HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 [02] Feb 03
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February 3, 2005
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of SI. Joseph met in regular sessiön
on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 7:00 PM in the SI. Joseph City Hall. '
Members Present: Mayor Richard Carlbom, Councilors AI Rassier, Dale Wick, Ross Rieke, Renee
Symanietz. City Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Citv ReDresentatives Present: City Engineer(s) Tracy Ekola & Joe Bettendorf
Others Present: Luke Hellier, Anika Morton, Jennifer Hitzemann, Kiersten, Gjerstad, Richard McCarty
ADDrove AQenda: Rassier made a motion to approve the agenda with the following correction:
6 Delete and reschedule at a later date
The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously.
Consent AQenda: Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows.
a. Minutes - Approve the Minutes of January 6, 2005
b. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 35301 - 35323
c. Transportation Priorities - Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute
Resolution 2005-04 Accepting the Transportation Priorities as identified by the St.
Cloud Area Planning Organization. '
d. Gambling License - Accept the Minnesota Lawful Gambling Application for Exempt
Permit for the St. Joseph Volunteer Firefighters for an event to be held on April 22,
2005 at the LaPlayette.
The motion was seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously.
Public Comments to the AQenda: No one present wished to speak.
Public HearinQ, Request to vacate easement Indian Hiils Plat. Summit Manaqement: Mayor Carlbom
opened the public hearing and stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider release of a drainage I
easement located on the southwest corner of Lot 2 Block 1 of Indian Hills Park Plat. Weyrens stated that
when the City Council reviewed the site plan for Boulder Ridge Apartments, they agreed to allow Mark
Lambert to drain his surface water to the wetland owned by the City. The development only included the
upper lot for Boulder Ridge and as a result the City referenced in the Development Agreement that the
surface water for lots 1 and 2 would drain to the wetland area. Weyrens stated that the staff has
reviewed the easement release and they are recommending that the easement be released.
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Anika Morton, of Lambert and Associates was present to represent Summit Management and offered, to
any questions. There being no one present to speak, the hearing was closed at 7:05 PM.
Ekola stated that when the property was originally platted their was not an intent to use the City holding
pond. Since that time the City has approved the use of the holding pond, negating the necessity of the
drainage easement. Ekola concurred with city staff that the drainage easement could be released with
the understanding that Lot 2 will drain to the wetland area owned by the City. '
Carlbom questioned Ekola about the water problems on Northland Drive. Currently water pools at the
base of Northland Drive creating a potential safety hazard. Ekola stated that w, hen the lower lot is I
developed the drainage problems will be resolved. ¡
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Symanietz made a motion to adopt resolution 2005-05 Releasing the Storm Water Easement. The
motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. '
CITY ENGINEER REPORTS
Test Wells: Bettendorf reported that Traut Well has rescheduled the test wells and they should be in
place within the next week.
February 3, 2005
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Countv Road 121: Bettendorf reported he met with representatives of the Steams County Engineers
Office to discuss the CR 121 improvements and the status of the sewer line. After construction of the I
improvements it was noted that the pipe seams contained gaps and the line was holding water. The
major separations were repaired and the City will incur ongoing maintenance costs because of the poor
installation. In discussing the matter with the Wastewater Operator, to assure function, the sewer line will
need to be cleaned annuaily. Since a normal warranty is 20 years, the contractor should cover the
additional costs during that period. It has been calculated that the additional cost to the City over the
warranty period will be $ 90,000.
He also stated that he gave the information to the County regarding sidewalk issues and they agreed to
review defects in the sidewalk. He also stated that Meadowvale is suing Bauerly Brothers for additional
costs incurred due to the needed soil borings. Bauerly Brothers in turn has named Steams County in the
lawsuit and are seeking damages in the amount of $ 70,000 to $ 100,000.
MAYOR REPORTS
SI. Wendel: Mayor Carlbom stated that he along with Councilor Rassier an Administrator Weyrens
attended the February 1, 2005 meeting of SI. Wendel Township. The purpose of attending the meeting
was to establish a joint meeting between the City of SI. Joseph and SI. Wendel Township. The meeting
has been established for February 17, 2005 at 6:00 PM.
Sales Tax Issue: Carlbom attended a meeting with the area mayors to discuss the sales tax issue. SI.
