Agenda - Council - 02/13/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Kuzma noted that the Police Department has these sound meters. Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Swalchick said he also has a sound meter; however, they have not been calibrated since he started working for the City and that it is hard for them to take an hour sample with their devices. Councilmember Musgrove shared that she thinks some of the titling seems a little inconsistent and lacking in connective terminology between the subtitles. Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Swalchick said they can format this in whatever way possible. He noted that since this is the Nuisance Code, they could eliminate the word `nuisance' from any titles since it is all a part of this code. Councilmember Howell shared that she had heard a comment about the licenses being required for tree services and that this is what Minneapolis does and added that the people who do not bother to get a license up in the north metro as they would not have the expectation that they should get one. She noted this will not keep those unlicensed to do this work from coming into town. She said she does not know why they would require a City license for tree trimming unless it is just to collect more revenue. She added that she sees this as an impediment to small businesses and would like to see this be removed. Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Swalchick shared he has been doing code enforcement for a long time and one of the shadiest businesses he has come across is tree trimming. He noted he has cited more illegal tree trimmers for damaging people's properties and leaving debris across roadways than one could imagine. He added that a lot of metro cities do license tree trimming companies. He explained they are required to be licensed due to tree diseases being spread to parks and with trees being a valuable resource, they need to have an arborist on Staff. He noted that the idea behind the licensing fee is not to prevent small businesses from doing their work, but rather as a safeguard for residents. He said that requiring a license for these companies sets the good people who are doing the right thing up to help the residents. Councilmember Howell said these stories prove her point as a disreputable person is not going to get a City license either and it would require the homeowner to check and see if they have a license. She noted that a license would not get the City out of this bind, it only puts another burden on the business owners that are doing the responsible thing. She stated that requiring a City license is not going to deter disreputable people; however, it may deter reputable businesses. Mayor Kuzma stated he likes the fact that City licenses would be required as a lot of homeowners do not think about checking to make sure that the company they are working with is bonded and insured. Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Swalchick explained this makes things easy for him when he stops at a tree trimming site to ask the tree trimmer if they are licensed in the City. He shared he has written tickets for tree trimmers, and they have then gone to get their license from the City for a very low amount and the City is also able to check their insurances and the requirements so that City Council Work Session /January 23, 2024 Page 7 of 9