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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 [12] Dec 17 December 17, 1992 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of st. I Joseph met in regular session, on Thursday, December 17/ 1992 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor steven Dehl er; Members of the Counci I Leo Sadlo / Ross Rieke (arrived at 7:30 p.m.), Bob Loso, Stephanie Hazen. Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRESENT: Bud Reber / Dani el Nierengarten / Ken Hiemenz / Mark Lambert / John Scherer / Rudy Zimner, Mark Zirrmer / Larry Henning / Joe Bettendorf / Brad Lindgren, Brad Meyer, Elmer Rakotz, Danielle Bérubé, John Brunner, Brian Klinefelter, Joe Bechtold, Anna Reischl, Dick Taufen, Bob Lindgren. AGENDA: Hazen made a motion to approve the agenda as amended; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. MINUTES: Hazen made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 3 and December 9 City Council meetings as presented; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. BILLS PAYABLE: Loso made a motion to approve the bills payable as presented; seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Hazen. I Nayes: None. Motion carried. MAYOR REPORTS: No report. COUNCIL REPORTS - SADLO: 1) The new lift station serving the Industrial Park is functional now / al though several things need to be done yet prior to completion, including a water well. DBL Labs and MOO will need to install meters and valves in their facilities yet. 2) Some time ago the Counci I requested that action be taken to enforce the easement ordinance, and Sadlo was questioning the status of that action. Access is necessary to the easement to maintain a sewer line. LOSO: 1) Attendants for skating and hockey rink have been interviewed. Loso made a motion to hire Eric Evans, Ryan Gerken, John Myers, Kevin Corb, Cory Ehlert for rink attendants for this winter; seconded by Hazen. Discussion - Loso stated that Cory Ehlert will function as an alternate. Hazen asked about the hours of operation, and questioned why both rinks would have attendants. She understood that the hockey rink was to be moved. Loso stated that the Park Board has approved both rinks to be operated, but the hockey rink will be only during daylight hours. Sadlo stated that the hockey rink was to be moved but maintenance has not had time to do it. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Rieke arrived at 7:30 p.m. during Hazen's report. I HAZEN: Hazen informed the Council that the wage conrnittee, Hazen and Loso, met individually and collectively, with the employees. Suggestions fram the employees were presented to the Council, by Hazen, with the monetary suggestions prioritized by the employees as shown, on document. Some of the Page 2151 December 17, 1992 I suggestions were not monetary. The Wage Committee did not finalize anything. Hazen reconmended that the Council address the items on the list, which are not monetary, so that there will be less to address in January. The Counci I discussed the following non-monetary items from the list. 1. City Office Hours - Staff request to close city offices at 4:30 p.m. Dehler stated that one of the reasons for staff in the office is to provide hours of service for the public. Council generally agreed to allow the Clerk/Adrrdnistrator and office staff, to work out a schedule, with one half hour lunch periods, and provide open office hours from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Only one person is required to staff the office after 4:30 p.m. 4. Vacation Time - Council discussed the method of accumulating vacation time, asked that five days be carried for six months at previous year pay rate. Sadlo stated that vacation time is to be taken and not banked for future pay. Council agreed to look at in January. 5. Floating Holiday - currently have Presidents day as a floating holiday. 6. Employee Manual - Employees would like to have current one, and continually updated. This is being worked on now. 7. Park Use - Employee requested same type of contract proposed to be worked up for park renters and required that those renting a park sign it. The contract would have listed, what is required of renters, so that they would know what they have to do to get their deposit back. Clerk discussed the mechanics of it. Council requested that the Clerk's office draw up a proposed contract, which would provide for the renter to sign off on. 8. Corrmunication: Requested some type of info~tion or corrmunication I such as a newsletter, or data sheet of events and matters, in addition to current information sources, which include copies of the minutes to department heads, and memos to employees, for matters which need immediate attention. Council requested that a cover sheet to the minutes, or a memo or newsletter, to all employees be prepared, for distribution after Council meetings. 9. Suggestion Box - Have a suggestion box or envelope, that would allow for info~tion, suggestions, complaints, or questions to be relayed to the Mayor & Council as a whole. This would be placed in the City Offices and opened at Council meetings. Council agreed to allow this. 10. Cost of living raise to be deposited to retirement account, in lieu of lump sum payment, which would be pre-tax payment. Dehler asked if it is legal to do this. John Scherer stated that the legalities would have to be checked prior to allowing it. 1L An Organizational Chart - The organizational chart will be part of the personnel manual and the employees receive the Mayor's appointments each year. 12. Holiday pay - Request for all holidays are paid equally among all departments. Police get time & one half off plus another day off, for same holidays. If there is an emergency on a holiday, the maintenance department should get the same benefit as the Police Department. The rest of the requests and suggestions require a monetary benefit. 1. Cost of Living Increase - Committee originally considered the cost of living I increase to be put in a payroll pool and equal amounts given to each employee. The employees generally did not agreed to that, and requested that the percent be added to entire step system. Loso recomnended tabling the suggestions one through five, on the "Suggestions from Employees" document, as prioritized by the employees. Page 2152 December 17, 1992 2) Hazen also discussed that the Planning ComrrQssion met and recommended to I approve an amendment to Ordinance 52.14 Subd. 4, which allows rezoning by the Council, upon annexation of property. Hazen made a motion to approve the Amendment to Ordinance 52.14 Subd. 4, which allows rezoning by the Council, upon annexation of property; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen. Nayes: None, Motion carried. 3) Planning C~ssion held a public hearing to consider rezoning parcels of property. Rieke made a motion to approve rezoning the parcels of property, legal description contained in attachment to these rrrinutes, as recommended by the Planning ComrrQssion; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen, Nayes: None. Motion carried. 4) Garage size - The Planning ComrrQssion gave recommendations for garages, They recommended to the Council, that to leave the Ordinance as written, no accessory building nor buildings shall occupy an area greater than 8 percent of the total lot size or a total combined area of 800 square feet, whichever is the lesser. In addition, the definitions as written in the ordinance book, pertaining to accessory building, (page 75), and garage size, (page 77), should be written the same. After discussion of the recommendations, Hazen made a motion to approve the I recommendations of the Planning ComrrQssion, and allow the attorney write up a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance, for consideration at a future council meeting, to 1. retain the maximum size of a garage at 800 square feet or 8% of the lot; 2. accessory building and garage are defined the same; 3. Separate accessory buildings need a perrrQt. The motion was seconded by Rieke, Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 5) Mark Lambert appeared before the Planning Corrnrission to request an extension on a fifteen (15) feet rear yard variance, that was approved by the City Council in November 1990. The Planning ComrrQssion recommended to the Council to extend the fifteen (15) feet rear yard variance, and setback, indefinitely, Rieke made a motion to approve the extension of the rear yard variance and setback, as recommended by the Planning ComrrQssion; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 6) Planning Comrrdssion officers for the coming year are Hub Klein as Chair, Sister Kathleen Kalinowski as Co-Chair, and Dan Nierengarten was recommended to be reappointed for another term. Rieke made a motion to approve the officers and appointment as recommended by the Planning Comrrdssion; seconded by Sadlo, Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried, I 7) Recommendations for new members on the Planning ComrrQssion were Marge Lesnick, Andy Brixius, Jack Schuh, Dan Schmitz, Elmer Rakotz, Robin Hanson. A letter will be sent out to these people to see if they are still interested, Page 2153 December 17, 1992 I Also, to be published in the st. Cloud Times is an informational notice that there are vacancies on the Planning Comrrdssion. Those interested should s~t a short resumé of their interests and experience, showing why they are interested in the position. The Planning Comrrdssion will review and recorrmend at the January meeting. POLICE REPORT: Brad Lindgren presented the police report and discussed it with the Counci 1 . 1) The police reserves by-laws were revised with the recommendations of the City Attorney. Chief Lindgren then had Officer Brad Meyer present the police reserves. He presented Brian Klinefelter, John Brunner, Danielle Bérubé, and Elmer Rakotz. Each reservist spoke briefly to the Council about his/her background. The Council welcomed them. 2) Brad also requested to purchase 100 car washes at $1.80. Hazen made a motion to approve the purchase of 100 car washes at $1.80 per wash; seconded by Rieke. Discussion - Dehler stated that same stations will provide a free car wash with a fill with gas. Chief Lindgren stated that when they fill up with gas at a station that offers free car wash, they use them on the patrol cars. Ayes: Sadlo, Loso, Rieke, Hazen. Nayes: Dehler. Motion carried. HOOKUP FEES: Mark Lambert discussed with the Counci I, his need to have the hookup fees reduced in order for him to have a workabl e financial package. He also stated that he felt that they are excessively high for multi-farrQly housing. Joe Bettendorf discussed the methodology of past assessments and relationship to hookup charges currently. He also stated that hookup charges I were used as part of the financing for bond issues for utilities. After discussion of other apartment structures constructed in the past years, Rieke felt that the rates should not be lower than the Senior Apartments hookup fees were when they were constructed. Rieke stated that considering that Mark had begun the process for this project in 1989 and the hookup charges, as they were established in 1989 at $700 per unit for sewer and $300 per unit for water, and that these were the hookup rates per unit when the st. Joseph Senior Apartments were built; he therefore made a motion to establish the 1989 rates for Mark's 23 unit apartment project. The motion was seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Mark Lambert also requested clarification on his fees, since he has already paid for 3 units. The Council agreed that he will have to pay for the additional 20 units which he wishes to construct. John Scherer informed the Council that Hookup Charges are currently set by resolution, and do not require an ordinance amendment to change them. He also recommended that the City do a study to establish different hookup charges for different areas, which will relate back to specific assessments. Joe Bettendorf stated that he is already looking at this issue and will bring back recommendations with the study for expansion of city utilities to the north. He wi 11 bring this report to the counci 1 whenever they wish. He was told to hold back on it until this fiscal year is completed. After the first of the I year he will resume the study and then report to the Council. After discussion of various business and industrial uses, Hazen made a motion to study hookup fees for single f~ly, multi farrQly facilities, business, and industrial uses; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Page 2154 December 1 7 ~ 1992 Nayes: None. Motion carded, I TCWNSHIP PROPERTY: Joe Bechtold, Township Supervisor and Ann Reischl, Township Clerk offered a parcel of property with a quit claim deed. The property is a .51 acres by the old dump area. The city is currently using it for a leaves and mulch area, but will not allow Township residents to use it. Hazardous waste was discussed. Also the fact that liability stays with the land, but that the adjoining property is also a fotTIer dump so that would have an effect on any future liability. After further discussion Loso made a motion to accept the quit claim deed; seconded by Sadlo. Discussion - John Scherer informed the Council that City could do their own environmental audit, but it is very costly, Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carded, TOí~hip Officials and City Council discussed the status of merger discussions. They agreed that they will meet again when the engineers present the study, being prepare for the north east area of the Township, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Bud Reber stated that the Ballpark fence needs repair, Council agreed that maintenance could repair it. GAMBLING LICENSE APPLICATION: Mark Zimmer of the LaPlayette, and Larry Henning representing the Confidence Learning Center presented a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Application for gambling to be conducted at the LaPlayette. Mr. Henning described the Confidence Learning Center as a facility for use by I persons with developmental disabilities, free of charge, The Council informed Mr. Henning that they would require quarterly reports which show that 80% of the new proceeds for this gambling operation are used for persons from the st, Joseph community. Hazen made a motion to approve the Minnesota Lawful Gambling license application, of the Confidence Learning Center, as presented, with gambling to be conducted at the LaPlayette, effective as the State Gambling Control Board allows, with the 80% net profit use requirement and reporting documentation to the Council requirement; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Hazen, Loso. Nayes: None. Motion carried. The Council recessed at 9:15 p,m. The Mayor called the meeting back in session at 9:27 p.m, CORE MEETING: Rieke reported that the CORE Corrrrdttee is planning an educational forum to be held March 11, 1993 in Mary Commons. Dehler suggested that the Coomi t tee consider reccmnending that the ColI ege I s sponsor a seminar "How to live off campus." TAPE OF CLOSED MEETING: Loso questioned the location of the tape from a closed meeting held March 5, 1992, which is not in the City files. The Mayor stated he has given it to the City Attorney for safekeeping. LICENSES: Council asked the Police Chief to check and see if st Ben's needs any I City license for their sales, and report back. Sadlo made a motion to approve the following 1993 License Applications; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Loso, Hazen, Rieke. Nayes: None, Motion carried. Page 2155 December 17, 1992 I American Legion Post #328 2 Amusement Devices, 1 Cigarette, 1 Entertainment Salls Bar & Grill 3.2 off Sale, 1 Cigarette, 1 Entertainment Device, 5 Amusement Devices Bo Diddley's 3.2 On Sale La Playette, Inc. 1 Cigarette, 1 Entertainment Device, 12 Amusement Devices El Paso Club 3.2 Off Sale, 1 Cigarette, 1 Entertainment Device, 8 Amusement Devices Herk's Pizza 3.2 On Sale Loso's Store 1 Cigarette Loso's Main Street Pub 3.2 Off Sale, 1 Cigarette, 1 Entertainment Device, 7 Amusement Devices st. Joseph Liquor Shoppe 1 cigarette Hollander's Country Store 1 Cigarette Krebsbach Oil 1 Cigarette Super America I 1 Cigarette st. Joseph Gas & Bait 3.2 Off Sale, 1 Cigarette st. Joseph Meat Market 1 Cigarette st. Joseph Joes 3.2 On Sale st. Joseph Recreation Association 3.2 On Sale, 1 Cigarette M&T Liquor Off Sale Non-Intoxicating 1992 UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS - DBL LABS: Hazen made a motion to approve Change Order No. 1 for the 1992 utility Improvements -DBLS Labs Sanitary Sewer and Lift Station project, Contract II: Control Building; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to approve Application for Pa~ent No. 1 for the 1992 utility Improvements - DBL Labs Contract II: Control Building, to W. Gohman Construction, of $37,934.70; seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, 10so, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. I CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUESTS: Sadlo made a motion to approve the snow plow dump truck for the Street Department, at a cost of $15,000 to 19,000, which was tabled at the last meeting, and to put $250 down to hold it; seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Page 2156 December 17 ! 1992 Hazen made a motion to approve a capital outlay request of Parks & street I Departments for a Maltrac 300 VHF mobile radio at estimated cost of $460; seconded by Rieke, Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Clerk\Administrator requested a neH 42" lateral file Hith a lock, at $482, for the city office. Council Has in general agreement to look for a used file through a used equipment retailer. The Mayor questioned if Administration has gotten Dick a new chair for his office yet. Council Has in general agreement to alloH Dick to find a chair which Hould meet his needs, Hazen suggested he also look at Lee's Liquidation for a chair. POND VIEW RIOOE ADDITON: Joe Bettendorf recommended accepting formally, Pond VieH Ridge Addition, Hith the stipulation that the developer/oHner make corrections to Jerry Neu's property and asbuilts are provided to the City. Rieke made a motion to formally accept Pond VieH Ridge Addition, with the stipulation that all persons Hith a financial interest in the development sign a Hritten committtment that the corrections to Jerry Neu's property, and some agreed on sod, will be made in the spring, and asbuilts will be provided to the City. The motion Has seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None, Motion carried. At 10:00 p.m. the mayor extended the meeting for 15 rrànutes, I Council considered Jerry Hirschfeld's letter of request for DBL LABS: reimbursement of dollars advanced by DBL Labs, in anticipation of the Sanitary SeHer project. Dehler made a motion to approve the reimbursement of $20,000 for an advancement in anticipation of the project, and $311 for survey costs for establishing legal description of the area to be annexed, The motion Has seconded by Sadlo, Discussion - It vIaS understood that DBL Labs Has to fund their portion, through stearns Electric. Also this Has to get the project going, and it is questionable if it is reimbursable. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Hazen, Nayes: Loso. Motion carried. CLERK/AIMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1) Police Chief gave the Clerk/Administrator a copy of a bar violation, from early a.m. on 12-17-92, at the American Legion Club. Council agreed to set up a hearing for the next Council meeting. 2) Requests for extension of 1992 vacation days Here presented. Loso made a motion to approve the extension of 1992 vacation days, of Ray Bechtold for two days and Dick Taufen of up to six days; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. MINNESOTA STREEI' - PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT: The Council received and Hill take under advisement, a letter from Greg Reinhart, President of the st. Joseph I Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Reinhart stated that the Chamber of Commerce supported retaining the 54 foot Hidth of Minnesota Street, by motion, This issue was addressed in anticipation of a Minnesota Street Improvement project for the summer of 1993. Page 2157 December 17, 1992 I Sadlo thanked the Council for the opportunity to work with them over the past years. The Council agreed to table the personnel policy manual until the next meeting, and the star City Ordinance until the Chamber of Commerce can present it. Sadlo made a motion to adjourn at 10:15 p.m. with a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Hazen seconded the motion. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Hazen, Loso. Nayes: None. Motion carried. ~~ Rachel Stapleton ClerkjAdrrdnistrator I I Page 2158