HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 [04] Apr 29 April 29, 2015
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in special session
on ApriV 29, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz. Councilors Dale Wick, Bob Loso, Renee Symanietz, Matt Killam.
Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Citv Representatives Present: Police Chief Joel Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works
Director Terry Thene.
Others Present: Margy Hughes, Ellen Wahlstrom, Bob Wahlstrom, Kari Petri, Dan Dubon, Logan Gruber,
Irene Reber, Frank Ostendorf, Paul Wallin, Lisa Wallin, Marcella Gill, Bernadette Ethen, Jen Warnert.
Closed Session: Loso made a motion to go into closed session pursuant MN Statute 13D.05 Subd
3(c)to discuss the proposed purchase of property located at 12418t Ave SE for a possible
Community Center. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimousfy.
The Council came out of closed session without taking any action.
Mayor Schultz opened the meeting and stated the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the present and
future needs of the City as it relates to space and programing including a community center,
administrative facility and water amenity.
Communitv Center: Schultz stated that a number of community members have previously meet to
discuss the needs of St. Joseph as they relate to a community center. The committee used information
from the Central MN Council on aging as well as talking to communiry members to see what others see
as potential need. This group then enlisted the help of Murray Mack(pro bono)to draw a conceptual
sketch as to what a community center might look like. The concept plan presented to the Council
included gym space as well as meeting rooms and some outdoor space with future amenities.
The Committee working on a potential community reviewed other communities, large and small, reviewing
the type of facility, programing, revenues/expenditures and comments about the operation or use. The
activities discussed by the committee seem to match with the recent surveys that have been completed.
Loso stated that due to pending action of the Council he would like to table discussion on the community '
center until a later date. Wick stated that he agrees that the Council is considering options for a
community center, rather than table discuss he would like to suspend discussion untii pending options
have been resolved.
Government Center: Loso stated that he would like to finish some projects that have been started,
specifically the government center. He stated that the City spend over$300,000 planning a new facility
previously and he would like to recoup some of that cost. Wick stated that the only way to recoup that
cost is to construct the facility that was designed. Schultz stated that he asked staff to prioritize what
needs to be done and get some cost estimates.
Weyrens stated that staff has discussed spacing and remodeling that needed to be completed. Klein
stated that for the police department he would like to see a garage so that the squad can be secured
during and engines would not have run in cold weather. He would further like to add an interview room
and modify the entire interior. Weyrens stated that she did talk to RA Morton for some costs estimates
and to add a garage could range from $ 100,000 to$ 150,000 depending on using the existing and types
of amenities. With regard to remodeling costs the current rate for gutting out a space and rebuilding is$
95 per square foot and for the police department would be approximately$ 200,000. Other immediate
needs include carpeting painting and electrical; therefore minor remodeling is between$449,000 and $
500,000. The Council needs to determine what time span they are anticipating the remodeling to last;
that is 2, 5, 10 years?
April 29, 2015
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Schultz discussed the report prepared as a result of the facility committee and reiterated that the
committee indicated that the community center is first and next is public safety. The Council discussed
the potential of incrementally remodeling the current facility for police and administration. Weyrens and
Klein discussed the need to have both police and administration in the same facility as it provides better
service for the residents and the departments work closely together and it would impact communication.
Klein stated that when Sauk Rapids constructed their government center they combined police and
administration. In talking to the Police Chief he prefers the departments in one building for the
aforementioned reasons.
Loso stated that he would like to move forward with some kind of project remodeling City Hall and
believes the City can use sales tax proceeds for some of the costs. Schultz stated that the facility
committee felt strong that sales tax proceeds should not be used for City Hall and they should be put
towards the community center. The Council agreed to re-engage HMA to discuss options for remodeling
City Hall.
Water Amenitv: Schultz stated that there has been considerable discussion on the proposed water
amenity and the Council is seeking clarification on the proposed project. Weyrens stated that the
committee working on the project has never indicated that the entire project should be funded through
sales tax revenue; rather they acknowledge that a portion of the project would come from private
donations. Wick concurred and stated that the report included a proposed project cost that identifies
which features would be more likely to receive private funding and the total of those items was$ 1.2 M.
Loso and Symanietz stated that they continue to receive more negative comments than positive and
question if the project is really supported by the community. Wick stated that a number of residents did
speak in support of the project at the last Council meeting.
Weyrens stated that Finance Director Lori Bartlett has spent considerable time researching water amenity
in communities to gather data on costs (revenues and expenditures), maintenance and comments they
had. Bartlett stated that she reviewed approximately 12 water parks in Minnesota with varying
populations. Many of the communities she researched were either smaller or similar in size to St. Joseph
and some have been operating as early as 1994. The following is a summary of responses:
. All of the communities researched, the City Council made a conscious decision as to how much
of the operation they were willing to fund and based the rates on that decision.
• The majority of cities receive funding to cover 60% of the operating costs
. Entrance fees vary from $4.00 and up
• Some communities have a cooperative agreement with an adjoining City/Township to bus
residents to the park and reduce the fees.
• In one community some of the businesses subsidize the operation costs as they have a
substantial economic gain when the park is open.
Symanietz questioned the costs for salaries and the amount the City would have to pay. Wick stated that
all information being discussed has been included in the report prepared by USaquatics. The report
indicates the cost for operation and includes staffing and maintenance. If no one used the facility and it
were vacant it is projected to cost approximately$ 256,000. The facility will be used.
The Council concurred that the Committee can begin soliciting funds to help offset the cost of the water
amenity. At this time Schultz opened the floor for public comment.The following is a summary of
comments:
• Paul Wallin stated that he worked at a water park and his experience is that the novelty wears off
� and the facility will then be underutilized, becoming a burden to the City.
• Lisa Wallin stated that use of the CSB is not currently a good option for pool use as you can only
lap swim and it is very crowded. It is not conducive for a family.
Schultz stated that he has opened a dialogue with CSB to look at alternatives for using
the pool and will continue to have those discussion.
April 29, 2015
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• Margy Hughes expressed her frustration with what she perceives as a lack of communication
regarding the meetings and material. She did not know that it was at the Fire Hall and the
Newsleader had a different date. (Weyrens clarified that it was on the city website one week prior
to the meeting and the information in the Newsleader was not provided by the City.)
• Ellen Wahlstrom stated that many seniors don't have computers and don't follow the website.
She further expressed frustration with the work that has been done by the facility committee and
the Council seems to be ignoring that work and focusing on the water amenity.
Schultz responded that the Council can multi-task and has been working on all three
projects discussed at this meeting. The Council met in closed session at the beginning of
this meeting regarding a potential site for the community center. At this same meeting
the Council discussed how to move forward with making some modifications to the
existing City Hall.
• Irene Reber stated that the City is going to have 600 people use the water park daily to cash flow
and in her opinion that is not going to happen.
Wick stated that the report indicates that the project can be succuessful with an daily load
in the 400's. He has experience using these types of facilities and it will be a regional
draw as there is nothing like this in the area. At the last meeting residents discussed how
they drive to the cities to use the same type of facility.
Schultz thanked those for attending the meeting and as the agenda was complete the meeting was
adjourned at 7:45 PM.
� � �
Jud W�yrens
nistrator
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