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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 [05] May 20May 20, 2010 Page 1 of 7 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:OOPM in the St. Joseph City Hall, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor Al Rassier, Councilors Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz, Bob Loso and City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Terry Thene and Police Chief Pete Jansky Others Present: Erik Townlinson, Samantha Bushey, Mark Zimmer, Maureen Forsythe, Tom Klein, Mike McDonald, Katherine Kraft, Teliza Callaway PUBLIC COMMENTS Chamber of Commerce Donation: Mike McDonald approached the Councilors on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce to present the City with a donation in the amount of $1,000 for the Holiday decorations. He stated that the Chamber made a five year commitment to donate funds for new decorations as the current ones are in bad shape. The St. Joseph Chamber committed to donate % 5,000 over a five year period. The donation at this time is the third of such payments. McDonald stated that the Chamber would like the City to make good efforts to be a part of their meetings. One of their goals is to retain business in St. Joseph and they hope to work with the City to accomplish that. McDonald then advised the Council that the Chamber will be sponsoring a golf outing on August 23 as a way for businesses to network within the City. Rassier presented McDonald with a letter thanking the Chamber for their donation Press Introductions: Rassier asked each of the newspaper representatives to introduce themselves to the Council. Samantha Bushey approached the Councilors and stated that she is the new representative with the St. Joseph Newsleader. Teliza Callaway approached the Councilors on behalf of the St. Cloud Times. Approval of the Agenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows: a. Minutes — Approve the City Council minutes of May 6, 2010. b. Bills Payable — Approve check numbers 042855 -042911 and EFT numbers 000406 -000410 and 000505. c. Treasurer's Report — Accept the April 2010 Treasurer's Report and Cash position as presented. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously by those present. Public Hearing. Outdoor Event — Saint Stock: Weyrens stated that the purpose of the hearing is to accept testimony for the proposed outdoor event to be held at the College of St. Benedict on Saturday, June 26. The event is known as Saint Stock and is the same event that is held every year. She advised the Council that there was no one present to represent the College. She added that the Police had no issues last year and staff is recommending approval of the outdoor event as requested. Weyrens also advised the Council that the event is limited to alumni of the College of St. Benedict and is held on their grounds. Rassier opened the Public Hearing. There was no one wishing to speak regarding the proposed event. Symanletz made a motion to close the Public Hearing at 7:05PM; seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. May 20, 2010 Page 2 of 7 Loso made a motion to approve the outdoor event as presented; seconded by Wick. Discussion: Wick questioned Chief Jansky as to whether or not he has met with representatives from the College regarding the event. Jansky advised him that they plan to run the event as they had in the past and there have been no problems in previous years. As a result, he stated that there will be no extra staff on duty that night. The motion passed unanimously by those present. Public Hearing — Liouor License Fees: Weyrens stated that the purpose of the hearing is to consider the proposed Liquor License Fee Schedule for the License years 2010 -2012. She added that notices were sent to all liquor license holders. The last increase of liquor licenses was in 1999 and that was a tiered increase as well. The proposal before the Council is a three year tiered proposal and is the result of discussion during the 2010 budget preparation. . Rassier opened the public hearing. Maureen Forsythe approached the Council on behalf of BoDiddleys. She stated that they are concerned about the increased fees as their total beer and wine sales are between $7 -8,000 for, the entire year, less than 2% of their total sales. She stated that she is most concerned about the increase for the wine license as they do not feel that the increased fee is worth it for the small amount of wine that is sold each year. Forsythe added that they dropped their wine license at their store in St. Cloud due to the increase in the wine license fee and they will most likely do the same here if the fees do increase. She also stated that, in other cities, they are able to sell strong beer as well with the combination of a 3.2 license and a wine license. Weyrens advised her that that is an option in St. Joseph as well. Mark Zimmer approached the Council in opposition to the proposed fee increases for the liquor license. He stated that the City has recently lost two of its license holders, the Delwin Ballroom [Trobec's] and the Stonehouse. He added that many of the other establishments have had to cut hours and none of them chose to pursue the 2AM bar closing. Capacity wise, he stated that there are fewer establishments in town to enforce. Zimmer stated that with the economy.the way it is, this is not a good time to raise fees as this is not a good time for those in the restaurant and bar business. In addition, he stated that property taxes will increase due to the State's budget and they are already high enough. When comparing St. Joseph to Sauk Rapids, Sartell and Waite Park, he stated that we are not comparing apples to oranges as they all have a much larger population and we do not have the same amount of retail and industrial business. He stated that, although the City has a college, only a small portion of the population is of age. He believes that St. Joseph is more similar in size to cities like Avon, Foley, etc. Zimmer also questioned the need for an inspection fee and questioned where that came from. He added that there is no one present from the school when money and fees are discussed. They pay no property taxes, yet they have a liquor license and they are in competition