HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.16.25June 16, 2025
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on
Monday, June 16, 2025, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Adam Scepaniak, Councilmembers Adam Schnettler, Kevin Kluesner, Andrew
Mooney, Kelly Beniek
City Representatives Present: City Administrator David Murphy, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Community
Development Director Nate Keller, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann,
Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, City Engineer Randy Sabart
Recognition of Emergencv Personnel: Deputy Chief Presented Life saving awards to the following: Police
Officer Travis Manderscheid, Fire Captain Keith Louwagie, Firefighter Shirlie Brill, Firefighter Ron Schmidt,
Firefighter Cole Staneart, Firefighter Jack Taufen Paramedic Victoria Sanchez, Paramedic Elizabeth Sowada,
Citizens Claud Hancock, Ashley Bueckers, Ann Alvord, Bob Kemp, Dawn Kemp, Christine Thralow,;Carolyn
Skudlarek.
The incident occurred at Kennedy Community Schools when a man playing pickleball fell unconscious. AED
and CPR were performed, and the male was transferred to the St. Cloud Hospital. Because of the quick
response from those around him and emergency personnel, he has since made a full recovery.
Chief Dwight Pfannenstein presented a Medal of Valor to Officer Vic Weiss. Officer Weiss was off -duty, biking
on the Lake Wobegon Trail when he encountered a victim of an attempted robbery and assault. Officer Weiss
stayed with the victim and was able to subdue the suspect until law enforcement arrived and was taken into
custody.
Proclamation — Women of Today's Founder's Day: Mayor Scepaniak read a proclamation declaring July 1,
2025, as Women of Today's Founder's Day in the City of St. Joseph.
Public Comments: None.
Approve Agenda: Kluesner moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Schnettler and passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Kluesner moved to approve the consent agenda; seconded by Beniek and passed
unanimously.
a. Minutes -Requested Action: Approve the minutes of June 2, 2025.
b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve check numbers 63044-63062, ACH account payable
# 2400359-2400386; Payroll & Accounts Payable EFT #3726-3736; Regular Pay Period 12.
c. Financial Report — Requested Action: Accept the May 2025 financial reports as presented.
d. Donations - Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-031 accepting donations and
contributions.
e. Interim Use Permit Renewal, 34 College Ave N — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-
032 Approving an Interim Use Permit Renewal for the Purpose of a Residential Rental in aB1
Downtown Commercial District.
f. Compensation Study Update with David Drown Associates — Requested Action: Approve the hire
of David Drown Associates to conduct a compensation study.
g. Payment Application No. 3 Rivers Bend Park - Requested Action: Approve payment application
no. 3 for the Rivers Bend Park Trail -Canoe Access Improvements to C&L Excavating in the
amount of $395,432.84.
h. Award Quote for Lanigan Way Pedestrian Crossing — Requested Action: Award quote for the
CSAH 121/1-anigan Way pedestrian crossing signal to Landwehr Construction and direct staff to
prepay the construction invoice and request grant reimbursement by June 30, 2025.
i. Bike Share Program Termination - Requested Action: Approve the termination of the bike share
program and reallocate the bikes to the city's wellness program.
j. Stearns County Cooperative Agreements - Requested Action: Approve the Stearns County
Cooperative Agreements for the CSAH 133/Elm Street project and the CSAH 2/MN Street project.
k. Temporary On -Sale Liquor License — Requested Action: Approve the temporary on -sale liquor
license for Obbink Distilling for an event at Crafted Skin Clinic on June 21, 2025.
June 16, 2025
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Adopt Ordinance 2025 004 Establishinq Ordinance 614 Cannabis and Hemp Business Regulations: City Clerk
Klein presented Ordinance 614 for approval. The ordinance establishes regulations for cannabis and hemp
businesses in the city. Registrations would take place at the city, but the business would still need to be
licensed through the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
Attorney Joe Sathe was present to provide a slight change to the ordinance due to the recent legislation. The
ordinance will be updated to reflect these changes.
Scepaniak moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-004 Establishing Ordinance 614 Cannabis and Hemp
Business Regulations. The motion was seconded by Mooney and passed unanimously.
Kluesner moved to approve Resolution 2025-039 Approving Summary Publication of Ordinance 2025-
004; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Adopt Ordinance 2025 005 Amending Ordinance 409 Utility Accounts Rates and Providing for Collection of
Delinquent Charges: Finance Director Bartlett presented the ordinance amendment which would include adding
a definition of a user type for Rural Residential residents.
Kluesner moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-005 Amending Ordinance 409 Utility Accounts, Rates and
Providing for Collection of Delinquent Charges. The motion was seconded by Scepaniak and passed
unanimously.
Kluesner moved to approve Resolution 2025-036 Approving Summary Publication of Ordinance 2025-
005; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Public Hearing Fee Schedule Amendment to include fees related to Ordinance 614 Cannabis and Hemp
Business Regulations: Klein presented the changes to the fee schedule which include adding fees for cannabis
businesses, temporary cannabis events, and language adding rural residential users into the refuse and
recycling rates. The changes will be in effect upon publication of the ordinance.
