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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.04.25August 4, 2025 Page 1 of 4 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center. Members Present: Mayor Adam Scepaniak, Councilmembers Adam Schnettler, Andrew Mooney, Kevin Kluesner, Kelly Beniek City Representatives Present: City Administrator David Murphy, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director, Ryan Wensmann, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, City Engineer Randy Sabart, Planning Consultant Therese Haffner , Public Comments: Patricia Gangl, 316 711 Ave SE: Gangl questioned if the city is enforcing the weed ordinance as the open lot across from her has weeds overgrown. Shaun Tetreault: Introduced himself to the council. He has submitted a zoning text amendment to allow for cannabis cultivation in the B-2 zoning district. Approve Agenda: Kluesner moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Mooney and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Kluesner moved to approve the consent agenda, pulling items 4c and 4d for further discussion; seconded by Schnettler and passed unanimously. a. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 63130-63162, Payroll & Account Payable EFT #3774-3785; ACH Accounts ,Payable #2400456-2400487; Regular Pay Period 15 and Firefighters. b. Transfers — Requested Action: Approve the transfers as presented. c. Pay Application #2 CSAH 133 Roundabout and Elm St Extension — Requested Action: Execute payment application no. 2 for the local portion of funding for the CSAH 133 and Elm St Extension Project. d. Accept Resignation & Authorize Hiring for Replacement — Requested Action: Accept the resignation of Officer Madison Honer and authorize the hiring process for her replacement. Public Hearinq — Delinquent Accounts to be Assessed: Property owner located at 916 3rd Ave NE is requesting their unpaid utility account be considered for assessment. This process will allow the remaining balance to be paid through taxes. Mayor Scepaniak opened the public hearing. As no one present wished to speak, Scepaniak closed the public hearing. Kluesner moved to approve Resolution 2025-048 Adopting Assessment for Outstanding Invoices; seconded by Mooney and passed unanimously. Public Hearinq — 2025 Street Improvement Assessment Hearin: City Engineers Randy Sabart and Bryce Johnson presented the 2025 Street Improvement project, providing an overview of the assessment costs and howtheywere calculated. Mayor Scepaniak opened the public hearing. Nancy Notch, 406 81 Ave NE: Notch asked why she is getting assessed $4,000 for: a road that wasn't built correctly in the first place. She is 84 years old and cannot afford to pay the assessment amount. Ron Eiynck, 13 41h Ave NW. Eiynck stated this is the 3rd time he is being assessed since living in the city and questions the need forthe improvement. Regarding MN Street, Eiynck believes the road needs to be maintained and the street needs to be striped. Eiynck asked if everyone in the city pays for street lights and whether this improvement will increase that fee. Deb ,Williams, 806,Dale St: Williams asked when the project would start and when it would be completed. She also asked if the project came in under budget, if the property owners would be refunded any of the assessment amount. Williams also confirmed that the interest on the assessment did decrease from 5.25% down to 5%. August 4, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Tim McPhee, 507 MN St W. McPhee asked how long the road will last after these improvements. McPhee also expressed concerns with the higher rate of speed on MN Street and if there is anything that can be done. Patricia Gangl, 316 711 Ave SE: Gangle asked if anyone goes out and looks at the streets to see if they need to be redone as she feels her street doesn't need to be. Gangle asked what the improvement will consist of. The city, working with SEH do look at the conditions of the road. This project will be 1 % " mill and overlay. Dennis Butkowski, 1304 Eagle Ridge Dr. Butkowski asked what other towns assess their residents for street improvements as he doesn't know of any other city that does this. Butkowski noted that there must be other ways to generate revenue to cover the costs of road improvements. Sabart responded that a majority of cities assess for street improvements and that its rare for a city not to. The differences between each city could be the percentage amount that the residents are responsible for. Ron Eiynck, 13 41 Ave NW: Eiynck brough up a project that was done years ago where residents hired their own attorneys and the city capped assessments for the residents. He posed to those in attendance to maybe think about doing that the next time they are assessed for street improvements. City Administrator Murphy reported that two official objections were received from the following property owners: Eleanor Kiel at 105 Able Court; and Nancy Notch at 406 8th Ave NE. Mayor Scepaniak closed the public hearing at 6:51 PM. Kluesner moved to approve resolution 2025-049 Awarding Bid; seconded by Mooney. The vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Nay Motion Carried 4-1 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Aye Mooney: Aye Kluesner moved to approve resolution 2025-050 adopting final assessment for the 2025 Street Improvements; seconded by Scepaniak. The vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Nay Motion Carried 3-2 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Nay Mooney: Aye Kuepers Development: Planning Consultant Therese Haffner provided an overview for the requested actions regarding the Kuepers Development. Council reviewed the request at the June 16'h meeting and tabled action in order to gather additional project information. A revised site plan was presented to the council on July 211' at a work session that had the following changes: eliminating the proposed access on 181h Ave SE; eliminating the proposed north -south access to the existing apartment complex development to the south; providing surmountable curbs and drivable grass surface at 18'h Ave for emergency vehicles; and extending the sidewalk to connect directly to 18th Ave SE. The developer has requested that the sidewalk construction be completed at the time that MN Street is improved from a rural street to urban. The Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) is to consolidate three parcels into one lot for a 42-unit apartment building. The lots are currently zoned B-2 Highway Business and the proposal is to rezone to R-3 Multi -Family with a PUD overlay. The first action would be on the future land use amendment, followed by action on the rezone request, and then action on the Preliminary PUD. If approved by the council the applicants would need to come back with a Final PUD, Vacation of Easements, and Preliminary and Final Plat submittals. The PUD provides public benefit through stormwater dedication needs and adds needed housing in the area. The site design ensures compatibility with adjacent uses and long-term infrastructure planning. August 4, 2025 Page 3 of 4 A trip generation memo was prepared by SEH. The existing parcels as they are zoned today are expected to generate approximately 1,089 daily trips while the proposed zoning as R-3 is expected to generate 283 daily trips. The land use amendment would need a super -majority vote in order to pass. Councilmember Beniek is concerned with the safety in the area and that the request it to not have the sidewalks installed until MN St is reconstructed. Additionally, Beniek was not impressed with the traffic generation memo and would rather have had a traffic count showing current conditions. Beniek appreciates some of the changes implemented by Kuepers; however, safety needs to be addressed. Scepaniak clarified that the current way it's zoned that the site could be a potential hotel as a permitted use. Haffner confirmed that was correct. Scepaniak currently owns a business in a strip mall and can attest to the amount of traffic that can be brought in if it's a commercial use. Schnettler asked if there is an economic; projection on the project. Haffner responded that regarding economic development, you need housing. Murphy added that multi -family housing is taxed at a higher rate than a single- family residence. This developer has not assed for any subsidies or tax breaks which is helpful to the city. Mooney made a motion to approve Resolution 2025-051 Approving a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Future Land Use Map and Adopting Findings of Fact. The motion was seconded by Kluesner and the vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Aye Motion Carried: 4-1 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Nay Mooney: Aye Schnettler moved to approve Resolution 2025-052 Adopting Findings of Fact Related to a Rezoning Request from B2 Highway Business District to R3 Multiple Family Residential PUD — Planned Unit Development. The motion was seconded by Kluesner and the vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Aye Motion Carried: 4-1 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Nay Mooney: Aye Scepaniak moved to approve Ordinance 2025-007 An Ordinance Establishing the Zoning of Certain Property from B-2 Highway Business to R-3 Multi -Family PUD. The motion was seconded by Kluesner and the vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Aye Motion Carried: 4-1 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Nay Mooney: Aye Conditions on the preliminary PUD include: • Construction of stormwater ponding to be completed with construction • Sidewalks along the east, north, and west side of the lot should be constructed at time of development • Double the capacity of the refuse receptacles at the property • Additional trees planted along 18"' Avenue and along the south side of the property near the garages Scepaniak moved approve the Preliminary PUD Plan with the following amendments. • Construction of stormwater ponding to be completed with construction • Sidewalks along the east, north, and west side of the lot should be completed at the time of construction • Double the capacity of the refuse receptacles at the property August 4, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Additional trees planted along 181h Avenue The motion was seconded by Kluesner and the vote was taken by role call. Schnettler: Aye Motion Carried: 5-0 Kluesner: Aye Scepaniak: Aye Beniek: Aye Mooney: Aye Department Reports: Murphy reported that city hall will be closing early on Friday, August 15'h for an employee wellness picnic at Rivers Bend Park. Notice will be posted at city hall and on the website and Facebook page. Mayor and Council Reports/Updates: Beniek added that the Farmers Market will be celebrating their 25`h Anniversary. Scepaniak stated that the August council work session may be cancelled due to a community center meeting conflict. Adjourn: Kluesner made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:31PM; seconded by Schnettler and passed unanimously. �,K City Clerk