The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1999 [05] May 27 i Page 353~ May 27, 1999 I Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met ìn speéiàl session on Thursday, May 27, 1999 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Kenneth J. Hiemenz. Councilors Ken Twit, Bob Loso, Cory Ehlert, Mary Niedenfuer. Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens. Citv Representatives Present: City Engineer Joe Bettendorf, EDA DirectorChad Cartson. Others Present: Alan Brandenburger, Ted Schmidt, JoAnn Schneider, Alan Gwost, VICki Ostendorf, Diane Schrifels. Mayor Hîemenz called the hearing to order and stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider the making of an improvement on proposed 6th Avenue NE (Northland Drive) from CSAH 75 to Gumtree Street East and a 7.70 acre parcel of property located south of Gumtree Street and west of proposed 6th Avenue NE (Northland Drive) by bituminous surfacing, concrete curb and gutter, storm sewer, water and sewer, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 429.011 to 429.111, The estimated cost ofthe improvement is $ 457,000. Such persons as desire to be heard with reference to the proposed improvement will be heard at this meeting. ' City Engineer Joe Bettendorf discussed the proposed improvement. The feasibility report . provided the City with three construction altematives as follows: I OPTION ONE: Develop the Road as a Rural Road Length of Road: 1,350 feet (from Gumtree Street East to CSAH 75) Width of Road: 26 feet Surface material: 1 inch bituminous wear, 2 inches of bituminous base and 8 inches of Class 5 . , Future update: The road will be designed and built to a width of 44 feet to accommodate utilities in the future. Drainage: Ditches and ponding along north side of BN right-of-way. Utilities: None Cost: $150,658 OPTION 1WO: Urban Street Section and Utilities Length of Road: 1,350 feet (from Gumtree Street East to CSAH 75) Width of Road: 26 feet from Fir Street to CSAH 75 (Rural); 40 feet from Gumtree east ' to Fir (Urban) Surface material: Same as option one for the Rural section. Urban Street section: curb, gutter, 4.5 feet to each side Drainage: Collected in the curb and gutter and then outlet into either the drainage pond located in i Northland or into the ditches and pond along north side of BN right-of-way Utilities: 8 inch sanitary sewer and 10 inch water main provided to the east and west of FirStreet Cost: $ 206,606.00 of 8 inch Class 5 aggregate, 5.5 feet of 2 inch bituminous base course I OPTION THREE: Urban Section and Utilities Length of Road: 1,350 feet (from Gumtree East to CSAH 75) Width of Road: 40 foot Urban design road Surface material: Same as option two , Drainage: Drainage between Gumtree and CSAH 75 would drain to curb, gutter and storm drain. The ' storm sewer would outlet into Northland Pond or north side of BN right-of-way Pa~e 3533 May 27,1999 Utilities: 8 inch sanitary sewer and 10 inch water from Fir Street and connect utilities to Buettner Park . Cost: $ 329,707.00 I Bettendorf stated the Council prefers option three and at this time are seeking input from affected property owners. Bettendorf further discussed the funding breakdown and cost of assessments. Under option three the proposed improvement would be financed as follows: Northland Development (Brandenburger Estate) Commercial Development Assessment $182,528 Lms 18 UnitlLot$ 10,140 Assessment Frontage UnitlFt $ 244,094 1,220 2()O AI Brandenburger spoke in objection to the proposed improvement. He stated that he is the administrator of estate for Ray Brandenburger and as such does not feel the proposed improvement will increase the value of the property. He further Questioned if extending services to the property will equal or increase the value ofthe land to coverthe ast.essments. Bettendorf stated that at this time the numbers are preliminary and will vary based on the bid pñce. The assessments were based on the actual front fomage and the property value will increase because of the assessment. Ehlert Questioned if the City could contact the City Assessor to verify the assessments will be recouped through land sales. Alan Gwost of 407 Gumtree Street East spoke in objection to the proposed road. Gwos! stated that if the proposed street is constructed, Gumtree Street WIll be a major thoroughfare. Further, there are many children living along Gumtree Street and in his opinion the proposed road will pose a safety hazard. Ted Schmid of Avon Lumber stated that he supports the proposed improvement and is willing to work with the City to construct an additional 18 homes. Vicki Ostendorf of 520 _1st Avenue NE spoke in support ofthe proposed improvement. Ostendorf stated that while no one wants traffic in front of their house, it is; going to happen regardless. In her opinion the City needs to find a way to regulate the tramc with stop signs or reduced speed limits. For the past three years the residents along 1st Avenue NE have been requesting the City provide a seconded ingress/egress to Northland Addition. The proposed improvement Is long awaited. I JoAnn Schneider of 408 Gumtree Street East spoke in objection to the project. Schneider stated that providing an additional access without multiple outlets will create a traffic problem on Gumtree Street and she urged the Council to redesign the project. She stated that she wants what other neighbors in St. Joseph have, multiple streeVoutlets. Bettendorf responded that the proposed street was established when the original plat was submitted in 1991. At that time the City worked with Ray Brandenburger and secured an easement for the future roadway. In order to complete the roadway the City successfully secured an additional crossing from Burlington Northern. Diane Schñefels of 501 Gumtree Street spoke in objection to the proposed street improvement. Schriefels stated that if the proposed improvement is constructed as planned, the traffic on Gumtree will increase tremendously. Schñefels also requested the Council consider constructing additional outlets. I AI Brandenburger again stated that on behalf of the Brandenburger Estate, he does not support the construction of Northland Döve as he believes it is not in the best interest of the estate. I i Page 3534' May 27, 1999 Ted Schmid, Avon Lumber One, stated that the proposed road was planned in 1991 and he has been working with the City overthe past 9 years to develop the Northland Addition. Schmid further stated that he can proceed with the next phase of Northland without the proposed street. The pretiminary plat for the area in question has not changed since 1991. Northlancthas the potential of adding 52 homes in three future phases. As future phases are built additional outlets can be constructed, particularly to the north. JoAnn Schneider questioned if the streets in the new section of Northland could be redesigned with 5th Avenue extending straight south rather than curve to outlet on Gumtree Street and if Fir could be extended to meet 5th Avenue. If the street is redesigned residents would have alternate routes other than driving on Gumtree. i Bettendorf stated that redesigning the roads would require the City to acquire additional right-of-way. Further, he would have to verify that the sanitary sewer system would flow under the proposed design. The Council discussed the realignment of 5th Avenue SE and stated they preferred the proposed realignment if it works from an engineering stand point. Also, the Council darilied that if the road is redesigned it may take more than a year before Fir Street is extended. FinanciaRy the City cannot afford to provide three or four outlets and is excited that a second ingress/egress can be constructed at this time. I The Council also discussed the width of the road and instaRing utilities along the shoulder of the road in the Commercial section. Bettendorf stated that the City has secured 80 feet in ROW through the Brandenburger property. N. this time the City could construct an urban street, including curb and gutter, from Fir Street north to Gumtree and everything south of Fir Street would be constructed as a rural road. Twit questioned the safety ofthe intersection of CSAH 75 and proposed 6th Avenue SE (Northland Drive). In order to avoid traffIC hazards, 6th Avenue SE (Northland Drive) win need to be wide enough to accommodate a right hand tum lane. Bettendorf stated that eventuaRy the intersection of CSAH 75 and ff' Avenue SE (Northland Drive) win be regulated by a traffic light. Ehlert made a motion requesting the Engineer to review the feasibility of moving Fir Street south, in alignment with the existing Fir Street and to design 5th Avenue NE as a straight roadway connecting to Fir Street East. The motion was seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Twit, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer Nays: None Motion carried 5:0:0 Ehlert made a motion to continue the hearing on June 15, 1999; seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Twit, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer Nays: None Motion Carried 5:0:0 Miscellaneous Matters Purchase of First State Bank: Loso made a motion to hire SEH.RCM as the architect to design the remodeling of the First State Bank for the City Offices. The motion was seconded by Niedenfuer. Discussion: Joe Bettendorf recommended the City request proposals for the Architectural Services. Loso and Niedenfuer withdrew their motion and second. I Twit made a motion requesting the City OfficeS to request proposals for architectural services for the remodeling of the First State Bank for the City Offices; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Twit, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer Nays: None Motion Carried 5:0:0 Page 3535 May 27, 1999 Extension of Services - Muoo Property: Weyrens presented a draft lette,r to Clarence Ruetter stating the City's intent to provide sewer services to the Mugg property. The Council generally agreed the fetter should state the City is capable, not willing to, provide services to the Mugg property provided the development plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinances. Loso made a motion to forward the letter to Clarence Ruetter stating the City is capable of providing sewer services. The motion was seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Twit, Loso, Ehlert Nays: Niedenfuer Motion Carned 4:1:0 Adioum: Twit made a motion to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Twit, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer Nays: None Motion Carned 5:0:0 ~:~~ u J~eputy Clerk I I I