A public hearing, the suspension of city rules, an insurance renewal, law enforcement issues and dog quarantine changes were some of the items up for discussion at Tuesday’s Becker City Council meeting.

 

Clerk Julie Blesi asked Mayor Tracy Bertram to conduct a public hearing to hear from citizens on the ordinance changes proposed for sales of alcohol on Sundays.

 

Blesi said state law recently changed concerning alcohol sales and effective July 1, off-sale liquor sales will be allowed between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays. However, Blesi said, wholesalers will not be allowed to sell to a liquor licensee on any given Sunday. 

 

In addition, no order solicitation or merchandising may be made by a wholesaler on Sundays. 

 

The changes to the city code included hours and days of malt liquor sales, hours and days of intoxicating liquor sales and prohibiting certain deliveries on Sundays.

 

No one from the public spoke in favor of or against the changes except one liquor store owner (name undetermined) who said he was in favor of the ruling.

 

Bertram closed the hearing and council voted to approve the changes to the ordinance.

 

Jamie Cassidy said the he, city staff, Police Chief Brent Baloun and CA Greg Pruszinske have worked on the suspension of rules for each year’s Freedom Days events for the past few years to keep the event’s practices in alignment with city rules and regulations.

 

Cassidy reminded all that the City of Becker Freedom Days Celebration takes place this year between the dates of June 12-18. 

 

“To ensure the success of Freedom Days, there are a number of events and activities that call for/require a suspension of certain prohibitions and city code requirements to be successfully completed,” he said.

 

The areas include: promotional signage, a parade, golf cart usage, private vendor sales on city streets and sidewalks, and alcohol consumption within a festival area. 

 

Cassidy said his staff is seeking a suspension of these rules only for activities listed and in conjunction with the official Freedom Days Celebration as approved by the Freedom Days Committee.

 

Treasurer Connie Robinson presented the city’s 2017-18 insurance renewal coverage and asked for approval.

 

Robinson said the total premium for property/casualty is $112,156. The total with workers' compensation is $187,890.

 

Robinson said the excess in liability coverage includes excess liquor liability. Also, she says the liquor liability premium is higher due to higher estimated receipts.

 

Traffic Safety Program

Chief Baloun asked council to enter into an agreement with the Sherburne County attorney's office to restart a new Traffic Safety Program within the jurisdiction of the Becker Police Department and within Sherburne County. 

 

Baloun said the program created by the Police Chief's, Sheriff and County Attorney will utilize the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center to instruct classes for those who violate certain traffic offenses and are cited for those offenses identified in the agreement.

 

The agreement specifies that the sheriff's office is the fiscal agent for the program and will disperse funds based on the number of people participating in the class per jurisdiction (after fees and expenses for the class).

 

Fees will be proportional to the number of students from each jurisdiction. 

 

The agreement also specifies how funds will be utilized. All citations are transferred to the county attorney for review and to decide who will be eligible for participation in the class based on previous driving record.

 

Baloun said the Becker Police Department previously had a similar program a few years ago; however, due to a class action lawsuit several years ago (originating in Wabasha County), his department voluntarily suspended the program until the case was settled. The suit was eventually settled and jurisdictions are now bringing back a re-tooled version of a traffic safety program. 

 

Baloun added the county attorney has also worked with the bench (Judges) to ensure compliance and acceptance of this program moving forward.

 

Temporary Predatory Offender Ordinance

Baloun asked council to consider a new ordinance allowing the City of Becker to establish a temporary residence requirement for Level 3 predatory offenders.

 

“I have requested that a 2,000-foot requirement be implemented in order to maintain a distance of these offenders from any school, licensed day care center, religious facility or public park,” Baloun said. 

 

The City of Becker currently has no level 3 offenders living within their jurisdiction.

 

Baloun went on to say  numerous jurisdictions around the City of Becker either have or are considering putting this requirement in place. This, would in effect, put the City of Becker in a position to be the only local jurisdiction to allow level 3 offenders to reside within the city. 

 

In addition, numerous cities around the state have implemented this residence restriction already. Baloun says a failure for the city to follow suit, at this time, could allow for these offenders to move into this community without restrictions.

 

“The 2,000-foot requirement will limit residency in approximately 95% of the city,” said Baloun. “It should be noted, however, that legal challenges may exist.” 

 

Baloun said he conversed with Attorney Scott Lepak, who has recommended taking a temporary approach to the ordinance like he has seen with other cities. This, Baloun says, will allow the City of Becker an opportunity to examine the ordinance over the course of the next year, provide for less visibility to the city and allow other jurisdictions to work through any legal challenges instead of Becker.

 

Clerk Blesi said Officer Lindbloom made city staff aware of a difference between the city’s code and state rules in regards to the quarantine time required for dog bites. 

 

City code has 14 days while state rules say 10 days. 

 

Lindbloom has requested a change to the code as the four extra days add additional checks on the dog for officers and can be confusing to owners who are aware of the 10 day state rule.

 

Jeremy Halvorson of the Becker Water Dept. was honored as the April safety award recipient by Mayor Bertram.

 

Halvorson has been a city employee for 20 years and is very visible in his Class 2 vest, responding throughout the city with strobe-lights on his truck. Halvorson has been the primary water supply operator for the City of Becker since 2005. 

 

In this capacity, Halvorson has conducted the necessary sampling, testing and reporting as required for permit compliance. He has worked extensively with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Natural Resources to develop a Wellhead Protection Plan which will help ensure that all of the city's residents and businesses have safe water to use. 

 

Halvorson is active in pre-job planning meetings and proposes solutions to make tasks safer and more efficient whenever possible, often planning and budgeting to improve the WWTF’s equipment safely, reliability and efficiency. 

 

Halvorson also conducts sewer and water inspections and locates city underground utilities to protect the city’s infrastructure.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is June 6 at 6 p.m.