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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-06 January 5, 2006 Page 1 of 5 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, January 5, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. I Members Present: Mayor Richard Carlbom, Councilors AI Rassier, Dale Wick, Ross Rieke, Renee Symanietz, City Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives Present: Police Chief Pete Jansky, Fire Chief Randy Torborg, City Attorney Tom Jovanovich Others Present: Ed Kacures, Dave Aistrup, Deb Peterson, Dave Trobec, Jim Habiger, Roy Lommel Mayor Carlbom asked everyone to take a moment of silence in memory of former Waite Park City Council member Dan Butkowski. Approve Aaenda: Symanietz made a motion to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add 9b Add 9c Transfers February Workshop The motion was seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously. Consent Aaenda: Wick made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows: a. b. I c. d. e. f. g. Bills Payable - Approve check numbers 036627-036693 Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Pay Application #6 for the 2005 Cloverdale Area Improvements and authorize payment to Larson Excavating in the amount of $4,383.61. Change Order - Accept change order #1 for the 2005 Northland Heights Project. Application for Payment - Authorize the Mayor to execute Pay Application #6 for the 2004 Northland Plat 8 Project and authorize payment to Molitor Excavating in the amount of $4,651.19 MDG Contract - Approve the renewal of the contract with MDG or Economic Development Services. EDA Annual Report - Accept the 2005 EDA Annual Report. 2005 Audit - Authorize the Administrator to execute the engagement agreement for the 2005 Audit. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE AGENDA Ed Kacures, 107 5th Avenue NW, appeared before the Council again to state his concerns with the 2006 Budget. He provided the Council with some handouts as well as some additional information to Weyrens. Based on the 2006 Budget, Kacures stated that the residents cannot handle the costs of the City. Residents will need to look at other alternatives, as they are unable to afford to stay in their homes. With reference to the Police Department, Kacures stated that he met with the Stearns County Sheriff and they could provide Police services to the City for half of the proposed Police Department Budget. Other area cities have contracts with the Sheriff Department for police services and Kacures is urging the City to request a proposal from the County for those services for a comparison. Rassier mentioned that this was previously looked into and, at that time, they were charging more than the City's police budget. I Liquor License. Trobec's Event Center: Previously the Council approved a temporary liquor license for Dave Trobec to operate Trobec's Event Center. That license has expired and they are now requesting a liquor license through the licensing period ending June 30, 2006. Trobec is also requesting that the Council use the Matrix system for them similar to that of the other bar owners in the City of St. Joseph. January 5, 2006 Page 2 of 5 Rassier questioned Trobec on the future use of this facility, as this was, at one point, going to be an ice arena/sports complex. Trobec stated that he plans to purchase the property and have it remain a bar/event center. I Fire Suppression is a big issue and Weyrens stated that the Fire Department cannot continue to have Firefighters there at every event. Carlbom mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding that was presented stated that he would have firefighters on-site for a fire watch in the event that he will have more than 300 people. Torborg shared his concern in reference to the insurance for the City. Trobec assured the Council that he will put in the sprinkler system, however he questioned whether other businesses would need to comply with the building codes as well. Wick stated that unless there is a change of use or a change in ownership, there is no need to comply with the current codes. Trobec stated that he is requesting that his liquor license be reinstated and that he be on the matrix system similar to every other bar owner in town. He further stated that the facility was not vacant for more than six months and that there has not been a change of use. Jovanovich stated that if he will be using the facility on a long-term basis, he sees no problem with the City using the Matrix system to which Rassier concurred. Chief Jansky asked that Trobec advise him of any large events so that he can schedule his officers accordingly. Rassier made a motion to approve the Liquor License for Trobec's Event Center, 213 - 20th Avenue SE, for the license period ending June 30, 2006. This motion further allows the liquor license to be governed by the Matrix as established by the Council. The liquor license will become effective upon submission of a signed contract for the fire suppression and payment of all fees. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Liquor License Violation, La Plavette: Weyrens presented the Council with the police reports indicating that a liquor license violation occurred on December 28, 2005. The police report indicates that persons were in the establishment after hours and alcohol was present. Those in the establishment included I employees and non-employees. Previously, the La Playette has had two other violations. Weyrens stated that the violation, which occurred on December 28, 2005, was the third violation in five months. There are two issues to be dealt with: · How does this violation apply to the matrix system? · How many violations occurred on December 28, 2005? Rassier made a motion acknowledging that one liquor violation occurred on December 28, 2005 at the La Playette. The motion was seconded by Symanietz. Discussion: City Attorney Tom Jovanovich explained how all three violations fit into the matrix. 8-06-05 No prior aggravating factors 1 aggravating factor as a result of the citations 8-28-05 1 prior aggravating factor .5 aggravating factor as a result of the citation 12-28-05 1.5 prior aggravating factors 1.5 aggravating factors as a result of the citation According to Wick, there are two violations rather than one: · 1 - non-employees in the establishment after hours · 1 - alcohol consumption after hours Ayes: Nayes: Carlbom, Rassier, Symanietz Wick, Rieke Motion Carried 3:2:0 Carlbom stated that the Council must discuss the disposition of the violation. Deb Peterson approached the Council on behalf of the La Playette. Peterson stated that she is currently performing the General Manager duties at the La Playette. Peterson stated that they have been having employee issues over the past months and have changed policies to prevent a similar violation in the future. They are in the I process of hiring an additional manager so that a manager is always present at closing time. I I I January 5, 2006 Page 3 of 5 Peterson stated that in response to the incident on December 28, 2005, all the employees involved have been terminated. Jansky stated that there have been