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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04a] Minutes December 4, 2017 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, December 4, 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, Troy Goracke, Matt Killam, Bob Loso Administrator Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Joan Thralow, Thomas Schuller, Dave Demars City Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Public Works Director Terry Thene, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Police Chief Joel Klein, Community Development Director Therese Haffner Public Comments: No one present wished to speak. Approve Agenda: Wick made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of 4f, Gambling Permit. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by Killam and passed unanimously. a. Minutes – Approved the minutes of November 20, 2017. b. Bills Payable – Approved check numbers 052817-052871, Payroll EFT #001432-001437. c. Liquor License – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute the 2018 Cigarette, Amusement, and Off/On Sale non-intoxicating licenses. d. Compost – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute the Compost Agreement for the calendar year 2018. e. Ordinance Amendment – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2017-063 Amending Ordinance 104. f. Gambling Permit – Authorized the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2017-066 Approving Application to Conduct Off-Site Gambling for St. Joseph Jaycees. Public Hearing, Truth in Taxation: Weyrens presented the Council with an overview of the proposed 2018 General Fund Budget. She stated the budget process began in July with department heads preparing the st first draft. On August 21, the Council reviewed and approved the preliminary budget. The preliminary th budget included the full funding of the 9 Police Officer hired in 2018, part-time janitor for cleaning city facilities, part-time Finance Technician to start in October, and part-time workers for recreation programming in the community center. Weyrens clarified that while the personnel costs seem like a large portion of the budget, the City is a service industry, as are all governments; therefore the majority of the budget would be wages and benefits. The budget overview also included: Capital projects for 2018, the proposed equipment certificate; comparison of area city tax rates; and property tax impact. Capital projects for 2018 include th the CSAH 2 trail, Baker Street Lift Station, Street project along 4 Avenue NE, and general street maintenance. The second part of the budget is the Enterprise Budget. Enterprise Funds include: water, sewer, refuse, storm water, and street lighting. The major revenue source is user rates while other smaller sources include levy, special assessments, and development access fees. The rates projections are based on the 2015 Utility study completed by Carl Brown. The rates are reviewed annually by the Council. Schultz opened the truth in taxation hearing. As no one present wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Loso questioned if the continuation of the alley project is included in the 2018 budget. Sabart stated it was included in the CIP, but would need feedback to see if it is a priority at this time. December 4, 2017 Page 2 of 3 Wick moved to approve Resolution 2017-065 Adopting Final 2017 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2018. Motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Public Hearing, 2018 Fee Schedule: Weyrens stated the City is required to have a hearing when changes to the fee schedule are proposed. Weyrens highlighted the changes for 2018. Finance Director Lori Bartlett stated the utility rates were taken from the Carl Brown study that was commissioned by the City. Bartlett added that the City is operating in the green; however, no reserves are being saved. The Storm Water and Refuse funds do have reserves, so the proposal is to reduce the storm water and refuse rates for 2018. Loso questioned whether the storm water fund has enough reserves to be able to fund portions of future projects. Bartlett stated the projects in the CIP are taken into account when calculating the rates. Schultz opened the public hearing for the 2018 Fee Schedule. As no one present wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Wick made a motion to adopt the 2018 Fee Schedule with rates beginning January 1, 2018. The motion was seconded by Goracke and passed unanimously. City Engineer Reports: Sabart stated the preconstruction meeting for the Water Treatment Plant 1 improvements will be on Friday. Schultz asked if the trail extension project will be driven by the City or through the APO. Sabart stated the City will direct the project. Committee Updates, EDA: Wick reported the EDA had approved moving forward with submittal of the th grant in order to extend Elm St from 19 Avenue. The Lodging Tax being collected can be used for a Visitor’s Bureau. The EDA had decided the City would have its own rather than join St. Cloud. It will be a seven member board. The Visitor’s Bureau will be used to market the City. Administrator Reports, 2018 Meeting Dates: Weyrens stated the Council will need to reschedule the January meetings as both dates fall on holidays. Loso stated he doesn’t like the large gap between the last December meeting and the one in January. General consensus of the Council is to have the ndthnd January meetings on the 2 and 16. Schultz added that the January 2 meeting may be cancelled if there is no business. Mayor Reports: Schultz stated he along with Administrator Weyrens met with state legislators to go over the City’s bonding requests. The Major points from the Coalition of Greater MN Cities include: LGA increases, Broadband issuance, workforce housing, gas tax/tab fees for transportation funding, municipal street districts, and water quality requirements. Schultz added the CGMC submitted a letter to the County regarding the proposed Stearns County Ordinance. Lastly, Schultz touched on the shortage of Child Care in rural MN. CGMC is going to lobby for additional funding for Child Care centers. Schultz moved to not participate in the Coalition of Greater MN Cities voluntary assessment of $2,000. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Adjourn: Wick made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 PM; seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK