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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04a] Minutes, October 24 October 24, 2017 Page 1 of 4 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the St. Joseph Government Center, opening with the pledge of allegiance. Members Present: Acting Mayor Dale Wick, Councilors Bob Loso, Troy Goracke, Administrator Judy Weyrens. Members Absent: Rick Schultz, Matt Killam Others Present: Dave Demars, Julie Johnson, Ted Schmid, Kevin Kluesner, Susan Sink, Steve Heymans, Jackie Meyer, Ray Meyer, Thomas Schuller City Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Joel Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Community Development Director Therese Haffner Public Comments: No one present wished to speak. Approve Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of 8a, Cigarette License and 8b, County Ordinance. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Consent Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously. a. Minutes – Approved the minutes of October 2, 2017. b. Bills Payable – Approved check numbers 052608-052567, Payroll EFT #001414-001419 and Accounts Payables EFT #001801-001805. rd c. Financial Report – Accepted the 2017 3 Quarter and September 2017 financial reports as presented. d. EMS Mutual Aid – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2017-056 Promoting the Use of Intrastate Mutual Aid, e. Organizational Review – Authorized the expenditure of $8,000 to retain Flaherty & Hood to review personnel job descriptions and the corresponding pay structure. Southview Heights – Concept Plan: Weyrens presented the Council with a concept plan entitled Southview Heights. The proposed concept plan illustrates a R3 Multiple Family Development on the former Delwin site. The development consists of Townhomes, Patio Homes and six plexes, all of which will be rental under single ownership. Staff requested the Planning Commission and City Council review the proposed concept to determine if the access to the townhomes and patio homes is considered a public street or private access. The developer has presented the concept indicating the access to the homes would be a private road or internal access. Currently City Ordinance does not allow for private streets as a result of problems with previously approved private streets. Typically, private streets are not built to city specifications, including narrow street widths and lack of space for utilities, drainage, snow storage, and sidewalks. Weyrens stated that the proposed concept plan is different than the developments previously approved with private streets. In the matter before the Council the entire development will be owned by a single person and is more internal roadways than a City street. By consensus, the Planning Commission recommended the applicant’s ability to move forward with the development process with the internal access considered private. Weyrens clarified that the City is not approving the plan at this time, the only matter for discussion is the classification of the access. Ted Schmid, Lumber One: Schmid approached the Council representing the owner of the development. Schmid stated the entire development will be owned by one company, under one maintenance agreement. The developer of the project considers the access to the property similar to that of a parking lot for a multiple family development. The proposed project will be constructed in phases started on the northern portion of the property. October 24, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Goracke made a motion approving the applicant’s ability to move forward with the development process defining the internal access as private. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Discussion: Wick questioned if the City should be concerned with the amount of access points on th 20 Avenue with regards to future traffic. Sabart stated the City will need to look at the spacing of the accesses and amount of right of way. Bayou Blues, PUD Amendment: Weyrens presented an amendment to the PUD entitled Bayou Blues, now known as 24 North. The project is a mixed density development located on College Avenue North consisting of both residential and commercial uses. The original project was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council in 2014. The approved plan included commercial uses on the first floor and mixed office/residential on the second floor and residential on the third floor. Developer Jon Petters has requested an amendment to the PUD to allow three handicap accessible units on the first floor. th Weyrens added the Planning Commission held a public hearing on October 9. Two emails were received stating their concerns with the residential units being close to the La Playette Bar due to the noise. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the PUD Amendment. Jon Petters, 24 North: Petters approached the Council as the developer of the property. Petters stated that he is preparing to move forward this year with the project and continues to see the need for adding residential units in the downtown. Petters stated that If additional commercial units are needed in the future, the residential units on the first floor could be converted to commercial. Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Development Agreement for the final plat entitled Bayou Alley Flats approving the PUD Amendment. The motion was seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously by those present. Bayou Blues, TIF Amendment: Weyrens presented the Council with an amendment to the TIF Agreement for the Bayou Blues project. The City has previously entered into a TIF Agreement utilizing $ 642,000 in TIF at an interest rate of 4%. Due to the passage of time and increasing costs, Petters has requested to increase the interest rate to 5%. In consulting the city TIF consultant she indicated the request is reasonable and will not change the net amount of TIF. Included in the TIF Agreement is a project description that will be amended if the council approves the request for PUD Amendment. Wick made a motion Authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2017-054 Authorizing Execution of an Amended and Restated Development Agreement. The motion was seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously by those present. Committee Updates, EDA: Wick stated the EDA met at Woodcrest of Country Manor. The estimated st opening date is November 1. Weyrens stated Country Manor is having a private grand opening in which the Council will be invited. Committee Updates, Park Board: Wick moved to table the Park Board discussion to the next City Council meeting. The motion was seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously by those present. Administrator Reports, Cigarette License: Staff received an application to sell cigarettes at the liquor store on 27 Birch St W. Currently cigarettes are sold at the gas station; however, the gas station and liquor store are two separate businesses. The license will be valid through the end of the year. Loso made a motion approving the Cigarette for Northern Tier Spirits located at 27 Birch St W. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Administrator Reports, County Ordinance: Stearns County sent a hearing notice with a proposed zoning ordinance amendment to create a Limited Manufacturing Zoning District. The district will allow for October 24, 2017 Page 3 of 4 industrial parks to be built in townships without having to abide by the same infrastructure that the City has to build. The hearing will be November 14th. Weyrens stated she is going to reach out to area cities to see what their stance is going to be on the proposed amendment. U,�dates: Weyrens stated the lntergovernmental Meeting was cancelled and the legislative priorities will be brought before each city. Weyrens added the preliminary tax numbers came in sfightly lower than expected and will be brought before the Council at the second meeting in November. Wick recessed the meeting until 6:30 PM. Field Street, Final Assessment Hearinq: Sabart stated the hearing is the second hearing required by state statute regarding special assessments. Field street extends from College Avenue South to 7`h Avenue South. The project involved new bituminous streets, public utilities, and trails. The final costs came in well under the preliminary estimates received at the first public improvement hearing. Sabart discussed the City's Assessment Policy. The Field Street assessment has a 15 year term with a 4.25°lo interest rate per year. No interest is charged if the assessment is paid in full within 30 days of the adoption of the assessment roll. If adopted tonight, thirty days would be November 23, 3017. Assessments can be partially prepaid with the remainder be certified to the County. City Attorney Chris Nelson discussed the difference between assessing property in the City versus future charges for property benefitting in St. Joseph Township. Benefitting properties located within the corporate limits will be assessed according to MN Statute 429 as detailed by Sabart. For the Township properties, the City has the ability to enter into a contract or development agreement that outlines the terms of future assessment. In the absence of an agreement, the City has the ability to assess the property in the future once the property is annexed. Therefore, once the City annexes the property, an assessment hearing can be conducted to pass along the road costs. The township properties were included in the hearing because the adoption of the assessments gives the City assessment authority after annexation occurs. Weyrens stated the City has the right to enter into agreements with individual property owners in St. Joseph Township and draft agreements have been included with the meeting material. Weyrens further stated that she has received written objection to the assessments from the fotlowing: College of St. Benedict, Amy Kluesners, Timothy and Ann Heymans and Raymond and Jacqueline Meyer. In addition, Richard Voss has verbally opposed to the proposed charges. Wick opened the public hearing. Kevin Kluesner, 29645 95`h Avenue: Kluesner questioned why the full amount of the MSA reimbursement wasn't used for the construction costs of the street. Sabart stated the City's MSA account serves as a bank account. Currently, the City receives $145,000 a year. Sabart added it has taken the City many years to accumulate and iYs up to the Council on whether to use the funds for one street or for multiple. The use of the $1.6 million in funds would drain the account, leaving no funds for other projects. As no one else present wished to speak, Wick closed the public hearing. Loso questioned if the city will have to go through the assessment process a second time once the township properties are annexed. Weyrens stated that there are deferment agreements being negotiated with the landowners. The City would go through an additional assessment process for those properties. Goracke asked how the City is able to fund the street project. Sabart stated the City will be utilizing MSAS dollars to help fund the project. October 24, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Wick made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute resolution 2017-055 Adopoting Final Assessment for the 2016 Field Street Improvements. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Adjourn: Goracke made a motion to adjourn at 6:58 PM; seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. � u y W rens Ad inistrator