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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.05.22July 05, 2022 Pagel of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Tuesday, July 05, 2022, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmembers Kelly Beniek, Kevin Kluesner, Bob Loso Absent: Jon Hazen City Representatives Present: Administrator Therese Haffner, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann, City Clerk Kayla Klein, City Engineer Randy Sabart, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein Public Comments: Nick Blonigen, 821 Morningside Loop: He has lived in the neighborhood for the past five years. Blonigen noted two major water issues in the Morningside Acres Development. The source of the water issues is the drainage easement that runs through Morningside Acres from Hillstreet neighborhood. This collects water from a large swath of areas including the Hill Street neighborhood. The storm runoff is funneled into a small area just east of 3rd Avenue Southwest and then runs down 200 feet of unmaintained drainage easement; that includes mature trees and brush. Then it goes into 60 feet of maintained drainage easement made up of crushed granite.Finally, it goes to two storm drains and one single pipe that services all of that storm runoff from above Morningside Acres and connects to the rest of the storm drains for the streets below. According to Blonigen,- both the maintained portion of the easement and the unmaintained portions of the drainage easement have failed. This has caused major flooding issues in the Morningside Acres neighborhood and are putting homes and basements at risk of flooding. Approximately 1 and a half years ago a major storm had caused a washout event - a new driveway deposited dirt and debris into the drainage easement. This event rerouted water in the easement to areas that were full of debris, leaves trees, etc. This resulted in water flowing where it shouldn't and debris from the neighborhood above collecting in the easement and eroding the soil. The result was inches of mud collecting in rocks - preventing water from flowing through the rocks — instead of over it. This destroyed the landscape fabric, eroded the soil in the area and resulted in the collection bowl sinking several inches below the actual collection drain inlets. it deposited mud up to six inches in places in his yard, which he had to clean up. It also permanently damaged the drainage easement and resulted in major flooding events after each heavy rainfall after that event. The City was contacted immediately after the first washout event — no action has been taken. At this point, property owners have run out of options to fix"the failed drainage easement. He urges the City to investigate the problem, develop a plan to fix the issue and prevent this from happening. He would like further discussion on the specific concerns the neighborhood has. Emily Grote, 823 Morningside Loop: Ms. Grote stated that she and her husband purchased this home in April 2021. Grote discussed the retaining wall that runs between the homes at 823, 825 and 827 Morningside Loop. Her property is at the end of this retaining wall and the water rushes like a water fall. The water has nowhere to go due to improper drainage at the base of the retaining wall. This backs up' into her foundation and yard causing the sump pump to run every 20 to 30 seconds. They have visible cracking in the foundation from water buildup in the problem areas. The volume of water coming off of the retaining wall also impacts the storm drain that Nicholas Blonigen discussed. When the storm drain backs up and the waterfall continues to spill over, the water from them both meet in the middle of her yard. This causes an immense amount of water to come up under the patio and run to the deck door. They have spent a large amount of money to addressing sediment, a sinking patio, collapsed concrete and regrading around their home. Grote is asking the City to address the large amount of water coming off of the retaining wall. She would like the City to research why this is occurring and where the water is coming from. She suggested that it is coming from Hill Street due to their lack of drainage. She wants the City to work to divert it to other places and investigate proper drainage around the retaining wall to mitigate flooding. They would like to work with the City to create a more positive and safe living experience. She and her husband have lived in St. Joseph for six years and love the community and want to stay in their home. July 05, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Michael Murphy, 136 9t" Ave SE. President of the Cloverdale Townhome Association and a member of the St. Joseph Historical Society. He wanted to ask three questions of the Council. 1. Can solar panels be put on the roofs of their townhouses? 2. Is there a building that the St. Joseph Historical Society can use for meetings, etc. ? 3. Their neighborhood has a problem with squirrels. Is it legal to shoot a pellet gun in the City of St. Joseph? Approve Agenda: Loso motioned to approve the agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Loso motioned to approve the consent agenda without items d. and e.; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. Council discussed items d and e. of the agenda. Item d. discussion was on how the Equipment Certificate Reimbursement Declaration works, why it is used and past use of this practice. Item e. discussion was on the need for a new loader and budget year it falls within. Beniek motioned to approve items d. and e. of the consent agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. a. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 059197-059246, Account Payable EFT #002061; Payroll EFT 112255-112260, Regular Pay Period 13 and 13.01. b. Approval of Fire Study — Requested Action: Approve Personal Service Contract with Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) as proposed. c. Fire Department — PERA, Request for Cost Analysis — Requested Action: Approve cost analysis for PERA for the St. Joseph Fire Department. d. Equipment Certificate Reimbursement Declaration -Requested Action: Adopt Exhibit A, the Declaration of Intent to reimburse costs relating to the general capital equipment with future certificate proceeds. e. Loader Replacement — Requested Action: Approve the purchase of a John Deere 544H loader with plow and wing. f. Election Judge Appointments — Requested Action: Appoint Election Judges for the August 9t" Primary Election and November 8rd, General Election and authorize the City Clerk the ability to assign additional judges to be trained and assigned, if necessary. Public Hearing Proposed Property Tax Abatement— Community Center Bonds: Finance Director, Lori Bartlett explained that the abatement is for the issuance of the community center bonds. Staff has been working with Tammy Omdal, Northland Securities, and Mary Ippel, Taft Attorneys, on financing the community center. 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. Schultz opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing. Loso moved to Approve Resolution 2022-036 Approving Property Tax Abatements; seconded by Kluesner. Council discussed how this impacts sales tax revenue. Motion passed unanimously. Tammy Omdal 2022A Bond Issue: Tammy Omdal, Bond Financial Advisor for Northland Securities spoke to the Council regarding the details and process for issuance of GO Bonds, Series 2022A Financing Plan 2022. July 05, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Council discussed process, rates, terms and authority of 2022A as well as status of current bonding. Council also discussed need and timing as relates to the process. Beniek moved to Approve Resolution 2022-035 Approving the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. City Photos: The current photos of the Council and various departments are outdated. Councilmember Beniek is a photographer and has offered to donate her services. Schultz motioned to Approve Councilmember Beniek to Photograph Council and Staff; seconded by Kluesner and motion carries. Aye: Kluesner, Schultz, Loso Abstain: Beniek Engineer Reports: a. Morningside Acres Drainage Study: City Engineer Randy Sabart reviewed a proposal for a drainage study and topographic survey in the Morningside Acres neighborhood for Lots 5-8, Block 1. This would review potential for flood mitigation corrections in the area and address many of the issues that the residents made in the public comments section of the Council meeting. This study is the first step in addressing the public interest in the drainage. Sabart noted the time sensitivity and would do his best to accelerate it's completion. Loso moved to Approve the Professional Services Contract between the City and SEH for the 2022 Morningside Acres Drainage Study; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. b. MnDOT Master Partnership Contract: Sabart provided an overview of the MnDOT Master Partnership Contract. Every several years, MnDOT re -executes this agreement with State -Aid cities. It's most commonly referenced on our State -Aid Construction contracts where MnDOT verification material testing is required. This agreement, though it has other "partnership" potentials (particularly in emergency events), is necessary in order for the State to perform the required lab testing and to invoice the City. Loso moved to Approve Resolution 2022-037 executing the Master Partnership Contract with MnDOT; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously. Mayor Reports: • Schultz applauded the work of the Police Department, Public Works and Staff that helped make Joetown Rocks a success. • It was shared that the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Summer Conference in 2023 will be held in Thief River Falls. Adiourn: Beniek made a motion to adjourn at 7:02PM; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously by those present. *Kalale4l--- City Clerk