Loading...
City Council Minutes 02-25-2002MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday February 25, 2002 - 7 p.m. Members Present: Roger Belsaas, Roger Carlson, Clint Herbst, Brian Stumpf and Bruce Thielen. Members Absent: None 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Belsaas called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and declared a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. 2. Approve minutes of February 11, 2002 regular council meeting. ROGER CARLSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 11, 2002 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE CORRECTION THAT CLINT HERBST'S MOTION WAS TO RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF TOM PERRAULT AS HRA COMMISSIONER. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. Clint Herbst asked that ATV activity be added to the agenda. Jeff O'Neill requested that the council approve extending the building moratorium by 15 days to allow sufficient time for the residential design standards to be put in place. BRUCE THIELEN MOVED TO ADD THE EXTENSION OF THE BUILDING MORATORIUM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Citizen comments/petitions, requests and complaints. Charles Fradella, 9012 Farmstead Avenue, came before the Council to express his concern about the installation practices of Charter Communications. He submitted pictures to the Council showing the size of the structure that was placed on his property by the cable company. He was not aware that the structure was going to be installed. When he contacted the company he was informed that the company was installing their new fiber optic equipment and that the decision on the placement of any necessary structure was solely the cable company's. Clint Herbst questioned whether the structure the cable company was using had to be that large and if so, couldn't they landscape or screen around it so it is not so obtrusive. John Simola, Public Works Director, stated that the City had concerns with the cable company work extending beyond the right-of-way and beyond what was allowed by permit. He has contacted the cable company and has set up a meeting with them in approximately two weeks. John Simola added that the City had not been shown the size of the structures that will be installed nor where Council Minutes - 2/25/02 the structures would be placed. Chuck Fradella questioned if the structure was placed in the right-of-way would the City even allow him to landscape around it since that would be an encroachment into the right-of-way. The Public Works Department was directed to work with Charter Communications to resolve the matter. Dayle Veches, 2219 116" Street came before the Council concerning the weight restrictions on the streets in the Rolling Woods development. He also questioned why garbage trucks and city plow trucks could exceed the load limits when others could not. John Simola and City Engineer, Bret Weiss explained the reason for the weight restrictions noting that the boulevards are retaining water and are not being maintained. The water problems are also undermining the subgrade. Silt fencing is not being put in place so debris is running into the street. Also contractors are driving over the curb and not using the driveway area which furthers undermine the boulevard area. The concern is not only with the immediate effect on the roads but also whether the life expectancy of the road (20-30 years) can be reached under these conditions. Bret Weiss stated that the building officials were out at the development and were attempting to get the builders to comply with the erosion control requirements of the ordinance. It was suggested that with some work to the boulevard area maybe the weight restrictions could be lifted. Bret Weiss stated that normally the weight restrictions are in place for eight weeks and the City generally follows the state in when the restrictions are put in place and when they are lifted. Bret Weiss also suggested that maybe a one day permit could be allowed which would provide builders an opportunity to get materials hauled in but restrict the heavy loads to a limited period of time. The Council directed the City Engineer to work with the Building Department and Public Works to see what could be done to correct the problem. 5. Consent Agenda A. Consideration of ratifying new hires for the Community Center and Liquor Store. Recommendation: Ratify the hiring of employees as identified for the Community Center and Liquor Store. B. Consideration of resolution approving charitable gambling licenses for the Monticello Lions Club. Recommendation: Adopt a resolution authorizing the State Gambling Control Board to renew the charitable gambling license for the Monticello Lions Club for Hawks Sports Bar and Grill, Monticello Country Club and River City Lanes. Res. 4 2002-7, 2002-8, 2002-9. C. Consideration of waiving statutory liability limits for City insurance renewals. Recommendation: The Council affirms that the City of Monticello does not waive the monetary limits on tort liability established by Minnesota Statute 466.04. D. Consideration of approving the date for annual Board of Review. Recommendation: Approve setting Wednesday, May 8, 2002 at 7 p.m. at the date for the 2002 Board of Review. 2 Council Minutes - 2/25/02 E. Consideration of establishing a policy for conference and training expense reimbursements for volunteer firemen. Recommendation: Adopt the following policy for reimbursements for volunteer firemen attending required training courses: 1. $8 per hour of the required training course. 2. Reimbursement of actual meal costs, not to exceed $25/day (receipts required to receive reimbursement). 3. Required overnight accommodations to be reimbursed at the single room rates. 4. Volunteer attendance at non -required training courses would not be eligible for hourly training cost reimbursements. F. Consideration of authorizing replacement of existing cooler doors - Liquor Store Expansion. Recommendation: Accept the quotation from St. Cloud Refrigeration for replacement of 24 cooler doors at a price not to exceed $18,818. G. Consideration of ratifying employees for Water Department positions. - Information for selection not ready for this meeting. Tabled until next meeting. H. Consideration of mediation settlement agreement - Kean of Monticello, Inc. assessment appeal. Recommendation: The Council approve the mediated settlement agreement in the amount of $31,000 as outlined in the settlement agreement. BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF THE EXTENSION OF THE BUILDING MORATORIUM FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 DAYS. BRUCE THIELEN SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion. None. 7. Consideration of a request by Barry Fluth to build the Landmark Square building with a overhang extending 2' over the street right-of-way. This item was removed at the request of the developer to allow additional time to meet with staff. 8. Consideration of request to reduce the size of a meeting room and reorganize three office cubicles at the Community Center. At the request of staff, this item was tabled to next council meeting. Council Minutes - 2/25/02 9. Consideration of a request to waive certain development fees associated with the Elm Street Crossing Second Addition project. Deputy City Administrator, Jeff O'Neill explained that between the development of the first phase and the second phase of this property, the City instituted a policy of charging trunk fees and park dedication fees for all parcels not just newly platted land. Since the developer had been issued a building permit prior to his final plat being approved, the developer was not aware of these charges until the plat was approved. The Council discussed whether allowing a reduction in fees because one of the parcels was an existing lot of record would set a precedent. They did feel in redevelopment areas giving credit on trunk charges for existing lots may be an incentive for redevelopment but they wanted the credit to be given on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Council. BRUCE THIELEN MOVED TO REDUCE THE TRUNK UTILITY AND PARK DEDICATION CHARGES FOR THE ELM STREET CROSSING SECOND ADDITION BY HALF NOTING THAT THIS WAS A ONE TIME REDUCTION. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 10. Consideration of adoption of polioguiding City response to annexation requests. Deputy City Administrator, Jeff O'Neill summarized the recent ruling allowing the City to annex by state statute. Although the City is operating Linder the provisions of the statutes, it was suggested that a policy be set up that would provide guidelines to be followed when dealing with petitions for annexation. Clint Herbst questioned whether the State Planning Agency allowed the annexation because the township did not contest it. Jeff O'Neill responded that the State Planning Agency was legally compelled to approve the annexation because the City met the requirements of the statute. Jeff O'Neill felt that having a policy in place to serve as a guideline would give some assurance to the township that the City would not be acting capriciously in their consideration of annexation petitions. Roger Carlson stated that he was in favor of having a document in place even though it may not be the final document. BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED POLICY GUIDING CITY RESPONSE TO ANNEXATION REQUESTS WITH THE REALIZATION THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE FINAL VERSION. BRUCE THIELEN SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED WITH CLINT HERBST ABSTAINING. Jeff O'Neill will prepare a formal policy document and a copy of that with accompanying letter will be sent to the County and the township. 4 Council Minutes - 2/25/02 11. Consideration of requesting appraisal on industrial portion of Gold Nugget property for .potential purchase by the City. The Council discussed a proposal to have an appraisal done on the industrial portion of the Gold Nugget property with the possibility of the City acquiring the land. The value of land would be determined by two separate appraisers, one selected by the City and one selected by the developer. Clint Herbst clarified that the City was only committing to the cost of the appraisal at this time. ROGER CARLSON MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY STAFF TO OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL ON THE VALUE OF AN APPROXIMATE 70 ACRE PORTION OF THE GOLD NUGGET PROPERTY. BRIAN STUMPF SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Added Items: Mayor Belsaas asked if anyone would be interested in serving on the Wright County Drug Task Force Advisory Board. Staff will get additional information on time and frequency of meetings and it was suggested that perhaps somebody on the Police Commission would be willing to serve. Clint Herbst noted that he had received some calls regarding the activities of four wheelers within City of right-of-way. The Council discussed the problem and directed that the existing ordinances should be reviewed and research be done to on provisions that could be added to the existing ordinance to curb the problem. Bruce Thielen felt this was an item that should be reviewed by the Parks Commission and then brought back to the Council. BRUCE THIELEN MOVED TO REFER THE ISSUE OF ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE USE TO THE PARKS COMMISSION AND RESEARCH THE ORDINANCES THE CITY HAS AS WELL AS OTHER PROVISIONS THAT COULD BE ADDED. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 12. Approve payment of bills for February. CLINT HERBST MOVED TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS. ROGER CARLSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 13. Adjourn BRUCE THIELEN MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7:45 P.M. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. �) W-t� ✓vo 5 S Recording Secretary 5