Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 [02] Feb 18 February 18, 2015 Page 1 of 4 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in special session on Wednesday, February 18th at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilors Renee Symanietz, Dale Wick, Bob Loso, Matt Killam. City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Public Works Director Terry Thene, Police Chief Joel Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett Others Present: Steve Notsch, Gary Heltemes, Chad Heltemes, Perry Haaland, Craig Roob, Steven & Barbara Frank, Karlyn Doyle, Silas Austin, Paula Eich, Kelly Winter, Mark Winter, Tom Eiynck, Rose Janssen, Amy Lowell, Bill Lowell, Dan Muyres, Beverly Brinkman, Gary Schleicher, Tom Klein, Clarence Fischer Public Comments Approval of the Agenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda adding item 6a Tables and Chairs for Fire Hall. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Symanietz made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. a. Minutes—Approved the minutes of February 2, 2015. b. Bills Payable—Approved check numbers 048920-048967, Payroll EFT#001028-001032 and Accounts Payables EFT#001682-001683. Public Improvement Hearing: Mayor Schultz opened the public hearing and stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider the making of an improvement on the following streets by bituminous overlay, pursuant to Minn. Statute§ 429.011 to §429.111: Subdivision Street Name From To Clinton Village 6th Avenue NW Minnesota Street Birch Street NW Clinton Village 7th Ave NW Ash Street NW Birch Street NW Clinton Village Ash Street NW West City Limits 6th Avenue NW Clinton Village Birch Street West City Limits 6th Avenue NW NW Northland 2nd Avenue NE Fir Street North Plat Line Northland Plat 2 _ 3"Avenue NE Fir Street Hickory Street Northland Plat 3 4th Avenue NE Fir Street Gumtree Street Northland,Northland Plat Fir Street 1St Avenue NE 4th Avenue NE 2 and Plat 3 Northland,Northland Plat Gumtree Street 2nd Avenue NE Northland Drive 2andPlat3 Northland,Northland Plat Hickory Street 2❑d Avenue NE 3`d Avenue NE 2 Northland Plat 2 and Plat 3 Hickory Court 3`d Avenue NE End of Cul-de-sac Schultz turned the floor over to City Engineer Randy Sabart for a presentation on the project details. Sabart stated that this is the first of two public hearings. The purpose of this hearing is to present the project to those affected, to review the merits of the project and to look at general costs. The second hearing is the assessment hearing which will show the actual assessment proposed for each affected property. February 18, 2015 Page 2 of 4 Sabart highlighted the streets affected by the project in the Northland and Clinton Village areas as well as the typical lifetime of streets. In Minnesota roads are structured to last 20 years taking into account projected traffic. Generally, if a street can get to 30-35 years before repaving would be considered a success. In order to stretch out the life of the street, overlays are constructed. Clinton Village • Constructed in 1983 (32 years old) • It was last seal coated in 1997. • Street pavement surface is in poor condition and is no longer a candidate for preventative maintenance activities. Photos were presented showing ponding, areas where the curb and gutter is cracked along with surface deterioration. • The proposed improvements are to reclaim to a depth of 7" and re-pave. There will be spot replacement of deteriorated curb and gutter as well as paving of a section of pedestrian trail between Birch St and Hollow Park. Northland • Constructed in phases between 1991-1994 (21-24 years old) • Fair condition with block cracking and weathering with areas of fatigue cracking (alligator cracking). Photos were presented illustrating the cracking along the streets. • Recent preventative maintenance included seal coating and crack sealing • The proposed improvements include bituminous overlay, spot repair and patching of the larger areas of alligator cracking, and paving of the section of pedestrian trail between Hickory Court and Northland Park. Sabart stated that bids have not been sought and project costs are estimates. The estimated cost of Clinton Village is $410,200 and Northland is$489,600. Sabart added that the City has assessed up to 60% of the assessment to the benefited property owner. For this project, the City will commission a Special Assessment Benefit Report to identify the range of market benefit created by the project. The assessments are assessed based on the frontage which is determined by the dimension of lot abutting the improvement. The payment terms and interest rate will be determined by Council prior to the Special Assessment Hearing. The project timeline shows the assessment hearing in late April, construction beginning in mid-July, finishing in October. Schultz stated now is the time for the public to speak, asking any questions they may have regarding the project. Silas Austin, 507 Gumtree St.: Silas resides at the corner of Northland and Gumtree. Silas asked if the linear feet includes the easement along Northland or does it stop at his property line. Sabart stated that what he is referring to is the 15 feet of boulevard from the property line to Northland Drive and that portion will not be assessed to the property owner. Steve Notch, 507 MN St W. Notch approached the Council regarding his lot at 507 MN St W. Notch stated that he measured his lot and it would cost around $9500.00. Notch asked if there are any other assessment options other than being assessed