HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.18.23September 18"', 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, September 181n, 2023, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmembers Kevin Kluesner, Bob Loso, Adam Scepaniak,
Absent: Kelly Beniek
City Representatives Present: Administrator David Murphy, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann,
Community Development Director Nate Keller, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett,
Sergeant Jason Luethmers
Public Comments: None.
Approve Agenda: Scepaniak motioned to approve the agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Kluesner made a motion to approve the consent agenda; seconded by Schultz.
Loso pulled items d. and e. for discussion. The motion to approve consent agenda items a. — c.
and f. — k. passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes— Requested Action: Approve the minutes of September 5, 2023.
b. Bills Payable Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 60964-60988, Account Payable
and Payroll EFT #3135-3144, Regular Pay Period 18.
c. Treasurer's Report — Requested Action: Approve the August financial reports as presented.
e. ^c);atffiens Requested A teen• A ept the denatieRs as presented
f. Millstream Dugout Roofs — Requested Action: Approve the quote from Jerome Hartung for
new roofs on the dugouts for the east field in Millstream Park in the amount of $6,960.00.
g. Vacating Interior Easements Northland Heights Lots 4&5, Block 6 — Requested Action:
Approve Resolution 2023-044 Vacating Interior Easements for Lots 4 & 5, Block 6 of
Northland Heights.
h. Interim Use Permit Renewal —119 College Ave N — Requested Action: Approve Resolution
2023-045 Adopting Findings of Fact for Issuance of an Interim Use Permit.
i. Interim Use Permit Renewal —119 1st Ave NE — Requested Action: Approve Resolution
2023-046 Adopting Findings of Fact for Issuance of an Interim Use Permit.
j. Interim Use Permit Renewal — 30 Birch St E — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2023-
047 Adopting Findings of Fact for Issuance of an Interim Use Permit.
k. Interim Use Permit Renewal —104 1st Ave NW — Requested Action: Approve Resolution
2023-048 Adopting Findings of Fact for Issuance of an Interim Use Permit.
Loso inquired about the donation of voting booths from the City of Minneapolis.
City Clerk Kayla Klein shared she had come across a post that the City of Minneapolis was giving away
election booths. Knowing that some of St. Joseph's booths needed replacing, Klein reached out and the
City of St. Joseph received over 30 booths at an approximate cost of $200 per booth.
Loso made a motion to approve Consent Agenda items d. and e.; seconded by Kluesner and
passed unanimously.
Public Hearing — Amendment to Special Event Permit for Rocktoberfest: Klein informed Council before
them is a request for an amendment to the Special event Permit for Rocktoberfest scheduled to be held
September 30th. The applicant has requested to move the location of the event. Typically, the event is
held in the parking lot of Heritage Hall/St. Joseph's Catholic School. If approved, the new location would
be in the parking lot to the east of the church, the same location Joetown Rocks is held. Additionally, the
applicant is requesting that parking (7spots) along MN Street from College Ave to the Alley be blocked off
for pick-ups and drop-offs. At the September 51h City Council meeting, the Council called for the public
hearing to consider the amendment for this evening, September 18tn
September 18111, 2023
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Schultz opened the public hearing at 6:04PM.
Klein shared she had received a call from a neighboring property owner who had concerns regarding
traffic management of the alleyways that run north and south and east and west which are adjacent to
the proposed new location.
Randy Schmitz, Chair of the Rocktoberfest Committee: Schmitz shared they would like to move the
location to have a larger space for the event. After speaking with neighboring property, owners, they plan
to barricade the alleyway going north and south to prevent through traffic. The alley way running east
and west will remain unblocked. Event organizers have spoken with CSB, and the Monastery,• they have
agreed to allow event parking in those parking lots.
Schultz closed the public hearing at 6:06PM.
Schultz inquired about the perimeter of the new location, how it will be secured, where the entrance/exit
will be, and what bicycle rack fencing looks like.
Schmitz replied the only entrance and exit for the event will be located on the north side of the church
parking lot (MN Street). Schmitz informed Council a 170' tent on the west side of the parking lot will
prevent attendees from entering or exiting onto the sidewalk of College Ave. Bike, rack style fencing will
be placed on the south side of the parking lot preventing attendees from exiting into the alley way that
runs east and west. Bike racks will also be used to block off the northeast corner of the parking lot and
bike racks or snow fence will enclose the east side of the parking lot. Schmitz informed Council bicycle
rack fencing can ;be used for crowd control and is sturdier than snow fence.
