald. Moore, Chief Barnes, Chief Morris, Capt. Dowling, Director Gardner, Director Schrader, Director Halverson, Director Euclide, Assessor Kuehn, Specialist Jakusz, Andrew Halverson, MaryAnn Laszewski, Amy Heart, Doug Stingle, Penny Quirk, John Quirk, Stephen Decker, Pete Ananiadis, Reid Rocheleau, Alex Sanders, Norm Myers Sr., Gene Kemmeter (Gazette), Patrick Thornton (Journal)

Index to these minutes:

1. Recommendation on license list: A. New Operator's licenses. B. Temporary Class "B"/"Class B" Retailer's License to Bill Cook Chapter IWLA for 43rd Annual Ice Fisheree. C. Class "B" Beer and "Class C" Wine License to Marc Nicolas at New Mission Cafe.
2. Moose Lodge request for temporary change to licensed premise.
3. Request to hold Point Bock Run on Saturday, March 3, 2007, starting at noon.
4. Discussion on unlicensed vehicles in the City.
5. Recommendation of the December 2006 Inspection Report: A. Construction Starts. B. Violations.

1. Recommendation on license list:

A. New Operator's licenses.
B. Temporary Class "B"/"Class B" Retailer's License to Bill Cook Chapter IWLA for 43rd Annual Ice Fisheree.
C. Class "B" Beer and "Class C" Wine License to Marc Nicolas at New Mission Cafe.

Ald. Trzebiatowski moved, seconded by Ald. Barber, approval of the 21 New Operator licenses; Temporary Class "B"/"Class B" Retailer's license for the Bill Cook Chapter IWLA for the 43rd Annual Ice Fisheree on February 3, 2007; and a Class "B"/ "Class C" Wine License to Marc Nicolas at the New Mission Café, 1319 Strongs Ave. Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

2. Moose Lodge request for temporary change to licensed premise.

Ald. Barber moved, seconded by Ald. Slowinski, approval of the temporary change to the Moose Lodge Licensed Premise to remove the "Lodge Hall" from 3 P.M.- Midnight on February 17, 2006. Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

3. Request to hold Point Bock Run on Saturday, March 3, 2007, starting at noon.

Ald. Slowinski moved, seconded by Ald. Robinson, approval of the Point Bock Run on Saturday, March 3, 2007, starting at noon. Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

4. Discussion on unlicensed vehicles in the City.

Reid Rocheleau expressed his concern regarding unlicensed vehicles and vehicles that did not have parking permits in the City. He provided photographs of examples. He feels that the City could better address this problem by having the Police Department's parking enforcement take over from the Inspection Department. He feels that if there was stronger enforcement it would lead to fewer infractions and that the Police Department is better equipped to handle the job. Any revenue collected should be kept in parking enforcement and not placed in general revenue. He concluded saying that he hoped the committee would take this issue seriously, especially in the problem areas. If they did it would make the City look a lot nicer.

Capt. Dowling, in reviewing the photographs stated that of the three vehicles, one was towed, one was moved by the owner, and the third that had expired plates is registered but the new plates had not arrived yet. However, it does not have a current parking permit and that will be addressed. He believes using Police Department staff for this would not be a very good use of personnel. The Department has one person to handle complaints from downtown to the serious parking problems by the University and Rice Clinic/St. Michael's hospital area. The parking officer is very busy just with regular day-to-day activities. Also, under the ordinance vehicles need to be parked in the open. If you have to go into the backyard he did not think that fell under the ordinance. Right now the Department deals with vehicles that are abandoned on streets and parking lots and also assists landlords. The others fall under the purview of the Inspection Department.

Director Gardner stated the Inspection Department issued 123 notices last year, which turns out to be one every other workday. He feels to suggest that the ordinance is not being enforced in not entirely correct. He said they are staying on top of the problem as best they can.

City Attorney Molepske stated that the City has issued over 1440 notices on a range of issues. That means nearly 3000 calls made by the Inspectors. He also noted that Capt. Dowling is correct that we cannot go beyond the side of the house. The backyard is private unless they have a special inspection warrant on probable cause. He also stated that although unlicensed vehicles cannot be driven on the highways, they are not prohibited from being parked in a driveway or backyard.

Norm Myers Sr. commended the Police Department and said the Inspection Department has been very active from his experience.

Ald. Sevenich asked for comments from the other Alderpersons. The consensus was that if problems arose they were satisfied with the response from the City.

Chief Morris said there are some instances were multiple visits are necessary to deal with a problem.

MaryAnn Laszewski said that in regards to the registration of vehicles, Mr. Molepske said that if they were in the privacy of the backyard the registration does not have to be current. But if vehicles are in the public right-of-way or parking lot, such as the ones across from Pfiffner Park, then they do. Those three vehicles in that parking lot sat with unregistered plates for 2 and 3 years and have expired parking permits for one to two years, even with complaints being made. She also noted that on Shaurette Street there is a property that has had repeated violations and asked how many of the 123 notices have been resolved and what percentage continue to be a problem.

Director Gardner said that he could not say for a fact that all 123 situations have been resolved, but he thought they had been.

5. Recommendation of the December 2006 Inspection Report:

A. Construction Starts.
B. Violations.

Ald. Robinson moved, seconded by Ald. Barber, approval of the Inspection Report for December 2006 and to have it placed on file. Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

Adjourned 6:41 p.m.

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