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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP October 30, 1980 . ~ 01 ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 30, 1980 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jerry Windschit1 on October 30, 1980, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Anoka, Minnesota, for the purpose of discussing Fire Code requirements with the State Fire Marshall and the Capital Improvements Program. Councilmen present: Jacobson, Lachinski, Ortte1, Peach Councilmen absent: None Also present: City Clerk, P. K. Lindquist STATE FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS . Also present: State Fire Marshall, Bob Cashman; Fire Chief Bob Palmer; and City Fire Marshall, Rich Lindeen. Mr. Lindeen reported that after further investigation, the Fire Department has decided not to require the installation of the auto-call to Central Co~nunications for the various schools, churches, and businesses at this time unless it is specifically stated in the Code. Mr. Cashman stated that some cities have passed ordinances requiring the auto-call for buildings of certain sizes, etc. The State Fire Marshall's office does not require educational facilities to install the auto-call because their primary interest is in evacuation, which is life safety. It is up to the cities to require the auto-call unit. Mr. Lindeen reviewed with Mr. Cashman and the Council what has taken place to date relative to Meadowcreek Christian School's installation of a fire alarm system, noting that the system they have contracted to have installed does not meet the NFPA Code and has not been approved by the City. Hr. Lindeen a.1so reviewed the site plan of the school noting the location of various classrooms, furnace rooms, etc. He also stated that he will be requiring Meadowcreek to put an enunciator panel at the main entrance of the building with four zones within the building because of its size. Mr. Cashman agreed that was an excellent idea for that type of construction and noted that the fire alarm system should be installed according to the NFPA Code because all portions of the building were constructed prior to 1978. Discussion continued that Mr. Lindeen has set up a meeting with the representatives of Meadowcreek School and a representative from the alarm company for next Tuesday to discuss the system. The Council had some concern that the Fire Department not get in the position of designing a system for the school. It was generally felt that the school's fire alarm contractor should be furnishing two copies of a design system that has been certified to meet the NFPA Code for the Fire Marshall to review and approve. At this point, the Clerk was directed to ask the representatives of Meadowcreek Christian School if it is possible for them to attend this meeting. Mr. Cashman also noted that 13.301 of the Fire Code states that the Chief shall designate the fire policies to be installed and maintained in the various buildings, which he felt gives the Chief the authority to require the auto-call system if it is decided that it is necessary. The authority having jurisdiction for the Code is the Fire Chief or his designee, in this case the City Fire Marshall. The City can adopt ordinances relative to the Fire Code, but it is not required. Mr. Cashman also stated that the longest time he can allow for the installation of an alarm system is 90 days; however, if there is some progress being made and the deadline cannot be met, he has no problems granting an extension of that time. If nothing is done during that time period, he then closes it down. Mr. Lindeen stated he has given the Meadowcreek Christian School 90 days to install an alarm system, that deadline being December 12. Special City Council Meeting October 30, 1980 - Minutes Page 2 (State Fire Code Requirements, Continued) Discussion was then with Dean Keller, 1358 Heather Street, representing Grace Lutheran Church. Mr. Keller stated they are a llcensed day-care center for 28 children, though he wasn't sure of the exact group. Mr. Lindeen stated that he has approved and returned the fire alarm design system for the Church. Mr. Keller stated they will not have a sprinkler system in the building and asked what needs to be done to continue construction on the building, as the project superintendent will be stopping work in the next few days because of some special work for the phone lines to be encased in 2-inch conduit. Mr. Cashman had the requirements for day care centers, which the Clerk made copies of for those in attendance. There is nothing that requires the auto-call unit for such facilities. Mr. Lindeen will inform the alarm company contracted by Grace Lutheran that the auto-call unit is no longer required. It was felt that possibly the original requirement for the auto-call unit may be the reason for the encasement of the phone lines, and with the removal of that unit, construction should be able to proceed. Mr. John Delich, Meadowcreek Christian School Principal, and Jim Koomey, the installer of the alarm system for the building, arrived at this time. Mayor W1ndschit1 stated that the question of the auto-call to