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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.06.22June 06, 2022 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 Monday, June 06, 2022, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmembers Kelly Beniek, Jon Hazen, Bob Loso Absent: Kevin Kluesner City Representatives Present: Administrator Therese Haffner, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, Scott Lange and Jennifer Schmitz from SEH, City Attorney Susan Dege Public Comments: John Kalla, 817Able St E, informed the Council that Friday night while he was working on his sprinklers in his yard, his neighbor's dog came running up aggressively to him as if it were going to attack. The neighbor called the dog off. Mr Kalla said the neighbor verbally abused him. He told Mr. Kalla that he should not harass his wife. Mr. Kalla, said he has only spoken with her one time after the neighbor's dog defecated in his lawn and it sat there all day. He is concerned about how long the dog excrement is going to be in the yard. He also has concerned that kids are playing in a yard full of dog urine. Approve Agenda: Loso motioned to approve the agenda; seconded by Hazen. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz, Beniek. Nay: None Consent Agenda: Loso motioned to approve the consent agenda; seconded by Hazen. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz, Beniek. Nay: None a. Minutes — Requested Action: Approve the minutes of May 16, 2022 b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 059077-059152, Account Payable EFT #002052-002053; Payroll EFT 112237-112248, Regular Pay Period 10, 11, 11.01 and .Council Pay Period 6. c. Surplus Property, 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe— Requested Action: Declare the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe as surplus property; listing vehicle for $20,000 or best offer in which sealed bids will be accepted during a two -week time frame. d. Liquor License Renewals - Requested Action: Approve the 2022-2023 On/Off Sale Intoxicating, Wine/Strong Beer, Special Sunday, Brewer Taproom, Brewer Off -Sale, and Sunday Growler Off -Sale Liquor Licenses. e. ` 2021 TIF Reports - Requested Action: Accept the annual 2021 TIF Reports as presented. f. 2022 DNR Fire Grant Acceptance - Requested Action: Accept the 50/50 DNR Grant Contract in the amount of $2,447.00. g. Performance Measures Survey Results - Requested Action: Adopt Resolution 2022-028 Accepting St. Joseph's Performance Measures Results and Reporting Results to the State Auditor. h. Fire Relief Contribution — Requested Action: Increase the annual contribution from the current $2,400 per year of service per firefighter to $3,200 per year of service per firefighter effective January 1, 2023. i. Early Voting Agreement — Requested Action: Approve the Agreement between Stearns County and the City of St. Joseph for Providing Early Voting to the Residents of Stearns County. j. Fire Department New Hires — Requested Action: Authorize the hire of Clark Palmer, Cade Holland, Cole Staneart, and Terence Salzer as firefighters for the St. Joseph Fire Department. k. Gambling Report — Requested Action: Accept the 1 st Quarter Gambling Reports as Presented. I. Fire Hall Conference Room Technology Updates - Requested Action: Approve the quote from TouchPoint Logic for technology updates to the Fire Hall Conference room utilizing ARPA funding. m. Payment Application 6, 2021 Street & Utility Improvements — Requested Action: Approve Application for Payment to C&L Excavating, Inc in the amount of $99,270.93 for the 2021 Street & Utility Improvement Project. June 06, 2022 Page 2 of 4 n. Transfers — Requested Action: Approve the 2022 transfers as presented. Public Hearing Special Trobec's Bus Service: Council adopted a tax abatement plan for Trobec's Bus Service, Inc. in 2019 and the project was put on hold. The project is once again active and City Council had previously agreed to pursue a new term of 7-years with 100% of the tax abatement paid each year. Council called for a June 6th public hearing on the abatement and business subsidy. There is an increase in the abatement needed due to escalated costs. The gap requested has increased to $676,220 (City portion only). With a new agreement at a higher dollar amount, a new public hearing is needed. The St. Cloud School District approved the new subsidy request in the amount of $275,780. The St. Joseph EDA recommended approval of the tax abatement and business subsidy for Trobec's Bus Service, Inc. Schultz opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Hazen moved to Adopt Resolution 2022-030 Rescinding Resolution 2019-061, and Approving Property Tax Abatements, Proposed Granting of Business Subsidy, and Authorizing Execution of a Tax Abatement Agreement; seconded by Loso. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz, Beniek. Nay: None Public Hearing 2022 Street Improvement Project Assessment Hearing: Scott Lange and Jennifer Schmitz introduced themselves as the representatives from SEH in the absence of City Engineer Randy Sabart. Lange gave an overview of the estimated and proposed project costs, a breakdown of cost per neighborhood and a review of the project funding. Lange explained how the special assessment process works and the methodology; including the special assessment benefit report, which is done by a third party. This report is used to determine what the maximum assessment should be to a specific type of property. He outlined the policy cap the City uses when approaching these types of projects and how that limits assessments for parcels. This included defining the name "frontage" and its use, as well as terms and interest rates. Finance Director Lori Bartlett clarified that there cannot be partial payments after July 6th. Due to County restrictions, home owners either need to prepay the entire amount by then or it would all go on the taxes. Lange further detailed deferments and rates and completed an overview of the project schedule. Schultz opened the public hearing. Jack Pelzer, 28 17th Ave SE. Pelzer asked the Council why his road is being redone. His property was annexed into the City. He feels that prior street construction did not go well and believes the road is fine the way it is. Mark Bjorke, 518 Ellie Ct.: Bjorke asked if the work being done on Ellie Court was just in the cul-de-sac. Lange confirmed that just the bulb would be reconstructed. Bjorke asked what a pedestrian ADA improvement were. Lange informed him that those are items like pedestrian ramps and sidewalks with sloping issues to be brought into compliance with American Disability Act. which are not assessed. They are covered by the City. Bjorke's last question was how long is the deferment for the 65 and older class? June 06, 2022 Page 3 of 4 Finance Director Lori Bartlett informed him that there is no term, however, if you sell your house it becomes due and payable. Glen Faber? 