City Council Minutes 03-11-1991MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, March 11, 1991 - 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Ken Maus, Shirley Anderson, Dan Blonigen,
Clint Herbst, Brad Fyle
Members Absent: None
2. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held
February 25, 1991.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson,
seconded by Brad Fyle, to approve the minutes of the regular
meeting held February 25, 1991. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Citizens comments/petitions, requests, and complaints.
None forthcoming.
4. Consideration of a simple subdivision request to subdivide an
existing residential lot and part of another existing
residential lot into two residential lots. Applicant, Donald
and Joan Doran.
Staff reported that the proposal to subdivide the residential
lot as proposed is consistent with the City Ordinance.
After discussion, a motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded
by Shirley Anderson, to approve a simple subdivision request
to resubdivide an existing residential lot and part of another
existing residential lot into two residential lots for the
purpose of development of a zero lot line duplex subject to
stipulations noted by the Planning Commission. Motion carried
unanimously.
5. Consideration of amendment to the Monticello Zoning Ordinance,
Section 6-31 permitting accessory uses in an R-1, R-2, R-3,
and PZM zone by adding "sale of items including automobiles,
recreational vehicles, boats, and other equipment. Items sold
limited to six items per property annually and limited to
items owned by property owner." Applicant, City of
Monticello.
Assistant Administrator O'Neill reported that the City
Attorney has recommended that modifications be made to the
proposed ordinance amendment, and he requests that the item be
tabled until the modifications can be made. Mayor Maus noted
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that he will not be able to attend the next Council meeting;
therefore, he requested that the item be brought up at the
first meeting in April.
Brad Fyle suggested that the ordinance limit private sale of
autos to three annually. The proposed ordinance limit of six
per year is too many.
There being no further discussion, a motion was made by
Shirley Anderson, seconded by Dan Blonigen, to table this
matter until the regular meeting of the Monticello City
Council scheduled for April 8, 1991. Motion carried
unanimously.
Consideration of ordinance amendment pertaining to Council and
Planning Commission meeting times.
Administrator Wolfsteller reported that the existing City
Ordinance needs to be updated, as it indicates that Council
and Planning Commission meeting times are at 7:30 p.m. Since
both groups are meeting at 7:00 p.m., it would make sense to
update the ordinance accordingly. It was also noted by
Wolfsteller that the ordinance needs to be amended to indicate
that the Planning Commission receives a monthly stipend of
$50.
Shirley Anderson noted that the ordinance requires that
meetings are required to end no later than 11:30 p.m.
Anderson suggested that it is good to end the meetings by
11:30 p.m.; however, the meetings should be allowed to
continue beyond that time if need be. She noted that on many
occasions meetings in the recent past have extended beyond the
11:30 p.m. deadline.
Ken Maus concurred that meetings should be allowed to continue
beyond 11:30, but the goal should be to try and finish by
11:30.
Clint Herbst stated that it is important to hear people out
even if it means that meetings last longer.
After discussion, it was the consensus of Council that the
ordinance should be amended also by removing the strict
requirement that meetings end by 11:30 p.m. and replace it
with a general policy that meetings should end by 11:30 p.m.
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A motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Dan
Blonigen, to adopt an ordinance amendment indicating that
Council and Planning Commission meetings start at 7:00 p.m.,
Planning Commission members receive compensation at $50 per
month, and remove the requirement that City Council meetings
end at 11:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
SEE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NOS. 205 AND 206.
7. Consideration of amending personnel policy.
Administrator Wolfsteller reported that presently our
personnel policy indicates that employees who take time off to
attend to family members who are sick are required to take
vacation or leave without pay if the illness does not involve
the employee personally. This section should be amended to
correspond with the recently passed state law that requires
employers with 20 or more employees to allow an employee to
take sick leave benefits for the purpose of attending to a
sick child. The new law was effective August 1, 1990, and it
is recommended that the attached revision to Section 13-7 (B)
be adopted.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson,
seconded by Brad Fyle, to adopt the amendment as proposed.
Motion carried unanimously.
