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Home My WebLink About1997 [02] Feb 06 I I I I Page 3079 February 6, 19~7 Pursuant to due call and notice there of the City Council for the City ~f St. Joseph met in regular session February 6, 1997 at 7:00 p.m, in City Hall. I MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kenneth J. Hiemenz; Councilors Bob Loso, Mary ! Niedenfuer, Ken Twit. Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. Cory Ehlert was absent, OTHERS PRESENT: Judy Weyrens, Bradley Lindgren, Bradley Meyer, Joe Bettendorf, Peter Omann, Mary Heinen, Ken Heinen, Dennis Emery, Kelly DeWenter, Steve Streng, Bruce ,A. DeWenter, Barbara Compton, Ellen & Bob Wahlstrom, Al Pfannenstein, Mark Hoeschen, Joe Braun, Beata Wolak Chute, Al Gwost, Harold Chute, Kevin & Jane Schultzenberg, Mike Shaw, Jerry Lommel, Jeff Lenzen, Mike Stringer, Stephen Herdan, Ben Stringer, Andy Stringer, Brett Hansen, Ray Loehlein. Mayor Hiemenz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with Councilors Loso and Twit present. AGENDA: by Twi t. Ayes: Nays: Loso made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; seconded Hiemenz, Loso, None. Twit. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by Twit. a) Approve minutes of the January 16, 1997 and January 27, 1997 meetings. b) Approve Brad Lindgren's attendance at the Annual Police Chief. I Conference. c) Approve a total of three EDA members to attend an ED/TIF Semlnar March 11 in St. Cloud. I Ayes: Nays: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit. None, Motion carried. Mary Niedenfuer arrived at 7:05 P.M, BILLS PAYABLE: Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens presented the bills payable, overtime and call outs, along with a request to purchase a software payroll update to accommodate direct deposit of payroll from Banyon Data Systems and a modem. After a short discussion Loso made a motion to ! approve the bills payable check numbers 23593 - 23687 and software update and modem as requested; seconded by Twit. I' Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. ! Nays: None. Motion carried. I I Overtime and call outs were discussed along with allowances for vacatiorl time, After short discussion Twit agreed to review the personnel policy and report on clarification on the date vacation time is granted (calendar year or anniversary date), and the effect on first year I I I I , ¡~~ and call outs as I ¡ I ~YOa'S RE~oaT: 1) Mayor Hiemenz implemented the Mayor's Award program by making presentations of the Mayor's Award to Chief Brad Lindgr~n and Officer Brad Meyer for the police work associated with the bank robbery and apprehension of the suspect. I Mayor Hiemenz also presented a letter of appointment from Attorney General Humphrey to Chief Bradley Lindgren to participate as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Support Fund for Families and Offic~rs Affected by Line of Duty Deaths. Niedenfuer made a motion to allow Chief Lindgren to be excused from duty during the time required to offic'ially participate in the Committee; seconded by Twit, I Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit, Nays: None, Motion carried. employees. presented; Ayes: Nays: Twit made a motion to approve the overtime seconded by Niedenfuer, Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. None, Motion carried. 2) The Mayor has met with interested persons recently to work on developing the Industrial Park. 3) Mayor Hiemenz put an ad in the St. Joseph Newsleaderseeking I individuals to fill the Park Commission vacancy and the positions bn the Cable Committee. These positions were advertised to provide all ! interested individuals an opportunity to participate. Loso indicat~d the Park Commission had advertised last fall seeking individuals to fi~l its vacant position and has chosen an individual to be presented to thb Council for appointment at the next Council meeting. Mayor Hiemen~ stated that person will be included with other applicants for I consideration. ' ¡ I . , 4) The Planning Commission has requested to hold a Special Meetlng' 11:00 I a,m., February 17 to review the draft of the Comprehensive Plan and update it, and to review and recommend changes to specific ordinance requirements including landscaping and green space, nudity regulat~ons. Twit made a motion to approve the Planning Commission hold the requested special meeting and request the City Attorney review and provide guidance on such ordinances. The motion was seconded by Niedenfuer. ! Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. I Nays: None. Motion carried. , I 5) The Mayor related concern expressed to him from a visitor to ou~ area, about the dangerous conditions at County Highway 75 and County Roa~ 133 intersection. It is very busy both in the morning and afternoon, çausing some people to take chances. I COUNCZLORS RE~oaT ¡ I TWZT: 1) The EDA held their first meeting and approved by-laws, elected officers and such. Their next meeting will be held on February 121 I , 2) The Conference for Newly Elected Officials in Bloomington attended by Twit was very informative, I Pag~ 3081 3) Twit met with the Chamber of Commerce of St. Cloud on behalf of thJ Mayor for brainstorming on envisioning for the future. St: Cloud was advised to keep in mind the area small cities during the planning process. I 4) Mayor Hiemenz, City Attorney John Scherer and Councilor Twit met w th police Union representatives recently. The Council set a'special mee,ing February 14 at 8:00 a.m. to discuss the union requests. I LOSO: No report. NXEDZNFUER: 1) The Lake Wobegon Trail was discussed at a Stearns Cou ty League meeting in Sauk Centre recently attended by Niedenfuer and Stapleton. When the railroad in St. Joseph is abandoned consideratio should be given to extending that trail. 2) Advocating citizen involvement was discussed at the Conference for Newly Elected Officials. Niedenfuer reco~~ended setting infcrmal wor ing sessions for the public to bring ideas to better our cc~~unity. 