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City Council Minutes 07-02-2012 SpecialMINUTES SPECIAL MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, July 2, 2012 — 7:30 a.m. Academy Room, Monticello Community Center Present: Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta, Brian Stumpf Absent: Lloyd Hilgart, Tom Perrault Other: Jeff O'Neill, Tom Kelly, Tracy Ergen, Angela Schumann 1. Call to Order Mayor Herbst called the Special Meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. 2. Purpose of Meeting: To (a) discuss the Finance Director Position and (b) adopt Findings of Fact and Decision to deny a request for amendment to CUP Jeff O'Neill explained the reasons for meeting on the Finance Director Position and Kjellberg's CUP request. 3. Finance Director Position discussion Jeff O'Neill introduced this item by explaining that Council is asked to make a recommendation for a new Finance Director. Jeff O'Neill talked about checking the references on the top two candidates. He talked to a Council member that had worked with Jennifer Anderson and found some reluctance to disclose details. Tom Kelly talked to a reference at Waconia who said Jennifer Anderson started out as Utility Billing Clerk and left for another position. The person found her to be a good mentor but opinionated and strong - willed. Jeff O'Neill talked to a reference at Waconia that found Ms. Anderson to be somewhat difficult to work with and she did not have the respect of all of her co- workers. According to the reference, Jennifer left on her own for a position in the private sector, but it seemed that she did not have the passion for the job anymore. Tracy Ergen talked about her findings on Wayne Oberg. She contacted two people that worked with Wayne in East Grand Forks. Both people stated that he was very bright but could be difficult to work with. He seemed to be quite serious about his work and had high expectations for his employees and co- workers, possibly to the point of concern. Wayne's former supervisor at East Grand Forks said he would hire him back if he had the funds. He found Wayne to be a good fit there. The other person contacted from East Grand Forks said they found Wayne Oberg to be pretty exacting on finances and policies, but was good to work with. He did not know why Wayne had left East Grand Forks, but he fit in well when he worked there. Tracy Ergen reported that she had also received feedback that he was a hard worker and was willing to pitch in at any level. Council discussed the two candidates and consensus seemed to favor Wayne Oberg based on feedback from the references. City Council Special Meeting Minutes —July 2, 2012 Page 1 BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO OFFER THE FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION TO WAYNE OBERG AT A NEGOTIABLE RANGE OF $82,000 TO 86,000 AND STARTING VACATION OF THREE WEEKS. CLINT HERBST SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 2 -1 WITH GLEN POSUSTA VOTING IN OPPOSITION. Glen Posusta stated he favors hiring Wayne Oberg but prefers to negotiate a lower starting salary. 4. Consideration to adopt Findings of Fact and Decision to deny a request for amendment to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to expand a storage facility accessory to a manufactured home park in the M -H (Manufactured Home Park) zoning district, planning case file 2012 -009; Applicant: Kjellberg's Inc. Angela Schumann explained that this item is brought to Council for formal approval of the action taken at the prior Council meeting, which denied the request for CUP amendment, and to establish findings of fact. BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO ADOPT FINDINGS OF FACT IN SUPPORT OF THE DECISION TO DENY A REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO EXPAND A STORAGE FACILITY. GLEN POSUSTA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 3 -0. 1. The site is located in the midst of the manufactured home park 1000 Kjellberg East Mobile Home Park, east of Highway 25, surrounded by manufactured homes, and contiguous to two existing storage garage buildings that serve residents of the park. 2. The property is guided as Places to Live in the City's Comprehensive Plan. 3. The property is zoned M -H, Mam factured Home Park. 4. The Project as proposed by the applicant is to construct an addition to existing accessory storage garages with a new building of approximately 100 feet by 24 feet (10 bays). The building would be attached to an existing storage building which is constructed of galvanized, corrugated steel and shows significant signs of wear and deterioration. The new addition would mirror a building constructed in 2005. Materials for the building consist of metal exterior walls and roof ng around a wood frame construction. 5. In the M -H District, accessory storage garages are allowed by Conditional Use Permit, subject to the specific requirements, including limiting use only to park residents and providing screening to abutting properties. 6 City staff, Planning Commission and the City Council confirm the park's emergency shelter plan as a component of reviewing the proposed project to construct a storage structure for the residents' personal property. One option considered by Staff, Planning Commission and Council was to condition approval of the new structure on it being constructed to shelter standards in whole or in part in order to enhance the on -site shelter capacity for park residents or conditioning approval on the construction of an additional shelter structure. City Council Special Meeting Minutes —July 2, 2012 Page 2 As licensed by the State of Minnesota and allowed under local ordinances, the park is required to provide adequate emergency shelter for its residents or guests. The City Zoning Ordinance requires that adequate storm shelters for all residents of the manufactured home park shall be provided on -site perprovision 5.2(C)(4)(b)(i)(8), although state law permits an evacuation plan to be approved by an appropriate city official. The existing on -site shelter located on the east side of Highway 25 can accommodate only approximately 70 of the approximately 230 residents. 8. At the June 25 Council meeting, Councilmember Glen Posusta recused himself from voting based on potential or actual conflict of interest arising out of his operating a nearby storage facility. 9. Mayor Herbst stated his concern over the distance that tenants would have to go before they reach the existing storm shelters. He stated he would like to see Kjellberg's consider adding shelter space in a closer proximity to the mobile homes and suggested this could be done with the storage buildingproject that they are considering. His concern is that the facility on the east side only has space for about 113 of the park residents; he feels there should be more space available on the park site itself. He does feel that the storage facility is a good idea but is not willing to approve the CUP without an improvement to the park's storm shelter facilities. Mayor Herbst noted that he doesn'tfeel that they would have to require space adequatefor 100yoo; however he thinks the applicant should come up with a reasonable requirement. 10. Councilmember Brian Stumpf stated he would like to see Kjellberg's deal with the state in regard to the storm shelters and not have the city get involved in regulating where storm shelters should be located. 11. Councilmember Tom Perrault stated his concern with the storm shelter also and feels that there should be more space available on the parkproperty on the east side; he does not feel it is wise to consider having tenants cross Hwy 25 to use the storm shelter on the west side. 12. Motion was made by Mayor Clint Herbst to deny the Conditional Use Permitfor accessory storage garage, based on f ndings to be made by the City Council. Motion seconded by Tom Perrault. Findings include an inability to determine that the Kjellberg's East Park is in compliance with the terms of state and local regulations requiring reasonable storm shelter or evacuation plans. Motion failed 2 -2, with one abstention. There was no motion for approval of the CUP application. The planning consultant, Steve Grittman of Northwest Associated Consultants, explained that the request is considered denied on a tie vote and requested the opposing votes to explain the reason they voted against the motion. Councilmember Stumpf stated that the State requirements have been met for storm shelter space and this should be between Kjellberg's and the State to determine whether the space is adequate or not. Council member Hilgart indicated that his vote to oppose was based on the fact that the park has existed in its current condition for some time. Hilgart stated that he had not heard evidence that other manufactured home parks are any different in meeting the standards and that the distance to shelter provided is not unreasonable. City Council Special Meeting Minutes —July 2, 2012 Page 3 Mayor Herbst requested that staff ask Kjellberg's to reconsider submitting plans for a storage building that would include plans for additional storm shelter space. 5. Adjournment Mayor Herbst adjourned the meeting at 7:55 a.m. Recorder: Catherine M. Shuman Approved: July 223, 2012 Attest: �, City,Ministrator City Council Special Meeting Minutes —July 2, 2012 Page 4