with the local businesses. Symanietz made a motion to close the Public Hearing at 7:20PM; seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Wick questioned Weyrens as to how many wine licenses there are within the city to which she stated only one or two. Rassier questioned whether the College pays the same liquor license to which Weyrens stated they do. Wick also questioned Weyrens as to which Club category the Legion would fall under for its membership. Weyrens stated that she is uncertain but they may have between 201 and 500 members. She added that they are also working to verify whether they should be considered as a club license holder or an on -sale license holder. Rassier commented that all of the fees have a proposed increase except for the club license. Loso stated that he believes that the communities to the west of St. Joseph are most comparable to St. Joseph and based on that, our fees are higher. Rassier stated that it is good to have comparisons; however, the Council should not use that to make their decisions. Weyrens advised the Council that the Club license fee remained the same because it is already at the maximum allowed by State Statutes. Symanietz questioned how many liquor licenses there are within the City to May 20, 2010 Page 3 of 7 which Weyrens replied there are 6. Weyrens advised the Council that the inspection fee was added when the Ordinance was changed as it calls for an annual inspection of the liquor establishments. Rassier stated that he would like to see the fees remain steady for another year to see how they economy is going to react. The City needs to work with businesses to keep them in town. Wick made a motion to keep the Liquor License fees the same for 2010 -2011. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously by those present. Weyrens asked for clarification on the inspection fee. Rassier re- stated that it was part of the new Ordinance. Wick questioned why there was a fee on the 2009 schedule. Weyrens stated that a fee has not been charged in the past so it could be removed if that is what the council decides. She did state that the inspector will still need to go out and do the inspection. Loso made a motion to drop the inspection fee to $75 for 2010 -2011. The motion was seconded by Symanietz. Ayes: Wick, Symanietz, Loso Nays: Rassier Motion Carried 3:1 CITY ENGINEER REPORTS Wellhead Protection Report: Sabart advised the Council that Eric Townlinson, staff hydrologist from the St. Paul Office, would be presenting the Wellhead Protection Report. He stated that when the new Water Treatment Plant was constructed, there were three additional wells added which prompted the need for the Wellhead Protection Plan (WPP). Townlinson stated that the Department of Health requires a WPP for Municipal Drinking Water suppliers. There are two parts to the WPP and they are requesting acceptance of part one at this time. He advised the Council that they worked with the Department of Health to create a computer system model which would show how much is being pumped from the different aquifers. By doing this, they are able to tell'what the wells are doing to the aquifer and calibrate that information against real measures to create a capture zone. The City has two well fields with long delineation and there is a buried sand and gravel aquifer that runs along this. Part two of the WPP is to identify possible contaminant sources in and around the City, verify those locations and come up with a plan to manage that area. They will work to identify steps to get there. He added that the Department of Health likes to work with the existing land uses. The ultimate goal is to have the drinking water source management plan to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. He also added that the City of St. Joseph has a vulnerable aquifer. The upside; however, is that the City has a lot of water. The concern is that the level of protection is just not there and the City needs to be more conscious. Townlinson stated that the next step is to accept part one of the plan. It would then go to the MN Department of Health for a 60 day review. Once that is completed, they would move forward with part two planning. Wick questioned how they will complete part two. Townlinson stated that they will do a database search to get a list of any potential impacts in the area and then work to verify those areas. He added that they will then work with Thene to identify problems and work to do more public education and awareness to continue to provide water quality. They will work with staff to come up with a step by step plan. He added that mailings will go out to selected property owners as well. Wick questioned the water flow which runs southwest to North. He questioned whether more sites will be needed and whether the City needs to encompass more area. Townlinson replied that there is a substantial amount of data available and that results in a pretty comprehensive model. He added that they can increase the area if the City prefers; however, that could potentially restrict future land uses. Wick stated that he is concerned about the fact that the wells have a high vulnerability rating. He questioned what would happen if there was a chemical spill. Sabart stated that, in the past, they have expanded the data points to help with modeling activity. Townlinson stated that he feels that we have good calibration. Sabart added that they have good data May 20, 2010 Page 4 of 7 points in the areas in which there is the most industrial use. Wick questioned the 10 -year capture zone. He was advised that if there was a spill it would not hit the well that fast. Symanietz made a motion to adopt part one of the Wellhead Protection Plan as presented. The motion was seconded by Wick. Discussion: Sabart re- stated that the next step would be to submit the plan to the Department of Health for review. There may be some other concerns that surface during that review. Loso questioned whether the models in the plan will change to which Townlinson replied that an update is required every ten years. Rassier questioned whether or not there is a way to make sure that any new development would not burden the system. Sabart replied that they would look at that during part two of the plan. The motion passed unanimously by those present. St. Cloud APO TAC Update: Sabart gave a brief update of the APO TAC meeting. He stated that one item in particular may be addressed more after the legislative session and that is the concept of complete streets. He stated that as we plan and design roadways, we will need to pay closer attention to making them safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. He added that we can anticipate some additional rules. He advised the Council that some cities have begun to take initiative by resolution. Sabart reported that the Mayor's bike ride will take place on June 5. Rassier stated that he recently attended the Stearns County Municipal League meeting. Some of the area cities stated that they have received bills from the State for sales tax on water used for fire protection. Weyrens stated that if there is ever a huge leak which results in a discrepancy, the state wants to collect sales tax for water not being used for the citizens. Rassier stated that some cities actually received bills from the State and he questioned how that is possible. Weyrens stated that the City recently had a sales tax audit and stated that may be what is happening to the area cities. She added that people pay sales tax for bulk water. Water used for fire protection, skating rinks, etc is excluded. Weyrens stated that she will look into this further. Sanitary Sewer Lines — Park Terrace Addition: Sabart stated that staff has been experiencing some difficulties with the old sewer clay pipes within the City. He provided the Council with several pictures to show the problems that they have been experiencing. Some of the difficulties include: • Root Intrusion: This happens when a vegetative mass grows at the pipe joint. This is very typical and is one of the most common failures. • Offset Pipe Joint: This occurs when the pipes don't settle well together due to them coming out of alignment. Due to the pipes being offset, equipment tends to get hooked up during cleaning. • Broken Pipe: This is seen when there is a hold in the crown of the pipe and results in material or earth dropping into the pipe which can obstruct flow or even result in a possible collapse of the pipe. • Clean Out: This occurs when a riser pipe comes to the surface and a service pipe goes into this cleanout. • Roots at Services: There is a possibility of the root masses getting into the service pipes which can result in the question as to where the actual blockage is, whether it be in the sewer main or in the service pipe. Sabart advised the Council that they can see on the map provided to them that these sewer pipes are not located in the streets rather they are in the backyards. This means that they are behind houses, fences, trees, etc and access to the pipes is a significant issue. Symanietz questioned if there are any ways for property owners to prevent root intrusion. According to Sabart, it is a good idea for residents to use a roto- rooter as a preventative tool. Once a root has penetrated at a joint, he stated that it tends to be a chronic problem. May 20, 2010 Page 5 of 7 Sabart also advised the Council that when there are old pipes, there are also old manholes. In some of these old manholes, there is a risk to staff in that the steps may not be sturdy. He added that solids are also settling in the bottom of some of those old structures. Sabart stated that they are also experiencing a pipe grade problem which means that there is no flow, thus no water is accumulating. Staff has to frequently jet that part of the pipe to keep it clear. Sabart explained that lining the sewer pipes is a great tool for those sewer services with root intrusion. At some points, the liner is cut to allow the service to drain. There are; however, more challenges if there are problems with roots in the service lines. It was stated that the pipes with the most challenges are in Park Terrace. Staff is concerned about a few of the areas that they do not feel can wait until the Park Terrace Project is constructed. Due to the fact that there is a budget for lining, staff is requesting that some repairs are made to three different sections of pipe. Thene reported that he has been in contact with one company regarding the possible lining of those sections. If some of the service lines are covered, the lining would be cut at the dimpled area to allow flow to pass through. Sabart stated that a top hat is actually inserted at those areas. Wick questioned the timing for this type of project. Sabart replied that they will need to working with the property owners and coordinate a time with little water use. With respect to Park Terrace, Sabart stated that they definitely have access issues as the sewers are currently located in the backyards. He recalled that back in 1986/1989, there was some discussion about relocating the sewers; however, it was not done at that time. He added that things with clay sewers have worsened over time and lining the sewers is not the best alternative, given the problems that have occurred. Staff feels that this is one of the capital improvements that is most important. Rassier suggested that staff get some hard numbers for lining those areas. He also questioned why the sewers near Ash Street were not relocated when the street project was completed. He was advised that it was due to the fact that they did not include the alleys at that time. Loso questioned the lifetime of lining. Sabart replied that they advertise for 50+ years. Rassier stated that even with the lining, there are still issues with service pipes. Sabart added that staff does not have good access to the manholes and they have issues with lining as well. Thene concluded by stating that they will look at pricing and bring it back to the Council. POLICE CHIEF REPORTS Safe & Sober Grant: Jansky presented the Council with a resolution supporting and participating in the 2010 — 2011 Safe and Sober Program. St. Joseph has been a part of the program since 1999 and it purpose is to provide extra police services during high traffic times. The program consists of enforcement waves such as speed, seat belt, impaired driving and child restraint. The City is reimbursed all wages with the City contribution the equipment and benefits. He further stated