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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04a] Minutes September 21, 2015 Page 1 of 5 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilors: Dale Wick, Bob Loso, Matt Killam. City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Joel Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Terry Thene, City Attorney Tom Jovanovich Others Present: Tom Klein, Jason Luethmers, Brenna Luethmers, Ian Cochran, Steph VanBeek, Phil Ruggiero, Derek Larson, Logan Gruber, Steve Frank Public Comments: Ian Cochran, Steph VanBeek, CSB: Cochran and VanBeek introduced themselves as students and liaisons from CSB/SJU. Steve Frank, 606 Birch St W. Frank approached the Council to address the 2016 budget. Frank stated he believed the $2,500 approved for cable access merchandising was misplaced as the amount of people that have the cable access channel is decreasing every year. Frank added that putting the council meetings on the website is something that will open communication between the city and residents. Frank noticed the job description for the community development director listed the minimum requirements are a bachelor's degree and no specific requirements for experience. He suggested that a master's degree be a minimum requirement due to the salary listed. Frank added that he has always been in support of funding for the Police Department. The ratio is usually one officer to every 1,000 residents. The department currently has eight officers and will be getting a ninth. Frank is unsure if the ninth officer is needed. Lastly, Frank stated that the increase in the budget is high. Frank is in favor of the Community Center, but would want the Government Center included in that building. Frank added there are too many projects going on right now including the water amenity, dog park, government center, community development position, and metro bus service. Frank looked at the utility bill and the increases that have occurred every year. Those increases along with the tax increases make it hard for people on fixed incomes to get by. Frank concluded that the Council has to start saying no to some of the projects. Agenda Approval: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of item 11.1, Committee Reports; 9b, 15t Avenue N Water Main Extension Updates; and item 9c, No Parking Signs on CSAH 75. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Oath of Office: Mayor Schultz administrate the oath of office to Jason Luethmers, FT Police Officer. Weyrens stated that Officer Luethmers will begin employment October 1St and is the replacement for Officer Vernier who is now employed with the DNR. Consent Agenda: Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. a. Minutes- approved the minutes of August 31, 2015 b. Bills Payable - approved payment of check numbers 049660-049723, Payroll EFT #001103-001112 and Accounts Payables EFT#01700-001701. C. Donations—accepted the following donations: Anonymous— Disc Golf$16.27; Archery Range $41.06. St. Joseph Lions—Warming House $181.27; St. Joseph Lions— Foot Golf $200.00; St. Joseph Jaycees— Foot Golf$200.00; Brenny Transportation — Foot Golf $200.00; Central MN Credit Union — Foot Golf$200.00; Scherer Trucking — Foot Golf $200.00; McDonalds— Foot Golf$100.00. September 21, 2015 Page 2 of 5 d. Treasurer's Report—Accepted the August 2015 Treasurer's Report as presented. Coalition of Greater MN Cities Update, Chris Henium: Henjum stated the Coalition is a group of 88 cities that focuses on LGA, Property Taxes, Economic Development, Transportation, Environmental Regulation, and Annexation and Land Use. Last years election resulting in an additional 10 republican seats. With that the Coalition thought many of their goals and wish list items would see success. Goals of the CGMC include returning LGA to 2002 funding level, pass greater MN economic development programs, environmental reforms, and comprehensive transportation package. The Coalition pressed for LGA increases which would help cities catch up on infrastructure, capital purchases, and wages. Unfortunately there was lack of support from the Governor which resulted in no increase. In the future, LGA will be funded at$519 million unless it is increased. In 2002 the LGA appropriation was at$565 million. Henjum added that LGA funding in 2015 for St. Joseph is $902,582. Under current law, the funding would increase slightly over the next two years. The CGMC proposal saw higher funding to St. Joseph; $988,671 in 2016 and $1,074,200 in 2017. • Workforce Housing — It is for middle-income residents. It is not affordable housing. Rather it is cities that have no housing available. The expansion of the 2014 pilot grant program which will provide grants to cities to assist local workforce housing projects. • Employer-Driven Job Training: The Coalition has sought to pass a job training program since 2013. DEED created a pilot program based on the Coalition's proposal which was passed and funded at$1.8M over the next biennium. • Broadband Infrastructure: Government Facility, Tom Peck, HMA: Tom Peck, HMA Architect, approached the Council to review the recommendations of the facility committee. The City