HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.05.23September 051, 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 Tuesday, September 5'h, 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 Randy Sabart, Community Development Director Nate
Keller, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett
Public Comments: None.
Approve Agenda: Kluesner motioned to approve the agenda; adding item 9.5 Change of Venue
Request; the motion was seconded by Scepaniak and passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve the consent, agenda; seconded by Kluesner.
Schultz pulled item e. for discussion. The motion to approve consent agenda items a. — d.passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes — Requested Action: Approve the minutes of August 21, 2023 and August 22, 2023.
b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 059439-059500, Account Payable
EFT #002077-002078; Payroll EFT 112279-112284, Regular Pay Period`17.
c. Transfers — Requested Action: Approve the budget transfers as presented.
d. Application for Payment 1, 2023 Street Improvements — Requested Action: Approve application
for payment 1 to Larson Excavating Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $53,48845 for the 2023
Street Improvement Project.
e. joint Powers AgFeement with SGhGGI IDistriGt 742 Re n: SuspeRd the Joint Poi.A.Ferl
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Schultz asked Police Chief Pfannenstein to provide clarification regarding the decision to suspend the Joint
Powers Agreement (J.P.A.) with School District 742 indefinitely.
Pfannenstein explained the St. Joseph Police Department has a J.P.A. with district 742. The J.P.A. blankets_-
the entire; St. Joseph Police Department as agents of the school even though the City does not have a
dedicated School Resource Officer. Recently, the legislature has changed some language regarding how
agents of schools are able to respond to calls. After meeting with Police Chiefs in St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sauk
Rapids, and the Stearns County Sherriff, SJPD would like to suspend the J.P.A. indefinitely until the legislature
can re -update language. SJPD will continue to have a presence and respond to calls at Kennedy School; the
only difference is SJPD officers will no longer be an "agent of the school" following the J.P.A. suspension.
Loso made a motion to approve Consent Agenda Item e.; seconded by Beniek and passed
unanimously.
Conditional Use Permit Request - KAB Land LLC: Keller shared KAB Land LLC has submitted a
Conditional Use Permit for a special event facility. The proposed special event facility is an approximately
14,500 square foot building located at 28617 Jade Road, is approximately 60 acres, and zoned rural
residential. In May, Council approved an Ordinance Amendment which allowed a special event facility as
a Conditional Use in rural residential districts. August 141h the Planning Commission held a Public
Hearing, the applicant was the only person to speak. Comments from ISD 742 were received and read
aloud by the Community Development Director, Nate Keller. The Planning Commission recommended
approval 6-0 of the Finding of Fact resolution with conditions at their special meeting held August 281h
Keller gave a review of the proposed site plan. The proposed outdoor ceremony space is located on the
NE corner of the site in a bermed area and is about 10-15' from grade to the top of the berm. Keller
reviewed possible conditions that could be included in the Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.). Staff
recommends a Developers Agreement (D.A.) be executed as a condition of approval which clarifies the
location of water and sewer extension. The request for inclusion of a right turn lane has been removed
from the D.A. due to criteria not meeting MnDOT requirements.
September 05", 2023
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Council and Staff discussed the Finding of Fact Resolution 2023-001 C.U.P. approved by the Planning
Commission August 281h. The Council agreed with the Planning Commission recommendations but had
the following changes:
• Include within the Development Agreement the requirement to have the applicant construct a
right turn lane once MnDOT thresholds are met.
• Elimination of the language within condition 8 minus the reference to the City Noise Ordinance.
• The Council changed the hours of operation for event uses to Sunday — Thursday; 8AM-10PM
and Friday -Saturday 6AM-12AM.
• Requiring water/sewer to be extended to the driveway entrance.
Schultz made a motion to approve the Finding of Fact Resolution 2023-042 with the noted
changes to the findings of the CUP as referenced above; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Variance Request— KAB Land LLC: Keller provided an update to the Council regarding a Variance
Requestreceived by KAB Land LLC. The applicant is proposing to surface the parking lots at the Special
Event Facility with gravel. The driveway, entrance and drop-off areas will be paved. City Code requires
parking lots to be hard surface (asphalt, concrete, pavers, etc.) which is the reason for the variance
request. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing August 28'h, the applicant was the only
person to speak. The variance was denied by the Planning Commission 5-1 citing the variance request
did not meet certain criteria outlined in City Code which would permit the variance.
Council and Staff discussed previously approving similar variance requests. Councilmember Loso noted
gravel parking lots may help with runoff due to the topography of the site.
Loso moved to approve Resolution 2023-043 A Resolution Approving A Variance to the Parking
Lot Material Requirements; seconded by Scepaniak.
