HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 [08] Aug 07 August 7, 2017
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session
on Monday, August 7, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the St. Joseph Government Center, opening with the pledge of
allegiance.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilors Dale Wick, Bob Loso, Troy Goracke,Administrator
Judy Weyrens.
Members Absent: Matt Killam
Others Present: Dave Demars, Casey Black, Monte Eastvold, Craig Vaughn
Citv Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Joel Klein, Public Works
Director Terry Thene
Public Comments: No one present wished to speak
Approve Aqenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda.The motion was seconded by
Schultz and passed unanimously by those present.
Consent Aaenda: Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by
Goracke and passed unanimously by those present.
a. Minutes—Approved the minutes of July 17, 2017.
b. Bills Payable—Approved check numbers 052345-052418, Payroll EFT#001379-001390 and
Accounts Payables EFT#001792.
c. Treasurer's Report—Accepted the July 2017 treasurer's report as presented.
d. Gambling Report—Accepted the 2"d Quarter 2017 Gambling Report as presented.
f. Application for Payment No. 6—Approved Work Order No.2 and Application for Payment No. 6 in
the amount of$336,652.20 to Douglas-Kerr Underground, LLC.
g. Transfers—Authorized the operating transfers as presented.
Discussion:
e. Tax-Forfeited Lots Re-Assessed—Allowed costs to be reassessed on tax-forfeited lot sales to be
at a term of 0% and up to a 5 year payment period. Loso questioned why the item is on the
agenda. Weyrens stated the majority of foreclosed lots have outstanding assessments and the
City has heard that if the buyer has to pay the assessment, they push the lot prices to high.
Therefore, the City in the past has allowed the assessments to be placed over a five year period at
0%interest. The City is foregoing the assessment,just not collecting interest. Loso made a
motion to approve item 4e, Tax Forfeited Lots Re-Assessed. The motion was seconded by
Schu/tz and passed unanimously by those present.
Bond Sale. Northland Securities: Financial Advisor Monte Eastvold presented the Council with the
proposed bond sale for the 2017A GO Capital Improvement Bonds(Government Center)and 2017B GO
Bonds(CBD Alley Improvement).The capital improvement bonds is gap financing for the Government
Center. The Government Center financing included the anticipated sale of the former City Office in the
amount of$ 500,000. As the building has yet to sell, the funding for the Government Center has a gap of
$ 500,000. The 2017A Capital Improvement Bond is structured so that it can be paid in full at anytime
without penalty. Therefore, when the City Hall sells the proceeds will be used to expire the debt.
The second issue, 2017B GO Bonds funds the CBD Alley Improvement project. The project has been
final assessed and the bond issue has been sized on the project cost less the prepaid assessments. The
term of the bond is 10 years. Due to the small size of the bond issues, Eastvold requested quotes from
financial institutions. This method is effective when the issue is small, avoiding some of the issuance
fees. The proposal before the Council at this time is from the Granite Community Bank in Cold Spring
offering an average interest rate of 2.75%for the Series A Bond and 2.59%for the series B bond.
Wick made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute resolution 2017-OA4
providing for the issuance and sale of$337,000 general obligation capital improvement plan
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bonds,series 2017A and levying a tax for the payment thereof; and authorizing the execution of
the contract between the City of St. Joseph and Granite Community Bank.The motion was
seconded by Schultr and passed unanimously by those present.
Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute resolution 2017-045
providing for the issuance and sale of$697,000 general obligation bonds,series 2017B, pledging
for the security thereof special assessments and net revenues and levying a tax for the payment
thereof; and authorizing the execution of the contract between the City of St.Joseph and Granite
Community Bank.The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present.
Weyrens presented the Council with an amended resolution adopting the interest rate for the
assessments. She stated that the Council adopted the assessment role with the verbiage that the
interest rate for the assessment will be 2% above the bond rate. Since the Council has issued the bonds,
Weyrens requested the Council adopt a an admended resolution clarifying the interest rate of the
assessments will be 4.75%. Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to
execute resolution 2017-020A amending the assessment rate for the 2017 CBD Alley
Improvements to 4.75%. The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously by those
present.
