HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 [02] Feb 19
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February 19, 2004
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session
on Thursday, February 19, 2004 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. i
Members Present: Mayor Larry Hosch. Councilors Gary Utsch, Ross Rieke, AI Rassier, Dale Wick.
Administrator Judy Weyrens.
City ReDresentatives Present: City Engineer Joe Bettendorf, Police Chief Peter Jansky, Police Officers~
Dwight Pfannenstein and Pete Janssen. i
Others Present: Matt Volbrecht, Harvey Pfannenstein.
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ADDrove AQenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of item 10 (c) 2003
Audit. The motion was seconded by Utsch and passed unanimously. I
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Consent AQenda: Rassier made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by
Wick and passed unanimously.
a. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 33819 - 33908
b. Minutes - Approve the minutes of January and February 2004 as corrected.
Public Comments to the AQenda: No one present wished to speak.
Westwood - AUAR Arcon DeveloDment: Matt Volbrecht of Westwood Professionals appeared before rhe
Council on behalf of Arcon Development to discuss the draft AUAR. Volbrecht stated that the document
before the Council is draft and wili not become final until after it is submitted to the Environment Quality
Board (EQB) and the required 30 day comment period has expired. It is his intent to submit the draft i
report to the EQB meetin9 the deadline for the March 1, 2004. A requirement of the AUAR is to mail the
draft to agencies outlined by the EQB. Those agencies will then have until March 31, 2004 to submit i
comments, which will be mailed directly to the City Offices. At the end of the response period the ¡
comments are reviewed and the document is amended as needed. The City Council will review all the
comments and then approve a final document.
In reviewing the draft AUAR the following items were discussed:
o Exhibit 2 needs to illustrate the future transportation plans of the City beyond the Arcon
Deveiopment.
o Reference to the new wells shouid indicate they are anticipated to be online in 2005.
o Wastewater - average daily flow should be corrected to reflect correct flow.
o Council Resolution authorizing the AUAR needs to be added to the document.
o Traffic counts - include Arcon site and potential future development or open areas. Must use
the potential land to be developed. I
o Traffic concerns - Impact to 20th Avenue, signals at Coiiege and County Road 121 i
o Intersection of 4th Avenue & County Road 75 was included in the AUAR as residents could use
the route as a short cut.
o Trunk sewers are not included in the project area.
o Property Zoning is Agricuitural and references in the plan indicate high density residential.
o Wellhead protection plan is included to illustrate the City will be preparing the plan.
o Sauk River Watershed District should be included in the plan as well as the requirements of the
County for utility permits.
o A reference should be included that dewatering may impact domestic water uses and wells
could be dried.
o Change permitted water to read 150 million gaiions
o Maximum daily demand of water should be changed to Average daily use.
o Projected municipal water users should be reduced by 1200 to reflect college housing, as the
College/Monastery of St. Benedict own and operates their own water supply.
o Remove reference to water pressure tank solution
February 19, 2004
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· Drainage areas of the north should be diverted south to relieve the drainage to the creek. It
would be acceptable to state that this matter will be reviewed during the platting process.
· Check reference to assure the documents meet statutory requirements.
· Discussed noise levels of equipment during construction and made sure that complaints will be
handied.
· Document date will be changed to March 1, 2004.
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Greg Kacures approached the Council and questioned the need for an additional signal light on County
Road 75 (CR 75 and 4th Avenue). He stated in his opinion the City already has too many signals on CR
75 and another one is not needed. Mayor Hosch stated that he would like to continue discussing the draft
AUAR, but will comment on the signal when the current discussion is completed.
Wick clarified that the document being approved by the Council at this time is not the final document and
the Council will have another opportunity to review the document before it is finalized. Volbrecht assured
Wick that the Council will review all the comments received and have one more opportunity to comment
on the AUAR before it is finalized.
Rassier made a motion accepting the draft AUAR for the Arcon Development, with the
contingency that the Administrator review the document after the changes are made. The
document can then be submitted to the EQB and the comment period can begin. The motion was
seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously.
Voibrecht questioned if the City would be complete the mailing to the required agencies or if Westwood
should do so. Weyrens requested that Westwood completing the mailing requirements and provide a list
to the City of all agencies receiving a copy.
SiQnal Countv Road 75 and 4th Avenue: Hosch stated that the City has requested Steams County to
install a signal light at the intersection of County Road 75 and 4th Avenue NE. Installing a light is I
expensive and Stearns County has allocated three signal lights for the current year, with the sites
undetermined. The City wouid have to pay for a large portion of the signal light and will continue to work
with Stearns County. Kacures questioned if the City would have the ability to determine the timing of the
signal light. Hosch stated that the City would discuss timing with Steams County.
Northland Plat 8: City Engineer Joe Bettendorf stated that the plans and specifications are finished for
Northland 8 and he requested authorization to advertise for bids for the Improvements for Northland 8. If
approved for publication, the bid opening will be scheduled for March 16, 2004 at 11 :00 AM. Rassier
made a motion approving resolution 2004-06, Approving Plans and Specifications and Ordering
Advertisement for Bids. The motion was seconded by Utsch and passed unanimously.
MAYOR REPORTS
APO Technical Advisorv Board: Hosch reported that the APO Technical Advisory Board met recentiy to
rank projects for Federal Funding, St Joseph has submitted two corridor studies for funding. Both
projects received a high ranking, but they did not receive enough support for funding. Hosch stated that
he advocated for a reduced cost split for the 44th Avenue Project so that St. Joseph could received
funding for one study. Waite Park has agreed to address this matter at their regular Council meeting,
before the APO Full Board meets. If the City does not receive funding during this application period, it will
be resubmitted again next year.
Mayor ReDorts: Hosch presented the Council with the Mayor Appointments for 2004. Hosch stated that
the Committee assignments have not changed since 2003 and requested the Council accept the
appointments as presented. Utsch made a motion to accept the 2004 Mayor Appointments as
presented with the correction of the Fire Chief and removal of Jennifer Wirz from the Park Board
as she has previously resigned. The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously.
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February 19, 2004
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COUNCIL REPORTS
RIEKE
Council/Staff WorkshoD: Rieke thanked the staff and consultants for the one day Pianning Workshop
held on February 18, 2004. Rieke stated that the day was very informative and requested that they be
held twice a year.
EDA ReDorts: The EDA has meet on February 18 and discussed the need to deveiop additional
Industrial Park Land. The current absorption rate for industrial properly is approximately 10 acres per
year and the City only has 14 acres remaining. Therefore, at the current rate the City will run out of
developable Industrial Property within 18 months.
RASSIER
Council/Staff WorkshoD: Rassier concurred with Rieke and stated the one day workshop was informative
and he encourages them to continue.
WICK - No Report
UTSCH - No Report
Cioverdale UDdate: Weyrens reported that the City is not prepared at this time to order the improvements
to the Cloverdale Area. The City Staff would like the opportunity to review utility extension opportunities
and bring the information back to the Council. Weyrens also presented the Council with a petition signed
by six of the affected residents in the Cloverdale Project area requesting the Council complete an i
appraisal of their property before and after the improvement is completed, The appraisal would then i
verify the cost effectiveness of the improvement to the affected properties. Weyrens stated that at thi~
time it would be cost prohibitive to complete an appraisal for each properly and the staff will consider the
request when evaluating alternatives. When the revised improvement plans are submitted to the Council
for consideration, the request will include the conducting of a new public improvement hearing. It is I
anticipated that the project will begin in the Spring of 2005.
Rieke made a motion to table action on the Cloverdale Improvement so that the City Engineer, I
Attorney and Administrator can review alternatives for the proposed improvements and bring the
recommendation back to the City Council for review and consideration to schedule a new i
improvement hearing. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously.
2003 Audit: Utsch made a motion authorizing the Administrator to execute the contract for
professional services to complete the 2003 Audit between the City of st. Joseph and Kern
DeWenter Viere. The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously.
Board of Review: Weyrens reported that the Board of Appeais and Equalization has been scheduled for
April 6, 2004 at 6:30 PM. The purpose of this meeting is to accept testimony from residents disputing
their proposed market valuation. i
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Police Chief ReDorts: Police Chief Peter Jansky approached the Council to demonstrate the Tasers I
recently purchased by the City. The Klinefelter Foundation donated $ 2,400 for the purchase of three (3)
Tasers. Tasers are a form of non-deadly force which allows Officers to control an individual who is I
threatening himself or others. The Taser emits 50,000 voits of electricity for five seconds. When shot, an
electric current is dispersed throughout the muscular system in the body. The current temporarily i
immobilizes a person by restricting communication between the brain and muscles without harming the
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individual. I
Officer Dwight Pfannenstein presented the Council with a demonstration on the use of the Taser and
stated that he has completed training and will serve as the training officer for the City. Pfannenstein
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stated that Taser's will not replace the need for a handgun, rather provide an Officer with another form of
non-deadly force. Non deadly options available to Officers include use of their hands, mace or batons.
Pfannenstein offered Council members the opportunity to be tased, using only a y" second emission.
Rassier and Hosch volunteered to be Tased.
Adiourn: Wick made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 PM; seconded by Utsch and passed unanimously.
Judy Weyrens
Administrator
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