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City Council Minutes 03-24-1986MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, March 24, 1986 - 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Jack Maxwell, Dan Blonigen. Members Absent: Mayor Arve A. Grimsmo (Fran Fair was Acting Mayor) 2. Approval of Minutes. Motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Blonigen, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held March 10 and the special meeting held March 13, 1986. 3. Citizens Comments/Petitions, Requests and Complaints. Mr. Lionel Kull, partner in the West Cello Apartment development appeared before the Council to request permission to apply for their fourth 12 -unit apartment building building permit prior to the completion of their required screening and landscaping. As part of the original PUD approval, the City required the developer to complete their plantings that would screen their development from the abutting residential property prior to the issuance of their fourth building permit. The developers agreed to place in escrow an amount of approximately $23000.00 to cover the cost of the plantings which they plan on doing later this spring, but would like to start their next building as soon as possible. Motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried to require the West Cello developers to place in escrow $2,000.00 to cover the anticipated cost of the screening buffer and to allow the fourth building permit application to be submitted. Mr. Marvin Kramer, property owner along south Minnesota Street, inquired as to whether the City had any plans to install sewer and water along Minnesota Street to his property this year. Mr. Kramer was informed that the City currently has no present plans for this type of improvement, but noted that Mr. Kramer along with other affected property owners could petition for the improvements if they would be agreeable to paying for the cost of the engineering feasibility study. 4. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Initiating Orderly Annexation. Previously, the Council members received a copy of the recently completed planning study done by the City's Consulting Planner and Consulting Engineer which reviewed the Orderly Annexation Area as to whether the area is currently in heed of annexation into the City. The study provided conclusive evidence in favor of annexation. Council Minutes - 3/24/86 The Orderly Annexation Area, consisting of approximately 5,000 acres, was established ten years ago for the purpose of allowing for orderly annexation of areas that are or are about to become urban in nature. As result, it was recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution initiating orderly annexation procedures pursuant to the recently completed study. As part of the procedures, it was recommended that a joint meeting be established with the Monticello Township Board to review the Annexation Study and to hopefully reach an agreement that could be submitted to the Municipal Board for their approval. Councilmembers Maxwell and Blonigen felt a joint meeting with the Township Board to discuss the annexation of the entire OAA area would be beneficial prior to formal Council action initiating annexation of the entire area. It was noted by the staff that the Annexation Study indicates the entire OAA area should be considered ready for annexation and the proper procedures would be to accept the report and to initiate annexation of the entire area with a joint meeting invitation extended to the Town Board for participation. After further discussion, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously carried to adopt the resolution initiating orderly annexation and inviting the Township Board to participate in the annexation procedures. See Resolution 86-7. 5. Consideration of Awarding a Contract for the Construction of the Interceptor Sewer. Bids were received on the 86-1 Interceptor Sewer Project on March 10, 1986, with the low bidder being L & G Rehbein, Inc., in the amount of $935,720.75. As part of the sewer project, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet had to be prepared and receive approval from the Minnesota PCA prior to start of the project. In addition, a permit from the Burlington Northern Railroad for crossing the railroad tracks at Cedar Street would also be necessary; and as a result, it was recommended by the City Engineer that all of the necessary permits should be available by Monday, April 7; and as a result, recommended that action be delayed until that time. As a result, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously carried to set a special meeting for 7:30 a.m., Monday, April 7, for the purpose of awarding a contract on the interceptor sewer project provided all necessary permits are available at that time. 6. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Approving Plans and Specifications, Ordering the Improvement, and Calling for an Advertisement for Bids for the Construction of Sixth Street Between Trunk Highway 25 and Cedar Street. As part of the Tax Increment Financing Plan for Raindance Properties, the City will be constructing an extension of Sixth Street between -2- Council Minutes - 3/24/86 Highway 25 and Cedar Street. Plans and specifications for the street construction were presented by the City Engineer, who estimated the cost at approximately $68,000.00. Financing for the improvement was originally included in the bonds sold for the Tax Increment project. Motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously carried to adopt a resolution approving plans and specifications and ordering the Advertisement for Bids for the improvement of Sixth Street. See Resolution 86-8. 