8. Consideration of gambling license - Ducks Unlimited Banquet.
Administrator Wolfsteller reported that the Wright County
Ducks Unlimited organization has applied to the state for a
gambling license to conduct a raffle as part of their annual
Ducks Unlimited Banquet for April 29, 1991. As with all
gambling licenses, the license will be issued by the state
unless the City passes a resolution to specifically prohibit
the activity.
After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle, seconded by
Clint Herbst, to approve granting of a gambling license for
the Wright County Ducks Unlimited Banquet scheduled for
April 29, 1991. Motion carried unanimously.
9. Consideration of purchasing fire door placards for apartment
buildings in the city of Monticello.
Gary Anderson requested that Council consider purchasing
placards for the purpose of providing fire hazard related
warnings to individuals residing in rental dwellings. The
placards being proposed would be made of plastic and would
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indicate which fire doors in the dwellings should not be
blocked open by order of the Monticello Fire Department.
Anderson proposed that the Council spend $525 for purchase of
250 fire door placards that would be supplied free of charge
as a fire department promotional item to the apartment owners.
Dan Blonigen noted that apartment housing is a commercial
enterprise and that the City should probably not get involved
in paying for the placards. In addition, even if the City
gave the placards to the apartment owners, there is no
guarantee that they would be installed.
Ken Maus stated that there is no denying that this would be a
nice addition, but should the City pick up the tab? He went
on to suggest that the City should adopt an ordinance
requiring placement of placards where necessary for fire
safety reasons. In addition, the City could purchase the
placards and sell them to the apartments at cost.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson,
seconded by Dan Blonigen, to approve expenditure by the City
not to exceed $525 for the purchase of 250 fire door placards
and authorize City staff to develop an ordinance amendment
which would require that placards be placed in locations
identified by the Fire Marshall. The placards are to be sold
to apartment owners at a price equal to the City's cost.
Voting in favor of the motion: Dan Blonigen, Ken Maus,
Shirley Anderson, Clint Herbst. Opposed: Brad Fyle.
10. Council update on present car allowance policy and City
vehicle use.
Ken Maus invited City Administrator Wolfsteller to provide
further review of the data outlined in his agenda supplement.
Wolfsteller noted that he has no additional information and
that he would be more than happy to answer any questions
regarding the information provided.
Dan Blonigen reviewed his concerns regarding the existing car
allowance policy and City vehicle use. Blonigen noted that
the car allowance of $300 per month provided to the City
Administrator exceeds the actual expense associated with
travel; therefore, the car allowance is too great. He noted
that the policy allowing the Public Works Director to utilize
the City vehicle for transportation to and from home may need
to be updated because it is his view that this policy is not
justified in that the Public Works Director only on rare
occasions needs to use the City vehicle and the tools inside
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in immediate response to problems with the operation of the
City utility systems. Blonigen also noted that the policy for
use of the City van by all City employees needs to be
established. The policy should be designed to generate the
greatest amount of use of the van as possible, thereby
limiting the individual employee travel expense.
Ken Maus stated that the car allowance provided to
Administrator Wolfsteller is well within the norm, as the
average car allowance granted to administrators in the area is
about $290 per month. Maus also noted that he is convinced
that the granting of the car allowance was part of an employee
compensation package established years ago in lieu of salary.
It would not be fair to adjust the car allowance without
considering an increase in salary. Maus also noted that the
car allowance is always subject to reconsideration during
future annual employee salary reviews. However, at this time,
it is his view that there is no need to change City policy
with regard to car allowance granted to the City
Administrator. Clint Herbst and Brad Fyle agreed that the
existing car allowance for the Administrator should be
maintained.
Council reviewed the policy allowing the Public Works Director
to drive a City vehicle to and from work. Since John Simola
was not able to attend the meeting, it was the consensus of
Council to table the matter until direct input could be
provided from the Public Works Director.
Employee use of the City van was discussed. It was determined
that the City Administrator should develop a policy for
employee use of the van which would identify priorities for
employee use of the van with the goal of maximizing van use.