Council previously appointed a community based ad hoc committee to review the facility needs. The committee has met three times discussing the need to expand the footprint of the City facility. Discussions included remodeling the existing building, adding on to the additional building or constructing the facility designed in 2013/3014 either at the existing site or the Colts Academy property. Peck stated the committee indicated it would be most cost effective to build the structure that was designed in 2013/14 and place it on the Colts site, facing College Avenue. Schultz added the initial goal was to put the design from 2013/14 on the Colts site without many changes. Peck noted that one of the constraints of the site is parking to the West. Weyrens stated that the Committee is at a point where they have recommended the Government Facility be located at the same site as the Community Center. If the Council decides to move forward, the best time to bid the project is January/February and the Council would need to motion to move forward with the project. Wick questioned if the same construction documents can be used for this time around. Peck stated that the changes to the documents will be relatively minor to incorporate the small changes made to the building to fit the site. Loso questioned if the committee has discussed the additional project costs to the inflation changes Peck stated he is unsure what the exact amount was but with building it on the Colt's site would be a wash. The cost of demolishing and excavating the current City Hall would be eliminated. Loso made a motion to move forward with the project. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Discussion: Wick questionedif the amount paid to HMA for their services was predetermined. Weyrens stated the Council previously approved $20,000 and will bring back an updated to the Council with the amount already paid to HMA. September 21, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Loso asked for an estimated tax impact for the project. Weyrens stated it was provided last month, but will be included at the next meeting. The appraisal for the current City Hall is still being conducted. City Engineer Reports Sabart reported the active construction projects are in the clean-up stage. 1 St Avenue North Water Trunk Extension: Sabart stated the City has awarded the project improvements to C & L Excavating and staff has executed an agreement with Resurrection Lutheran Church regarding cost apportionment. Weyrens added that the church will be assessed the $32,000 based on the portion of the property be developed at this time. Future expansion would require addition fees which will be memorialized in an agreement. Budget 2016 Weyrens stated since the last meeting, the City was notified that the COPs grant was not rewarded. The $26,000 allocated to that piece can be removed. Council also requested staff to review the Capital Improvement Plan to determine if other cuts could be contemplated. Weyrens stated that Department heads believe all the equipment included in the CIP will be needed. As an alternative Weyrens sated the CIP could be reduced 25%; however, at some point those funds will need to replaced. There are also some CIP items that should not be reduced such as seal coating, technology and some police equipment. Schultz stated that he suggested dropping out of the St. Cloud Greater Development Corporation. It would be a onetime reduction that can be reevaluated yearly. Additionally, the amount set aside for the intern can be eliminated. Loso stated the Community Development Director amounts to around $80,000 including benefits. Loso proposes eliminating the hiring of the position and to not replace the current EDA Director. The money allocated to those positions will be used to hire SEH for EDA duties on an as needed basis. The Community Development Director can be revisited for the 2017 budget. Loso added that there is $30,000 for the Community Center. Loso suggests taking $30,000 out of the reserves moving it into the revenue side of the budget. Loso stated he would like to see the CIP reduced 50% rather than 25%. The budget meeting in December will have more details as far as the growth of the City. Loso stated he would like to see any amount left over at the end of the year, put into the revenue side of the budget rather than go towards reserves. Loso stated that all of his suggestions would bring the increase down to around 5%. Wick questioned Loso as to why he wants to make cuts right now when final budget does not need to be approved until December. The Council can only lower the budget, not increase it between now and December. Loso responded that he has been doing budget for a long time and historically the preliminary budget stays the same as the final budget. He does not recall any cuts being every being made to the preliminary budget once it's been approved. Wick stated there are a lot of unknowns between now and December and is uncomfortable with making additional cuts right now. He also disagrees with Loso stating that the Council has previously reduced the budget before the final action is required. Regarding EDA, SEH will provide assistance to take over the