HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 [02] Feb 06
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February 6, 2003
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular sessi¿n
on Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. I
Members Present: Mayor Larry Hosch. Councilors Ross Rieke, Gary Utsch, Dale Wick, and AI Rass·er.
City Administrator Judy Weyrens.
City Representatives Present: Cynthia Smith-Strack, Municipal Development Group.
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Others Present:
The meeting opened with Administrator Weyrens administering the Oath of Office to Gary Utsch, who was
appointed to finish the four year Council term held by former Gouncilor Kyle Schneider. I
Approve Aaenda: Rassier made a motion to approve the agenda with addition of 8 (c) Request of
the ASCFME Union, 8 (d) Department Head/Council retreat. The motion was seconded by Rieke
and passed unanimously.
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Maintenance Facilitv. proposed chanae orders: Dean Wick of Outsource Management approached t~e
,City Council regarding the proposed maintenance facility and presented the Council with the following 'two
Change Orders: I
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Ghange Order 1 - Overhead Door Gauge: Wick stated that the doors on the overhead doors are currently
proposed to be a 20 gauge door and they can be reduced to a 26 gauge. The cost deduction to change
the thickness of the steel skin on the ten (10) overhead doors from 20-gauge to 26-gauge is $1,620. I
Change Order 2 - Exterior Finish: Wick reported the project manager for the project is requesting the
City to consider changing the exterior finish of the building. The project manager had the opportunity to
work on a building that had similar material and the building was only seven years old. During the I
'remodeling some of the wood had deteriorated due to moisture. Therefore, the project manager, i
encourages the City to install y," 5-ply CDX plywood in lieu of y," OSB wall sheathing for the exterior face
of the exterior wall panels. The cost aiso inciudes one (1) layer of ice and water guard installed alonglthe
curb wall (246 feet) and 15# building felt on top of all exterior sheathing. The request is to reduce an~ risk
of potential water damage to the sheathing and condensation probiems that may occur. The change I
order will result in an increase in the contract price of approximately $ 2,539.
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Rassier questioned if change order one was a result of change order two. He further stated that it is his
opinion and experience that the overhead doors should remain at a 20 gauge door. Reducing the skin of
,the door to 26 gauge can lead to increased incidents of damage. Wick responded that he is aware of the
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funding limitations of the City and reducing the gauge of the doors was a cost saving venture. However,
he does not believe the City will be compromising quality by doing such. If the garage doors are going to
be damaged at 26 gauge they will also be damaged at 20 gauge. I
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Rassier stated that in the past two members of the City Council were appointed to the building committee.
Since those two members are no longer part of the Council there is no Council representation on the i
building committee and requested that the Council appoint two members of the Council. Rieke and I
Rassier volunteered to be a part of the building committee to which the Council by consensus agreed.
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I Rassier made the following motion:,
1. Change Order One - Denied, the garage doors Will remain at 20 gauge.
2. Change Order Two - Approved, changing thE! '11<terior materials as requested,
increasing the contract price in the amount of $ 2,539.
APprove Consent Aaenda: Rassier made a motion to approve consent agenda as follows;
seconded by Wick and passed unanimously.
a. Bills Payable - Approved check numbers 32386 - 32434
Public Comments
No one wished to speak
February 6, 2003
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St. Joseph Economic Development Authoritv 2002 Annual Report: Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal
Development Group approached the City Council to present the 2002 Annual Report of the St. Joseph
EDA. The EDA members and their staff/consultants worked with a number of commercial and industrial
businesses during 2002. Thirty-two (32) new business contacts were made during 2002 and fifteen (15)
contacts from previous years were followed up with. Of the prospects approximately 50% were
commercial/service businesses while 50% were industrial or manufacturing businesses.
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The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously.
Listed below is a summary of the five (5) year comparison of building permits for commercial and
industria projects:
#of
Commercial/lndustrial Permit
Year Proiects Amounts
1997 4 $ 895,000
1998 6 $1,906,000
1999 3 $1,435,000
2000 4 $ 361,500
2001 4 $ 593,000
2002 11 $4,687,430
Totals 32 $9,877,930
In addition to regular economic development activities, the EDA also participated in the following:
./ The 2002 Comprehensive Plan Update
./ Updating of commercial and industrial zoning classification requirements
./ Updating of the covenants in effect for the Buettner Business Park
./ Establishment of Tax Increment Financing District 1-4
./ Review of development plans as requested by the City Council and as authorized by the
Buettner Business Park covenants.
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Smith-Strack presented the Council with the 2003 goals of the EDA and stated they are the same goals
outlined in the 2003 Comprehensive Plan.
Rieke made a motion to accept the report as presented; seconded by Hosch and passed
unanimously.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS
PUBLIC WORKS
Potential Water Freeze: Public Works Director Dick Taufen stated that he and the City Engineer have
concerns regarding the 2002 Improvements projects and the increased risk of freezing water lines. The
first year after construction soils are unstable leaving air pockets. During a typical winter, snow cover
would provide a blanket of insulation reducing the depth of frost. However, due to the lack of snow cover
the frost levels are penetrating lower than normal. In some instances frost is already at five to six feet,
the same level as some water lines are installed. Bettendorf stated he is confident that the water lines will
not freeze in the streets but has concerns with the private service lines.