Mayor Scepaniak opened the public hearing. As no one presented wished to speak, Scepaniak closed the
public hearing.
Kluesner moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-006 Approving Amendments to the Fee Schedule; seconded
by Mooney and passed unanimously.
Street Closure Request — Bruno Press: Bruno Press submitted a street closure request for an event on
September 12th from 2-8PM. Staff recommends expanding the closure for the block of Bake Street from 5th Ave
to 6th Ave SE.
Kluesner moved to approve the closure of Baker St from 5th Ave SE to 6th Ave SE on September 12th
from 2-8PM; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Special Event Request — Bad Habit Brewing Rock 4 Alzheimer's: Klein presented the special event application
submitted by Bad Habit Brewing for the Rock 4 Alzheimer's. This year the event will occur on September 7,
2025. One off -duty officer is required for the event.
Kluesner moved to approve Bad Habit Brewing's event, Rock 4 Alzheimer's, requiring 1 off -duty officer
for the event; seconded by Mooney and passed unanimously.
Planned Unit Development Amendment — Bayou Alley Flats Flour & Flower Bakery: Community Development
Director Keller presented the PUD Amendment from Bayou Alley Flats, LLC. The purpose of the request is to
seek approval on site plan modifications which include: eliminating the middle vehicular access driveway to
allow for an expansion to the Flour & Flower building; and Flour & Flower is seeking expansion to allow for a
cooler and outside patio space.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 12th and they tabled action on the item to get
clarification on whether the patio/cooler could be placed to the north versus the east. The PUD amendment
failed on a 2-2 vote at the June 9th Planning Commission meeting.
June 16, 2025
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Staff recommend striping the westernmost entrance as no parking. The Planning Commission had
recommended that the southern parking spots along the alley be eliminated to reduce alleyway congestion.
Kluesner moved to approve Resolution 2025-037 Amendment to Bayou Alley Flats Developer
Agreement with the following conditions:
1. The westernmost entrance on the site be striped and labeled no parking.
2. The parking stalls on the, southern side of the site should be eliminated and the space labeled
loading zone only.
The motion was seconded by Scepaniak. ;Motion Carried: 4-1
Ayes: Kluesner, Beniek, Schnettler, Scepaniak
Nays: Mooney
Kuepers Development — Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) Rezone Land Use Amendment: Keller
provided an overview of the request. Kuepers (applicant) is proposing to develop three parcels into one market
rate apartment complex consisting of 42 units. The three parcels are zoned B2 Highway Business, and the
proposal is to rezone to R3 Multi -Family with a PUD overlay.
The Planning Commission considered the requests, held public hearings, and ultimately recommended
approval.
The PUD overlay is requested as R3 zoning doesn't allow the proposed 42-unit density or storm water
dedication. The city has a need for added stormwater capacity along MN Street. The proposed plan includes
larger stormwater within the site to accommodate city ponding needs. The developer would build and dedicate
the pond to the city.
201h Avenue is and arterial street, similar to CR 133 and College Avenue which means it is built to
accommodate higher traffic counts. Having less access points off these types of roads is preferred.
Beniek expressed concerns with the process of notifying residents of the public hearings, believing it is
inadequate; increased traffic congestion; pedestrian safety; public safety/vandalism. Beniek recommends
tabling or denying the items because there are so many items that need to be looked at further.
Scepaniak like project due to it creating additional stormwater infrastructure that the city would need in the
future.
Kluesner supports the project; however, he does agree with the concerns with Beniek brought up regarding
access points. They should have their access off 20'h Ave, not 18'h Ave. Kluesner also believes that a sidewalk
along 18'h Ave and MN Street should be constructed.
Beniek moved to table actions on all items. The motion was seconded by Schnettler.
Motion Carried: 3-2
Ayes: Beniek, Mooney, Schnettler
Nays: Scepaniak, Kluesner
Development Agreement Amendment for Northland Business Center: City Administrator Murphy presented the
item and looked for feedback on next steps. The Northland Business Center Development Agreement was
approved and it showed the construction of 24'h Street and Fir Street. Throughout development, many of the
lots were combined and did not trigger construction of 24'h Street. The extension of Fir Street was delayed due
to the needs, or lack thereof, in the development. Murphy asked if the council would be open to removing the
requirement that the developer extend Fir Street, then the funds dedicated to that could be moved to an
alternative project, more specifically a potential lift station to the north for potential expansion of the industrial
park.
Council consensus was to have staff move forward with the development agreement amendment.
Department Reports: Bartlett stated that refuse collection will happen on July 31 as scheduled. Residents
should have their bins out by 6AM on the 3rd
Mayor and Council Reports/Updates: No reports.
June 16, 2025
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Closed Meeting: This portion of the meeting was closed for attorney -client privileged communications regarding
threatened litigation — specifically an employee labor grievance/threatened arbitration. The meeting was closed
pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05 subd. 3(b).
Council came out of closed session and the following motion was made.
Beniek moved to deny the grievance; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Adjourn: Kluesner made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:26PM; seconded by Beniek and
passed unanimously.
Kayla Klein
City Clerk