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Home My WebLink About1996 [11] Nov 21 1 3052 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, November 21, 1996 at 7:00 p.rn. in City Hall. I I MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Donald "Bud" Reber; Councilors Ross Rieke, Bob Loso, Kenneth J Hiemenz, Cory Ehlert. Clerk! Administrator Rachel Stapleton. . OTIffiRS PRESENT: Steve Streng, Ellen and Bob Wahlstrom, Ken Twit, Dave Theisen, Mary Niedenfuer, Art Reber, Monica Kiernan, Katie Gardner, Dick Taufen. Mayor Reber called the meeting to order with Councilors Loso and Hiemenz present. AGENDA: Hiemenz made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Loso~ Ayes: Reber, Loso, Hiemenz. ' Nays: None. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Loso, Hiemenz. I Nays: None. Motion carried. I I , BILLS PAYABLE: Loso made a motion to approve the bills payable, check numbers 23297 through 23319; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Loso, Hiemenz. Nays: None. Motion carried. I Cory Ehlert anived at 7:04 p.rn. Loso made a motion to approve the overtime and call outs as presented; seconded by Hiemenz. Discussion - Council discussed the amount of vacation and camp time allowed to be carried over into next year. Stapleton stated the water treatment facility project has reqWred the Water Superintendent to put in a lot of extra time, when he had intended to take time off. Hiemenz recommended working h3lf days in order to use up accumulated time. i Ayes: Reber, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion carried. Ross Rieke arrived at 7:07 p.m. MAYOR REPORTS: 1) The Mayor received many questions and concerns by local taxpayers, on the referendum question on the ballot. They questioned why (non-tax paying) students can vote on 10c31 issues. Council discussed considering the time of year when holding any future referendum electioßs, with an alternative to conduct a special election.. I I 2) The Mayor and Mayor-Elect attended the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership'~ last meeting. The City of St. Joseph was congratulated on receiving Star City status. 1 COUNCILORS REPORT RIEKE: The CORE Committee met recently and discussed the proposed keg ordinance and pOSSlble resolutions of residential concerns. Further discussion of street lighting is inten".ded for the Februaryli mp.p.tina . I I 3053 EHLERT: 1) A group of student renters met as an association to discuss problems and focus. They discussed methods of building positive community relationships. They also expressed concerns students 1 have in dealing with landlords, and would Jike to have the City explore a process to make landlords accountable. The Council further discussed methods of working with landlords and students. One suggestion was making stronger criteria for the rental inspection. It was also suggested to include on the Rental Certificate a contact and phone number if unsafe conditions are found Further discussion involved educational material from the state, contacting the Rental Housing Inspector, and the schools role or responsibilities to the students. I Jv.fayor Reber recommended the Police Chief attend one of the renters meetings to infonn them on police policies. 2) Ehlert met with the owners of Silver Motors to seek a solution to the neighbor problems discussed at the last meeting. The owners are cU1Tently pursuing installation of a privacy fence. LOSO: The skating rink will open December 13, weather pemlittWg. Warming House attendants will be hired soon. There has been interest expressed to install another rink. Figure skating and hockey will be alternated to accommodate both activities, with broom ball on Sunday nights. HIE:MENZ: 1) The Star City will meet November 27 to discuss EDA and associated matters. 2) The Chief of Police discussed methods of keeping children off thin ice, perhaps by fencing. He has noticed them on the pond by the City Shop, and is seeking control measures. Hiemenz stated that area is a floating bog and would be difficult to maintain a fence on it. Mayor Reber will consult the City Attorney on this matter. I SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAl.: Hiemenz stated he had discussed the CUITeIlt policy for sidewalk snow removal to the Cemetety. CUITeIltly the property owners remove it and the City hauls it away as necessary. APO BUll.DING USE: The Council discussed the proposal of APO to locate their offices in the St Cloud Township Hall. Hiemenz stated the members of APO are members by choice. Consideration should be given to the liability each member incurs, particularly in the event one or more members should withdraw from the organization. Lose moved that the City of St Joseph gives its approval for the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization to proceed with the proposal as presented, pending clarification of individual member liability status, including should any member would withdraw that member would still be financially liable, and the City's representative is othernise satisfied with the specifics of it. The motion was seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion carried CLERK! ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1) CORE Committee recommendations for the City were discussed by the Council. It was generally agreed to have a check list prepared for prioritization and work through a few at a time. 1 2) An East Minnesota Street resident called and recommended to have the City refuún from cleaning the sidewalk this year, due to the ice conditions on it. I I 1 I 1 3054 OPEN TO THE PUBUC: Ellen Walùstrom infonned the Council that Nancy Notch stated people ftom Silver Motors business do not drive on her property as was stated at the last meeting. Walùstrom clarified that her discussion from the last meeting was to show an example of what could happen without adequate planning. There needs to be a mechanism in place to protect the residents. She added, if the right things are in place the businesses and residents can hannoniously develop. I I Rieke discussed briefly some planning mechanisms in place, that relate to these issues. Mike Deutz requested the Council consider adding space for City Offices to the planned Fire Hall, , now that the referendum has passed. He felt extending the Fire Hall structure would provide more effi¿ient use of the space. This would reduce the need for greater expenditures for building space in the future. Further planning could develop other needed facilities.. Mayor Reber agreed that a complex is needed now and needs to be planned. Hiemenz stated this will be dealt with in the future by long term planning. The future of the Roske property needs to be considered as well as the needs for a recreational facility. His intention is to do responsible planning rather than reactionary planning. , I Dave Theisen stated the Fire Hall is planned for thirty years hence, and aJready there is consideratibn to congest the area. Rieke stated that efficiencies are being considered.' , After further discussion Loso made a motion to recess for ten minutes at 8:25 p.m.; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion carried. Mayor Reber reconvened the meeting at 8:35 p.m. KEG ORDINANCE: Loso made a motion to table the matter indefinitely, seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - Mayor Reber stated St. Cloud has found this an effective means of reducing the volume of parties and keep them under control better. ' Dave Hollander questioned the compliance rate in getting keg permits. I , Rieke stated the CORE Committee discussed this issue. Chief Lindgren felt the permit requirem~t would help them, but did not feel they should be the issuing agency. ¡ There was discussion of allowing the liquor establishments selling kegs to issue the permits, but it was generally did not feel that would function well. Mike Deutz felt this permit requirement would drive business out of town. Mayor Reber felt it would help control parties and protect the residents such as those on East Ash . Street. I i Ehlert recommended considering who is attending meetings when these issues are before the CouAcil. The most consistently interested persons are the liquor business owners. . Dave Hollander recommended working to get state legislation in order to have consistent requirem'ents for all area communities. 3055 Vote on the question - Ayes: Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: Reber, Rieke. Motion carried. ' WATER TREATMENT F ACUITY: Dick Taufen appeared before the Council to request a Change Order for the Water Treatment Facility project for including equipment and software to allow the existing equipment connect and interface adequately with the new SCADA infonnation system. After short discussion Mayor Reber made a motion to approve the request as presented at a cost of approximately $9,731.00; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion carried The apartment building at 120 Second Avenue NW needs a new water meter. It is the Council's policy to replace residential meters of regular size. This one is larger and would cost about $450. After short discussion Rieke made a motion to replace the meter at city cost; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion carried. Hiemenz made a motion to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion caried. ~~ Rachel Stapleton Clerk! Administrator 1 I 1