Aye: Beniek, Scepaniak, Loso Motion Prevails: 3:2
Nay: Kluesner, Schultz
2024 Capital Equipment Budget: Bartlett included a summary in the packet of the anticipated 2024
capital projects. Bartlett as well as the City Engineer presented those projects to Council at a workshop
held in May. Bartlett informed the Council there are two projects in City of St. Cloud which will need to be
completed in 2024 that were not presented at the Council workshop. Those projects include
improvements to the main lift station and metro force main replacement. The City of St. Cloud has
provided notice to the City of St. Joseph regarding these projects as they have been on their capital plan
for the past five years. Bartlett explained she provided each Council member a budget book with a listing
that details the equipment and projects split out by department. The EDA and Park Board have reviewed
their projects, those proposals are included as well.
Loso asked if a timeline of the St. Cloud sewer system projects is available. Bartlett shared they are in the
pre -design phase and plan to begin construction on the project late summer of 2024. Council and Staff
continued to discuss when the City will have to being making payments on our portion of the project as
well as the preliminary estimate of St. Joseph's portion.
Schultz asked Bartlett the cost per year of the meter conversion project. Bartlett responded the City has
done about $150,000 to $175,000 in the past and is looking at doubling that so the meter replacement
program can be completed within five years.
Council agreed to provide feedback regarding the 2024 Capital Equipment Budget to City Administrator
David Murphy and Finance Director Lori Bartlett.
East Park Final Desiqn Services Agreement: Keller shared the Council approved the LCCMR Grant
agreement August 7'h, 2023, and the DNR Grant agreement August 15, 2022. Construction of East Park
is scheduled to begin in spring of 2024. Before construction can begin, a design proposal and agreement
detailing the work S.E.H. will be completing needs to be completed. Keller informed the Council the
September 05'', 2023
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design work will come with an upfront cost of $82,000 which will be reimbursed as part of the LCCMR
funds.
After Staff and Council discussion, Council came to consensus and directed Staff to open the East Park
Project to an R.F.P. (Request for Proposal). Once those bids come in, the Park Board should review them
and provide recommendation.
Consideration of Approval of Lobbyist Contract with Flaherty & Hood: City Administrator David Murphy
presented the contract for Lobbyist services with Flaherty & Hood. Previously, Council directed Staff to
prepare a contract with Flaherty & Hood to lobby on the Cities behalf to include CR 2 Infrastructure
Extension and to advocate for the Community Center Project. The contract would begin immediately after
execution and continue through June 2024. The contract is $20,000 to be paid in two increments of
$10, 000.
Loso made a motion to Approve the Contract and Authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to
execute the contract; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Change of Venue Request: City Administrator David Murphy informed the Council a Change of Venue
Request that was received by the St. Joseph Booster Club for Rocktoberfest, scheduled for September
30th. Staff were informed today that the initial Special Event Permit application had an error and listed the
incorrect location for the Rocktoberfest event. The Booster Club would like to hold the event at the St.
Joseph Church east parking lot (12 MN St W) instead of the previous location; the St. Joseph Church
north parking lot (32 MN St W). Special Event Permits initiate a public hearing because residents within
350 feet of the event need to be notified; a new public hearing would need to be held to allow the change
of venue request. Additionally, The Booster Club would need to re -pay the fees to cover the
administrative and public hearing costs.
Loso made a motion calling for a public hearing on September 18, 2023, to consider an
amendment to the Rocktoberfest Special Event Permit; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Loso asked Staff how much the fee will be for the Booster Club to move the Rocktoberfest location.
Murphy replied, the fee will be $500.
Loso made a motion to waive $250 of the fee. The motion died on the floor as there was not a
second.
Mayor and Council Reports and Miscellaneous Business: Schultz referred to the parking incident that
occurred on Saturday, August 191h where parking spaces had been blocked off for a local civic group
event on the east and west sides of College Ave N. Schultz has since met with those involved and meant
no disrespect to any of the local businesses or civic groups but was highlighting the need to be proactive
in the future communicating with the city, local businesses and civic groups who hold events where
parking may be affected.
Schultz gave an overview of the bridge replacement project on CR 75 near the Fleet Farm intersection
that is slated to begin Oct/Nov 2023 and end in April/May 2024. Stearns County has proposed and
shared two detour routes. One detour route will be taking CR 134 into St. Cloud, the other is to take CR 2
to HWY 94 into St. Cloud. Schultz would like Staff to consider ways to inform businesses, residents, and
those in the industrial park about the closure. Schultz suggested reaching out to the Newsleader for
publication.
Adjourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 7:18PM; seconded by Scepaniak and passed
unanimously.
Kayla K in
City Clerk