EDA Director position. Schultz believed the part-time position was not working as economic development is increasing in the City and a full-time employee is needed. Schultz stated he is unsure how the part-time position would work as the current arrangement with the EDA Director being available one day a week was not working. Loso believes there is not enough work that warrants a full-time Community Development Director. Killam stated the timing of the hiring of the position is horrible. Killam is in favor waiting on the hiring of the position until 2017. September 21, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Wick stated the issue he has is the lack of communication that will be created by not having a designated EDA Director. Loso stated having a lack of EDA presence for one year will not paralyze the City to which Wick responded that one missed call could have an impact. Wick added that if the city were to move forward with using SEH's services, the Council should know the costs and how many hours are going to be contracted prior to approving the final budget. Weyrens stated that reserves are built up for unexpected expenditures, not for known expenditures. Finance Director Bartlett added the position will also be responsible for marketing the City. Other area cities have Community Development Directors that are able to market their cities and not having the position could have an impact on development in St. Joseph. Loso reiterated that he does not feel waiting a year will impact the City. Wick stated he is not opposed to making cuts, but is concerned with setting the number too low in September. Weyrens stated that with the $26,000 reduction for the police officer, the cuts to the CIP, removing the EDA intern, and elimination of the membership to the St. Cloud Greater Development Corporation would reduce the preliminary budget by close to 2%. Wick made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2015-029 adopting 2016 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2016, approving a general fund budget of$2,914,645, setting the truth and taxation hearing for December 7, 2015 at 6:00 PM. The motion was seconded by Killam and passed unanimously by those present. Administrator Reports Jasmine Lane Extension: Weyrens reported the amendment to the development agreement for the Jasmine Lane Extension has been completed. Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute the amended developer's agreement between the City of St. Joseph and Lumber One Development Company, LLC. The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously by those present. CSAH 75 No Parking Signs: Weyrens reported the Police Department has been seeing issues of semis parking along CR 75 by Kay's Kitchen and Subway creating visibility issues. The County Engineer manages the signage on CR 75. Police Chief Joel Klein discussed with the Stearns County Engineer the possibility of installing "No Parking" signs in the needed areas. Before the County can install signs, a formal request is needed from the City Council. Schultz made a motion recommending that no parking signs be installed by the County along County Road 75. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Mayor Reports CentraCare: Schlultz reported staff had met with CentraCare regarding health and education training in the community. Fire Relief: Meeting was postponed Student/City Meeting: Meeting was held with off-campus living students to go over rules, regulations, and ordinances within the City. APO: Landlord Meeting: The City, Landlords, and the Police Chief met to go over expectations of landlords and tenants in the City. September 21, 2015 Page 5 of 5 Colt's Academy: Schultz met with Superintendent Willie Jet regarding the purchase of the building, the current cohabiting with the tenants, and the issue with entering and exiting the facility. Kennedy School Access: Sabart reported that staff continues to work with School representatives to create safe ingress/egress to the school. District 742 has agreed to certain improvements and to complete construction over MEA weekend. Joint Planning Board: The Board met to discuss a rezoning request of property located adjacent the Army Facility. The property was zoned Commercial and they requesting Urban Expansion. The board recommended denying the rezoning request which was denied by the City Council and St. Joseph Township Board. Loso added that he would advise people to reach out to the City and or Township with any questions they have prior to applying with the County. Schultz stated the EDA Director, Cynthia Smith-Strack has submitted her resignation with her last day being September 23rd The closing of Colt's Academy will take place on Friday, September 25th. A date in October will be selected for an open house. New Business Water Amenity: Wick reported the committee is meeting with individuals to help with the fundraising process. Weyrens noted that there was a misprint in the Newsleader and the public hearing for the dog park hearing is scheduled for 6:00 PM. Adjourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 7:34 PM; seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator This page intentionally left blank