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City Council Minutes 07-27-1987MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, July 27, 1987 - 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith, Dan Blonigen Members Absent: None 4. Consideration of Proposal to Create a Group Known as Directors of Monticello Development. Previously the Council was presented with an organizational structure that would have created a group known as the Directors of Monticello Development whose objectives were going to be to enhance business and commercial development of Monticello and coordinate activities with the present city committees and commissions. Questions were raised regarding the legality of City endorsement of forming such a committee; and as a result, the City Attorney reviewed the proposed structure of the committee and recommended that it was not within the power of the City of Monticello to create such an organization that would have any authority over present city committees or commissions operated by state statute. As a result of the legal opinion, it was the consensus of the Council that such a committee not be formed or endorsed by the City, but rather encourage the proposed members to the committee to continue assisting any or all present city committees with their ideas or suggestions. The City would welcome any recommendations or efforts of a group such as this, but at the present time official endorsement as an arm of the City would not be granted. 5. Consideration of Design for the Gazebo in Ellison Park. At the previous Council meeting, a site was selected at Ellison Park for a new gazebo; but additional information was requested regarding a gazebo design that Brooklyn Park had previously constructed. Information was presented by John Simola regarding two possible designs for a gazebo that would be 28 feet in diameter in a precut packaged form available from Cedar Forest Products Company. The cost of a 28 -foot model with a raised wood floor, including lattice work around the crawl space and additional electrical wiring service connection and sidewalk leading to the gazebo was estimated at $23,724. This amount included an estimate of $7,925 for construction of the package. The second model reviewed, called the Victorian, which appeared more old fashioned in design, was estimated to cost approximately $27,750 with the same raised floor and sidewalk, etc. The general consensus of the Council was to select the design of the Victorian, but discussion occurred on whether the structure should be raised above ground elevation with steps and a wood floor, or whether it should be built lower to the ground on a cement slab without -1- Council Minutes - 7/27/87 stairs. It was felt a cement slab raised approximately 18 inches off the ground with a sloping sidewalk as access to the gazebo would be less costly to build and be easier to maintain. In addition, landscaping could be provided around the structure to blend it into the park setting. Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Warren Smith, and unanimously carried to select and authorize the ordering of the Victorian model precut gazebo from Cedar Forest Products and authorize the staff to prepare specifications for bidding the construction of the gazebo using a cement slab at approximately 18 inches above the ground elevation, including a sloping sidewalk. 6. Consideration of Christmas Decoration Purchase. Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce presented information to the Council regarding their proposed purchase of new Christmas decorations for Highway 25 and Broadway. Mr. Dan Carlson, Chamber representative, noted that the Chamber currently has approximately $11,500 available for purchasing new Christmas lights; and phase I during 1987 would be to purchase 24 8 -foot Christmas decorations for the Highway 25 street lights at an estimated cost of $7,537. Phase II would include in 1988 the purchase of 20 51�-foot Christmas lights at an estimated cost of $4,243 for the Broadway lights. As part of their presentation, the Chamber noted that to install the Christmas lights on Highway 25 as proposed, electrical outlets would have to be added to the existing light standards at a quoted cost of $3,898. Olson Electric indicated that using the existing wiring may cause the lights to suffer a voltage drop, which may affect the brightness of the Christmas lights; and to meet the National Electric Code, the wiring should be replaced in all the Highway 25 lighting standards at an additional cost of approximately $5,500. The Chamber recommended that if this Council was in favor of helping the Chamber with the Christmas decoration improvements, both the wiring of the receptacles and the replacement of the wiring should be accomplished to provide maximum efficiency and lighting for the new Christmas decorations. Public Works Director, John Simola, also recommended that if the City does contribute to the cost of installing the receptacles for the Christmas lights, the project should meet the National Electric Code and recommended new wiring be installed at the estimated cost of $8,000 to $10,000 per Olson Electric's quote. After further discussion, motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Warren Smith, and unanimously carried to authorize the City to install the proper wiring and receptacles that will