SRF—Final Report, Pedestrian Studv: Craig Vaughn with SRF Consulting approached the Council to
present the final Pedestrian Study Report. Vaughn reminded the Council that SRF has been retained by
the St. Cloud APO in collaboration with the City of St. Joseph and Stearns County to review alternative for
safe pedestrian crossing over CSAH 75. The purpose of the pedestrian crossing study was to
understand existing conditions, evaluate the feasibility of ways to improve safe pedestrian and bicyclist
crossing of CSAH 75, and enhance at-grade crossing treatments and grade separated concepts.The
study focused on 5 crossings: College Avenue, 4th Avenue, 12�h Avenue, 20th Avenue, and a grade
separated location. The key issues identified in the study included: lack of grade-separated crossing, high
speeds on CSAH 75, lack of or gap in sidewalk connectivity, the close proximity of Cedar Street to the
CSAH 75/4�h Avenue intersection, and the pedestrian walk time to cross CSAH 75 at the 12�h avenue
crossing.
• Grade separated crossing: The recommendation is to have the crossing near the 4�h avenue
intersection.The crossing would be accessible to all pedestrians
• At grade crossing/1St Avenue—no recommendations to improve as it does not meet any
pedestrian traffic requirements.
• At grade crossing/College Avenue—no recommendations
• At grade crossing/4t"Avenue—recommend a phased approach for at grade improvements;then
construct grade-separated crossing if funding becomes available. Enhance the north/south
crossing with marked crosswalks, construction of a pedestrian refuge island, push buttons, up to
date ADA requirements, and traffic stop bars.
• At grade crossing/12�h Avenue—recommendations include relocating marked crosswalk to align
through center median, increase pedestrian walk time clearance, and installation of push button
activators.
• At grade/20th Avenue—recommendations include either removing the pedestrian push buttons
and install no pedestrian crossing signage; or option two is to make the intersection compliant
with current requirements.
Schultz questioned if there is anything the City can do to encourage pedestrians crossing at College
Avenue as opposed to 1S'Avenue. Vaughn stated the only way to completely prevent pedestrian traffic at
15t Avenue is to close the intersection as well as install an additional physical barrier. Regarding the
College Avenue intersection, Schultz questioned the amount of time allowed for pedestrians to cross.
Schultz felt the crossing time was too short especially for senior citizens. Vaughn stated when the
pedestrian button is pushed the walk time allowed is 3 feet per second which takes into consideration the
senior citizen population as well. Vaughn added if the push button is not activated, the crossing time will
be shorter.
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City Engineer, Randy Sabart, questioned if the alignment of the crossing near 4th Avenue NE is set in
stone or can it be shifted to the east to avoid some conflicts.
Casey Black, SRF Engineer stated the alignment is not set in stone and there are options; however, due
to the topography and drainage the shift is somewhat limited. Black added that the southern access to
the crossing could be narrowed down to have one access point rather than two to create additional room
for the pond. Black added the box culvert is currently designed to be 12'wide and 10' tall, however, it can
be made smaller. Black suggested building the culvert to allow for emergency vehicles to pass through.
Schultz questioned the next step in the study process, to which Vaughn stated he will incorporate the
comments from this meeting into the study and make a final presentation to the St. Cloud APO and final
report will then be provided to the City.
2018 Budqet Discussion: Weyrens reminded the Council that the first step in the budget process is to
review and discuss the Engineer CIP. Staff has reviewed the CIP and identified the top five priorities for
discussion purposes. The projects identified include: Industrial Park(create shovel ready lots); generator
for Baker Street lift station; Minnesota Street Streetscape; welcome signs; and 16�h Ave Improvements.
Staff is seeking feedback from the council on their concerns and/or visions on infrastructure needs. The
City Council and EDA have previously identified the creation of shovel ready industrial lots as a high
priority. Wick and Schultz agreed that the Industrial Park is a priority but it also needs to be development
driven.
Loso stated he would want the second phase of the CBD alley improvements on the CIP for a 2018
project. The City started the project in 2017 be reconstructing Block 9 and Block 12 and he would like to
see the next two blocks east be completed in 2018. When questioned as to the condition of the sections
referred to by Loso, Public Works Director Terry Thene stated that some of the alley is failing but can be
patched. In addition,two of the alleys are dirt and would require some additional work.
Wick cautioned the Council on identifying a project for 2018 that has yet to make it in the CIP. The
purpose of the CIP is to identify the needs and prioritize the improvement. He supports adding the project
to the CIP, but does not think it is prudent to potentially fund a project that has not been discussed or
identified as a need.
Wick questioned if improvements on the CIP can be moved from year to year as certain years have more
projects than others. He woufd like to see the CIP balanced between years to avoid large spikes. Sabart
stated the projects can be moved if the Council chooses.
Regarding the City's welcome sign project, Loso stated if the signs were placed today than they would
need to be moved again if the City expands. Schultz stated he is okay with keeping the sign in the 2018
CIP.Weyrens suggested designing and locating the signs in 2018 and then have the construction
completed in 2019.