at the 60% rate. Jovanovich responded that 60% is what is stated in the City's assessment policy. However, the cost of the assessment cannot exceed the benefit of the assessment. The City will hire an appraiser. If the benefit is less than the 60%, then the City will assess less than 60%. Notch stated that his driveway comes out on MN St and he was assessed for that when it was done a few years ago. Notch asked if the work on 6'"Ave NW will benefit his property being he does not access it directly from his property. Sabart stated that the long side of the property is what is being assessed. Being it is the long side, only 50% of the footage will be assessed. At the assessment hearing, more concrete numbers will be given. February 18, 2015 Page 3 of 4 Notch asked if there are different types of options for repayment. Weyrens stated that for this project, they will look at a ten year term. Residents can either pay it all, some of it, or none of it. The payments will then be put on their property tax statements in equal installments over that time period. Karlyn Doyle, 506 Gumtree St E: Doyle approached the Council asking what happens to the assessment if the property is up for sale. Jovanovich stated that when the new mortgage is taken out banks typically require that the assessment be paid. Weyrens stated that if someone were to sell now, it would show up as a pending assessment. Steve Frank, 606 Birch St We Frank asked why the residents are being assessed for the trail extensions. Sabart responded that the City is responsible for the costs associated with the trail extensions. The residents are not being assessed for those portions of the project. Frank asked where the market value assessment comes from. Jovanovich stated that actual sales of similar properties are taken into account. Frank stated he is fairly confident that the assessment rate will not reach that 60% rate as the property values will not increase that much. He wants the Council to be honest with residents. Schultz stated that once the benefit report is completed, a copy will be available for everyone to see. Perry Haaland, 609—4th Ave NE: Haaland approached the Council stating he is disappointed in the project. He added that when they moved to their residence 18 years ago, the roads were new and should last longer. Haaland asked how long this improvement will last and if they will be assessed again in the future. Sabart stated an overlay they hope to get 10-12 years. Sabart added that in Northland they are hoping to get 10-12 years out of it before they have to do the construction that Clinton Village is proposed to undergo. As no one else present wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Loso made a motion to ordering the assessment benefit report for the 2015 Street Improvement Project by Bill Waytas, SEH. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Discussion: Wick asked if snow on the streets will create a problem during the benefit analysis report. Jovanovich spoke with Waytas who did not see any concerns. Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute resolution 2015-002 Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans for the 2015 Street Improvement Project. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Weyrens stated that there are links provided on the website where residents can go to be updated on the project. Legislative Priorities: Weyrens stated that annually the Area Cities prepare a list of priorities when speaking to legislators. This year the list has been revised and broken into two portions. The first is legislative proposals and the second is general policy statements. The Legislative proposals are unique to the six area Cities. The main priorities are the Commercial Air Service, Sales Tax Exemption, and Regional Collaboration. Wick made a motion authorizing the Mayor to execute the Joint Resolution 2015-003 of the Central MN Cities Advocating Support for Certain proposals and Policy Statements of Common Interest to the Central Minnesota Region.The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Fire Hall Tables & Chairs: Weyrens presented the Council with a quote to replace the tables and chairs in the Community Fire Hall. The current tables and chairs are from 1997 when the facility was constructed. Over the years wear has made two tables unsafe and have been destroyed and 24 chairs have been broken. The Fire Board reviewed the request for tables and chairs and supported the replacement provided they are commercial grade. Weyrens stated that the proposal before the Council at this time is February 18, 2015 Page 4 of 4 from Office Furniture and Solutions in the amount of$ 13,500. The quote includes 12 tables (with wheels and tip up tops) and 60 chairs with wheels. Funding is available in the building fund. Loso made a motion authorizing the purchase of the tables and chairs for the fire hall in the amount of$13,500. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Discussion: Wick asked if any of the funds can be refunded through rental fees collected. Weyrens stated that the rental fees collected are already going to the fire fund. In addition, staff has reached out to the groups that use the hall frequently for donations. Schultz asked what will happen to the old chairs. Weyrens stated that some will need to be discarded, but the others will be kept to be used for larger events such as the Safety Fair. Adjourn: Symanietz made a motion to adjourn at 6:55 PM.The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. I 1. - dy(0e7 e Judy e rens Ad . istrator