HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 6, 1991OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 6, 1991
The Special Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Carlson at
6:30 p.m..
1. ROLL CALL
Nawrocki, Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Carlson - present
2. PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING
To adopt three resolutions which address canvass of the
municipal General election returns, 'proposed route of the
LiGht Rail Transit system in Columbia HeiGhts, and urGinG
support of the Cable Consumer Competitiveness Act.
3. APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY PRO TEM
Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to appoint William
Elrite as Secretary Pro-Tem. Roll call: All ayes
4. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS
a. Resolution No. 91-64; Canvassing Municipal General Election
Returns
Motion by Clerkin, second by Peterson to waive the reading of
the resolution there being ample copies available for the
public. Roll call: All ayes
RESOLUTION NO. 91-64
CANVASSING MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION RETURNS
WHEREAS: the City of Columbia HeiGhts, did on the 5th day of
November, 1991, conduct and hold a General Municipal Election
for the purpose of electing a Mayor and two members to the
Council; and
WHEREAS: the City Council of the City of Columbia HeiGhts at
a meeting of said Council held on the 6th day of November,
1991, did canvass the returns and results of said General
Municipal Election; and
WHEREAS: the following results were determined by said canvass
of said General Municipal Election to wit:
Total ballots cast in election 2,303
Valid votes cast for Mayor 2,301
Non-valid ballots for Mayor 2
Special Council Meeting
November 6, 1991
page 2
Valid votes cast for Council
Non-valid ballots for Council
VOTES FOR MAYOR
Edward M. Carlson
Donald J. Murzyn, Jr.
Write-ins
VOTES FOR COUNCIL
Gary L. Peterson
Robert W. Ruettimann
Write-ins
3,589
1,017
953
1,330
18
1,844
1,663
82
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Columbia Heights, that Donald J. Murzyn, Jr. is hereby
elected Mayor, and Gary L. Peterson and Robert W. Ruettimann
are hereby elected members to the City Council; assuming said
office on January 1, 1992, and being officially seated at the
first regular meeting of the City Council in 1992.
Passed this 6th day of November, 1991.
Offered by:
Seconded by:
Roll call:
Peterson
Clerkin
All ayes
Mayor Edward M. Carlson
William Elrite, Secretary Pro-Tem
Resolution No. 91-63; Light Rail Transit
Members of the Council had requested some adjustments be made
to the draft resolution when it was presented for Council
consideration at a previous Counci! meeting. The City Manager
reviewed the changes made to the draft.
Motion by Clerkin, second by Ruettimann to waive the reading
of the resolution there being ample copies available for the
public. Roll call: All ayes
RESOLUTION NO. 91-63
LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT
WHEREAS, the Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority has
developed preliminary design plans for a northeast corridor
?PEC!AL COU~CI!. MEETING
NOVEMBER ~, 1991
PAGE 3
for a Light Rail Transit system; and,
WHEREAS, the Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority has made
said preliminary plans available for public inspection; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Columbia Heights' City Council held a
Public Hearing on October 15, 1991, to review the preliminary
design plans; and,
WHEREAS, Light Rail Transit promotes.a greater travel time
reliability because of its own right of way; and,
WHEREAS, Light Rail Transit will coordinate with a crosstown
bus feeder plan; and,
WHEREAS, Light Rail Transit reduces the number of buses in
downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Columbia
Heights' City Council approves the proposed route of the Light
Rail Transit system; however, the Council believes the plan
should continue to review the need for less long-term parking
at the proposed stations at 40th, 44th, and 49th Avenues and
increase the long-term parking at the 37th Avenue and 53rd
Avenue stations. The purpose of this review would be to lessen
the impact on our residential area.
Passed this 6th day of November, 1991.
Offered by:
Seconded by:
Roll call:
Clerkin
Ruettimann
Nawrocki, Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson - aye
Carlson - nay
Mayor Edward M. Carlson
William Elrite, Secretary Pro-Tem
Resolution No. 91-65; Urging Support of the Cable Consumer
Competitiveness Act, HR 3560
The City Manager reviewed the resolution.
Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to waive the reading
of the resolution there being ample copies available for the
public. Roll call: All ayes
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER ~, 1991
PAGE 4
RESOLUTION NO. 91-65
BEING A RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT OF THE CABLE CONSUMER
COMPETITIVENESS ACT, HR. 3560, AND URGING AMENDMENTS TO THE
CABLE TV CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, S. 12
WHEREAS, the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, strongly
supports competition within the cable industry and the
authority of cities to regulate local cable operators;
WHEREAS, the Cable Consumer Competitiveness Act, HR. 3560,
would help cities restrain cable industry abuses which include
rapidly rising rate increases, inadequate customer service,
and retiering of cable channels and services; thus,
encouraging competition within the cable industry and helping
cities deal with unreasonable rate hikes and poor customer
service;
WHEREAS, the Cable TV Consumer Protection Act, S.12, currently
contains features which are not acceptable, including
prohibiting cities from refusing to award additional
franchises, and prohibiting local cable operators from
lowering rates in portions of the franchise area where there
is competition while refusing to lower rates in areas where
there is no competition;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, to urge its congressional
representatives to:
Support amendments to the Cable TV Consumer Protection
Act, S.12, to restore a more appropriate balance on
behalf of City cable customers and City authority to
regulate rates and determine whether to award multiple
franchises.
Support the Cable Consumer Competitiveness Act, HR 3560,
providing for:
A. Local regulation of basic cable service;
Redefinition of basic service to mean
retransmission of local broadcast stations, PEG
channels, or any other programming other than
nonadvertiser supported programming on per channel
or per program basis;
Stringent minimum customer service standards - with
authority for cities to exceed FCC standards;
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER ~, 1991
PAGE 5
J o
Local authority to deny franchise renewal for
failure to provide adequate service and/or
noncompliance with franchise requirements;
Grant of immunity from damages for cities in claims
challenging local rate regulation;
City authority to award competing franchises while
allowing local government to deny unreasonable
requests for cable franchises;
Local authority to exceed FCC (minimum) technical
standards;
Local broadcast must carry requirements for cable
operators;
Equipment compatibility standards to make it
possible to use camera-ready televisions, VCRs,
commercial converters, and remote control devices;
Mandated access to programming and cable channels
by independent programmers.
Passed this 6th day of November, 1991.
Offered by:
Seconded by:
Roll call:
Ruettimann
Peterson
All ayes
William Elrite, Secretary Pro-Tem
Mayor Edward M. Carlson
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Clerkin, second by Ruettimann to adjourn the Special
Council Meeting at 6:46 p.m.. Roll call: All ayes fa
Mayor Edward M. Carlson