HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] Minutes
Meeting Notes
JOINT AREA CITIES MEETING
JULY 30, 2013
Hosted by the City of Waite Park
The area mayors, administrators, and emergency management staff met at 4:30 pm to discuss
regional emergency management.
A social/dinner gathering was held at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Park Shelter in Waite Park with
dinner provided by Mexican Village Too.
Call To Order:
At approximately 6:00 p.m., Waite Park Mayor Rick Miller, called the St. Cloud Area Cities meeting to
order.
Attendance:
The following individuals were in attendance and introduced themselves
(according to sign-in sheet):
Members:
St. Augusta: Mayor: Bob Kroll, Council Members: Paul Reinert, Donna Schulzetenberg, Mike Zenzen,
and Administrator: Bill McCabe
St. Cloud: Mayor: Dave Kleis. Council Members: George Hontos, Nancy Gohman, Jeff Johnson,
John Libert, Jeff Goerger, Administrator: Michael Williams
St. Joseph: Mayor: Rick Schultz, Council Members: Steve Frank, Dale Wick, Bob Loso, and Renee
Symanietz. Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Sartell: Mayor: Joe Perske. Council Members: Sara Jane Nicoll, and Amy Braig-Lindstrom
Sauk Rapids: Mayor: Brad Gunderson. Council Members: Nick Sauer and Paul Weber, and
Administrator: Ross Olson
Waite Park: Mayor: Rick Miller, Council Members: Herman Bartz, Mike Linquist, Chuck Schneider,
and Frank Theisen, and Administrator: Shaunna Johnson
Others:
Patti Gartland, St. Cloud Greater Economic Development Partnership and Kari Petrie, St. Cloud
Times
Meeting Notes of April 30, 2013 (Sauk Rapids):
Motion by Bob Kroll and seconded by Renee Symanietz to approve the meeting notes for April 30,
2013 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
:
Sales Tax
The area administrators discussed with the group an overview regional ½ cent sales tax. The
extension of the regional ½ cent sales tax was approved by the Legislature this past legislative
session. It is a 20-year extension beginning in 2018 and extending to 2038. The extension does
provide that each city pass a resolution recognizing the law and also will require each city to go back
to its voters prior to 2018 to approve a new referendum. The administrators discussed that the
extension requires the group to begin discussing a new regional project (s). In the past the first
1
$900,000 collected went to a regional project and then the remaining sales tax was dispersed to each
city on a population that was based 50% on population and 50% on the amount of sales tax
generated in each community. The regional project for the extension does not need to be $900,000
but should be a project or projects that the group collectively identifies. The administrators further
discussed the types of projects that sales tax can be used for which include regional transportation,
regional parks and trails, and/or regional community facilities.
The purpose of this meeting was to provide ideas of what types of regional projects that could be
considered. Many cities are considering the possibility of putting the ½ cent sales tax on the ballot
next November which means determining the regional project (s) sooner would be important for them
to proceed. Members were divided into three groups to further flesh out regional project ideas
including topics under regional transportation, regional parks and trails, and regional community
facilities. The area administrators facilitated the discussion of each group. Groups had opportunities
to discuss topics in each area. The following is a summary of the notes that reflect the ideas that
came from each topic area.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES:
Winter Activity Center
River Museum/Activities Aquarium
Casino
Natural Resource Center/Preserve
Dance Hall
Outdoor Performance Center
Clarkfield
Regional WIF/Cable
Power Plant
Museum/Railroad/Aviation
Park Facility Fund
Aquatic Center
Community Center
Recycling Center
Compost
Arts Facility
Regional Police/EMS/Fire
PARKS & TRAILS
Connecting regional trails
Warner, Glacial Lakes, Wobegon
Connects more than 1 community together
River Trail (canoeing, etc) walking trails, biking, running, ziplining
Sauk River and Mississippi
Providing connections to greater regions
Trail Amenities -- Solar lighting, climbing wall
Skate parks, youth amenities, pickle ball
BMX – revenue generators drawing larger crowds
2
Providing a variety of amenities across region Age levels – youth to senior—dogs
Snowboarding, swimming pool - competition size
Access to rivers (canoes, boats, etc)
Docks for fishing, etc.
Zoo/Regional gardens, food resource garden history of communities, community information
Hang gliding, paraflying
Motorcyle/Bicycle
Mudrun Training Course
Cross Country Trail –Skiing
Golf Course
Stadium—football/track, pickle ball courts
Wisconsin Dells, water parks, attract larger crowds, sculpture garden, exercise stations
Zipline Adventure Trail
TRANSPORTATION
rd
3 Street Waite Park to St Cloud
Northstar Rail to Cities to Ripley
I-94 Bridges Access Points
Truck Hub to Air/shipping goods to Rail
Amtrack Depot move…expand
SW Corridor (beltway)
Trolly/Bus (between all cities)
MTC needs expand service
Airport Capital
Alternate Fuel Stations
Dedicated/Marked Road bike areas
APO Projects –Regional—City Connections
Regional Signage/Traffic Controls to Gateway
Westwood Parkway
General Discussion:
After the group discussions concluded, the large group came back together and each category was
summarized by the administrators. The group then had a general discussion about whether we have
a community input process and what are next steps are in this process. It was determined that the
area mayors and administrators would meet to discuss the ideas and determine what projects would
even be able to be considered given the parameters in the law limiting projects to regional
transportation, regional parks and trails, and regional facilities. In addition they would come back to
the group with recommendations on how to move forward.
Adjournment:
With there being no further business to conduct, Mayor Miller adjourned the meeting at approximately
7:30 p.m.
3