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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-01-07 November 1, 2007 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 Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor AI Rassier, Councilors Dale Wick, Steve Frank, Steve Schultz City Administrator Judy Weyrens Others Present: Bruce Gohman, John Kalla, Ellen Wahlstrom, Bob Wahlstrom, Mary Anne Graeve, Sr. Miriam, Sr. Paula Revier, Sr. Kara Hennes Approve Aoenda: Frank made a motion to approve the agenda with the following changes: Delete 5 City Engineer Reports 8c No action will be required Discussion: Schultz questioned the excavating being done near the Armory Site. Weyrens stated that they are responding to a letter they received in the spring to construct the parking lot and fencing. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Consent AQenda: Frank asked for clarification for the payments made to WSB. Weyrens stated that all charges have been previously approved by the Council, but she would gather the requested information. Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows: a. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 039472-039549. b. Ordinance Amendment - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Amendment to Ordinance 84, causing the same to be published. c. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Pay Application #4 for the 2007 East Side Improvements and authorize payment to Hardrives in the amount of $15,795.93. d. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Pay Application #11 (Final) for the 2005 Hill StreeU3rtl Avenue SW Improvements and authorize payment to R L Larson Excavating in the amount of $21,555.94. e. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Pay Application #3 for the 2007 Jade Road Improvements and authorize payment to R L Larson Excavating in the amount of $182,382.29. f. Investment Policy - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Investment Policy as presented. The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously. Public Comments to the AQenda: No one present wished to speak. MAYOR REPORTS Sauk River BridQe: Rassier announced that the Bridge Cutting ceremony for the Sauk Rapids Bridge will be held on November 17 at 10am. Budoet Meetino: Rassier advised the Council that the City received the tax numbers and a budget meeting will be held in November. APO Executive MeetinQ: Rassier stated that he attended the APO Executive Meeting at which they discussed the transfer of funds to purchase the building that they are currently in. Stearns County Municipal LeaQue: Rassier stated that he recently attended the Stearns County Municipal League Meeting at which they discussed their concerns over the changes for feedlot requirements. There were representatives present to discuss the changes. November 1, 2007 Page 2 of 4 Interaovernmental Meetina: Rassier stated that he, along with other members of the Council, attended the Intergovernmental Meeting at the St. Cloud Airport. They discussed recent expansions of area Water Treatment Facilities and the upcoming expansion to the St. Cloud Wastewater Treatment Facility. In addition, the St. Cloud Partnership gave a brief presentation on the bioscience initiative. COUNCIL REPORTS FRANK APO: Frank reported that he attended the APO meeting at which there were two items that were addressed. 1. Traffic - The Center for Traffic Studies at the University of Minnesota gave a brief presentation relating to recent traffic studies. They referenced the terms access and mobility which sometimes get confused by people. Mobility refers to getting from place to place faster. He stated that they are looking at a growth area extending to Brainerd. He added that there will never be enough money to pay for roads and traffic. It is important to look at access to hospitals and shopping centers, etc. 2. The APO approved an additional $60,000 for Field Street Studies and the City is responsible for an additional $25,000. Frank stated that the additional funds are need to complete the required environment documents. Frank questioned what happens if the City does not approve the additional funding. Weyrens stated that the APO will required the City to complete the study process. Since the project utilized federal funding, if the project is not complete the APO would expect the funding received to be reimbursed. Additionally, the City may jeopardize future funding. Weyrens stated that the additional funding request will be placed on the next Council agenda and representatives from WSB, the consulting firm completing the study, and the APO will be present to answer any questions. It was clarified that the study is not constructing any portion of the road, rather it is determining the future right-of-way and preserving the same before building occurs. Interaovernmental Meetino: Frank reported that he toured the St. Cloud Airport with Mayor Kleis and stated that he was amazed at the number of corporate jets. Kleis advised Frank that they have hired a company to work on bringing more flights into St. Cloud from other cities. They also discussed the future Wastewater Treatment Plan expansion. SCHULTZ Park Bioard: Schultz stated that, in the future, he will be providing the Council with the Park Board minutes so that they will be aware of their activities. WICK Bio-Science: Wick stated that staff has been doing a lot of work for the Bio-Science Initiative. The area Cites are preparing a joint application to designate areas that will qualify for bioscience incentives. The joint application could only include 500 acres. The EDA has recently identified lots which would be acceptable for a Bio-Science company and the information has been forwarded for the application. The St. Cloud HRA is coordinating and preparing the grant application along with representatives from each City. To be eligible for funding each application must meet six criteria, which the Partnership has identified. St. Cloud Economic Development Partnership: Wick reported that the St. Cloud Economic Development Partnership is in the starting phase of a 3-year strategic plan. Frank stated that the St. Cloud Area is an attractive place for high paying industries. November 1, 2007 Page 3 of 4 ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Gohman Lot Solit: Weyrens presented the Council with a lot split for the property located at 201 East Minnesota Street. The proposed lot split creates on additional single family lot. The proposed lot split creates two lots which meet the minimum lot design standards. Previously the Planning Commission reviewed a request from the property owner to divide this same property into three single family lots, converting the back garage into a single family home. Based on the design standards, the Planning Commission stated that only one additional lot could be created. Weyrens clarified that the action before the Council only splits the property into two single family lots. The property owner of the vacant lot will still need to go through the development and building permit process. The property owner has provided the required survey and at this time the Council is being asked to authorize execution of a Certificate of Compliance which will allow the property to be recorded as two separate lots. Frank made a motion to authorize the Administrator to execute a Certificate of Compliance authorizing the lot split of lots 9, 10, 11 Block 1, creating two single family lots. The motion was seconded by Wick. Discussion: Rassier stated that, in the past, there were some issues with additional access onto Minnesota Street. In response, Weyrens stated that they would be required to provide access to the property from the alley rather than Minnesota Street. The motion passed unanimously. Facade Architectural Grant ProQram: Weyrens stated that the Downtown Committee has been working with the Downtown Business owners on the proposed design standards for the downtown. Those design standards have been approved by the Planning Commission and City Council for staff to use as a Planning Tool. The EDA has also approved the standards and has budgeted approximately $ 7,500 for grant assistance to downtown businesses. The funding will be limited to $ 1,000 per business and can only be used for architectural services. Frank questioned the information in the packet regarding this matter and questioned if the program was a grant or a loan. Weyrens stated that she inadvertently included two different documents, one for the facade grant program and one for the revolving loan standards. At this time the Council is only considering the facade grant program. Schultz made a motion to approve the Fa~ade Architectural Grant Program as presented. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Wick made a motion to table the Revolving Loan Fund Guidelines. The motion was seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously. Interim Use Permit. Jake Rorabeck: Weyrens updated the Council on the status of the Interim Use Permit application submitted by Dan and Jake Rorabeck. She stated that she has recently received a new document that has changed the ownership of the property. The property originally listed Dan and Jake as the owners, then a new document appeared that showed, Dan, Kathy and Jake as owners. Since Jake would not have the required 50% ownership, Rorabeck was contacted and now the documents have listed Jake Rorabeck and Chris Morim as owners, each owning 50%. Due to the changing ownership, Weryens has referred this matter to the City Attorney for review. Wick questioned whether or not the application would still be valid as Danny and Kathleen are co- applicants, but are no longer listed on the deed. Weyrens stated that this issue will be reviewed as well with the City Attorney. Weyrens further stated that if the property has been transferred as a contract for deed, it must be recorded before the City will consider the applicant an owner. Frank stated that he is November 1, 2007 Page 4 of 4 concerned with the answers that are given for the questions on the application as they do not answer the question that is being asked. Weyrens advised the Councilors that the Planning Commission can ask for further information. Field Street Uodate: Weyrens advised the Council that WSB as well as the APO will be present at the meeting on the 15th to give a final presentation for Field Street. She added that the Jade Road Assessment Hearing will also take place at this meeting. Uocomino Meetinos: Weyrens stated that the Council will need to set up two additional budget meetings. She also suggested a possible Council Workshop on November 19. Veteran's Dav: Rassier stated that there will be a Veteran's Day Parade on Sunday to support the Veterans. He added that Mike McDonald has been in charge of setting up the event and thanked him for all of his hard work. Adiourn: Schultz made a motion to adjourn at 7:40 PM; seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. ( :" (I ely ! Ll2.A/ >!- t1) J~y~eyrens ~~~i~trator