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City Council Minutes 04-10-1978MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING April 10, 1978 Members Present: Con Johnson, Dan Blonigen, Phil White, Arve Grimsmo, Gene Walters. 4:00 P.M. 1. Assessment Policy Review. King Forness with Springsted, Inc., reviewed a report prepared April 6, 1978 relative to special assessment considerations. This report was prepared as a result of the request by the City Council to review the current assessment policies and to give consideration to revising the assessment policies for new developments. Various questions were raised on devising an assessment policy and it was consensus that such policy should take shape in ordinance form. Although no decisions were made as to final policy, council consensus was as follows on the following six items raised in Springsted's report on page seven. Item 1. Consensus was that oversizing of the utility lines should be financed in a matter other than with ad valorem taxes. Item 2. Consensus was that oversizing should be financed through initial assessment rather than to collect any portion through a connection fee. Item 3. Consensus was that improvements for a new area should be partially financed by a cash deposit. There was some deliberation as to whether the percentage should be 25% or 4(Yl or within that range. Additionally it was felt that the improvement should be assessed over a shorter period of time and consideration would be given to a five year period. Item 4. It was felt that the rate of storm sewer improvements for commercial and industrial properties should be greater than the rate for residential properties. Item 5. Decision was deferred relative to a subsidy of 50% for new street improvements where a street already existed. Item 6. Decision was deferred on whether the city would wish to consider more than just a front footage assessment on corner lots. At the end of the review of the special assessment considerations it was indicated that King Forness, with Springsted would be incorporating the above items into a draft of an assessment policy and this would be presented at the council's next meeting. Changes and revisions could be made at that time and after the next meeting a final draft could be prepared. for final consideration. Meeting recessed until 7:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M. For the record, Mayor Johnson pointed out that because of mechanical difficulties, the tape recorder was not working for the past three or four meetings. 2. Public He Drive - - Vacation of CF County Road 4-10-78 Lr Street between I-94 Freeway and Oakwood Mr. Samuel Peraro has requested the city vacate the above mentioned street. Mr. Peraro owns land on the east and west side of proposed vacation. Only other abutting property owner is Mr. Stuart Hoglund. Mr. Peraro indicated that his request, if approved, would allow him to raise the elevation for proper drainage of both the property that he owns to the west, which is planned for Vancets Standard Station, and to the east so that proper drain- age could take place. He further indicated that he would possibly be build- ing another building on the site west of Cedar Street at a later date. No other comments were received relative to the hearing on the proposed vacation. A motion was made by Arve Grimsmo, seconded by Gene Walters and unanimously carried to approve the vacation of said street contingent upon the city retaining easement rights for all utilities and an easement also be granted to Northern States Power for their existing utility underneath Cedar Street. Furthermore, all costs of recording the vacation would have to be borne by Mr. Peraro and Mr. Hoglund. It was indicated that no buildings could be put directly on the vacated street. 3. Consideration of RezoninZ Lot 6, Block 59 River Terrace, from R-1 to R-2. Mr. Quintin Lanners recently purchased the basement home located on Lot 6, Block 5, of River Terrace, and has requested to rezone the property from R-1 (Single Family, to R-2 (Single and Two Family Residential) to allow the addition of a second story and for the structure to be then rented out as a duplex. Mr. Lanners indicated at the meeting that he did not intend to upset property owners within the area and his intentions were merely to up- grade the property and develop the structure into a duplex and felt that any other use would not be economically feasible. A property owner in the area, Mr. Jack Reeve of 1017 West River Street, indicated that he was opposed and felt that there were sufficient duplexes in the area and that another one was not warranted at this time. Upon the request of the mayor to find out the property owners that were opposed to the rezoning, eight property owners stood up to indicate that they were in opposition. A motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Arve Grimsmo and unanimously carried to deny the rezoning request. 4. Wright County Coity Action Recycling Program. Ms. Magaret Miceli, Program Director with Wright County Community Action relative to the recycling program that is funded by CETA Title VI Special Project Grant, reviewed the proposed program with the city council. Intention of the progran would be to set up various collection points for the pick up of glass. Initially glass would be the only item that would be picked up and eventually if the program is successful, rags, papers, metals, metal objects and other items may be considered for pickup. Ms. Miceli indicated the collection points would be possibly at grocery stores within the community of Monticello. A motion was made by Gene Walters, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimosly carried to support the program. -2- 4-10-78 Consideration of Change Order for City Hall. Contract provisions for the construction of city hall provided a clause whereby an equitable adjustment would be made if additional fill, excavation, or removal is necessary. A change order has been submitted by Henry 0. Mikkelson for $3300 for additional site work encountered by the subcontractor, Bruce Jacobson, relative to excavating, loading and removal of unsuitable fill for the cess pool, septic tank and foundation on the city hall site. A motion was made by Gene Walters, seconded by Arve Grimsmo, and approved to to approve the change order. Voting in favor: Gene Walters, Arve Grimsmo, Con Johnson, Phil White. Opposed: Dan Blonigen. b. Consideration of Approval of Resident Engineer from Orr-Schelen-Mayeron �r� !■■�■ ��■■■■ ■� r• ! ■ I��!■rte During Construction of 1977-3 Street Improvement Project. r ■ 7. IF 9. 10. Mr. John Badalich reviewed a proposal with the city council relative to having Keith Nelson serve as resident engineer during the construction of 77-3 Street Improvement Project. Mr. Nelson would operate out of the old village hall on a daily basis. Any questions relative to the project would be referred to Mr. Nelson plus the old village hall would serve as the headquarters for the inspectors from OSM on the project. Estimated increased cost to have Mr. Nelson down as resident engineer would be from $1100 to $1970. A motion was made by Gene Walters, seconded by Arve Grimsmo and unanimously carried to approve the proposal as presented by John Badalich. Mr. Badalich indicated that the cost should not exceed $2000 in any event. Consideration of Adopting Ordinance Relative to Utilization of Boulevard. rr.�r■! r�rr�,.r ■.r ■..n ■ The propsed ordinance was reviewed by the city council regulating the use of boulevards within the city of Monticello. Primary reason for the ordi- nance is to regulate private mail boxes other than for U.S. Postal Service that are for newspaper delivery service or direct advertising or indirect advertising of any kind. A motion was made by Gene Walters, seconded by Arve Grimsmo to adopt the ordinance. Voting in favor: Gene Walters, Arve Grimsmo, Con Johnson. Opposed: Dan Blonigen and Phil White. (See Agenda Supplement 4-10-78 #1.) Any existing prohibited uses would be allowed sixty days to be brought into compliance with city ordinances. Approval of Minutes - March 23 and March 27, 197$. There being no corrections, the minutes stand approved as presented. Open House - June 4, 1978. Motion was made by Con Johnson, seconded by Gene Walters and unanimously carried to have an Open House, June 4, 1978 for all city buildings including the new city hall. Quarterly Meeting with Department Heads. City Council met with the following department heads: Fire Chief, Represen- tatives from the Sheriff's Department, Senior Citizen Center Director, Liquor Store Manager, Civil Defense Director, and Public Works Director. Various items were reviewed. Additionally, a motion was made by Gene Walters, seconded by Phil White and unanimously carried to have Mike Rajala contact a -3- 4-10-'78 professional firm to do the painting of the old city hall for the fire department and the senior citizen center, in the event that the city crew did not have adequate time to complete the project. Furthermore, it was indicated because of the early meeting started at 4:00 P.M. relative to the assessment policy review with a recess at supper time, that the city would pay for the supper meal at the River Inn. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. W er City dministrator GW/m j q ME