HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.28.23 Work SessionNovember 28, 2023
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in a workshop
setting on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 5:30PM in the St. Joseph Government Center. -
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz; Councilmembers Kelly Beniek, Kevin Kluesner, Bob Loso, Adam
Scepaniak
City Representatives Present: City 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, City Engineer Randy Sabart
Human Rights Advisory Board — Tamara Hennes-Vix: Hennes-Vix was present to introduce herself and
discuss her role as St. Joseph's representative on the Human Rights Advisory Board. The focus of the
board is to educate residents on the resources available to them. The human rights department is ran
through the state of Minnesota. There is the potential of having community outreach meetings at various
cities throughout the region in the coming year.
2024 Fee Schedule: Lori Bartlett, Finance Director, went over the suggested changes to the fee schedule
for 2024, including: increases in utility rates and compost site permits; adding rental fees for the
Millstream Park fields; removing cannabinoid license fees.
Council discussed the increases to rates and Bartlett noted that she has built in the increases in order to
fund upcoming projects like the CR2 extension and upgrades to the wastewater system from St. Cloud.
2024 Budget: Bartlett presented changes that would decrease the preliminary levy that was set in
September. Staff reviewed the capital equipment funding and operations to see if reductions could be
found. Some of the reductions came from ARPA and Public Safety Aid to replace the funding source for
items. ARPA dollars are suggested to be used to supplement costs for pickleball courts at Millstream
Park, police rifles, police radars, and verkada cameras. Public safety aid is suggested to help fund the fire
hall roof replacement, purchase of fire department turnout gear, squad 703 replacement, police tasers,
and squad cameras. In addition, some capital reserve funding can be reduced and equipment purchases
postponed 1-2 years.
Staffing changes include an additional part-time Recreation Coordinator, adding a Utility Worker (through
promotion and backfilling with a full-time Maintenance Worker hire), adding a Deputy Chief (through
promotion, no backfill), adding Police Clerk Lead (through promotion, no backfill), and a Planning Intern.
Concerns were raised on the Deputy Chief and Planning Intern. Schultz suggested waiting on the Deputy
Chief until 2025 and eliminating the Planning Intern.
Nate Keller, Community Development Director, spoke in support of having a Planning Intern to lighten the
load of administrative tasks that typically pick up in the spring and summer months.
Dwight Pfannenstein, Police Chief, noted that having a Deputy Chief would allow the department to get
rid of the float car as well as help with the operation of the entire department.
Consensus of the council was to leave all staffing recommendations in the budget. Hiring of any positions
would still need to come to the Council for approval.
Bartlett highlighted that the changes suggested by staff would reduce the levy increase to just under 10%,
down from the 16% that was approved for the Preliminary Levy. Public hearings for the budget and fee
schedule will be on Monday, December 4'h as part of the regular City Council meeting.
Elm Street East Roundabout — Bidding of Project: Randy Sabart, City Engineer, asked if the city would
want to bid the Elm Street East extension project with the Stearns County roundabout project at Elm
Street and CR133. Sabart highlighted the benefits of having one contractor in charge of the entire project.
Discussion was supportive of having the project bid together.
Minnesota Street and County Road 2 Traffic Signs — Sabart stated he received correspondence from
Stearns County regarding the flashing light system at the MN Street and CR2 intersection. The system is
November 28, 2023
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failing and the county wants to have the signs removed rather then fixing them. The intersection is slated
to have a roundabout constructed in 2025. The light system currently in place is expensive; however, staff
does not know what the cost would be to fix.
Staff and council discussed the concerns with covering or removing the signs because of how dangerous
that intersection can be. The signs should not be removed or covered and estimates should be gathered
on what costs would be to fix. Sabart will pass along the feedback to Stearns County.
County Road 121 and Lanigan Way Crosswalk: Sabart reported that himself, the county, council, and
staff had been contacted by a resident concerned about crossing County Road 121 from Lanigan Way.
Being it's a county road, they have already put out cautionary signs and the intent is to stripe the
intersection in the spring. A speed study was discussed, but a lot of times the studies come back and
speeds are actually increased rather then decreased.
Facility Reservations: Schultz brought up the typo in the city newsletter that indicated fees for
organizations wouldn't be charged until 2025. For 2024, staff will continue to allow those organizations to
use city facilities at no charge upon submittal of the required forms and damage deposits.
Staff asked for clarification regarding ISD742. The Park and Recreation Department pays each time it
uses the facilities; however, the school district is not charged for use of city facilities. Discussion was
supportive of charging ISD742 for use of city facilities if it remains that the city will be charged for use of
district facilities.
Schultz adjourned the meeting at 7:26PM
KayqKl
City Clerk