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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-15-06 June 15, 2006 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, June 15, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Richard Carlbom. Councilors AI Rassier, Ross Rieke, Renee Symanietz, Dale Wick. Administrator Judy Weyrens. City Representatives Present: City Engineers Joe Bettendorf and Tracy Ekola Others Present: Jim Fredricks, Sr. Kara Hennes, Sr. Thomasette Approve Aoenda: Rassier made a motion to approve the agenda with the following changes: Move 31 Interim Use Permit (to be discussed after item 5) Delete 3a Minutes - May 18, 2006 The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Consent Aoenda: Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows. a. Deleted b. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 037377-037436. c. Change Order - Authorize Change Order #3 for the Water Treatment Plant resulting in an increase of $3,101.00. d. Change Order - Authorize Change Order #4 for the Water Treatment Plant resulting in an increase of $13,976.00 e. Donation - Accept the donation from the St. Joseph Lions in the amount of $100.00 for flowers along Minnesota Street. f. Donations - Accept the donations from the St. Cloud Police Benefit Association and the MN Fraternal Order of Police for the 2006 Law Enforcement Memorial Service. g. Landscape Deposit - Authorize the release of the Landscape Deposit in the amount of $15,000 for the Morningside Town home Project. h. Land Donation - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the agreement accepting the donation of land from M.W. Lambert. i. Variance - Accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission granting a six inch variance on the rear yard setback for Lot 1 Block 3 Morningside Acres 2nd Addition. j. Height Variance - Accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and grant a sixteen and one-half foot variance on the maximum height of a structure. k. PUD Amendment - Accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission revising the Preliminary PlatlPUD entitled Graceview Estates, deleting 3 lots. I. Moved for discussion after item 5. m. Annexation Clarification - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2006-14 clarifying the legal description used for the annexation of the Water Treatment Plant. n. Six-month Fire Activity - Accept the December 1, 2005 through May 31, 2006 Fire Activity Report, authorizing payment to the Pay Per Response Fire Fighters. o. Fire Contract - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Fire Contract between the City and Town of St. Joseph. The motion was seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously. Public Comments to the Aoenda: No one present wished to speak. St. Joseph Action Group: Margie Hughes, 128 Able Ct, approached the Council to represent the St. Joseph Action Group. They have been working on several petitions in opposition to the proposed Field Street Corridor. The petition that was presented to the Council had a total of approximately 350 signatures of students, faculty, and staff from the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. June 15, 2006 Page 2 of 4 Interim Use Permit: Weyrens reported that the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on June 5,2006 to consider issuance of an Interim Use Permit allowing an owner occupied rental unit at 30a- 10th Avenue SE. The Rental Housing Inspector has inspected the property and if the required repairs are completed, the property would qualify for an owner occupied rental with 2 persons other than the property owner. Wick questioned whom the Interim Use Permit is being issued to. Weyrens stated that Thomas Ortman will own the house and his parents Timothy and Ellen Ortmann are the co-signers. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the Council issue the Interim Use Permit. Rassier made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and issue an Interim Permit to Thomas Ortmann, 308 - 10th Avenue SE, allowing and owner occupied rental unit. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. There was some question as to whether or not the Planning Commission was looking into limiting the number of Interim Use Permits being issued. Rassier stated that the Planning Commission will be discussing this matter. CITY ENGINEER REPORTS Feasibilitv Report - ath Avenue NE Improvements: Ekola presented the Council with the information relating to the ath Avenue NE Improvements including utility construction and street reconstruction for ath Avenue NE between Minnesota Street E and CSAH75. She stated that special assessments are proposed for street reconstruction, concrete curb and gutter, sanitary sewer and water main along with some additional funds from the City. According to Ekola, that portion of ath Avenue being discussed is currently under the jurisdiction of Stearns County; however they plan to turn back that portion of roadway once the improvements are completed. Currently, the roadway is only 24 feet wide and there is no sanitary sewer or water main. Two of the affected properties have water and sewer from Minnesota Street and the St. Joseph Business Center has sanitary sewer from the backside of their lot. There are three lots that have no water or sewer service. Ekola advised the Council that the proposed sanitary sewer and water main would tie into an existing a-inch stub line at Minnesota Street. A storm water facility would not be required As stated above, the existing street bed is 24' and the Cit~ standard for a local residential street is 32 feet wide and for a neighborhood residential street 36 feet. at Avenue would be considered a local residential street since the intersections at both Minnesota Street and CSAH 75 do not provide for through traffic. As a result, the proposed width of the street is 32 feet. Ekola did state that the portion from the commercial businesses to CSAH 75 might be widened to accommodate higher volumes of traffic. She also stated that the curb and gutter would end at the driveways to the St. Joseph Business Center and Auto Buy Owner as there is a snowmobile trail that crosses atli Avenue along the CSAH 75 ditch as well as the fact that there is no curb and gutter along CSAH 75. The costs associated with the project (based on 2006 construction costs) are as follows: Street, Curb and Gutter Sanitary Sewer Water Main Storm Sewer TOTAL $ 69,129 $ 45,715 $ 75,673 $ 11.521 $202,038 The assessments will be based on the following rates: Street, Curb and Gutter $50.45/Linear Foot Sanitary Sewer $4,155.a7/Unit Water Main $6,306.06/Unit There are some parcels that are considered oversized and they will be assessed for additional sewer and water based on the number of single-family lots that the parcel could accommodate. The additional assessments for water and sewer would be a charge in lieu of assessment when the property is subdivided. Weyrens stated that that process is consistent with past assessment practices. June 15, 2006 Page 3 of 4 According to Weyrens, the next step would be to look at different financing options. Carlbom stated that, in his opinion, the City should hold off on the improvements if Auto Buy Owner is no longer interested. Rassier, on the other hand, stated that the City should hold the Public Hearing to discuss the proposed assessment, as it does not mean that the improvements will be ordered. According to Ekola, July 6, 2006 would be the last date possible for the City to hold the public hearing if those improvements were to be constructed in 2006. If the project is delayed again, the costs will most likely be higher as this report was based on 2006 costs and construction costs continue to rise. Rassier made a motion authoring execution of Resolution 2006-_ Receiving the Feasibility Report and Calling for the Hearing on Improvement. The hearing will be conducted on July 6, 2006. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Southwest Beltwav: Ekola advised the Council that the Southwest Beltway Ad Hoc Committee consists of representatives from Stearns County, APO, Waite Park and St. Joseph. She stated that they discussed two approaches to use for preparation of the Environmental Impact Study. · "Tiered" - One tier to analyze the scope of the project and another tier to do the actual environmental study. This approach would allow the City to delay paying all of the costs up front. · "Full" - Analyze all issues at one time. This approach would require more money up front. The total cost for the scoping document is $275,000 of which the APO Board approved $192,500 of federal High Priority Project funding to be used. That leaves the balance at $82,500. The local match distribution is as follows: Jurisdiction (%) Recommended Share ($) Stearns County 50 41,250 City of St. Joseph 25 20,625 City of Waite Park 25 20,625 Local Match Totals 100 82,500 Weyrens stated that the City would need to budget for our portion for 2007. Carlbom stated that the advantage of the tiered approach is that once the actual route is determined, the City may pay less money for the study based on whose jurisdiction the route goes through. The Council came to a consensus that the committee should move forward with the scoping document. Water Treatment Plant Update: Ekola provided the Council with an update on the progress of the Water Treatment Plant. She stated that they are in the process of putting up the walls and installing the lines from the wells to the plant. They are also working on the water line from the treatment plant to the Frontage Road and installing the grinder pump for the sanitary waste. She also stated that the entrance road is now in as well. Carlbom questioned when they would be touring the facility. Weyrens stated that the tour is scheduled for June 21, 2006 at 5:00 PM. Bettendorf Retirement: Carlbom announced that Joe Bettendorf, City Engineer, would be retiring as of June 30, 2006. He has been the City Engineer for the past 34 years. Tracy Ekola will take over as the City's Engineer. MA VOR REPORTS Downtown Committee: Carlbom stated that the Downtown Committee members met on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 to break into the four focus groups and they began organizing their groups. They are still looking for representation from the monastery. June 15, 2006 Page 4 of 4 COUNCIL REPORTS SYMANIETZ Transportation Meetinq: Symanietz stated that she attended the Transportation Open House last night to look at future transportation needs for the City. S1. Joseph Chamber: Symanietz announced that she attended the S1. Joseph Chamber meeting last Thursday. WICK - No Report RASSIER Planninq Commission Update: Rassier stated that the Planning Commission recently reviewed a revised plan for Graceview Estates, which shows a reduction in the number of lots. They also reviewed the initial plans for the Food Service building at the College of St. Benedict. RIEKE - No Report ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Affordable Housinq Amendments: Weyrens stated that the LCH Board is looking to amend the rules for Affordable Housing to include the following: . Reduce the amount of homes set aside from 15% of the housing stock to 5%. . Accept the existing housing as part of the affordable housing stock. Rassier made a motion to authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2006-_ recommending the LCH Board amend the Joint Agreement as stated above. The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. AFSCME Union: Weyrens advised the Council that the AFSCME Union has presented their request to begin negotiations for the new contract. Their current contract expires at the end of 2006. Symanietz and Rassier volunteered to be part of the negotiation committee. St. Ben's Sewer Use Aqreement Weyrens stated the College of St. Benedict has requested the City review the 1986 Sewer Use Agreement between the College/Monastery of St. Benedict and the City of St. Joseph. Carlbom volunteered to work with staff on the agreement review. Upcominq Meetinq: Weyrens reminded the Council of the Budget meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 21,2006 at 5:30. They will be discussing street issues, engineering issues and the capital improvement plan. Adiourn: Rassier made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. (' '~;Y/::::~y ,1{)~>;?le~~J 6u.dY weyr~ns . Administrator