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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 [08] Aug 16 August 16, 2012 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the St. Joseph City Council met in regular session on Thursday, August 16�h at 7:OOPM in the St. Joseph City Hall, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilors Renee Symanietz, Dale Wick, Bob Loso and City Administrator Judy Weyrens Citv Reqresentatives Present: Police Chief Pete Jansky, Public Works Director Terry Thene, Finance Director Lori Bartlett. Others Present: Tom Klein, Troy Goracke Public Comments-No one present wished to speak. Approval of Aaenda: Loso made a motion to approve the agenda;the motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Approval of Bilis Pavable: Loso made a motian to approve the bills payable and the motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. 2013 Preliminarv BudQet: Weyrens presented the Council with the proposed 2013 Budget, including the following: • Detailed listing of expenditures and rev�enue by object code and department • Capital Improvement Plan for each department(Police, Admin, Public Works, Fire} • Proposed Equipment Certificate for items identified in the CIP • Capital Projects-Engineering Weyrens clarified that the proposed budget includes utilization of an equipment certificate to purchase planned equipment. The Council has utilized two rotating equipment certificates and in 2013 one of finro is retiring. If an equipment certificate is not utilized the equipment is still needed and will have to be programmed into the budget. Schultz questioned the proposed sidewalk projects along CR 2/College Avenue and CR 133/12 Ave SE sidewalk and if the project could be constructed into finro sections, so that if one section is ready for construction it would not be delayed. Sabart responded that the construction could be completed in phases. The Council also questioned if modifications to the crossing on CR 75 would be modified to assist pedestrian traffic crossing CR 75. Weyrens stated that the Stearns County Engineer's office has indicated that they will be changing the devices and timing at CR 75 Intersections at their cost. The Council also discussed the investigating a potential overpass over CR 75 and setting aside funds for such. Weyrens stated that the CIP already includes$ 30,000 for such. Public Works Director Terry Thene discussed the needed repairs to the Minnesota Street beautification project. He stated a number of the trees have roots that have surfaced creating a potential safety hazard. In reviewing options,Thene stated that if the trees were replaced and the current pavers installed the project would cost approximately$ as an alte�native the trees could be replaced and instead of pavers, stamped concrete could be used. The alternative cost is approximately$. Schultz stated that he has been questioned if all the trees needed to be replaced or possibility saved. Thene stated that the majority of trees will need to be replaced, but the project could be completed in phases. To prevent roots from surfacing in the future, the project would include iron grates that would contain any intrusion. When questioned how the project could be funded,Weyrens responded that the City has a debt issue retiring in 2012 with a residual balance of approximately$ 244,000. Once the debt is released the Council can designate the funds to any project or place in the debt service relief fund. Part of the residual could be used for the needed improvements. These same funds could be used to pay for the design documents for the Park Terrace project. If the Council wants to move the project forward the feasibility study would need to be updated with a new public hearing. If the Council opted to move to the next step, I August 16, 2012 Page 2 of 3 that would consist of drafting the construction documents which would cost approximately$ 100,000. The process and documents could be completed in 2013 with an anticipated construction date of 2014. Loso stated that he would prefer that the residual balance be designated to debt service relief to help keep the taxes at a manageable level. Weyrens discussed the process of reviewing debt and planning projects around the debt schedule so that large spikes in tax rates can be avoided. In 2015 the City has debt retiring that includes large tax levies. Therefore, if a project is needed that would require a large levy, it could be constructed in 2014 with debt beginning in 2015. The City Hall facility debt will expire in 2015 which includes a levy of approximately$ 95,000. If the City opts to construct/remodel a government center with a construction cost of$ 3.5 Million, the levy would have to increase$ 65,000, in addition to the existing$95,000 that will expire in 2015. Weyrens stated the budget information also includes a summary of the expenditures broken into three categories: salary/personnel, repairs/main and capital. This sheet serves as an overview of the budget expenditures and compares the prior year. The final component of the budget information is the estimated impact on the tax capacity rate. The City will recognize a 1.29% decrease in market value for 2013 and the proposed budget presented to the Council represents a six(6) percent tax increase on residential homes. Loso stated that he calculates the budget increased by 12% and he would like the Council to reduce the budget to a lesser impact. Weyrens stated that the budget presented does not include an increase to the Council salary and if the Council would like to increase the salary, it must be approved before the election and will take effect in the next Calendar year. Schultz discussed the following budget concerns: • Council salaries, appears as the budget has been decreased. Weyrens responded the salary has not been decreased but the budget has been decreased based on historical trends and projected meetings for 2013. • Membership Dues for Council has increased-Bartlett stated that memberships are not decreased; rather they have been re-coded to a different portion in the budget. • Expressed a desire to include membership to the Greater St. Cloud Development • Questioned if the Salary for General Administrative includes a full time receptionist as he would like to see continuity. Weyrens stated the budget includes 3/.time staff person. • Questioned if the Police Salary item includes additional officer. Weyrens stated the budget includes an 8th officer for six months and increase part time hours • Requested the budget include camera surveillance equipment for the parks and park development funding. Loso responded that Park Development funding is allocated through the platting process. Loso and Symanietz questioned if the budget includes the Flower project. Weyrens stated the budget does include the funding to pay for staff to water the flowers; however it was not requested by the froup that started the project. The Public Works Director included it based on recent discussions at the Council level. Both Loso and Symanietz stated that they were of the understanding it would not cost the City any funding and do not see the need to include the expenditure in the budget. Wick questioned the equipment certificate and questioned if the there is a difference if the equipment is purchased with bond residual rather than debt service. By doing this the budget for 2013 would not include a levy for 2013. The Council requested that staff provide the Council with an illustration of the impact of increasing the tax levy rate at 2 and 4 percent. The Council also discussed the impact of Waite Park annexing part of St. Joseph Township, increasing the financial impact of the City portion of the fire fund. Weyrens stated that it is anticipated that the preliminary budget will be presented for approval at the first meeting in September. Mayor Report APO Executive update-MN Department of Transportation has a major shift in funding, concerned about how the APO is allocated funding. The Metropolitan Bus lost Federal Funding for New Buses so the APO is the only funding source for the MTC. August 16, 2012 Page 3 of 3 Council Reports LOSO Fire Board: The Fire Board meet recently and approved the following: 1)spending $4,400 on a water softener; 2)attendance of the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief at the State Fire Chiefs convention; 3} preliminary budget with a 1.9% increase in municipal contribution; 4)continue investigating the replacement of the rescue van. W ICK—No Report SYMANIETZ Joint Plannina Board: The Joint Planning conducted a public hearing for a proposed plat near the north end of the Northland Development. The proposed development will consist of 62 acres and 12 dwelling units and the developer is Cory Ehlert. Symanietz stated that he Council will be receiving a packet of information as they City Council will be required to act on this matter as well. Weyrens clar�ed that the Joint Planning Board is the Planning authority for the St.Joseph Orde�y Annexation area and their decision or�nal with the exception of rezoning. By MN Statute and elected body must make all final decisions on Zoning. The Memorandum of Understanding between the City/ Township of St. Joseph and Stearns County identifies the process for land use matters. For rezoning matters, the Joint Planning Board conducts the public hearing and forwards a recommendation to the full City Council and Township Board. The City Council and Township Board meet jointly to consider the matter with each Board initiating separate actions. The Joint Planning Board has recommended the City and Township approved the rezoning of a portion of the Notch property from the current Urban Exp�nsion(UE)to R5 Residential. The Council briefly discussed the project and concerns of fire/safety access and impact to future infrastructure. Symanietz also reported that the Joint Planning Board considered a request for an extended cul-de-sac for the same property for which rezoning is being sought. However, the Joint Planning Board could not take action on that matter until the City Council and Township Board acted on the Zoning. Meeting adjour d at 7:30pm. ����v udy eyr ns Ad rnstrator � This page intentionally left blank