HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.25.23 Work SessionJuly 25, 2023
Page 1 of 2
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in a workshop
setting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 5:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Councilmembers Kelly Beniek, Kevin Kluesner, Adam Scepaniak
Absent: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmember Bob Loso
City Representatives Present: Administrator David Murphy, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works,
Director Ryan Wensmann, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Community Development Director Nate Keller, Police
Chief; Dwight Pfannenstein, Recreation Director Rhonda Juell
Pay Equity Implementation Update: Mark Goldberg with David Drown Associates (DDA) provided an
update on the Classification and Compensation Study. Goldberg highlighted the goals of the study:
ensuring Jobs are classified appropriately and meet FLSA guidelines; ensuring pay is competitive and
equitable; providing policies and procedures to keep the compensation system up to day; and developing
a compensation system that is easy to understand and administer. Market data was selected from 28
municipalities throughout the state. The proposed salary structure design consists of 17 grades varying
from 5%-11 % apart and 10 steps within each grade varying from 3%-5% apart.
The analysis concluded with 2 employees being paid above the salary range maximum. The
recommendation is that the wages of these employees be frozen until the salary range maximum
exceeds their hourly rate. Seven employees are paid below the salary range minimum, with a cost of
$11,450 to bring them into the salary range. The impact of the study will be a 4.81 % increase or
$118,464, in order to bring employees into the proposed structure.
Council's next steps are to confirm the salary structure, finalize placement of employees within proposed
salary structure, and decide on how quickly the salary changes should be implemented.
Discussion was had on why some employees who have been with the city are being paid less than some
that have been with the city much longer. Grading of positions was also discussed. Staff will bring a
recommendation back at a future meeting.
Kayak Lease Agreement: Brandon Feldhege, owner of a Kayak Connect, LLC, explained his request to
have East Park be another destination for his company. Feldhege;explained that St. Joseph would be the
end point. Customers would park at East Park and Feldhege would transport to the starting point along
the Sauk River. Customers would canoe/kayak down the river, ending at East Park. They would then put
their canoe/kayak into the trailer that would be parked in the parking lot. Feldhege would drop off and
pickup the trailer every day that customers will be utilizing the service. On days where there are no trips
booked, the trailer won't be dropped off.
Council thanked Feldhege for attending the meeting. The future improvements at East Park were
discussed and Feldhege acknowledged that he can be flexible. The amount of parking was also a
concern. No dedicated parking spots will be allocated and carpooling will be encouraged.
Staff will follow-up with Feldhege on the agreement.
2024 Dues/Memberships Review: Dues and memberships are reviewed annually for the upcoming
budget year. Councilmembers Kluesner and Beniek saw the value in retaining membership to the Greater
St. Cloud Development Corp. (GSDC). Currently the City is not a member of Granite Table or the Stearns
County Municipal League. Beniek would like to see more information from Granite Table prior to
becoming a member. General consensus was to include the Stearns County Municipal League in the
2024 memberships/dues.
Cannabinoid Draft Ordinance: City Administrator Murphy spoke on the legalization of Cannabis and low
potency hemp products. The sale of adult -use cannabis is illegal until the Office of Cannabis
Management is established and a licensing procedure has been developed. Anticipated date for this is
January, 2025. Currently the City has a moratorium on low -potency help (edible) products until
July 25, 2023
Page 2 of 2
September 18, 2023. Staff is looking for direction on how to proceed with the current moratorium on low -
potency hemp products.
Council and staff discussed the matter and council consensus was that the moratorium on low -potency
hemp products should be lifted. Staff will bring back an amendment to the temporary ordinance,
rescinding the moratorium. No licensing by the city will be required. State law does require
establishments selling these products to register with the Department of Health by October 1 st of this
year.
The draft ordinance was for review only as the city has time to change language in it as the city receives
more information from the state and League of MN Cities.
Use of City Parks: Recreation Director Juell stressed the importance of having a rental fee for the use of
the Millstream softball field. With the improvements made to the field, interested parties have come
forward to start a league. Staff would like to know if the Council is okay with charging for the use of the
fields. The rental fee would cover the field and allow access to the bathrooms.
Staff also wanted direction on whether to charge non-profit organizations for use of the city facilities.
Beniek and Scepaniak thought all groups should be charged except the St. Joseph Lions Club, while
Councilmember Kluesner felt that St. Joseph civic organizations should not be charged. Direction was to
wait until the full council is present to discuss the item further.
Food Trucks in City Limits: City Administrator Murphy noted that staff has received complaints and
concerns about how food trucks are currently operated in the City. The City has an ordinance in place
regulating food trucks; however, it is incomplete in that there are no penalty/enforcement provisions. The
ordinance states that food trucks cannot be located within 50ft of an existing restaurant; within 50 ft of an
intersection of two public streets; or within 30 feet of a street and private driveway. Direction provided
included amending the ordinance to include the penalty provisions. When food truck licenses are issued,
a buffer map showing where they cannot be will be given to the applicant.
Xcel Energy Franchise Agreement: The gas/electric franchise agreement between the City and Xcel
Energy will expire this year. Staff will work with the City Engineer and City Attorney on the document.
Franchise agreements are typically set for a 20-year term. Council discussed increasing the franchise
fees as they have not been changed for the past 20-years. Staff will research the fees other cities have in
their agreements and will include with the agreement at a future council meeting.
Kluesner adjourned the meeting at 7:02 PM
Kayla Kle n
City Clerk