Therefore Taufen stated that he and Bettendorf are recommending the City take preventive measures I
and recommend that residents involved in the 2002 Improvement Projects run their water from now until
approximately April 1, 2003. Taufen clarified that residents need to be cautious as the weather warms
frost penetrates lower as the ground warms.
Taufen stated that while the current City policy requires the property owner to pay for all water used, it is
his recommendation to credit residents involved in the 2002 Improvement Projects for additional water
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February 6, 2003
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used. Taufen further stated that while the current City policy requires the property owner to pay for all i
water used, he would recommend that relief be granted as a one time credit due to the unusual winter
and the City initiated the improvements causing concern for water line freezing.
Hosch made a motion accepting the recommendation of Taufen and Bettendorf to provide a cr!!dit
to residents involved in the 2002 Street Improvement projects. The credit will only be applied to
the aforementioned residents provided they notify the City Offices that they are running their I
water to prevent freezing. This credit will not extend beyond April 1, 2003. The motion was '
seconded by Utsch and passed unanimously.
Discussion: The Gouncil questioned what type of credit would be applied to the participating I
residents. Weyrens reported that the credit will either be based on an average water use or the
last billing period (November/December).
POLICE CHIEF
Police Policv Manual: Jansky presented the Council with a revised Police Policy Manual. Jansky stated
that the City has not updated the manual for many years. The Police Policy Manual must include all I
policies required by the State and must include current practices. The proposed Manual has been i
forwarded to the City Attorney for review and comment. Jansky stated at this time he is presenting the
new policy to the Council and request they review the information and contact him if they have any I
questions. Jansky further stated that once the Manual is adopted, it will be distributed to all the Police'
Officers and they must sign an acknowledgement that they have received and reviewed the Manual.
Weyrens stated that it is anticipated to adopt the Police Policy Manual on Febrùary 20, 2003.
Mutual Aid Aareement: Chief Jansky stated the Cities of Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, and
Waite Park are in the process of updating the Mutual Aid Agreement to be incompliance. Chief Jansky
stated it appears to be the final version and once the original is completed, it will be presented to all the
Cities' Councilors so they have an opportunity to sign and date it to make it a legal binding document. I
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Trainina: Jansky reported that the Police Officers in the process of completing the required POST 'I
training. Training includes: 1" Response /1" Aid, Quarterly Fire Arms Re-certification, Use of Force,
Handcuffing. I
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MAYOR REPORTS
Transportation Studv. Fundina Reauest: Hosch reported that he and Bettendorf attended the St. Cloud
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting. TAC is charged with reviewing transportation funding!
requests and making a recommendation to the APO Executive Committee. This process is completed
one a year and projects receiving approval are not funded untii 2006. The TAC recommendation for 2006
Funding included the request of the City of St. Joseph to complete the South Corridor Study at an i
estimated cost of $ 159,000. The recommendation for funding includes the City of St. Joseph contributing
36% of the study.
Open Committee Seats: Hosch reported that the City of St. Joseph is in need of active citizens to
participate on the School Search Committee, Downtown Design Committee, and the Ethics Policy
Committee.
Web Paae: Hosch also reported the City has received an intern from the St. Cloud Technical College to
maintain the City's Web Page. The intern is a student at St. Cloud Technical College and is anticipated to
work with the City over a two year period. St. Cloud Technical College has indicated that an intern c~uld
be provided on an ongoing basis in the future. The internship is voluntary at this time and compensation
is at the discretion of the City. I
COUNCIL REPORTS
RIEKE - No Report
RASSIER - No Report
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February 6, 2003
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WICK - No report
UTSCH
Plannina Commission: The Planning Commission has finished reviewing Ordinance 52 for update and
revision. The public hearing is scheduled for February 12, 2003. The Planning Commission is also
reviewing the Subdivision Ordinance and will be requesting a joint hearing of the City Council and
Planning Commission shortly.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS
AFSCME Union Reauest: Weyrens stated that she has received a letter from the AFSCME Union
regarding a position that the City of St. Joseph had recently re-classified and they are asking for
reconsideration of that decision and would like to meet with the City Council as a whole to discuss it
further. It was consensus of the Council to meet with the AFSCME representatives on February 12, 2003
at 6:00 PM.
Street Name Chanae Reauest - Little Crow Court to Elm Street East: Weyrens stated the City of St.
Joseph has been approached by Knight Builders to change the street adjacent to their property from Little
Crow Court to either Northland Circle or Elm Street East. Hosch stated that in a recent discussion with
the County Engineer he indicated that he would favor extending Elm Street to County Road 133 over
installing a signal light at Northland Drive. Therefore, Little Crow Court has the potential of extending to
County Road 133 aligning with Elm Street East.
Rassier made a motion to authorize an the Mayor and Administrator to execute Special Ordinance
_; changing the street name Little Crow Court to Elm Court East. The motion was seconded
by Utsch and passed unanimously.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities: Weyrens presented the Council with an opportunity to become
members of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC). The CGMC devotes their time to
providing legislative analysis and assistance to non-metro municipalities. As a membership incentive,
the Coalition is waiving the first year membership, reducing the cost for the second year to 50% and then
requiring full membership for the third year. Membership costs for the three year period is approximately
$ 9,000.00.
Rassier made a motion approving membership to the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities as
requested. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously.
Adiourn: Wick made a motion to adjourn at 9:10 PM; seconded by Utsch and passed unanimously.
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