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Home My WebLink About2015 [10] Oct 21 October 21, 2015 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, October 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, Renee Symanietz. Administrator Judy Weyrens. City Representatives: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Finance Director Lori Bartiett. Others Present: Tom Klein, Paula Eich, Mary Streit, Logan Gruber Public Comments Paula Eich, 206 Fir St E presented the Council with a petition that stated: We, the Citizens of St. Joseph, petition the City NOT use the area by the Wobegon Trail Head as a dog park. The parcels are currently being used by the city as street drainage. Allowing a dag park for this area would nof be safe for the dogs or a goad use of city or park board funds. The petition was signed by 75 property owners. Aqenda Approval: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimousiy. Consent Aqenda: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda pulling item 4d for further discussion.The motion was seconded by Wick. a. Minutes-approved the minutes of October 5, 2015 b. Bills Payable - approved payment of check numbers 049779-049830, Payroli EFT #001117-001121 and Accounts Payables EFT#001707-001710. c. Treasurer's Report—accepted the 3'd Quarter 2015 and September 2015 financial reports as presented. (04dJ St. Joseph Recreation Association Park Land License—Schultz stated that he removed the Park Land Lease from the consent agenda as he would like the Park Board, Recreation Association and City staff to discuss the {ong term needs of ali the parties and how the facilities might best be used. Loso stated that the discussion should be held with the executive committee of the Recreation Association. Schultz made a motion to table further discussion on the approval of the St.Joseph Recreation Association Park Land License untii the Park Board, Recreation Association and City staff have a chance to meet and discuss future needs. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimousiy. Committee Updates Planning Commission: Schultz reported the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to consider a preliminary plat, variance, and special for a proposed Kwik Trip. Schultz stated that during the hearing an adjacent property owner requested the developer consider adding some additional landscaping to help buffer the noise from the carwash. Weyrens stated that since the public hearing Kwik Trip has modified the landscaping plans and added additional landscaping. Wick questioned if the turn lane would be extended for entrance into Kwik Trip. Sabart stated he has not requested a study for traffic flow for the area. Schultz added they would not increase the tra�c on CR 75. Loso questioned whether Kwik Trip is aware of Stearns County's long range plans regarding access to CR 75. Loso stated that it is his recollection that eventually access from 1S`Avenue NW and 2"d Avenue NW will be closed. Sabart stated that he is not aware of the closing of accesses as the County would have to go through a process involving the property owners to do so. Kwik Trip has been working with the Stearns County Engineer and has provided the County with some ROW to clear title issues. October 21, 2015 Page 2 of 3 Administrator Reports Budqet Discussion: Weyrens reported that the City has received the actual tax impact of the 2016 preliminary budget from Stearns County. Based on the information, the tax rate will increase less than 3% and the actual impact to the property owner is projected to be 5.25%. . Regarding the EDA/Community Development Director position,Weyrens stated that she has contacted some consulting companies that provide as needed EDA services and the hourly change is between $ 150.00 to$ 200.00. This service would not place someone in the office one day a week; rather the � service would respond to inquiries. SEH indicated that they could provide short term service, through the end of the year. Loso made a motion to tabie further budget discussions regarding the Community Development Director until the EDA has time to discuss first. The motion failed for the lack of a second. Weyrens stated in the upcoming years the debt levy wiii increase with the community center and government center. The appraisal of the current city office building should be ready by the November meeting. The Government Center project is still moving forward as the architect has received the land survey and can determine how the proposed facility will fit on the site. Additionaliy a proposai will come before the Council requesting the current city hall be rezoned to Commercial and to rezone the Colt's Academy bui(ding from EE to Public. Wick questsioned if there will be an open house scheduled for the public. Weyrens stated they are proposing November 14t", but staff will relook at the schedule to finalize the date/s and advertise in the City Newsletter that is distributed in early November. Killam questioned if parking for the government center could overflow into the community center parking. Weyrens stated that community center will require more parking spaces than the Government Center and the consultant is stili working on the site improvements. However, the parking spaces can be shared for the government center and community center. It is possible that additionai parking will not be created until the Community Center is developed. Loso suggested using some of the sales tax monies to fund the government center. Schultz stated that the two committees that were formed were adamant that sales tax monies should not be used to fund the government center. Utility Rate Study: Weyrens presented the Council with a proposal to hire a consultant to review and project utility rates. Finance Director Bartlett stated that she reached out to companies that do comprehensive utility rate studies in order to have them review the City's utility rates. The study wili be a ten year performance review. Examples and quotes were received from Carl Brown Consulting and Springsted. Bartlett added the outside firm could catch something she may be missing when reviewing yearly utility rates. The firm wili also look at whether the City is calculating rates effectively and efficiently. Loso made a motion accepting the quote for services from Carl Brown Consulting Proposal to - conduct an external comprehensive rate study for water and sewer rates in the amount of$16,000. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimousiy. Mayor Reports CGMC: Schultz reported the Coalition will be hoiding their fali conference in the next couple of weeks. Topics for lobbying wili be discussed for 2016. New Business Labor Negotiations: Loso stated he and Schultz will be meeting with AFSCME and LELS on October 2gtn to begin the labor contract negotiation process. Loso stated that he was contacted by one of the union October 21, 2015 Page 3 of 3 members requesting the City not use Brandon Fitzsimmons and to negotiate only with the Council members. Ad��ourn: Schultz made a motion to adjourn at 6:35 PM; seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. _�Z,�?� u e ens Ad inistrator THIS PAGE INTENTIONAL[.Y LEFT BLANK