City Council Minutes 01-28-1985MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
January 28, 1985 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Mayor Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair,
Jack Maxwell, Dan Blonigen.
1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held January 14,
1985.
4. Consideration of a Proposal from Howard Dahlgren & Associates
to do a Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
Recently, representatives of the downtown retailers expressed
concern over the deterioration of the downtown area, including
some store front appearances along with the general upkeep.
Mr. John Uban of Howard Dahlgren & Associates, the City's Consulting
Planner, was present at the meeting to review with the Council
a proposal from their firm for assisting in developing a study
of the Commercial District. The general study would focus on
pedestrian circulation and parking within the Downtown District
along with plans for beautifying the downtown area, etc.
Mr. Uban suggested the City proceed with a study in four phases.
The first phase would be to determine the initial area of study,
including preparation of base maps of the downtown area, and
meet with merchants and City staff to identify improvement goals
within the areas to be studied. The second phase would include
conceptual sketches of the improvements proposed, and the third
phase would be design development including detailed drawings
for all improvements suggested. The final phase would be the
development of actual construction drawings and documents.
Although the initial concerns expressed by the Chamber related
to the current beautification of downtown, including the sidewalks,
tree planters and general upkeep and appearance, questions were
raised by the Council as to whether the City should be initiating
a study for improvements and then present the ideas to the retailers
or whether the affected property owners should be contacted
first to see if there is an interest in developing an improvement
plan. The reason was that the property owners would be ultimately
reponsible for carrying out the improvement plans and also for
its cost. If it appeared that the majority of the retailers
would not be receptive to the expenditures necessary, the City
would be possibly wasting its time initiating the study.
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Council Minutes - 1/28/85
After further review, motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded
by Bill Fair, and unanimously carried to authorize Howard Dahlgren
& Associates to work with a committee of the Chamber of Commerce
to present a proposal for planning improvements to the downtown
retailers to see if there is an interest by the property owners
in proceeding with a full -scaled redevelopment plan. An actual
contract for developing a study would not be entered into until
this initial response is received from the retailers.
5. Consideration of a Farmers Home Administration Financed Housing
Proposal for Low and Moderate Income Families.
Mr. Jim Metcalf was present to request preliminary approval
of building a 33 -unit low and moderate income housing development
on Lot 5 in Lauring Hillside Terrace. Mr. Metcalf, along with
his partners Brad Larson and Ken Barthel, requested the preliminary
approval of the concept so that they can apply to Farmers Home
Administration for financing of the project. Preliminary Council
approval is necessary since the project will have an assessed
valuation based on 20% of the market value of the project rather
than the current 28% for conventional housing.
It was noted by the Council that another developer has recently
requested similar concept approval; and in reality, only one
project, if any, would be funded by Farmers Home Administration
for the City of Monticello.
Motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Fran Fair, and unanimously
carried to give preliminary concept approval to Mr. Metcalf
and his partners for application to the Farmers Home Administration
of a 33 -unit low and moderate income housing project for the
City.
6. Consideration of Bingo License - Applicant, Knights of Columbus.
The Knights of Columbus recently applied for an annual bingo
license to operate every other Sunday night at the Monticello
VFW Club.
Since recently passed state legislation has created the Charitable
Gambling Control Board, who will be responsible for all gambling
activities within cities effective March 1, 1985, this item
was tabled for the present time, as all applications for licenses
would be the State's responsibility.
7. Consideration of Supporting Monticello Township in their Opposition
to a Turnback of a County Road.
Mr. Franklin Denn, Township Chairman, was present at the Council
meeting to request support from the City of Monticello in their
opposition to the County's proposal to turn back to the Township
and the City a stretch of Orchard Road from County Road 75 to
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Council Minutes - 1/28/85
the intersection by the Orchard Flea Market. Wright County,
going along with the program it initiated approximately a year
ago, wishes to turn back the section from the overpass to the
intersection by the Flea Market to the Township, and from the
overpass to County Road 75 to the City. Although both the Township
and the City have been repairing and maintaining this segment
of road in the past, the Township opposes the turnback of the
road until the intersection by the Flea Market is studied and
upgraded. In addition, the Township requests that the County
bring the road up to County road standards before turning it
over to the Township.
Mr. Denn requested the City's
the City will also receive a
would be in the same position
Road in the future if needed.
by the Township was because o
is now currently using the ro
operation, it is the Township
will have to be initiated at
Market to provide adequate tr
support in the oppositio
small segment of this road
to maintain and upgrade
Mr. Denn noted the prim
f the high traffic volume
ad; and because of the Fl
's concern that major imp
the intersection near the
affic flows in the future.
n, as
and
Orchard
ary opposition
that
ea Market
rovements
Flea
The Public Works Director, John Simola, will be representing
the City at the County Board Meeting Tuesday, January 29, for
the City.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Blonigen, and unanimously
carried to support the Township's opposition to the turnback
until a study is completed on the traffic volumes and possible
improvements that will be needed and will request the County
delay any revocations of this street until the study is completed.
8. Consideration of Developing Softball Fields.
In 1984, the City Council indicated a willingness to work with
the Softball Association in assisting them with developing the
ball fields on the NSP property near the Montissippi Park.
The City budgeted $3,500.00 for 1985 to be used for upgrading
the existing well and to make minor improvements to the playing
fields at the existing site.
Public Works Director, John Simola, informed the Council that
after testing the existing well, approximately $5,000.00 would
be needed for improving the well to provide sufficient water
for watering the ballfields. An additional $2,500.00 would
be needed to make minor improvements to the playing field to
bring the fields up to an acceptable level.
Some concerns were expressed as to whether the City should be
expending large sums of money at the NSP ball fields without
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Council Minutes - 1/28/85
a long term lease commitment from NSP. Possible alternatives
included developing new softball fields at possibly the Meadow
Oak Subdivision where the City will be acquiring park land in
the future. Expenditures of similar amounts of money could
be completed on City land in the Meadow Oak Subdivision, but
one of the drawbacks was that there is only room realistically
for two softball fields, whereas the ultimate goal would be
to establish at least four softball fields.
The present site of the existing softball fields on NSP property
has sufficient room to develop two additional fields to provide
a complex in one area. Although the Softball Association would
also like to see four ballfields in operation in the future,
they did not have a specific objection to either location.
Before improvements are initiated, it was the Council consensus
that the staff work with the Softball Association to determine
what focus the City should take in developing softball fields
either at the NSP location or at other sites within the City
before funds are expended.
9. Department Head Reports.
The Council heard quarterly Department Head reports from the
Sheriff's Department, YMCA representative, Public Works Director,
Building Inspector, and City Administrator. A summary of 1984
activities was presented along with projections and goals for
1985 for each department.
10. Consideration of Bills for the Month of January.
Motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Blonigen, and unanimously
carried to approve the bills for the month of January as presented.
Rick Wolfstell r
Assistant Administrator
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