HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.21.23August 2111, 2023
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session
on Monday, August 21s', 2023, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmembers Kevin Kluesner, Bob Loso, Adam Scepaniak,
Kelly Beniek
City Representatives Present: Administrator David Murphy, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann,
Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, City Engineer Bryce Johnson, Community Development Director Nate
Keller, City Clerk Kayla Klein
Public Comments: None.
Approve Agenda: Kluesner motioned to approve the agenda; seconded by Scepaniak and passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Kluesner made a motion to approve the consent agenda; seconded by
Scepaniak. Schultz pulled item f. for discussion. The motion to approve consent agenda items a.
e. and g. — L passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes— Requested Action: Approve the minutes of August 7, 2023.
b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 60833-60884, Account Payable &
Payroll EFT #3112-3122; Regular Pay Period 16.
c. Donations — Requested Action: Accept the Donations as presented.
d. Financial Reports Requested Action: Approve the July financial reports as presented.
e. Payment Application, Final Payment, 2020 201h Ave SE Improvements —Requested Action:
Approve final payment application to C&L Excavating for the 2020 20'h Ave SE Improvements.
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g. Planning Commission Appointment— Requested Action: Appoint Isabella Margl to the Planning
Commission for the remainder of the vacant term ending December 31, 2023.
h. Purchase of Fencefor Millstream' Park — Requested Action: Approve the bid from Authority
Fence for $14,814 to put in a fence at Millstream Park.
i. Declaration of Surplus Property, Hollow Park Playground Equipment -Requested Action:
Declare the old playground equipment at Hollow Park as surplus property and authorize staff to
place the item on MinnBid.
Schultz asked for clarification regarding the parcel requesting to be annexed into the Township of St.
Joseph.
Keller explained the applicant's parcel is currently located within the City of St. Cloud and has requested
detachment from the City of St. Cloud, this requires an Amendment to the Orderly Annexation Agreement
with the Township of St. Joseph. There are no city utilities on the property therefore the property would be
annexed into the Township rather than the City. The City of St. Cloud has approved the detachment. The
Council and Township Board are required to approve the request by adopting a joint resolution. The St.
Joseph Township Board will act on the resolution at their August 28th meeting.
Schultz made motion to approve Consent Agenda Item f.; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Public Hearing —Wellhead Protection Plan Part II: Mark Sherrill, a representative with SEH has been
working with Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann and the MN Dept of Health to amend and update
the City's Wellhead Protection Plan. Part l of the Wellhead Protection Plan concluded with a public
information meeting which discussed where the City's water is coming from and drinking water supply
management area. Part II of the Wellhead Protection Plan concludes with the public hearing and a review
period with local government.
Sherrill provided an overview of the Wellhead Protection Plan Part II.
August 21 ", 2023
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Staff and Sherrill discussed surface water contribution area and how that may correlate to water quality.
Scepaniak inquired whether the last two summers of dry weather has affected the aquifer levels in St.
Joseph.
Wensmann shared the static levels of our wells have fluctuated only 'h inch during the last two years
indicating the level of water in our wells is healthy.
Schultz opened the public hearing at 6:13PM.
Schultz shared that comments were received from the Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation
District which will be added to the record.
As no one wished to speak, Schulz closed the public hearing at 6:14PM.
Consideration of Approval of Extension of the Fire Contract between the City of St. Joseph and St.
Joseph Township: City Administrator David Murphy shared the current Fire Contract Extension expires
August 301h. A couple of items that require further discussion are length of severance clause and division
of ownership of the St. Joseph Fire Hall and equipment. Staff is requesting a motion to extend the
contract until December 31s', 2023.
Loso made a motion to Approve Fire Contract Extension to December 31, 2023; seconded by
Beniek and passed unanimously.
Consideration of Adoption of Resolutions 2023-040 and 2023-041 Extending the Franchise Agreements
with Xcel Energy: City Administrator David Murphy shared with the Council the request before them is to
approve extending the Franchise Agreements for Gas and Electric Services with Xcel Energy to
December 31s', 2023. Murphy explained the City Attorney and the attorney for Xcel Energy have been
working on the agreement and expect to have it completed soon.