that all of the communities in Stearns and Benton Counties have joined in a coalition consisting of a group of agencies working the Safe & Sober program. He stated that he would like authorization to participate for 2010. Loso made a motion to authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2010 -011, participating in the Safe & Sober Program. The motion was seconded by Wick. Discussion: Rassier commented that when this hits the news, they only mention routes between Hwy 23 and County Road 75 or County Road 75 and 1 -94. He questioned if there are any other highways that should be enforced. The motion passed unanimously by those present. Monthly Reports: Jansky apologized that the monthly reports have not been distributed recently as a result of some computer issues. He stated that they hope to get them done by the next month. Jade Road: Jansky reported that they received a number of complaints about the parking issues near the athletic fields on Jade Road. People are currently parking on both sides of the street and traffic and farm machinery are having troubles getting through. Currently staff is looking at cost estimates and he has talked to the Township about a possible cost sharing. When this was developed, it was known that, May 20, 2010 Page 6 of 7 eventually, the road would not be wide enough. This will be brought back to the Council at the next meeting. Emergency Siren: According to Jansky, the emergency siren is up and running again. He also advised the Council that, in the future, they will need to upgrade the sirens. Currently, we are working on VHF band which are set up by Stearns County. Effective January 2013 the FCC is requiring all Emergency Sirens to operate on a narrow band system. Jansky stated that his will matter will be addressed during the budget process for 2011. COPS Fast Program: Weyrens reported that the City has been notified that the City can re- submit for a COPS Fast Grant. The grant provides for funding of a full time entry level officer for a three year period. The City was not successful the first time. The grant opportunity at this time is only open to those that have previously applied. By consensus the Council authorized staff to update and resubmit the grant application. ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Fire Board Update: Council Member Loso will discuss this during Council Reports. Computer Conversion: Weyrens advised the Council that the servers are up and everything seems to be working; however, the links on the website for Laserfiche are broken and they will be restored as soon as possible. MAYOR REPORTS Human Rights Joint Powers Board: Rassier stated that he attended his first Human Rights meeting. Councilor Symanietz will give an update. Stearns County Municipal League: Rassier advised the Council that he attended the Stearns County Municipal League meeting at which there was a lot of talk about the area representatives not attending their meeting. They discussed ways in which to get more input from St. Paul. They also discussed the tax on the water, which he was surprised about. He concluded by stating that all of the Stearns County Municipalities are facing the same concerns that St. Joseph is and stated that hopefully things will get better. COUNCIL REPORTS SYMANIETZ Human Rights Joint Powers Board: Symanietz reported that this is a newly formed board consisting of members from St. Cloud and St. Joseph to deal with various Human Rights issues. She stated that the Human Rights office will most likely be located in the St. Cloud City Hall in an area that they will lease. Two representatives from the St. Paul Human Rights office came to discuss the agreement and they will meet again to finalize the document and the two cities will begin advertising for the Human Rights Advisory Commission. There will be eight members on this committee — five from St. Cloud and three from St. Joseph. WICK Partnership: Wick reported that the Partnership is looking at a software package which will be used to help with business expansion, retention and prospecting. They are getting close to having enough funds to purchase the software and, once it is purchased, the various entities will have access to it. The estimated cost of the software is anywhere between $14- 16,000. LOSO May 20, 2010 Page 7 of 7 Fire Board: Loso reported that the Fire Department Investigating Committee has reviewed the candidates for the position of Volunteer Fire Fighter and recommended the Fire Board accept the top three candidates for membership, Brian Arms, Michael Schmotzer, Brent Johnson, and the fourth candidate, Michael Folkerts, to be placed an eligibility list for one y ear. The Fire Board has unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Investigating Commission and are requesting the City Council approve the same, authorizing the completion of a background check and physical. Wick made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Fire Board, hiring Brian Arms, Michael Schmotzer and Brent Johnson provided they complete successfully the background check and physical. Further, Michael Schmotzer will be placed on an eligibility list for a one year period. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously by those present. They also discussed the fact that those trucks that are more than ten years old are in need of a DOT inspection. He stated that staff has been notified of the required inspection. Maintenance Requests: Loso stated that he received a request to have Calcium Chloride sprayed on the alleys and was told that the City does not have any money for that to be done. Thene advised Loso that the City did not budget for that this year. Loso replied that this has been done for years as normal maintenance. He also requested that a tree at the corner of 4t" and Birch be trimmed. He believes the tree is on City property. He was advised that Thene and Jansky will take care of that. Chamber Donation: Symanietz made a motion to accept the donation of the St. Joseph Chamber in the amount of $ 1,000 for Holiday Decorations. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Adjourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 8:30PM; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously by those present. J dy Weyrdns dm istrator