Central Communications has been resolved, as the Fire Department will not be requiring it for the school. Mr. Koomey and Mr. Delich asked several questions on what is needed in the building relative to a fire alarm, the procedure, etc. Discussion suggested that the fire alarm company contracted by Meadowcreek provide duplicate copies of a design alarm system which has been designed specifically for their building and which has been certified that it meets the State Code; that copies of the fact sheets for the equipment being installed also be provided in duplicate; that they can use the specific fire codes of No. 90A NFPA and No. 101 of the Life Safety Code, NFPA, which is the same Code at the State of Minnesota Code; that smoke detectors are required in all hazardous areas and as noted in the Code; that the Fire Department's preference would be that the enunciator panel for the building be located in the main entrance and that it be wired for four zones; that once the fire alarm system has been approved by the Fire Marshall, it can be installed in the building according to the plan, after which the Fire Marshall will approved the installation; and that the deadline for this installation remains at December 12 unless the Church can show just cause for an extension. It was also agreed that the meeting between the Fire Marshall and the Church representatives for Tuesday is no longer necessary; and should anyone involved need further information on the Code, they can contact Mr. Cashman at the State Fire Marshall's office. Recess at 8:48; reconvene at 9:03 p.m. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM DISCUSSION Councilman Lachinski explained that there is a lot of material pertinent to the Capital Improvements Program that needs to be updated; that the only three areas required to be in the Capital Improvements Program as part of the Land Planning Act are transportation, parks, and sanitary sewers; and that he felt that the Council needs several work sessions on the various areas to establish policy and update plans. His recommendation for the park's Capital Improvements Program was to first have a commitment of the funds to be spent on the parks; that site plans should be made for all the parks; that there will be park dedication funds coming in which can be used to spawn additional grant monies; and that the issue of street improvements past park- land being paid from the Park Board budget needs to be discussed. Councilman Lachinski reviewed the outline he prepared for a Capital Improvements Program, giving his ideas for the various areas to be developed. The four sections he recommended to be included in the Plan are 1) overview, 2) existing financing policy, 3) community Special City Council Meeting October 30, 1980 - Minutes Page 3 (Capital Improvements Program Discussion, Continued) development needs, and 4) fiscal analysis. Each issue is also divided into various subsections such as development history, local issues, projected development, development plan content, administration, etc. There was a short discussion on the area of sanitary sewer, in which the Clerk stated that by the beginning of next year she should have the figures available relative to the trunk line assessment procedure. It was agreed that once these figures are available, the Council will need a special meeting to discuss it in greater detail to determine a trunk assessment policy. Councilman Lachinski felt that special meetings will be needed 1) to discuss the sanitary sewer issue, 2) to update the MSAH program, 3) to meet with the Park Board relative to a five- or six-year park development plan, to make a commitment to the expenditures for parks, and to obtain the site plans for those parks as they are to be developed, and 4) various meetings to investigate police protection, computers, etc. Discussion was on the procedure to be used on the Plan relative to the work being done by individual Counci1members, committees, staff, etc. It was felt that during the winter months the Building Inspector may have enough time to work on some of these areas, that the City Engineer should be able to coordinate the transportation issue, and the Park Board can work on their plan. It was agreed to meet with the Park Board on November 20 to give them directives as to a development plan over the next five or six years. The Clerk was directed to gather information relative to the park budget for previous years plus other data on park development in the past. MOTION by Peach, Seconded by Ortte1, that we schedule a joint Park Board/City Council meet1ng for Thursday, the 20th of November at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion was also on the question of giving direction to the City Engineer and on Mayor Windschit1's suggestion of one of the Councilmen becoming a paid overseerer of the Engineer and Public Works Department temporarily. Council generally agreed that the meeting with the Park Board on November 20 should be limited to two hours, and afterwards the Council will meet with Mr. Winner. MOTION by Peach, Seconded by Ortte1, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, "~~~'~~~ Marc a A. Peach Recording Secretary