19 17th Ave SE. Faber stated that there are other sidewalks, for example, walking from downtown to the other end of his street, that need repair and are uneven. He believes this is unsafe for the elderly and people that are trying to walk with their kids and their carts, etc. Faber said that it makes no sense to him to tear up a perfectly good street. He thinks the City should make repairs where they are necessary and says his street is fine. Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann gave an overview of how the City Street Improvement Plan works. Although the streets may appear visually sound, if the roads are not capped with this kind of general maintenance, in five to eight years, they will alligator. This means the road will be all cracked up and the result of that is to do a complete reconstruct project. The 2017 Street Improvement Plan was a recipe to get the longest life possible out of the streets. Lange explained the general life cycle of a road. As time goes by, the condition of the road gets poorer at a faster rate. The goal is to step in before the road is in too much disrepair. He explained how seal coating and overlaying lengthens the lifetime of the road. Pat Meyer, 245 4th Ave SE. Meyer asked if her $4,000 assessment is just for the overlay? It was verified that the assessment was for the overlay. Mayer stated that she does not feel that the City is addressing any of the problems of that corner. She explained that water does not drain properly in that corner and it builds up in her driveway. She believes the comer angle is so wide going from 4rh to Callaway and it is unmarked. Vehicles go through there very quickly, and with no markings, they end up in the improper lane. She stated that any neighbors or folks who frequent her neighborhood see her out there constantly trying to clean it up. She has been into the City to talk about this and feels that this is not being addressed. Lange stated that there is a concrete ADA improvement planned for that intersection and SEH will review it to see what can be done to help. Lange also shared a slide called Typical Pavement Life Cycle to help visually explain the intents. Jack Pelzer, 28 17th Ave SE: Pelzer returned to ask why no one reviewed the soil boring? Lange reinforced that SEH does studies and believes they have adequate information. The last time 17th Ave SE was worked on was 1998. He explained again how the overlay works. Sharon Moeller, 521 Graceview Drive: Moeller asked if the crumbling concrete curbs are going to be repaired. Schmitz replied that there is spot repairs for curb and gutter and any pedestrian ramps included in the plan. SEH did go out to identify those sections that needed replacement due to cracking or crumbling. Schultz reminded everyone that written and oral objections would be considered at the meeting. If anyone objects to their assessment, they need to write it down and present it before the hearing closes. City Attorney Dege explained the two-step process allowed by statute for those home owners that would be interested in appealing. As no one wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Hazen moved to adopt Resolution 2022-031 Final Assessment Roll for the 2022 Street Improvement Project; seconded by Loso. June 06, 2022 Page 4 of 4 Council discussion included verifying that the items mentioned in the hearing will be looked into by SEH. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz, Beniek. Nay: None Hazen moved to adopt Resolution 2022-032 Awarding Bid; seconded by Loso. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz, Beniek. Nay: None 2022A GO Tax Abatement Bonds: Finance Director Lori Bartlett informed Council that she has been working on bonding for the 2022 Street Improvements and also adding an Equipment Certificate for the Pumper Tanker that is expected to arrive in January. It is being put in this bond issue to save some money on the bonding costs. The City identifies parcels to abate taxes to make bond payments. There will be a debt levy shown, but the debt levy will actually be paid for with the local option sales taxes. This is the best funding option for these types of projects and is recommended by bond counsel. Part of the process to issue GO Tax Abatement bonds is to conduct a public hearing with the parcels identified. Staff intends to issue the bonds in two parts; one part with 2022A street improvement bonds for the $6 million local option sales tax portion, and one part in later 2023 when the capital campaign and final project design costs are known. The GO Tax Abatement bonds hearing proposed will cover both bond issues versus expending costs for two separate hearings. The GO Tax Abatement bonds can go up to $13 million per voter authority, so the hearing will cover up to $13 million. Due to technical issues, Councilmember Beniek was no longer present. Loso moved to adopt Resolution 2022-029 Calling for A Public Hearing on Proposed Property Tax Abatements; seconded by Hazen. Motion passed by Roll Call Vote. Aye: Loso, Hazen, Schultz. Nay: None Engineer Reports: None Committee Updates: Committee updates will be moved to the 2"d meeting of every month. Mayor Reports: Schultz mentioned that is has asked the director of the APO for more information on a federal grant for electronic vehicle charging stations. In his recent mayor meetings two concerns were raised. • Pedestrian Traffic Downtown • Maintaining the Look and Feel of a Small Town. He feels the Council needs to be aware and discuss in the next work session the safety issues concerning pedestrian traffic. Adiourn: Hazen made a motion to adjourn at 6:55PM; seconded by Loso and passed unanimously by those present. Ka la Klein City Clerk