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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987 [10] Oct 15 1~q1 ruC, -~ October 15, 1987 I Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, October 15, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mike ,]. Loso; Councilmen Donald "Bud" Reber, Steve Dehler, Leo Sadlo, Ross Rieke. Clerk/Adm. Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRESENT: Steven Schuering, Greg Kacures, Bill Lorentz, Joe Bettendorf, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ehlert. AGENDA APPROVAL: A motion was made by Dehler to approve the agenda with the additions; seconded by Sadlo. . Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo. Nayes: None. Motion carried. MINUTES APPROVAL: Dehler made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 1, 1987 meeting as presented; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo. Nayes: None. Motion carried. BILLS PAYABLE: Reber made a motion to approve the bills payable as presented; seconded by Dehler. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke. Nayes: None. Motion carried. COUNCIL REPORTS: SADLO: No report. Councilman Rieke arrived. REBER: Building Inspection fees need to be updated and need to provide for plans and specs review. Reber was requested to draw up a new schedule to present to the Council to take effect January 1, 1988. Reber also discussed the stop signs on Birch Street West, if they are all necessary. The County signing project will handle the problem. RIEKE: Planning Commission met and held a hearing on a requested variance to allow an extension to an accessory building at the Allen 'Ehlert residence which would exceed the allowable square footage. The Planing Commission recommended to allow an additional 240 sq. ft. , because the neighbors were in support, and the lot is large enough to accommodate it. DEHLER: No report. Dehler made a motion to deny the variance requested by Ehlert as it sets a precedent. Motion died for lack of a second. MAYOR REPORTS: Mayor reported: 1) he had met with Sister Colman, President of the College of St. Benedict, and they wish to work with the City; also she will discuss with her Board the possibility of putting the College owned rental houses on the tax rolls; they are considering going with city -J ,'>' ,¡ 0 __ :] L) ;;5 ~'Jater in the future and offered the services of their grant writer free of charge. - 2) He met with the County Board on the signals project for CSAH 75; County agreed to be the lead agency for it as it - will facilitate the project. Construction will not take place prior to 1989. 3) Annual Mayors Conference is November 20 & 21. MAYORS CONFERENCE: Rieke made a motion to allow the Mayor to attend the Mayors Conference November 20 & 21 in Minnetonka; seconded by Reber Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke. Nayes: None. Motion carried. GAMBLING LICENSE: Council received the gambling license application of the Knights of Columbus Council 7057 to be conducted according to State gambling laws. ELDERLY HOUSING APARTMENTS: The st. Joseph Elderly Apartment project has changed the entrance plans as proposed from Fourth Avenue Southwest, to have the entrance directly off Minnesota Street West into the parking lot. This change was because an agreement could not be reached with the adjoining property owners on construction of 4th Avenue Southwest. Council requested that the sidewalk be built down the boulevard to the gravel surface to the east; also considered changing the status of Fourth Avenue Northeast to an alley type area. TOWING OF CARS: Rieke made a motion to approve a contract with the local businesses which tow vehicles, which will allow the City to rotate among these businesses, if the owner does not have a preference, to tow the vehicle; the vehicles are to be stored on private property as designated by the tow business owner; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke. Nayes: None. Motion carried. COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICE OFFICER: Council discussed a complaint received from James Kacures against Officer Jeff Young stating that Officer Young used foul language to him, in a discussion with him while Young was responding to a call from him regarding smoke in his Florial Arts business. Chief of Police Lorentz discussed with the Council his investigation of the encounter. Because there is no proof either to confirm or deny the allegation it is difficult to make a judgement on the complaint. Chief Lorentz recommended that Officer Young receive an oral warning and to request that Officer Young make sure this doesn't happen again. Council did not accept the Chief's recommendation as Council fel t more vJas warranted as Officer Young was out of line in telling Mr. Kacures to "have another drink." They felt this was in violation of the police policy handbook which discusses dealing with the public. Council requested the 15nq _ Lid I Mayor dictate a letter of reprimand to the Clerk, to Officer Young and a copy would go in his file for the allowed period of time. Also, Mr. & Mrs. Kacures should get a letter stating the disposition of the matter. CHIEF OF POLICE REPORTS: 1 ) Chief Lorentz reported a request from St. John's to work on underage drinking. Mass bar checks are prohibited by Police Policy. Police Chief directed to control the problem as he has been, according to policy, and to talk to the bar owners to get their support in controlling these problems. 2) He requested a change in the high speed chase policy. Council felt that 20 MPH over the speed limit is adequate as greater speed than that is not worth the danger involved. Policy will stay as is. 3) Discussed the traffic problems on Cedar Street. Would like the Council to request the County to have parking on only one side of Cedar Street. Council felt because of the narrowness should consider no parking on either side of that street. Mayor will discuss the matter with the County Engineer. POLICE INTERN: Reber made a motion to approve Steve Schuering to intern with the police department during the January Interim, under the Chief of Police, who will monitor all his work. The Council would like a report on his perspective of what's happening in St. Joseph after his internship is completed. Motion was seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke. Nayes: None. Motion carried. EHLERT VARIANCE REQUEST: Mr. & Mrs. Allen Ehlert discussed with the Council their request to allow an addition of 20 feet by 24 feet to his existing garage. Mrs. Ehlert has a day care business in the home and needs the additional storage for play equipment such as bicycles and tricycles, for the day care children. Currently the equipment is being stored in the back yard where the younger children play, and she is concerned for the safety of the children. The neighbors of the Ehlert's were in attendance at the Planning Commission Hearing and stated that they were supportive of the addition. There was no one which felt the request should be denied. The Planning Commission has recommended to the Council to allow a variance to allow an addition of 240 square feet to the square footage of accessory building on Lot 4, Block 3, Loso's 2nd Addition, 114 1st Ave. S. for the following reasons: 1) Building will be used to serve group day care of between five and ten persons. 2) This is a larger than normal lot so it will not detract from the back yard space. 3) It is allowed to serve for day care as storage for equipment for the safety of children. 4) The surrounding neighbors in attendance stated their _4 ~___~ (~ ,.f I ,h,·~.'í .. ^ ) _.- _L·'<:_ ..J.' no objection to allowance of the - support, and there was variance. Rieke made a motion to allow the variance as recommended by - the Planning Commission for their reasons; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke. Nayes: None. Motion carried. CITY ENGINEER JOE BETTENDORF REPORTS: Joe discussed the proposed East Baker Street improvement ¡'Ji th the Council. He discussed assessments, mostly sideyards which would be assessed according to city policy at 50%, and the property on the south, which is not in the city limits, couldn't use deferred assessments, YJould have to get attorney's advice as to how to recover those costs. Discussed financing, possibly G. O. Bonds; public hearing, time table, possibly bid in March with construction in the spring or summer. Rieke left at 9:45 p.m. CLERK/ADM. REPORTS: Clerk presented the State Financial Report for St. Joseph and gave the September treasurer's report. TRANSFER OF FUNDS: Sadlo made a motion to transfer $41,461.09 from the General Fund to Street Maintenance Fund; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Loso, Reber. Dehler, Sadlo. Nayes: None. Motion carried. WATER OPERATOR'S SCHOOL: Sadlo made a motion to allow Dick Taufen to attend Water Operator's School in ~'Jai te Park; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo. Nayes: None. Motion carried. ADJOURN: Sadlo made a motion to adjourn at 10:18 p.m. ; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Loso, Reber, Dehler, Sadlo. Nayes: None. !vJotion carried. (](~~ Rachel Stapleton Clerk/Adm. .