Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04a] Minutes - March 2, 2015March 02, 2015 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, March 2 at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilors: Dale Wick, Bob Loso, Matt Killam. City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Joel Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett Others Present: Tom Klein Public Comments: No one present wished to speak Wick made a motion to approve the agenda with the deletion of item 5, Approval of the Agenda: Public Works Director Report. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the correction in Consent Agenda: language to Ordinance 21. The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously by those present. Discussion: Loso suggested changing the language to read as follows: “the agenda will be prepared and delivered by the City Administrator/Clerk no later than two (2) days before the regular City Council Meetings.” a. Minutes – Approved the minutes of February 18 and February 23, 2015. b. Bills Payable – Approved check numbers 048968-049002, Payroll EFT # 001033-001037 and Accounts Payables EFT #001684. th c. Gambling Report – Accepted the 4 Quarter Gambling Report d. Treasurer Report – Accepted the January Treasurer Report e. Equity Designation – Approved equity classifications for the Financial Year 2014 f. Transfers – Authorized the 2014 annual transfers as presented g. Summary Publication – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2015-005 authorizing summary publication of Ordinance 52.11 Signs and modifying the zoning districts with the correct sign size. h. Ordinance Amendment – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2015-006 amending Ordinance 21, Organizations and Procedures of the City Council. City Engineer Report: Grant Application – Outdoor Recreation: Sabart stated that the Community Development staff determined that the water amenity would be eligible for the grant up to $100,000. For the entire state, the amount granted will be $379,000. The due date for submission is March 31, 2015, with the estimated cost of staff time to submit the application about $2,500. A resolution is proposed to the Council to move forward with and submit the grant application. Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute resolution 2015-007 approving submittal of the grant application to MN DNR for outdoor recreation. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Discussion: Schultz questioned if the City questioned for the full $100,000, could it be granted a lessor amount. Sabart stated it is a possibility. Killam suggested pushing the idea that the project would benefit an entire region, not just the City. Sabart agreed and stated that has already been included. Capital Budget: Weyrens stated the budget process for 2015 included the issuance of an equipment certificate to purchase planned and needed equipment. The current equipment certificate is $150,000 and staff is looking at replacing up to $175,000. Police Chief Klein discussed the need to replace the current squad car laptops. Klein stated that the laptops are the priority right now for the Police Department as they are four and five years old and having failure issues. Klein stated that the City did receive grant funding in the amount of $ 7,738.00 which will March 02, 2015 Page 2 of 3 pay for approximately 50% of the purchase. The new laptops come with a 3 year hardware warranty. Klein added that the majority of their work is done through their laptops and they need that secure network to comply with the BCA. The state wants to move towards having everything electronic. This is why the card readers and printer for the tickets are a requirement for getting the grant. Weyrens added they are requesting iPads for each squad so the officers are able to access the City network as it cannot be accessed through their laptops for security reasons. Along with the iPad, each squad will have a smart phone and will use the Wi-Fi to connect the iPad to the internet. Weyrens stated funding for the iPads will is part of the computer upgrades budget where the laptops will be part of the squad car equipment certificate. Wick questioned if there is any way to keep the equipment certificates at $150,000. Weyrens stated that staff can look at additional reductions. Loso questioned where the iPads will be stored. Klein stated that they will be put in an appropriate location that will be discussed with the rest of the police department. This will make sure that if any officer uses any squad, they will know where the equipment is located. Schultz questioned if the laptops or iPads will be leased. Weyrens stated that both are purchased. Loso questioned what will happen to the existing laptops, to which Weyrens stated they will be destroyed as they have no value. Schultz questioned if there has been any interest in body cameras for the police department. Klein stated that he would like to wait to pursue body cameras as some police departments are dealing with data privacy issues. Lastly, Schultz questioned if there has been consideration about putting up security cameras in certain downtown locations. Klein stated that there are positives and negatives. Weyrens added that surveillance is an option as both the phone system and surveillance are run through the same vendor and can be tied into the City’s network. Weyrens stated that at some point, discussions will need to be had on deficiencies in the current City facilities and how those will be fixed and funded. Schultz suggested having staff come back with some specifics and those could be discussed in a meeting along with the water amenity and facility committee. Loso stated that in regard to the facility report, some of the items labeled as higher priority to the committee members may not be seen as high priority to others. He stated that the Council will need to discuss the priorities and they may not be the same. Wick made a motion authorizing the Police Department to move forward with the purchase of the Laptops and iPads. The motion was seconded by Killam and passed unanimously by those present. Committee Updates EDA: Schultz reported the EDA discussed the farmer’s market with the intern providing an update on her progress with moving the market downtown. Schultz added the bulk of the meeting was spent on the farmer’s market including possible locations. Park Board: Killam reported the Park Board will be conducting a survey for residents requesting feedback on City parks. The survey will go out sometime in March and will help the Park board with the Master Park Plan. Killam added the Park Board discussed bathrooms for Klinefelter Park. Estimates are being sought prior to submission to the Council for approval. APO: Killam reported that the APO discussed projects for 2019. Going into the meeting the higher priority was the extension of the Beaver Island Trail in St. Cloud, and the reconstruction of roads in Sartell for better access to schools. Killam added that a shift in the priorities occurred and the APO executives approved the reconstruction of roads in Sartell. March 02, 2015 Page 3 of 3 Administrator Reports Ordinance Codification: Weyrens stated that the Council will be holding a hearing on Ordinance Codification. The City ran out of Ordinance numbers and the book had to be renumbered. The City will be required to have a hearing and the Council can expect that in the near future. Mayor Reports Joint Planning; Schultz reported members of the Council and Township met on the Orderly Annexation area north of the City. Additionally, discussion was had regarding language changes in the MOU including language allowing mining operations. State Legislature Visit: Schultz stated he went down to the Capital to reintroduce the bonding issue for the community center. Schultz thanked everyone for attending the joint Council/Board/Commission meeting. Schultz added it is good to have everyone on the same page regarding what to expect in the upcoming year. Schultz questioned what date the city needs to remove the welcome sign. Weyrens stated that the City st has until April 1. It will be salvaged as the City looks for a new location. New Business Alley Feasibility Report: Loso questioned if the feasibility report had been completed for the alleys downtown. Sabart stated that he has a graphic, but the report is in progress. Sabart added they are looking at three options, each with varying levels of enhancements. The first option features the most enhancements and allows for 142 parking stalls. It includes greenspace between the parking areas, outdoor dining, and a lighted center sidewalk. The second option has fewer enhancements than option one but more than option 3 and allows for 151 parking stalls. The sidewalk would remain, but there would be less landscaping. The final option, with the fewest enhancements, allows for 162 parking stalls. It still includes the back sidewalk as well as the center sidewalk. Loso questioned if there have been estimates on the costs. Sabart stated it can vary depending on the number of enhancements. Loso stated he had an understanding that they were going to look at alley repairs extending to the west and north of the current plan. Loso added he would like to see the repairs put into phases. Schultz questioned if the possibility of the alley becoming a one-way was taken into consideration when developing the graphics. Sabart stated that it was not. Sabart added that his take away from the meeting with the affected property owners, was to have the alley remain a two-way. Sabart added that with the current concepts, they have the flexibility to make it a one-way. Schultz agreed with Loso that it would be beneficial to extend the alley improvements in phases to the north and west of the current concept. Loso made a motion to adjourn at 6:50 PM. The motion was seconded by Wick and Adjourn: passed unanimously by those present. Judy Weyrens Administrator This page intentionally left blank