7. Consideration of Granting Approval to the Final Plat for Pitt Subdivision. Applicant, Doug Pitt. Mr. Doug Pitt appeared before the Council to present his final plat which creates four residential building lots on West River Street. At the previous Council meeting, there was discussion on the recovery of additional special assessments for the extra three lots created by the subdivision and the required park dedication fees for this plat. City Administrator Eidem informed the Council that it was his recommendation the final plat be approved as presented provided the park dedication fees are paid prior to recording and that the City would have to hold an additional public hearing at a later date if it wants to consider additional assessments against the property for sewer and water benefits. The special assessment for additional utility charges should not be made part of the plat approval. Developer Pitt expressed his opposition to the park dedication fees of $2,207.33, which he felt was excessive for the small plat being considered. Mr. Pitt was informed that he has always had the option to obtain a separate appraisal of his property if he felt the park dedication fees were excessive, but to date has not supplied the City staff with this appraisal. After further discussion, it was the Council's consensus that park dedication fees have always been required of subdivisions and that the market value of the property determined by the City staff seemed appropriate; and as a result, a motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to approve the subdivision plat as presented contingent upon the payment of park dedication fees as established in the amount of $2,207.33. 8. Consideration of a Conditional Use Request to Allow an Addition to a Shopping Center to be Constructed in a B-3 (Highway Business) Zone. Applicant, Lincoln Monticello Commercial Partners Ltd. Partnership. Lincoln Properties, the new owners of the Monticello Mall, requested a conditional use permit to allow the construction of an additional 22,000 square feet to the existing mall facility. As part of the expansion plan, the developers plan on re -orientation of the project -3- Council Minutes - 3/24/86 towards 7th Street access points because of the planned Highway 25 median which would restrict access from Highway 25 in the future. The developers have met all the City's requirements regarding the expansion proposal, including the City's recommendation of refuse containers being screened from view along with additional plantings being placed within their parking lot. As part of the proposed expansion, the City of Monticello requested the developer to dedicate an easement on the northwest corner of their property to allow for the proposed Seventh Street realignment the City is planning in the future. The developers have agreed to provide the easement consisting of approximately a 25 -foot by 80 -foot triangle. After further review, motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously carried to approve the conditional use permit for the shopping center expansion contingent upon 1) the City's Consulting Engineer approval of the drainage plan; 2) refuse deposit and collection sites being screened from view; 3) additional plantings be placed in both the northerly and easterly parking lots; and 4) the granting of an easement for street construction purposes for 7th Street realignment; and 5) additional screening trees along I-94 if the proposed screening plan does not achieve the desired effect. 9. Consideration of a Conditional Use Request to Allow an Office Building in a PZ -M (Performance Zone -Mixed) Zone. Applicant, David Anderson. Mr. David Anderson requested a conditional use permit to convert an existing single family house on Lots 13, 14, 15, Block 38, along West Broadway into an office building for Century 21 Real Estate. The proposed use is allowable in a PZ -M Zone as a conditional use provided parking spaces are provided along with screening of abutting residential properties. The proposal presented by Mr. Anderson would provide for 10 parking spaces, which is sufficient to meet City Ordinances, but requested the parking area be allowed to be surfaced in red rock with landscaped timbers for curbing rather than hard surfacing with bituminous or concrete. Mr. Anderson's reasons for not hard surfacing the parking area was to allow for easy conversion of the property back to residential at some future date if the property was no longer suitable for office building use. It was noted by the staff that since this operation would be a commercial enterprise, City Ordinances require hard surfacing of the parking lot to provide proper drainage, and the City would be agreeable to a combination of concrete curbing on the approaches to the parking lot with wood landscaping timbers being used in other areas of the parking lot. Mr. Anderson felt hard surfacing would be an undue hardship and expressed concerns over continuing with the development if so required by the City. After further discussion, motion was made by Bill Fair, and unanimously carried to approve permit to allow the office building to exist -4- Maxwell, seconded by the conditional use in a PZ -M Zone provided Council Minutes - 3/24/86 1) hard surfacing consisting of concrete or asphalt is installed for the parking lot; 2) curbing consisting of concrete be constructed on the driveway approach area with landscape timbers being used on the balance of the property; and 3) that the landscaping and screening plan be submitted prior to building permit application to provide adequate screening from adjacent residential properties. 10. Consideration of Granting a Sunday Liquor License to the Monticello American Legion. The Monticello Legion Club applied for a Sunday On -sale Liquor License in addition to their present Club License. Representatives of the Legion Club indicated to the Council that their facility has the capability of serving at least 30 guests at one time with food which they plan on making available on Sundays. As a result, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously carried to approve the issuance of a Sunday On -sale Liquor License to the Monticello Legion Club with the annual license fee of $100.00 pro -rated until July 1, 1986. 11. Consideration of Granting Approval to the 1986 Industrial Development Committee Operating Budget. Under the Economic Development Plan adopted in 1982 for the Star City Certification, the Industrial Development Committee proposed budget is to annually be adopted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Monticello City. 011ie Koropchak presented the proposed budget for Council review; and a motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to adopt the Industrial Development Committee proposed budget as presented. 12. Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Establishing Flow Control nn T.PFiVPR _ Last fall, the City opened its leaf composting facility near Montissippi Park. As part of the City's garbage contract with Corrow Sanitation, the City plans on setting at least three dates annually whereby leaves and other grass clippings will be picked up by the City and taken to the compost site. Public Works Director, John Simola, noted that the goals of the 1980 Waste Management Act are to reduce Minnesota's dependence on landfills and promote alternatives to land disposal. In conjunction with this, Wright County is preparing a Solid Waste Management Plan to look at alternatives to land disposal which would include waste reduction and waste recovery. One way for the City of Monticello to reduce its waste tonage would be to require leaves and grass clippings, etc., to be deposited at our leaf composting site rather than being -5- Council Minutes - 3/24/86 allowed to be included with garbage and hauled to a dump site. This reduction in waste could save the City thousands of dollars per year in dumping charges which is anticipated to increase in the coming years. As a result, the Public Works Director recommended the City pass a resolution adopting a policy whereby separate pickups will be made for leaves at curb side three or four times per year and that the current garbage hauler not be allowed to pick up bagged leaves with regular garbage. Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously carried to adopt a resolution establishing flow control on leaves. See Resolution 86-9. 13. Information Item - Presentation of a Proposed Request for Proposals for WWTP Contracting. Public Works Director, John Simola, presented to the Council a sample Request for Proposal form that he recommended the Council review which would contract out the operation of the City's WWTP to a private concern. Mr. Simola noted that a number of communities have gone to private concerns operating wastewater treatment plants on a contract basis which eliminates personnel problems, etc., for the City and can reduce the operating cost of the facility. The sample Request for Proposal was presented for Council review over the next few weeks, and the item will again be discussed at a future Council meeting to determine whether the City should solicit bids from private contractors interested in operating the City's WWTP. 14. Consideration of a Request by Fullerton Lumber to Reduce Retainage on Fire Hall Construction. Fullerton Lumber Company, the general contractor on the Fire Hall construction project, requested that the 5% retainage amount on the contract be reduced to a lower amount, as they felt they have completed a majority of the work required under the contract. The current terms of the contract do not allow any draw down below the 5% retainage until everything is completed and accepted by the City. It was recommended by the City Administrator that the Fire Hall Building Committee be authorized to review the progress of the contractor and be allowed to close out the contract rather than bringing the request back to the Council for each individual item. It was noted that once the project is entirely completed, the actual final payment would be a Council item for consideration. Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Maxwell, and unanimously carried to authorize the Fire Hall Building Committee to close out the construction contract on the Fire Hall project and to approve miscellaneous equipment purchases such as furniture, etc., that were planned as part of the project initially. Council Minutes - 3/24/86 15. Consideration of Preparing an Amendment to the City Zoning Ordinance to Allow Auto Body Shops as a Conditional Use Within a B-3 (Highway Commercial) Zone. Mr. Rick Longley, owner of property on south Highway 25 adjacent to his Glass Hut business, appeared before the Council to request the Council initiate an ordinance amendment that would allow auto body shops as a conditional use within a B-3 Commercial Zone. Mr. Longley indicated he would like to build a major auto body shop adjacent to his Glass Hut facility which would require the City amending its zoning map to create an industrial zone along Highway 25, or amend the zoning text to allow auto body shops as conditional uses. The Council discussion centered on whether auto body facilities would be appropriate uses in highway business zones due to the outdoor storage of vehicles that usually occurs at such facilities. It was noted by the Council that it may be more appropriate for body shops to be located in industrial zones rather than adjacent to other retail activities and did not feel a body shop fits into the category of retail activities. The Council had the option of holding a public hearing to receive citizen input regarding the proposed ordinance amendment or could deny the request and simply not hold a public hearing at this time. After further discussion, it was the Council's apparent consensus that the proposed ordinance amendment would not be appropriate for the area; and as a result, Mr. Longley withdrew his request at this time for the ordinance amendment. 16. Consideration of Bills for the Month of March. Motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Blonigen, and unanimously carried to approve the bills for the month of March as presented. Rick Wolfst ler Assistant Administrator -7-