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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.16.24September 16t", 2024 Page 1 of 4 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, October 101h, 2024, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center. Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz, Councilmembers Adam Scepaniak, Bob Loso, Kelly Beniek, Kevin Kluesner City Representatives Present: City Administrator David Murphy, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, Finance Director Lori Bartlett,; Community Development Director Nate Keller, City Engineer Randy Sabart Public Comments: None. Approve Agenda: Scepaniak motioned to approve the agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. Consent Agenda: Losq motioned to approve the consent agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. a. Minutes — Requested Action: Approve the minutes of September 3, 2024. b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 62363-62410, Account Payable & Payroll EFT # 3471-3484; Regular Pay Period 18. C. Donations — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2024-043 accepting donations. d. Financial Report — Reported Action: Approve the August 2024 financial reports as presented. e.: Conditional Use Permit Extension — Summit Commons; LLC Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2024-055 Conditional Use Permit Approval Extension for Summit Commons LLC. f. Accept Resignation and Authorize Hire, Recreation Coordinator — Requested Action: Accept the resignation of Dillon Haider and authorize staff to begin the hiring process for his replacement. g. New Steel Roof on Public Works Facility — Requested Action: Approve bid from Minnesota Home Improvements in the amount of $99,235.00 for a new steel roof on the Public Works Facility. h. Proof of Parking — Premier Stone - Requested Action: Approve the proof of parking plan submitted by Premier Stone. Rocktoberfest Street Closure: Mayor Schultz provided background on council action dating back to July 1st which approved the Rocktoberfest Special Event Permit application and street closures related to the event. Since then, event organizers have come to feel the approved street closures will be detrimental to the event and have asked the council to reconsider the street closure approved in July. Event organizers are requesting the street closure to be reduced to MN Street East to 1st Avenue and College Avenue South to Baker Street. Chief Pfannenstein explained he had recently spoken with Daryl Schaefer, one of the event's organizers. After speaking with Schaefer, Pfannenstein realized there had been a misunderstanding regarding the scope of street closures that were approved in July. Pfannenstein went on to explain if the street closures are amended traffic would be allowed on College Avenue North and MN Street West, turning the intersection of MN Street/College Avenue into an L shape for motorized traffic. The crosswalks on the east and south side of the intersection will be blocked off to allow pedestrian traffic. Beniek asked where handicap drop offs would occur if this street closure were amended. Pfannenstein explained the Heritage Hall Parking lot could be used for handicap parking as well as a drop of site if the event organizers choose. Being College Avenue South is closed this would allow pedestrians to walk safely across the street to the event. - September 16th, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Staff and council continued discussion regarding amending the street closure to allow the opening of two streets for motorized traffic, pedestrian safety, and the possibility that the intersection of College Avenue/MN Street may be used as a drop off/pickup location. Murphy shared the only street closure for the 2023 Rocktoberfest Event was from the intersection of College Avenue South to Baker Street. Kluesner made a motion to reconsider the street closures as they relate to the Special Event Permit submitted by the St. Joseph Booster Club for the Rocktoberfest Event to be held September 28th, 2024. The motion was seconded by Loso. Aye: Schultz, Loso, Kluesner, Scepaniak Motion Prevails 4:1 Nay: Beniek Scepaniak stated for the record if the council approves the requested street closure amendment; consent is not given for the intersection to be used as a drop off/pick up location. For the safety of the public, our officers, and those staffing the event traffic laws must be followed. Pfannenstein stated that if congestion becomes a problem again this year that the city may have to consider increasing the street closures in 2025 to keep everyone safe. Schultz made a motion to amend the street closures as they relate to the Special Event Permit submitted by the St. Joseph Booster Club for the Rocktoberfest event to be held September 28th, 2024. Streets will be closed at the intersection of MN Street/College Avenue from MN Street East to 1st Avenue and from College Avenue South to Baker Street. The motion was seconded by Kluesner. Aye: Kluesner, Shultz, Loso Motion Prevails 3:2 Nay: Beniek, Scepaniak Conditional Use Permit — Interstate Bearings: Keller presented a Conditional Use Permit submitted by Interstate Bearings. The proposal includes constructing a 16,500 square foot facility consisting of warehouse and office space. All storage will be within the facility. The site location is east of Dollar General and west of the Northland Plaza building. Traffic at the location will be limited to once a day or every other day for delivery trucks, and appointment based for suppliers. The applicant has proposed a loading dock bay that will face west towards Dollar General. Staff are working with the applicant on site plan approval. Within the Finding of Fact staff have included requirements to screen the loading dock from Highway 75. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the Finding of Fact C.U.P. resolution 6-0 at their September 9th meeting. A public hearing was held at that meeting as well; no one spoke, and no written comments were received. Beniek asked if Interstate Bearings has been made aware of Elm Street East extension scheduled for 2025. Keller explained the Elm Street East extension has been reviewed with the applicant. Sabart projected a graphic depicting the Elm Street East extension and explained how the street improvement will look once completed. He also noted the site plan for Interstate Bearings would be compatible with the Elm Street East improvements. Loso made a motion to approve the C.U.P. Finding of Fact Resolution 2024-056; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. Ordinance Amendments: a. Beekeeping: Keller shared that at a May council work session direction was given to staff to work on drafting an ordinance which would allow residents to have honeybee hives in residential areas. The Planning Commission has been discussing the topic since June. At the September 9th PC meeting a September 16th 2024 Page 3 of 4 public hearing was held and the PC voted 6-0 to approve the final draft of the ordinance amendment. Keller continued by providing the council with an overview of the changes that would be made to City code if the ordinance amendment were approved. Beniek asked if there was a reason behind the PC's decision to forego a permit process. Keller responded by explaining the ordinance is written as such that there is enforcement guidelines built in should they need to be addressed/enforced. Beniek shared that keeping records of residents who are beekeeping may open opportunities for the city to partner with the state for grants and education. Kluesner echoed ,Beniek' s suggestion to require a permitting process. He also asked who would be responsible for ordinance enforcement should there be a complaint. Keller explained he would follow up on complaints and enforcement of the ordinance. Schultz shared that he reached out to neighboring cities to discuss and get feedback on their honeybee ordinance. He explained that most cities require a permit and limit the number of colonies based on yard size. Shultz is in favor of the city implementing a permit process as well. Beniek made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-004 adding Subdivision 19, 3a to state that permits are required at no cost; seconded by Schultz. Aye: Beniek, Schultz, Kluesner, Loso Motion Prevails 4:1_ Nay: Scepaniak Schulz made a motion to approve Summary Publication 2024-057; seconded by Scepaniak and passed unanimously. b. Short Term Rental: Keller shared that at a May council work session direction was given to staff to work with the Planning Commission on drafting an ordinance amendment that would allow short-term rentals in residential and commercial districts. The past several months the PC has held discussions, reviewed drafts, and studied other ordinances. At the September 9th PC meeting the commission voted 6-0 to approve the draft amendment that consists of staff, legal, and commission input. A public hearing was also held at the September 9th meeting; no one spoke. Keller gave an overview of the various ways to regulate short-term rentals, the goals of the PC and staff, and goals the ordinance would accomplish. Beniek shared that she would like more time to review the presented information. At this time, she does not feel short-term rentals would be advantageous in residential areas but is agreeable to the use in commercially zoned areas. Keller explained the home must be owner occupied to qualify under the ordinance to be used as a short- term rental. He also explained properties in commercially zoned areas do not have that stipulation. Councilmembers continued discussion with regards to: • Keeping the residential feel of neighborhoods whilst allowing short-term rentals. • Enforcement procedures that are already in place designed to deal with noise and other complaints that may stem from a short-term renter. The idea that homes which are not well kept will not bring in short-term renters; therefore, residential neighborhoods should not experience a decline in the quality of the neighborhood. Schultz made a motion to table the short-term rental ordinance, directing staff to bring drafted language with stricter language in the residential zoned areas to council workshop for further discussion. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. September 16t'', 2024 Page 4 of 4 Kinetic: Scott Justvig of Kinetic provided an update on recent YMCA/Community Center campaign committee efforts. 2025 Preliminary Budget & Levy: Finance Director Lori Bartlett presented the 2025 Preliminary Budget and Levy. Bartlett shared budget discussions began back in May. Since that time, capital improvement projects, the capital equipment plan, staff budgets, dues and memberships, overall operational budgets, and recommendations from various boards and commissions have all been taken into consideration and are compiled into the preliminary budget. MN State Law requires the preliminary budget, and levy to be adopted by September 30th. Bartlett explained the levy amount cannot be increased before final adoption in December; however, may be decreased before final adoption in December. Loso made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-059 adopting the preliminary 2025 Budget and proposed 2024 tax levy, collectible in 2025; seconded by Kluesner and passed unanimously. Schultz made a motion setting the public hearing for the final budget and levy for December 2"d, 2024, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph council chambers; the motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Department Reports: None. Mayor and Council Reports/Updates: Schultz shared he attended the APO meeting last week. The budget discussion regarding the southwest beltline distribution of costs was tabled because members from neighboring counties were not in attendance. The discussion has been rescheduled for October. Adiourn: Kluesner made a motion to adjourn at 7:30PM; the motion was seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously. Kayla Klein City Clerk