Sabart stated the grant for the Parkway Business Center could range from $500,000-$800,000. Loso
stated the City needs the grant in order to move forward. Schultz agreed adding the City would a{so need
a developer to help with the costs of expansion.
Sabart suggested that if the Council would like to move forward with an alley improvement, consideration
should be given to ordering the feasibility report. Wick reiterated that since the project is not currently on
the C1P, he is hesitant to move in that direction only to delay a project that has been previously identified
as a need. Sabart replied that there are a number of gravel alleys throughout the City that need paving
and they did not rise to the level as a top priority, but the business district alleys can be added for future
consideration.
Wick questioned the staff prioritization. If the City is required to develop a plan for complying with the
ADA act and updating pedestrian ramps, that item should be identified as priority. Sabart noted the ADA
transition plan in the 2019 budget is required.To pursue any federal funding, an ADA plan will need to be
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on file. Wick suggested having the ADA transition plan being a numbered item on the CIP because it is
required of the City.
Weyrens stated additional budget data will be presented to the Council at the August 21St meeting.
Proiect Uqdates. Citv Enqineer: Sabart reported that Field Street is open to traffic and the project is
finishing up with punch list and cleanup items. The CBD Alley Improvements have begun this week as
well.
Committee Updates, Park Board: Thene stated the Millstream Pavilion construction is going well. The
walls are up. Completion of the shelter is set for the end of August. Schultz suggested having an opening
event for the public.
Committee Uadates, Joint Plannina Board: Loso stated the Joint Planning Board met to consider a
setback variance for Derek Schaefer. The variance was needed as the main structure was constructed
before Stearns County adopted the setback regulations and the house on one side encroaches the
setback by three feet. While the addition the property owner proposed was in the backyard, it was
attached to the main structure which was non conforming. The Joint Planning Board approved the
variance request.
Committee Updates, Fire Board: Loso reported the Fire Board discussed the budget which came in under
expectations. Loso hopes the City's overall budget will decrease as well. Another main topic was the
resurtacing of the Fire Hall parking lot. The Board approved to spend up to $50,000 for the replacement
of the parking lot. Weyrens stated the estimates received did not include making the parking lot ADA
compliant which would increase cost. Sabart estimated the cost to be closer to$60,000. Weyrens
clarified that the Fire Budget was reduced as the Fire Hall debt retires in 2017 relieving the funding needs
for the debt payment.
Committee Updates, EDA: Wick stated the EDA will be meeting tomorrow, August 8�h and that all future
EDA meetings will be the third Tuesday of each month.
Administrator Reports, Alcohol Matrix: Weyrens presented the Council with a summary of various cities
table of fines for liquor license violations. At the last Council meeting the Council agreed to review St.
Joseph Matrix as it has been over ten years since the fines have been reviewed. Weyrens also
presented the Council with a summary of liquor violations for the last three years which illustrate that the
last two years three license holders were cited each year. The current fee structure fined each
establishment$ 150.00 and the list included two establishments that failed two years in a row. In
reviewing the table of fines, St. Joseph is the only community with a complex matrix. Other cities charge
one fee for a liquor violation, regardless of the violation. Weyrens stated that the Council should consider
the dollar amount per violation and how many years the violation will remain on the license when
subsequent violations occur.
Schultz stated that he supports establishing a matrix similar to other cities and abolish the complex grid.
Goracke stated he would like to see the City take a more aggressive stance on alcohol related violations.
Chief Klein stated the department's main goal is safety of the community. He meets regularly with the
College and alcohol is always one of the main topics discussed. Weyrens stated that a representative of
the College expressed some concern as they are being asked to help enforce behavior issues yet the
violations for liquor violations are such that they do not create a need to be more vigilant.
Schultz stated he wants to compare matrixes to those of other cities with college campuses. General
consensus of the Council was to have staff come back with a recommendation.
Mavor Reports: Schultz reported that he recently attended the CGMC meeting where the storm water
regulations and legal costs were discussed. He also met with Stearns County Environmental Services to
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discuss adding the hazardous waste pick up to the annual clean up in October. Stearns County has
agreed to participate this year only and requested that staff with Stearns County to work out the logistics.
Goracke questioned if the City had considered doing a collection of peoples' leaves similar to that of the
City of Hutchinson. Hutchinson allows the residents to place the leaves along the street and they come
and sweep then. Weyrens stated that the City does not, as we do not have the resources for such.
Adiourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 7:49 PM; seconded by Schultz and passed
unanimously by those present.
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