Staff discussed the difference between using. snow fence and bike rack fencing, which portions of the
perimeter would be best served by each type of fencing, downtown parking, and the applicants request to
block off 7 parking spaces on the south side of MN Street for drop-off and pick-ups.
Schmitz added those reserved parking spotscould also be used for drop-offs and pick-ups for those who
are patronizing local businesses, for handicap accessibility, Uber, and Lyft drivers.
Kluesner made a motion to approve the; amendment to the Special Event Permit for. Rocktoberfest;
seconded by Loso and passed unanimously.
Northland Securities — Tammy Omdal:
a. Issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2023A — Financial Advisor, Tammy Omdal of
Northland Securities presented the 2023A General Obligation Bond for issuance. The bond
includes 2023 street and utility improvements.
Schultz made a motion to Adopt Resolution 2023-050 for the issuance of General Obligation
Bonds, Series 2023A; seconded by Scepaniak and passed unanimously.
b. Debt Management Study — Ms. Omdal presented to the Council an analysis of outstanding bonds
held by the City of St. Joseph. The debt study provides information of what the required tax levies
and other revenue sources should be, what debts might be a candidate to refund or payoff early,
how many years remain on each debt, and the summary of the debt costs versus the
requirements to pay the total debt. Ms. Omdal shared the City has retained its very strong credit
rating of AA-.
Kluesner noted the year 2024 was absent from Chart 1 of the presentation. Had it been included, there
would have been a spike in tax levy for debt service of nearly $1.5 million.
Ms. Omdal shared the tax abatement bonds issued for the Community Event Center, is the levy that has
been cancelled and is being supported with sales tax revenue. Bartlett shared that number comes in at
$465,000 and contributes to the spike in 2024.
September 18"', 2023
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c. Early Redemption 2017 GO Improvement Bonds - Bartlett shared Northland Securities reviewed the
City of St. Joseph's outstanding debt for opportunities to early redeem an issue. Two debts could be
redeemed early in October. Staff would follow up with a redemption resolution for Council to pass if
council is interested. The 2017B GO Improvement Bonds, Fund 305 paid for the water treatment plant 1
upgrades and phase I of the CBD alley sewer and street improvements. The early call would result in
interest savings of $10,200 and reduce the 2024 debt levy by $25,000.
Kluesner made a motion to Adopt Resolution 2023-049 calling the GO improvement Bonds, series
2017B early and moving funds from fund 110 debt service relief to the early call; seconded by
Loso and passed unanimously.
2024 Preliminary Budget: Bartlett presented the 2024 preliminary budget. State law requires the
preliminary budget to be adopted by September 30'h. The Truth in Taxation will be held on December 41h
2023, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph council chambers.
Schultz made a motion to approve Resolution 2023-052 Adopting the Preliminary 2024
Governmental Budget and Proposed 2023 Tax Levy, Collectible 2024 and setting the truth in
taxation hearing for December 41h, 2023, at 613M in the St. Joseph Government Center; seconded
by Loso.
Aye: Scepaniak, Schultz, Kluesner
Nay: Loso
Motion Prevails 3:1
Classification and Compensation Study: City Administrator David Murphy gave an overview of the
Classification and Compensation Study done by David Drown & Associates. Data was gathered from 28
comparable cities including cities St. Joseph competes with for talent. The proposed classification system
and compensation scale will result in an overall approximate increase of $120,000 in 2024 above the
2023 compensation costs. The recommendations provided by the study have been included in the 2024
preliminary budget.
Loso made a motion to Accept the Classification and Compensation Study completed by David
Drown Associates; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Department Reports: Murphy reminded Staff and Council of the strategic planning visioning meeting
scheduled for September 261h at 4PM.
Mayor and Council Reports and Miscellaneous Business: Shultz shared he received a notice that the
Great River Childrens Museum located in downtown St. Cloud is holding an Open House on Saturday,
October 71h from 10AM — 2PM.
Schultz explained he, Murphy, Senator Eric Putnam, and CSB met with Metro Bus regarding a bus route
to St. Joseph. Metro Bus asked the City to commit to a route before being able to provide the cost.
Schultz explained without knowing the cost upfront; the City is unable to commit to a route. Schultz asked
Metro Bus to generate a route, provide the cost; and discuss further.
Adiourn: Kluesner made a motion to adjourn at 7:23PM; seconded by Loso and passed
unanimously.
Kayla l in
City Clerk