3) The revised skating schedule allowing figure skating and hockey at different times is working well. CLERK/~NXSTRATOR: 1) City Engineer Joe Bettendorf sent notificati n that his office paid the costs of replacing 418 feet of curb and gutt r on 3rd Avenue NE as previously discussed. 2) Stapleton presented a request to clarify the area of an easement als recorded at the Stearns County Recorders Office Dated May 9, 1972, Book 55 of A & A, page 813, Sylvester C. & Esther Merkling to Village of Sit. Joseph, a municipal corp. Loso made a motion to approve 'the fCIIOWifillg easement; seconded by Twit: i A perpetual sanitary sewer easement over, under, and across the following described tract: I A strip of land 15 feet wide, lying 7.5 feet either side of the following described line: Commencing at the intersection of the centerline of East Minnesota Street with the centerline of Fourth Avenue Southeast thence south along said centerline of Fourth Avenue'Southeast a distance of 140.30 feet; thence North 88° 00' 00" E~st a distan,e of 245.00 feet to the point of beginning of the line to be described; thence continuing easterly along the same bearing a distance of 66.00 feet and there terminating. Ayes: Nays: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. None. Motion carried. 3) The bid opening for the Fire Station bids will be held on Februar 11, and the GSJAC will meet on February 18. I CXTY ZNGXNEER REPORTS I i Page 3082 BRZAN KLINEFELTER PARK TRAIL: City Engineer Joe Bettendorf discussed the history and proposed plans of the Brian Klinefelter Park trail project. As a stipulation of the $25,000 matching grant the City received from ~he DNR, trail width plans were required to increase from 6 feet to 8 feet I which increased the total cost of the project. After a short discussion the Council generally agreed to again call for bids on the project, with consideration given to reducing the length of a bridge and replace a I bridge with a culvert as alternates if further study of the project will allow such changes. EASTERN PARK STREET IMPROVEMENT: Bettendorf discussed the proposed street , overlay for the Eastern Park area. After discussion of the project, Loso made a motion to review the streets in the project area after the snow and ice have melted to determine the condition of the streets; seconded by Twit. Discussion - Reconstruction should be done' if it is needed. Bettendorf will inspect those streets at that time, Thel people on the project area requested notice be sent to them indicating when this inspection will take place so they may join him if they wish. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. I 5 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: Bettendorf discussed the Capital Improvement Plan and recommended reviewing it, stretching it out to a more manageable schedule, getting more public input, and revisiting it as necessary. He recommended the planned overlay for 1996 be reviewed in 1997 including the dialogue, public input and planning, with constructlon the following year. Twit made a motion to review the Capital Improvement Plan schedule (including this year's projects), get public input and I update it yearly as necessary, with planning and dialogue completed onè year, with construction the following year, as recommended by the City Engineer; seconded by Niedenfuer. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried, GENERAL L:IABILI'l'Y, PROPERTY, AND WO!UŒRS cœœ INSUlIANCE: Peter amann, Insurance Agent, reviewed the insurance coverage with the Council and asked them for any omissions they may notice. The deductible is $500, which functions 'as a self insurance on losses under $500. Niedenfuer noted the park benches and decorative lighting in the business district were omitted. Omann indicated the premium to cover these items would hot be costly, and he would look into it. He also discussed excess liability coverage and presented quotes for it. Mayor Hiemenz declared a recess at 9:20 p.m. Mayor Hiemenz reconvened the meeting at 9:28 p.m, CORE COMMITTEE RE~TIONS: The Council discussed the CORE recommendations. a) Consider increasing street lighting in some areas. The CORE Committee has met to consider and recommend specific areas. NSP is currently into the matter. Committee not yeh looking I i I I b) Provide Ii means forresident contact with landlords. The names and addresses of the . property owners (landlords) ·are .publicinformation and available -td> whomever would want them. c) Facilitate neighborhood meetings. Council generally felt: this would be a function of CORE rather than the City. d) Hold landlords accountable through defIning a ~disorderly house". waiting for recommendations from CORE. The Council i , age 3083 f ) Establish a committee to make recommendations on ordinances, responsibilities, etc. Tb i s is a function of CORE. After discussion the Council generally felt items a) and d) are t e only ones necessary to carryover for further consideration~ Loso indicated an official of St. John's indicated interest in ado ting a ~Code of Conduct" required by all St. John's students and reqùested a follow up on this 1ssue I N' d f . d' . d· f h Pl . C .. 11· h 1e en uer 1n 1cate concern 0 t e ann1ng omm1SS1on a oW1ng t e type of businesses to locate on County Highway 75, as are planned. SheWOUld like to chain type.businesses prohibited from our cOIT~~nity. She,elt they detract from 1t and take away from our downtown area. After discussion of allowable regulations cities may impose and a need t retain a village type appearance, Niedenfuer indicated she will re¿earch this further and bring back recommendations. I Mayor Hiemenz requested items for each Council meeting' agenda incIlde 1) Department Heads Report and 2) Miscellaneous and Announcement. Loso made a motion to adjourn at 10:00 p.m.; seconded by Niedenfue . Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. ~Lß~f~z/ Rachel Stapleton ¡ Clerk/Administrator I I I