Loso made a motion to Adopt Resolutions 2023-040 and 2023-041 Extending the Franchise
Agreements with Xcel Energy; seconded by Scepaniak and passed unanimously.
Fund Close out for Fir Street Extension: City Administrator David Murphy explained to the Council the
request before them is to Close fund 408 via residual transfer to the 308 Bond Fund. Construction of a
cul-de-sac on the eastern edge of Fir Street was part of the 2019 CLC Partnership Industrial Park
Development Agreement. Fir street was constructed as part of the industrial park development funded via
bond sales and assessed to the benefiting properties. Excess proceeds from the bond sale and
construction came to $227,848.89.
The 2021 Northland Business Center 2"d Addition Development Agreement included a reconfiguration of
the lots in the industrial park adjacent to Fir Street. The reconfiguration removed the cul-de-sac and
replaced it by extending Fir Street.
Language in the 2021 agreement states the City would use the excess proceeds from the 2019 project to
offset the costs of extending Fir Street. Additionally, the Development agreement states the Fir Street
extension would be constructed at the developer's expense with the costs incurred by the developer
being offset by the excess proceeds. Bond counsel informed City Staff the excess funds are "city funds"
thus the project would need to be competitively bid since the Engineer's estimate exceeds the threshold
requiring competitive bidding.
The City moved forward with the project as a 429 project and has called for the advertisement of bids.
The Engineer is estimating the project to be $360,000, which would leave about $135,000 to be assessed
to adjoining properties. The developer believes they can construct the street privately for much less than
the Engineer's estimate.
August 21 ", 2023
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An alternative to the 429 processes has been identified after discussion with the developer. The
developer has proposed constructing the extension to the City's specifications at their expense. The
excess proceeds from the 2019 project would be utilized to abate the outstanding assessments.
Scepaniak made a Motion to Close Fund 408 via residual transfer to the 308 Bond Fund; seconded
by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution 2023-039 Cancelling the Bid Opening for the 2023 Fir Street Extension:
Murphy asked the Council to consider adopting the resolution to cancel the bid opening for the 2023 Fir
Street Extension because the developer will be constructing the extension at their own expense in
accordance with the development agreement.
Beniek made a motion to Approve Resolution 2023-039 Cancelling the 2023 Fir Street Extension
Project; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Engineer Reports: None.
Department Reports: Keller provided the Council an update on the Planning Commission's decision to
table the action on the Conditional Use Permit for the Special Event Facility off Jade Road at their August
14tn meeting. They will reconvene on August 28tn to review and develop recommendations.
Mayor and Council Reports/Updates: Councilmember Kluesner shared that he has been accepted to the
Metro Citizens Police Academy Program. The ten -week program will begin on September 7tn
Mayor Schultz gave an update on the Area Planning Organization (APO) meeting last week. Two
projects; the environmental study for the Mississippi River Bridge and Safe Streets and Roads for All were
a couple of line items discussed. Some cities who belong to the APO will not benefit from the project/s
while their annual dues will increase significantly due to them. This year's assessment has increased from
about $7K to $21 K for the City of St. Joseph. Schultz explained the APO discussed cost sharing for
these projects additionally; the APO has monies available in their general fund to cover the portion of the
projects funding did not cover. The APO has agreed to delay a decision regarding funding of these
projects pending discussions scheduled for late 2023 or early 2024.
Schultz shared he received a phone call from a resident on Saturday, August 19tn explaining the parking
spaces on the east and west sides of College Ave N. were blocked off with cones and chairs. Schultz
made phone calls to staff and local businesses and was unable to locate the party responsible for
blocking off the parking spaces. Schultz shared that he moved the cones and chairs himself as it was a
clear violation to block the parking spaces without permission from the City.
Adjourn: Beniek made a motion to adjourn at 6:42PM; seconded by Schultz and passed
unanimously.
Kayla Klein
City Clerk