meet the National Electric Code per the quote received from Olson Electric on a time and material basis at an estimated cost of $8,000 to $10,000. -2- Council Minutes - 7/27/87 7. Consideration of Pump Purchase at Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Public Works Director noted that one of the activated sludge pumps at the Wastewater Treatment Plant recently failed and that a replacement pump purchased directly from the manufacturer would cost $2,700. As part of the Wastewater contract with PSG, Inc., the City is responsible for any repair cost exceeding $2,000 per item, and therefore this expenditure would be the City's responsibility above the contract amount. Mr. Simola explained that since Professional Services Group, Inc., has not had a large amount of repair expense for 1987, he recommended that the pump purchase be made by PSG, Inc.; and if the maintenance and repair budget is exceeded by the end of the year, the City would have to reimburse PSG for the cost of the replacement pump. At the present time, it appears that the City will receive a refund from the maintenance and repair fund if the current trend continues. Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to authorize the expenditure of $2,700 for a replacement activated sludge pump to be purchased by the contractor, Professional Services Group, with the assurance that PSG would be reimbursed for any cost overruns should they occur in the maintenance and repair budget by the end of the year. 8. Consideration of Offer to Sell Property to the City. The Council was informed that Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bland, owners of property adjacent to the City Hall parking lot in Block D, Monticello, is for sale if the City was interested. The property owners indicated that because their residential property is currently zoned commercial, they were having difficulties obtaining financing for their contract for deed payoff and would be forced into moving by August 9. As a result, they inquired as to whether the City had any interest in acquiring their property for expansion of the parking lot or other City facilities in the future. Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to authorize the City Administrator and staff to pursue negotiations with the Blands regarding the possible purchase of their property and to seek an appraisal if necessary to determine the appropriate offering price. 9. Consideration of Bills for the Month of July. Motion was made by Warren Smith, seconded by Fran Fair, and unanimously carried to approve the bills for the month of July as presented. 10. Discussion on Senior Citizens Building Roof Repair. Building Official, Gary Anderson, informed the Council that the Senior Citizen Center building is in need of major roof repairs. Mr. Anderson -3- Council Minutes - 7/27/87 noted that patching of areas could be done to eliminate current areas that are leaking but recommended that a new roof of some type be constructed to eliminate the problem. It was estimated that a new flat roof would cost approximately $7,000; and if a gable type roof was constructed over the flat roof, the price could be in the $7,000 to $9,000 range. It was the consensus of the Council to have cost estimates available at the next Council meeting for consideration on what type of roof repair should be authorized for the building. 11. Discussion on the Existing Highway 25 Bridge. With the construction of the new Highway 25 bridge recently being started, the Council members noted that the idea of saving the existing bridge for some type of park use or pedestrian walkway has again emerged in discussions with citizens of Monticello. Current MN/DOT plans and contracts indicate that the bridge will be torn down at the end of the bridge construction project. It was noted that although time is certainly running short, possibly contact should be made with DNR representatives along with MN/DOT representatives to see if there is any feasibility in retaining all or a portion of the bridge that could be incorporated into the park design on West Bridge Park. It was recommended by the Council that any business leaders along with staff and Council contact with appropriate agencies to see if any alternative is available for saving a portion of the bridge, including any possible state or federal assistance along this line. 12. Review of Liquor Store Sign Design. Recently, contracts were awarded for enlarging the Liquor Store parking lot; and it came to the attention of the Liquor Store Manager that depending on the type of new sign being considered for the Liquor Store, possibly an area would have to be set aside in the parking lot for the construction of the pylon sign. The proposed expansion of the parking lot would not allow sufficient room between the curb and the right-of-way for the placement of a sign other than a single post pylon type, which is currently not being considered by the staff. After the Council reviewed a few sample sign designs, it was the consensus of the Council that a small area in the southeast corner of the expanded parking lot be dedicated for the placement of a new sign and also the area could be landscaped with shrubs, bushes, etc. An actual sign design was not determined by the Council and will be reviewed later once more designs are available. c Rick Wolfsteller City Administrator -4-