a series of violations at this establishment and that the pattern must stop. Carlbom stated that the violation that they are being cited for is After-Hours Display. Wick made a motion to follow the Alcohol Matrix for the purpose of determining the fine and based on the information presented, the La Playette currently has one aggravating factor. Therefore, based on the Matrix, the fine will consist of a $500 fine and a two-day suspension to begin immediately. Rassier seconded the motion. Discussion: Carlbom advised Peterson and Aistrup that the suspension would take effect at 12:01 on January 6, 2006. Peterson then stated that due to undue hardship, as most of their sales are on Friday and Saturday evenings, she would like the Council to reconsider the date as to when the suspension will take effect. Carlbom advised Peterson that the suspension must take place immediately following the Council meeting unless they have some previous events booked. Rieke added that the Council is being lenient with the suspension due to the fact that they are basing the penalty on only one violation rather than two. According to Peterson, they have a birthday party booked on Friday and an event for Saturday that is still tentative. Weyrens stated that she had requested Peterson to provide receipts for any bookings for the first two weeks in January and the City Offices received nothing. According to Wick, the suspension can only be changed in the event that they have a catered event scheduled, rather than simply a group coming to consume alcohol in the establishment. Ayes: Carlbom, Rassier, Wick, Symanietz Nayes: Rieke Motion Carried 4:1:0 MAYOR REPORTS School Issue: Carlbom stated that he spoke with the Superintendent from the St. Cloud School District and they are looking for a date on which they can hold a bond referendum for a new school in St. Joseph. The proposed date of the referendum is March 14. He mentioned that they will be speaking again as there are more issues to discuss. Downtown Committee: According to Carlbom, the Downtown Committee is in the process of gathering information from other communities. He stated that he would be traveling to Northfield with a few members of the Committee to tour their downtown. Carlbom stated that the College of St. Benedict is also wishing to contribute to the downtown. B2 Business District: Carlbom reported that he would like to discuss the extension of the business district west on Minnesota Street past 2nd Avenue. The reason for this is that JR's Mobil is on the corner and currently they do not receive any snow removal service from the City, rather the City plows the two residences before the corner and then they stop. Carlbom stated that he feels that this would be an appropriate expansion. Rassier advised Carlbom that if the Downtown Committee would like to see the expansion of the B2 District, they should bring a recommendation to the Council. COUNCIL REPORTS SYMANI ETZ - No Report WICK Reqional Public Librarv Board: Wick reported that there will be a public viewing of the design for the new Great River Regional Library. Lifecycle Housinq Sub-Committee: Wick stated that they have been discussing the ability to buy existing homes under the same criteria as new homes. January 5, 2006 Page 4 of 5 Park Board: According to Wick, the Park Board will be re-applying to the DNR for funding assistance for a bathroom facility in Northland Park. SEH will be helping them with the necessary paperwork and the deadline for submission is March 31, 2006. I RASSIER Street Improvement MeetinQ: Rassier stated that he attended the Open House meetings that were scheduled for the 2006 Street Improvements and he thought they went well. According to Rassier, this is a good opportunity for residents to meet with the engineer and get some good information on how their property will be affected. These meetings were not as successful as previous meetings for previous projects. Rassier urged residents who were unable to attend the meetings to call the City Offices to possibly schedule a time with the engineer as there is still time before the project is bid. RI EKE - No Report ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Equipment Certificate: Weyrens presented the Council with information relating to the issuance of equipment certificates. During the budget process the Council agreed to purchase large equipment through equipment certificates. Weyrens stated that the City is in need of a technology update, which would include the following: · New server to link Administration, Police, Maintenance. The current server was installed 1999 and is a Novell server. The new system would consist of a Microsoft server and would have the ability to serve all departments. · Scanner - There is a need for an 11x17 color scanner for scanning large color maps. · Printer - The current printer does not print pages larger than 8 1/2 x14 and a plotter printer could be used to print maps directly from the GIS software. . I The total cost for the technology updates is $42,912. Weyrens also stated that since all of the records in the upper level of the City Offices have been scanned, the file cabinets can be removed, creating additional workspace. Wick made a motion to approve the technology portion of the equipment certificate in the amount of $42,912 as requested. The motion was seconded by Carlbom. The motion passed unanimously. Transfers: Weyrens presented the Council with a funds transfer request. Throughout the year, funds are coded to the wrong funds and must be transferred to the correct funds. Any funds transferred must be approved by the City Council. Therefore, Weyrens requested the following transfers: . Bond Proceeds - There were some bond proceeds that were entered into the wrong fund. Transfer Amount - $2,787.49 From: 331 To: 336 . WSB Services - This was a coding error. Transfer Amount - $11,956.90 From: 101 To: 435 . Park Development Fund - Create Fund Transfer Amount - $145,411.12 From: 101/490 To: 205 . Park Development - Coding error. Transfer Amount - $10,671.00 From: 101 To: 205 . Operating Expenses - Transfer Budget Transfer Amount - $44,000.00 From: 101 To: 150 . Finalize Capital Improvement Fund Transfer Amount - $123,500.00 From: 101 To: 490 I . Correct posting error Transfer Amount - $120.00 From: 101 To: 435 I I I January 5, 2006 Page 5 of 5 Wick made a motion to authorize the transfer of the funds as presented. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. February Workshop: Weyrens mentioned that she would like to schedule another planning session with staff and City Council. The Council agreed to meet with the staff on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will be held on the second level of the First State Bank. Fire Hall: Rassier questioned if the increased damage deposit has decreased damage to the Fire Hall. Weyrens reported that since the fee has been increased less time has been spent cleaning the facility and damage deposits are not being withheld. Weyrens also reported that the carpeting will be replaced in the community room in January or February. Adiourn: Wick made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator