HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 [08] Aug 21 August 21, 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 21, 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, Matt Killam,
Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Members Absent: Rick Schultz
Others Present: Dave Demars,
Citv Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Joel Klein, Public Works
Director Terry Thene, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Community Development Director Therese Haffner
Public Comments: No one present wished to speak.
Approve Apenda: Goracke made a motion to approve the agenda with deletion of item 9c, 2518t
Ave NW—Facility Rental.The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those
present.
Consent Aqenda: Loso 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 August 7, 2017.
b. Bills Payable—Approved check numbers 052419-052473, Payroll EFT#001391-001396 and
Accounts Payables EFT#001793-001796.
c. Fire Relief—Accepted the Fire Relief Report and authorized the Administrator to execute the Fire
Relief Report indicating that the Fire Relief has presented the report to the City Council identifying
the liability for 2017.
d. Treasurer's Report—Accepted the July 2017 treasurer's report as presented.
e. Outdoor Liquor Events—Authorized execution of two outdoor liquor permits for Bad Habit Brewing
for the folfowing dates: September 9,2017—2 PM to 7 PM and September 23, 2017—2 PM to 8
PM.
f. Liquor License—Authorized the issuance of a wine and on sale 3.2 malt liquor and strong beer to
303 College Ave N.
g. Street Closure—Authorized the closure of MN Street from 2"d Ave NW to 15`Ave NE and College
Ave N from MN Street to the east west alley on Sunday, September 24,2017,from 6 Am to 6 PM.
The closure request is for the Millstream Arts Festival.
h. Pay Application—Authorized the Mayor to execute Pay Application No. 6 for the Field Street
Project authorizing payment to Douglas-Kerr in the amount of$105,621.52.
i. Grant Application—Authorized staff to submit grant applications to the Initiative Foundation
seeking planning assistance for East Park($7,500)and to Compeer Financial seeking funding
assistance for technology($3,000).
Public Hearinq- Easement Confinement, 108 6t"Ave SE: Acting Mayor Dale Wick opened the public
hearing to consider confinement of a utility easement for property located at 108 6th Ave SE. The request
for confinement has been submitted by Robert and Marjorie Rice. Weyrens stated the City was
approached by a resident that is selling their property and during the title work it was discovered that the
majority of their property was covered with a blanket utility easement from 1972. Since an easement is
dedicated to the public the Council must conduct a public hearing, notify the utility companies and then
determine if it is in the best interest of the City to consider vacating a portion of the easement.
Weyrens stated the request for confinement has been reviewed by the City Engineer and he concurred
that the easement can be confined to twenty(20)feet on the back property line and five(5)feet on the
north side yard. W hen questioned by the Council as to why the blanket easement was placed, City
Engineer Randy Sabart stated that back in that time era(1972)they most likely placed it on the area to
allow for flexibility. The industry standards today require that the easement be confined to only the space
that is needed.
August 21, 2017
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As no one present wished to speak, Wick closed the public hearing.
Wick made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Certificate of
Compliance confining the Sanitary Sewer Easement recorded in 1972 to the twenty(20)feet on the
rear yard and five(5)feet on the north side yard.The motion was seconded by Killam and passed
unanimously by those present.
Budget-2018:Weyrens presented the Council with the 2018 Preliminary General Fund/Debt Service
Budget. She stated that staff has been working on the proposed budget since June 2017 and the budget
presented at this meeting is third draft. Weyrens reminded the Council that the preliminary budget must
be adopted before the end of September and once adopted the proposed levy cannot be increased;
however, it can be decreased.
Weyrens stated that she had contacted the Stearns County Assessor's Office to question on the
preliminary growth numbers as the final numbers are not released until sometime in October. The
Assessor indicated that the City realized approximately a 5.78% increase in taxable market value.
Therefore, the preliminary budget has been prepared with a growth rate of 5%. Based on the proposed
growth rate, the estimated tax impact to residents is between 3—4%. Budget information presented to
the Council includes estimated impacts to various values of residential and commercial uses.
The proposed budget is similar to the 2017 with the following additions: a) both union contracts expire at
the end of the year so insurance and wages have been increased with averages; b)the finance director is
requesting to fill the open finance tech position that was vacated in 2007 with a part time employee
staring in October 2018; c)the Public Works Director is requesting a part time custodian staring in July
2018 after District 742 vacates the Colts facility; d)funds have been added for recreation programming;e)
the nine officer hired in July 2017 will be fully funded in 2018 adding six(6) months of salary and benefits
to the budget. The addition of the Finance Tech and Custodian increase the budget approximately$
17,000.
Weyrens further stated that the proposed budget does not have an increase in Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP); however,the budget does include the issuance of a Certificate of Equipment as one is retiring in
2018. The issuance of two equipment certificates helps the City to purchase major equipment without
creating large fluctuations in the budget. The Council is not being requested to appr�ve the CIP items or
issue the Equipment Certificate, rather understand they are components of the budget. The budget will
be on ongoing discussion over the next two/three months.
Wick questioned whether or not staff has considered outsourcing the janitorial services. Weyrens stated
that staff has not requested a quote; however, cleaning of the government center is eight(8) hours
compared to the two contracted hours from the old facility and it is anticipated that an additional eight(8)
to ten(10)hours will be needed. At that time commitment outsourcing becomes less cost effective.
Loso stated he is okay with the preliminary budget, but would like to see the increase be between 2.0—
2.5%. Weyrens reiterated that the City will not know the true impact of the preliminary budget until the
Assessor's Office certifies the taxable market value. The Council will still have the opportunity to review
and reduce the budget.
Loso made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2017-046
Adopting the Proposed 2077 Tax Levy, Collectible 1n 2018 in the amount of$3,157,760.00 and
establish the public hearing for the�nal budget on December 4, 2017 at 6:00 PM.The motion was
seconded by Killam and passed unanimously by those present.
CitY Enqineer Reports, Proiect Updates: Sabart stated the CBD Alley improvements are well underway.
Paving of the southern alley will begin tomorrow. The project is a little ahead of schedule. Sabart
recommends delaying the wear course until spring 2018.
August 21, 2017
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Field Street is down to punch list items consisting of minor construction and cleanup work.
Wick stated there are signs up on 7th Avenue stating road closed and dead end that need to be removed.
Loso stated a few people have complained to him regarding the larger manhole on the left turn lane by
Super America. He would like staff to see if anything can be done about it.
Committee Updates, EDA:Wick stated the EDA discussed and recommended approval of the 2018
Preliminary Budget and goals for 2018.
Administrator Reports. Housinq Grant:Weyrens presented the Council with an opportunity to partner with
the Central MN Housing Partnership(CMHP)to solicit grant funding through the Department of
Employment and Economic Development for housing rehab serving the low to moderate income qualified
residents. In 2014 the City and CMHP partnered for the same opportunity and were awarded $600,000.
The program was successful and staff is looking at trying to fund the Cfoverdale area in 2018. The grant
program is competitive and to strengthen the application CMHP recommended adding some type of
match. Weyrens requested the Council include a contribution of$25,000 of which$ 11,Od0 is in a
dedicated fund that can only be used for low to moderate income programming and the balance could be
dedicated from the building permit revenues that are over budget. CMHP would require execution of a
contract with the City and would charge$ 3,700 for their services. If the grant is not funded the City
would only be responsible for$ 1,750 of the$ 3,700.
Wick made a motion authorizing the City to partner with the CMHP to submit a housing rehab
grant application to DEED targeting the specified area(Cloverdale),authorizing matching funds in
the amount of$25,000 and authorizing execution of a grant contract between the City of St.
Joseph and CMHP.The motion was seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously by those
present.
Administrator Reports. Alcohol Matrix: Weyrens stated that over the past month the Council has been
discussing revising the alcohol matrix adopted in 2003. In surveying the surrounding cities and
communities with colleges; staff is recommending abolishing the existing matrix and replacing it with the
following.
1 St Violation $500.00
2"a Violation $1,000.00 (within a 24 month period)
3�d Violation $2,000 plus 7 day suspension (within a 24 month period)
Loso made a motion adopting the alcohol matrix as presented effective August 21,2017.The
motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present.
Discussion: The Council agreed that all previous liquor violations would be removed from each
establishment for the purpose of implanting the new fine structure.
Uqdates: Public Works Director Terry Thene stated the dog park fence is up as well as the Centennial
Park Fence. The roof is on the Millstream Shelter and the contractors are beginning the stonework.
Adiourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 7:49 PM; seconded by Killam and passed unanimously
by those present.
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