It was also restated that the Building Inspector, on occasion,
will not have access to the van because the van may be used
for a longer trip by another City employee; therefore, the
Building Inspector will need to have his own separate
transportation on site for those occasions.
11. Review concepts on sewer and water assessment for trunk sewer.
The methods and financing programs associated with extending
sewer and water utilities to the new elementary school site
and to the Value flus development site were reviewed.
Assistant Administrator O'Neill informed Council that
development of 80 acres of school district property and
potential development of a neighboring 109 acres into single
family residential use has created a need to examine just how
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water and sewer lines will be extended and how utilities will
be financed. O'Neill reviewed two basic options for extending
sewer utilities to the site.
Option "A" involves extension of the trunk sewer line in a
manner that is consistent with the Comprehensive Utility Plan
for the City which could completely utilize gravity service.
Under this plan, there would be no need to install lift
stations at the Evergreens development site or at the Value
Plus site. This option would cost $343,000 and opens up a
development area of over 440 acres. Option "B" includes
extension of a lateral sewer line with a gravity connection to
the new elementary school. The Value Plus site would be
served by a force main connected to the lateral gravity
connection serving the school. Under this option the
elementary school would simply connect to the existing City
system via lateral connection at Dundas Road. The development
of a lift station and force main at the Value Plus development
site would be necessary. The total cost of this option is
$139,000. This option opens up a development area of 180
acres.
O'Neill went on to review potential methods that could be used
to finance both options. Under Option "A," an area assessment
collected as property using the trunk line is developed and
could be used to help pay for some of the large costs
associated with the trunk line. The problem with Option "A"
is that only a small portion of the actual cost can be
recovered in the short term. Also, a large section of the
trunk line must pass through the Klein property which is not
in the city at this time. It could be many years before this
property is developed, which means that it could be many years
before the City will receive a return on the investment in the
trunk line. Under Option"B it is quite likely that the
entire cost of this projectwould be financed by the school
district and the Value Plus Homes developers. The problem
with Option "B" is that it does not eliminate the future need
for the trunk line; therefore, the total cost of Option "B,"
including the future need to extend the trunk line, is
$139,000 greater than Option "A."
Council reviewed both options in considerable detail. Ken
Maus was concerned that the City already has a significant
debt associated with existing projects, which makes Option "A"
particularly risky. At the same time, he noted the benefits
of extending the trunk line in the proper fashion, thereby
creating opportunity for future development.
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Dan Blonigen noted that the City should learn from past
experiences and that we should carefully examine any major
extension of trunk sewer. It was his concern that extending
the trunk sewer line sooner than necessary results in the city
taxpayer financing the trunk line and in a sense buying
growth. It was his view that if the development can't sustain
the cost of the project, then the project should not be
pursued.
After discussion, it was the consensus of Council to direct
staff to review the matter further with the school district
and the developers of the Value Plus Home site and return to
Council with options for future action.
12. Other matters.
At the end of the formal agenda, Shirley Anderson noted that
she had received input from residents requesting that the City
look into development of a bike path system. She requested
that City staff look into this further.
Anderson noted that Lutheran Brotherhood had recently
submitted to the City a check for $600 which is being used to
pay for the bus service provided on Sunday mornings. Anderson
noted that the service hours have been reduced from 8:00-12:30
to 8:00-10:30. It has been found that very few people use the
bus on Sunday after 10:30, whereas 30-40 rides are provided
prior to 10:30.
Rick Wolfsteller reported that the City provided the City of
Big Lake with assistance in treating sludge. The City of Big
Lake sludge was trucked to the wastewater treatment plant and
processed. The cost to do so was paid by the City of Big
Lake. This was a one-time emergency situation. Brad Fyle
complained that the City vehicle should not have been used to
transport the material. The City should not be competing in
this area with private enterprise. Rick Wolfsteller responded
by saying the City of Big Lake came to us for help. We did
not know they were seeking quotes from private haulers. If we
had realized this, we would have declined the request to haul
sludge.
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.
Jeff�O'Neill
Assistant Administrator
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