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Citizen Input <br />Ron Patten, 16321 Jasper Street NW, Ramsey, stated he has made several police calls regarding <br />semi trailers parked on this commercial property overnight. He said his concern is that it is <br />unknown what the semis are hauling or storing. It could be hazardous materials. He noted he <br />spoke with Mr. Anderson and learned the base is not thick enough for the semis to be parked <br />there. Mr. Patten noted he spoke with Police Chief Katers as well. Police Chief Katers had said <br />he would have his night staff check on the situation. Mr. Patten said one of the officers <br />explained they could tag the vehicles if warranted. Mr. Patten stated he followed up and found <br />no tagging. He said he has called in the license plates at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. He asked if the semis <br />would be able to continue parking on this property without any improvements being made if this <br />easement goes back to being owned by the property owners. He stated he has been a resident for <br />40 years, and has not seen commercial semis parked at gas stations throughout the city. He said <br />he is familiar with hazardous materials from his firefighter training, and this is his concern with <br />the semis. <br />Mayor Strommen asked Community Development Director Gladhill to explain how the code <br />enforcement issues would be impacted with the vacation of the easement. <br />Community Development Director Gladhill explained if this road is vacated, it becomes off <br />street parking, and the Commercial Off Street Parking Section in the ordinance will apply. This <br />governs the type of surface and materials that can be there. He noted the City has had to work <br />with this property on several occasions. There is a gravel -type area, which is better described as <br />grass where no vegetation is left. If the trucks want to continue to park in that area, the area will <br />need to be paved. There are some areas of paved material where commercial vehicles related to <br />the commercial business can be parked legally. Commercial parking is allowed; it is a <br />commercial business. There will be a limit on how many semis can be parked there. Staff will <br />work with the property owner to have them self -police. If issues continue to arise, then there <br />will be code violations to work through. <br />Mr. Patten stated he talked with Police Chief Katers regarding the possibility of these same semis <br />coming back. If they do, Police Chief Katers said he could write the store a 14 day letter. Mr. <br />Patten questioned at what hour the citations and tagging could start. He noted he has called the <br />City 30 to 40 times, and he has not found that citations had been issued. <br />Community Development Director Gladhill responded in this case, it would become off-street <br />parking, so the officers wouldn't have to wait until the off-street parking hours begin. He <br />advised to begin with giving the owner a 14 day period to comply. Under the new provisions, it <br />would be best to start with issuing citations. The fee escalates with repeat offenses. This does <br />become an effective tool. <br />Mayor Strommen reviewed there are two issues. The action before the Council is one issue, and <br />code enforcement is another. She asked Community Development Director Gladhill to provide a <br />brief update on the code enforcement issues progress at a future Council meeting. <br />City Council / January 11, 2016 <br />Page 5 of 11 <br />