Cloud Mayor John Ellenbecker agreed to work with the lobbyist hired by the area Cities to prepare the bill
for authoring and to discuss strategy for successful lobbying. In addition to the regional sales tax bill,
some Representatives are lobbying for a statewide bill that would allow the implementation of an
additional one half-cent tax. The Statewide bill would establish criteria before a tax could be imposed.
Those criteria have yet to be established and have the potential of not being in the best interest of the SI.
Cloud Regional Tax.
Fire Board: The Fire Board met on Wednesday and discussed the following: 1) use of FEMA funding; 20
purchase of a personnel carrier; 3) Increase in compensation for the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief; and
Fire Fighter response wage.
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COUNCIL REPORTS
RIEKE
Council Procedures: Rieke questioned procedurally if the Council should be acting on matters that are
introduced during Mayor or Council reports. Items requiring action should be placed on the agenda so
that the constituents have an opportunity to provide feedback to the Council. They agreed that as a
matter of procedure items introduced during reports will not be acted on until a later meeting when it can
be published on an agenda.
RASSIER
Historical Societv: Rassier stated that the Historical Society met and they elected their new officers with
everyone paying their dues. The next meeting will be held at the Monastery Art Museum.
WICK
Park Board: Wick reported that the January Park Board meeting was cancelled.
APO: He stated that information from the APO is included in their packets for review as well.
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Kleinfelter Park: Wick questioned the outcome as to whether or not the City has decided to plow
Kleinfelter Trail. Weyrens stated that no on has responded to the past inquiring of the Council seeking a
volunteer to maintain the trail. Rassier stated that if the City were willing to plow one trail in the City, why
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February 3, 2005
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wouldn't they plow the other city trails. Rieke stated that this is a quality of life decision and it must be I
determined how much taxpayers are willing to pay for that service. Carlbom questioned how many people
would be affected if they City were to plow the trail. Wick clarified that the City cannot use Park funds to
pay for the plowing because those funds are restricted by Statute. I :
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As the winter season is nearing completion Weyrens suggested drafting Request for Proposals (RFP'S) to
outsource the service. If this were completed during the budget process the Council could determine if
funding is available. !
Wick made a motion authorizing city staff to prepare RFP's for the snow removal service of th~
City Trail system. The RFP should be drafted so that the cost of specific trail could be identified.
The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously.; I
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Carlbom requested that the Park Board discuss the snow removal on Trails and make a recommendation
to the City Staff. Wick agreed to forward the information to the Park Board. '
SYMANI ETZ
Snow Removal: Symanietz thanked the residents for helping to shovel out the fire hydrants.
SI. Cloud Joint PlanninQ MeetinQ: Symanietz reported that she attended the Joint Planning Board meeting
for Mayor Carlbom. The meeting included election of Officers and each jurisdiction presented a brief I
summary of Planning Activities occurring during 2004. I
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Life Cvcle HousinQ Board: Symanietz reported that she attended the Life Cycle Housing Meeting and
that the Life Cycle Housing Committee wants to make a change from 80% area median income to 80%
state median income. '
Newlv Elected Officials Conference: She attended the conference for newly elected officials and stated
that she learned a lot of useful information. i.
Wastewater Advisorv Board: Symanietz reported that she attended a meeting where they talked about
the possibility of SI. Stephen runnin9 their wastewater through SI. Wendel if they wanted to belong to'the
SI. Cloud Wastewater program. I
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Citv SloQan: Currently, the City's website has" A Good, Great Place" for its slogan. Symanietz stated that
perhaps the City could have a contest to find a new slogan for the City in which the public would come up
with the new slogan for the City. She has contacted the Newsleader and they are willing to cover the i
story. When questioned as to the origin of the existing slogan, Weyrens stated that the phase on the'
website is from the documents that were prepared when the Design Team visited SI. Joseph. Rassiek
stated that in his opinion the slogan contest should be part of the St. Joseph Chamber or Downtown I
committee. Weyrens clarified that the City is prohibited from funding prizes and if the Chamber is fullding
the contest they should be the main contact. Rieke clarified that the slogan is only used for the webs'ite
and not for any city letterhead. Symanietz has been directed to ask the Chamber if they are willing to'
chair the contest. '
Adiourn: Rassier made a motion to adjourn at 7:45 PM; seconded by Rieke and passed
una.nimOUSIY~, .
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