Flushing City Council
Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, December 10, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and invocation.
Present: Richard L. Bade
Janice L. Gensel
Chris A. Girard
Jay E. Johnson
Teresa K. Salem
Michael T. Szukhent
Absent: John C. Gault
Others Present: Dennis J. Bow, City Manager
Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer
Edward G. Henneke, City Attorney
Excused Absence – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to excuse the absence of Councilperson Gault from the December 10, 2001 City Council meeting.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Szukhent, to add Council Rule 11 under Reports to the December 10, 2001 agenda.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Szukhent, to approve the December 10, 2001 agenda as amended (added Council Rule 11 as C-4).
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
MEETING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Elva Cook, 315 Sunnyside, addressed City Council.
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Minutes
Page Two
CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to approve the consent agenda, City Council Minutes (November 26, 2001 Regular Meeting), City Council Minutes (November 26, 2001 Closed Session) and December 10, 2001 Council Bills List.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
REPORTS:
International Property Maintenance Code – This code establishes minimum regulations governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use, and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use and the demolition of such structures.
The code provides a section that details administrative authority, duties, and powers of the Code Official, as well as five areas of building and property maintenance provisions. Those five areas are:
1. General Requirements, govern the minimum conditions and the responsibilities of persons for maintenance of structures, equipment and exterior property.
2. Light, Ventilation and Occupancy Limitations, govern the lighting requirements for habitable spaces, ventilation and exhaust requirements, and dwelling space occupancy loads depending on residential uses.
3. Plumbing, governs the requirements for toilet rooms, plumbing fixtures, water systems, sanitary and storm drainage.
4. Mechanical and Electrical, govern the installations of heating facilities, fireplaces, cooking appliances, water heating appliances, electrical equipment and warning systems.
5. Fire Safety, governing standards for fire safety relating to structures and exterior premises, including fire safety equipment to be provided.
This code would complement the State Building Code and allow the building inspector to, among other things, inspect the exterior conditions of structures for maintenance of painted wood surfaces, and the conditions of doors, windows, balconies, decks, fences, etc. This ordinance is introduced in response to the concerns that were raised at recent City Council meetings for poorly maintained structures in both the residential and business districts. As the code is adopted by reference through the State Building Code, the provisions may not be modified by local ordinance. Therefore, if this code is adopted, it will need to be adopted in its entirety.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
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International Property Maintenance Code – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to move to first reading an ordinance adopting the International Property Maintenance Code.
Councilperson Johnson was concerned about what would drive complaints if this code were approved. He was concerned with what would happen if government starts imposing excess enforcement on private property. Councilperson Szukhent expressed his concern over the opportunity for abuse in enforcing this code. He stated he would not be willing to adopt this ordinance prior to discussing it with our building inspector.
International Property Maintenance Code – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to table the International Property Maintenance Code to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Appointments – The terms of the board members listed will expire January 31, 2002. Council members will make appointments/re-appointments at the January 28, 2002 City Council meeting:
- Board of Review (3 year term) William O’Connor
- Zoning Board of Appeals (3 year term) ElvaCook, Patrick O’Callaghan
- Parks, Recreation, Environmental and
Beautification Committee Margaret Meehle, Walter Skidmore,
Anna Smith
- Election Commission David Harshfield
- SALT Opal Kirbitz, Joan Wheeler
- Teen Committee Eddie Dolgan, Walter Skidmore
- Planning Commission (3 year term) Ronald Johnson, Jack Owens,
Neil Blackmore
Streets and Sidewalks – An ordinance was offered for City Council consideration, which would allow local regulation and enforcement of work that is done within the city rights-of-way, and for the cleanup of debris that is tracked into the right-of-way by property and permit holders. The ordinance provides administration with a tool for dealing with depositing materials in the rights-of-way, removal of encroachments, permit requirements, street and sidewalk clean up, inspection and enforcement.
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Councilperson Johnson requested that section 99.68 be changed from “No additional inspections will be approved on the property until those charges are paid” to “Until the cleanup is done, a stop work order will be issued and not lifted until those charges are paid.” The City Attorney recommended adding language that would provide a lien provision until the charges were paid.
Ordinance No. 99 – Streets and Sidewalks – Motion by Bade, seconded by Szukhent, to move Ordinance No. 99 Street and Sidewalks to first reading.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Council Rule 11 – Council discussed current Council Rule 11, which determines the rotation for committee appointments.
Committee Appointments – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bade, to maintain the current rotation of Councilpersons and create a lottery system for board appointments (i.e. drawing committee vacancies by lot in the order of the Council rotation previously set).
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
After drawing lots, the Council will make the following appointments at the January 28, 2002 meeting:
Gensel - Board of Review, Teen Committee
Gault - S.A.L.T., Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee
Szukhent - Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee (2)
Johnson - Zoning Board of Appeals, Election Commission
Girard - S.A.L.T.
Bade - Teen Committee
Salem - Zoning Board of Appeals
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Adjourn – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 8:46 P.M.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer