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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-06 July 6, 2006 Page 1 of 5 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Richard Carlbom, Councilors AI Rassier, Dale Wick, Ross Rieke, Renee Symanietz, City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives Present: City Engineer Tracy Ekola Others Present: Bob & Ellen Wahlstrom, Tom Muske, Jim & Mary Ann Graeve Approve AQenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously. Consent AQenda: Symanietz made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows: a. Minutes - Approve minutes of May 18, June 1 and June 15, 2006. b. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 037437-037535. c. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Application for Payment #1 for the 2006 Street Improvement Project and authorize payment to Northern Escrow Inc c/o C & L Excavating in the amount of $180,177 .24. d. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Application for Payment #4 for the Water Treatment Plant and authorize payment to John T Jones in the amount of $562,077 .42. e. Temporary Outdoor Music/Liquor Permit - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to issue a Temporary Outdoor Music/Liquor Permit for events to be held on July 12, August 9, and September 13, 2006 contingent upon no noise violations after each event. f. Development Agreement Amendment - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Developer Agreement Amendment for Northland Heights. g. SEH Contract - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute the contract between SEH and the City of St. Joseph for engineering services. The motion was seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously. Public Comments to the AQenda: - No one present wished to speak. Public HearinQ - 8th Avenue NE Improvements: Carlbom called the public hearing and stated that the purpose of the hearing was to consider the making of an improvement on 8th Avenue NE between Minnesota Street E and CSAH 75 to include utility extension and street, curb and gutter. Carlbom turned the hearing over to the City Engineer, Tracy Ekola. Ekola stated that the stated that the Auto By Owner property owner inquired as to the possibility of extending services to their property. The Council has been working on providing services to island areas and agreed to initiate the improvement process. Ekola continued to discuss the specifics of the proposed improvement. She stated that the proposed improvement includes six properties of which three have sewer service and two have water service. She stated that some of the affected properties already have services from Minnesota Street. The existing street, currently under Stearns County Jurisdiction, is 35 years old and only 24' wide. In order to bring this street to City standards, it must be widened to 32' with curb and gutter. The project consists of widening the street along with repairing the driveways, storm sewer improvements and adding catch basins. Ekola stated that they plan to construct curb and gutter from Minnesota Street to the North end of the St. Joseph Business Center and Auto Buy Owner driveways. Rassier questioned whether those with two driveways would have both driveways replaced. Ekola stated that they would. Ekola added that there are a few oversize lots and the assessments for those lots would be deferred until the property is split. According to Ekola, there is a change to one of the lots as it can be sub-divided, adding an additional deferred charge. July 6, 2006 Page 2 of 5 Ekola advised the Council and the public that the assessments are based on the following: . I nterior Lot - based on front footage . Corner Lot - based on Y2 long side and 100% of the short side . Sanitary Sewer and Water Main - based on number of units. She stated that Stearns County will be responsible for the center 24' of the street improvement and the property owners would be responsible for the balance of the costs. If this were a street replacement, they would only be assessed a portion due to the fact that they were already assessed once for the street. After the final assessment hearing, the residents will have the option to pay for their assessments in full within 30 days with no interest or have those assessments added to their taxes at a interest rate of approximately 6% over 15 years. Ekola stated that the total costs for the project, based on 2006 construction costs, is estimated to be $202,038. The estimate includes the following: . Street, Curb, Gutter $69,129 . Sanitary Sewer $45,715 . Water Main $75,673 . Storm Sewer $11,521 $50.45/Lin Ft. $4,155/Unit $6,306/Unit Of those total costs, Ekola stated that the cost sharing would be as follows: . Residents $170,000 . County $21,000 . City $11,500 In response to questions asked by the Council, Ekola stated that the costs for this project are very close to other City projects. She also stated that the assessments do not include any WAC/SAC charges. In order for this project to be completed in 2006, the following schedule must be adopted: . Public Improvement Hearing 06-27-06 . Authorize for Advertisement of Bids 08-03-06 . Publish Advertisement of Bids 08-04-06 . Bid Opening 08-29-06 . Award the Bid 08-31-06 (Special Hearing) Mary Ann Graeve, 619 Minnesota Street E, approached the Council with some questions relating to the project. She questioned why the homeowner is liable for 100% of the costs for the street. Weyrens stated that it is a City policy and that residents are charged once, at 100%, for street improvements. Any future improvements are assessed at 60%. Graeve also questioned the ditches and stated they currently serve as a swale. Therefore, she does not see a benefit to control the storm water, which, in her opinion, will rush all the contaminants into the rivers, which eventually causes illnesses. She concluded by stating that the improvement should not be done to provide for business development. Carlbom questioned Ekola as to why curb & gutter is needed rather than the possibility of rain gardens. Ekola stated that this area would not be a good area for rain gardens due to the fact that the southern portion of 8th Avenue slopes down to E Minnesota Street causing the water to run too fast. The storm sewer along E Minnesota Street is set up to handle their runoff and because the increase in impervious surface is less than 1 acre, that storm sewer can continue to handle the runoff. Ekola stated that if Pleasant Acres were to be annexed, that may be a good area for rain gardens because it would be too difficult to put in curb, gutter and storm sewers. Ellen Wahlstrom, 409 fih Avenue NE, approached the Council as well. She stated that when she moved into their home in 1957, the road was already there and there have been no problems with the road. According to Wahlstrom, there is never a great deal of water collecting in the ditches because it is all running to the storm sewers. She concluded by stating that she does not think that gutters are attractive on City Streets due to all of the items collecting around them. July 6, 2006 Page 3 of 5 Tom Muske, 707 Minnesota Street E, questioned the Council as to who will benefit from the improvements, as this is basically a dead end street. Jim Graeve, 619 Minnesota Street E, approached the council questioning the need for curb and gutter. He also stated that he sees no need for the street to be widened, as there will not be any increase in the amount of traffic. According to Ekola, curb and gutter helps to control storm water flow and drainage as well as provides for an orderly manner for snowplowing and parking. She also stated that the street is needed because the utilities would be constructed under the road rather than in the boulevards. Wick made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:50 PM; seconded by Symanietz. Carlbom questioned the reason for ending the curb and gutter at the driveways to Auto Buy Owner and the St. Joseph Business Center. Ekola stated that there is a Stearns County grant-in-aid snowmobile trail that follows the CR 75 ditch and thus there cannot be curb and gutter at that crossing for safety issues. Rassier added that, at the top of the hill, the water can run into the ditches. According to Carlbom, these residents should be on City water/sewer. Weyrens added that this project has been discussed three times prior to this. At some point the utilities will need to be extended. The City has a situation where a property owner has the desire to develop their property and need water and sewer to do so. Rassier stated that when projects like these are needed they should be done right away rather than waiting for someone to request services. Wick questioned whether or not there are residents in the City who are not currently on City sewer/water. If this project is delayed any longer, the costs may double. There were some questions relating to the assessments for the Auto Buy Owner site. Weyrens stated that they would be asked to pay the entire assessment up front rather than an in lieu of charge. Symanietz questioned how the City would finance this project. According to Weyrens, the City can finance the improvements with the use of bonds issued through a local bank. Wick made a motion to table the discussion of the 8th Avenue NE Improvements until July 12, 2006 at 5:30 PM. The motion was seconded by Symanietz, Discussion: Rassier clarified that the public hearing has been closed, therefore the Council will not be accepting additional testimony on July 12, 2006. The motion passed unanimously. CITY ENGINEER REPORTS 2006 Seal Coat Quotes: Ekola advised the Council that she has met with Taufen regarding the proposed 2006 Seal Coat project. She stated that each year the Public Works Director budgets for seal coating. Over the past ten years seal coating was not completed resulting in a need to do large portions of streets. The seal coating helps protect the street providing for maximum life of the same. Ekola stated the City should be seal coating street every years and all streets should be seal coated twice. Seal coating is typically completed after seven years and then again after 12 years. Most streets will/ast about 25 years before needing to have mill and overlay done. She mentioned that residents are not assessed for seal coating projects, however, they are assessed when the street has mill and overlay done. Rieke and Rassier stated that if the streets are taken care of, they will last longer. There are three areas of town, which they have targeted for seal coating in 2006: . 5th Avenue NE from Fir Street E to Gumtree Street E, Fir Street E from 5th Avenue NE to Northland Drive . 9th Avenue SE from Minnesota Street E to Baker Street E. . Baker Street E from approximately 1ih Avenue SE to 16th Avenue SE, 1ih Avenue SE from Callaway Street E to approximately Baker Street E, Pond View Lane from approximately July 6, 2006 Page 4 of 5 Callaway Street E to Baker Street E, 13th Avenue SE to approximately Baker Street E, Callaway Street E From Pond View Lane to 1ih Avenue SE Rassier made a motion to authorize the City Engineer to get quotes for seal coating the areas identified above. The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. MA VOR REPORTS School Committee Meetino: Carlbom advised the Council that the School Committee Meetings for the new k-8 school will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays at the district administration offices. 4th of Julv: Carlbom stated that the 4th of July weekend was wonderful and there were a lot of great events. COUNCIL REPORTS SYMANIETZ St. Joseph Chamber Meetino: Symanietz attended the St. Joseph Chamber meeting at which they discussed a possible St. Joseph night at the River Bats. The event will be similar to last year and there will be tickets sold at local businesses. They hope to sell 500 tickets and the event will take place on August 2, 2006. LMC Conference: Symanietz reported that she attended the LMC Conference in Duluth and she was appointed to the Planning Committee. WICK Downtown Committee Meetinqs: Wick stated that the following groups will be meeting: . Promotions July 13, 2006 5:30 PM . Urban Environment July 20, 2006 5:30 PM . Organizational July 12, 2006 7:30 AM @ College of St. Benedict RASSIER Reoional Human Riqhts Task Force: Rassier stated that he attended the meeting about the regional human rights office. They are requesting that two of their representatives be allowed to come give a brief presentation to the Council and they also have a resolution to which they are seeking approval as well. Rassier added that they would have numbers with them for budgeting purposes. Support: Rassier thanked everyone for their support of the loss of his mother. RIEKE EDA: Rieke stated that the EDA report is available for review. Rassier questioned the potential development of the 13 acres along CR 75. Weyrens stated that Corborns plans to begin the planning stage this fall. ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Waterinq Ban: Weyrens stated that the capacity for water use is reaching its maximum. Residents are able to water between the hours of 7PM and 7 AM using the odd/even watering system. She stated that the Police Department will be strictly enforcing the Ordinance. Rieke announced that the solution to the water issue is in progress. Ekola added that the goal is to have the Water Treatment Plant running by April 2007. The current capacity for the water tower is 1 million July 6, 2006 Page 5 of 5 gallons/day and the new plant will have a capacity of 2 million gallons/day. This will result in total capacity of 3 million gallons/day. Ekola also added that the new facility could be expanded to pump 3 million gallons/day with no building expansions. Weyrens advised the Council that they would be going on a tour of the new facility on July 12 at 4:30 PM. LMC: Symanietz reported that the LMC offers rewards to Cities of Excellence and the City will have a chance to win some money for this. Adiourn: Symanietz made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM; seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. I , ~'-"-&!~jy /ll(j///t~/O idY ~eyreris Administrator