City Council Minutes 01-24-1994MTNUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCTL
Monday, January 24, 1994 - 7 p.m.
Members Present: Shirley Anderson, Brad Fyle, Clint Herbst, Ken Maus
Members Absent: Patty Olsen
2. Consideration of a roval of minutes of the re far meetin held
January ,1.,0, 1993.
After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle and seconded by Clint
Herbst to approve the meeting minutes as submitted. Voting in favor:
Shirley Anderson, Clint Herbst, Brad Fyle. Abstaining: Ken Maus.
Absent: Patty Olsen.
3. Citizens comments/ etitions re uests and com faints.
None forthcoming.
4. Consideration of pursuing establishment of a ioint powers agreement
between the City of Monticello and Township of Bid Lake_ prohibiting
discharge of firearms on the Mississippi River.
Mark Olson reported that he has received complaints from Monticello
residents about duck hunters shooting From boats in the general direction of
homes located along the Mississippi River. Olson reported that this hunting
practice is legal as long as the duck hunters' boats are located on the Big
Lake Township side of the river. He went on to state that a joint powers
agreement between the City of Monticello and Big Lake Township
prohibiting discharge of firearms on the Mississippi River appears to be the
best course of action to take to eliminate this unsafe hunting activity.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson and seconded by
Clint Herbst to agree to establish a joint powers agreement with Big Lake
Township prohibiting discharge of firearms on the Mississippi River.
Motion carried unanimously with Patty Olsen absent.
Shirley Anderson thanked Mark Olson for taking the lead on finding a way
to solve this problem For residents living on the banks of the Mississippi in
Monticello.
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5. Consideration of acce tin a simultaneous cit /townshi ballot rocedure for
meetin ste #1 of ste s that need to be achieved rior to authorizin a
eneral referendum on a communit arena.
Assistant Administrator O'Neill reported that the City Council is asked by
the community arena association to review a proposal to conduct a
simultaneous ballot with the township regarding the arena issue.
Clint Herbst mentioned that obtaining a township commitment on payment
of the township's share of the debt service is one item among many that
needs to be accomplished. He would like to see some progress on some of
the other items.
Mark Holmes responded by saying that obtaining township participation in
the project was a major hurdle and that progress has been made on the
other items. Once an agreement is made on the process of obtaining
funding approval, we will complete our work on the other steps.
Herbst asked about the status of the Hockey Association's efforts to raise
$100,000. Holmes responded by saying that the community arena group is
at the 60% mark and that they expect to raise the remaining 40°Io by May.
Ken Maus focused the discussion by asking Council if all the other criteria
are met, does the City have a problem with a simultaneous vote? Shirley
Anderson was concerned that the proposal to conduct a simultaneous vote
changes the original deal and is not consistent with the original resolution.
Brad Fy1e stated that he thought that the arena committee has followed
through. They haven't tried to get out of achieving the steps required by
the Council. Clint Herbst noted that he has no objection to a simultaneous
ballot but would like to see what type of progress has been made on the
other items that must be accomplished prior to conducting the referendum.
After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle and seconded by Clint
Herbst to accept a simultaneous ballot as meeting step l.. Voting in favor of
the motion: Ken Maus, Brad Fyle, Clint Herbst. Opposed: Shirley
Anderson. Absent: Patty Olsen.
6. Consideration of additional annual appointment -Police Commission.
After discussion, a motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by
Shirley Anderson to appoint Liz DesMarais to fill the current vacant 3-year
term. Motion carried unanimously with Patty Olsen absent.
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7. Consideration of waivin statutor liabilit limits -excess liabilit
insurance.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson and seconded by
Brad Fyle to deny waiving the monetary limits on tort liability as
established by Minnesota Statutes 446. Motion carried unanimously with
Patty Olsen absent.
$. Consideration of movin ahead with hale II of the ublic works facilit
expansion.
John Simola reported that on April 12, 1993, the City Council authorized
the City Engineer to prepare a feasibility report for the second phase of the
public works expansion at a cost of $2,100. The feasibility report was
reviewed by the City Council on May 24, 1993. The total project cast,
including design, was estimated at that time at $413,100.
During the discussion regarding phase II, some concerns were noted with
the 2,600 sq ft sand/salt mix storage building. It was suggested that this
area be downsized with the public works department hauling in sand/salt
more frequently during the winter or that a less expensive type of
construction be considered. Further consideration of phase II of the project
was then tabled due to funding limitations created by unexpected
maintenance expenses associated with repair of digesters at the wastewater
treatment plant. Recently, however, it has been found that the cost to
repair the digester covers is much less than previously anticipated;
therefore, Council may wish to again look at the possibility of development
of phase II of the public works facility.
Finally, Simola went on to state that we have downsized the salt storage far
phase II by 23% and revised the estimates accordingly. The new total
project cost is estimated at $379,700 and could be funded totally from
unallocated funds available this year in the liquor fund.
Brad Fyle noted that we have to watch where the money is going. He was
cancerned about the size of the project. Perhaps it needs to be downsized.
Clint Herbst was concerned that by reducing the size, we might reduce the
functionality of the building.
After discussian, a motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by
Shirley Anderson to authorize OSM to prepare plans and specifications for
phase II of the public works facility. Final design of the sand/salt storage
structure is to be determined by the building committee. Motion carried
unanimously with Patty Olsen absent. Brad Fyle and Clint Herbst
volunteered to serve on the building committee.
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9. Consideration of reaffirmin R-3 zonin desi nation of Outlot A of Countr
Club Manor. AND
10. Consider authorizin Cit staff to re are re uest far ra owls for multi-
famil develo ment of Outlot A of Cauntr Club Manor.
Assistant Administrator O'Neill informed the City Council that the City has
received inquiries from developers and church organizations wishing to
purchase Outlot A of Country Club Manor from the City. O'Neill requested
that Council provide City staff with further direction as to the process to be
used in selling the parcel.
Council reviewed the present zoning designation and reviewed the Planner's
report, which stated that R-3 uses are the mast suitable uses for the
property.
Citizens from the neighborhood were present to discuss their concerns
regarding multi-family development on the parcel.
Steve Walters, representing a group of neighbors, indicated that the present
neighborhood features a peaceful, safe environment. A neighborhood crime
watch group has been started to make sure that the neighborhood
maintains its safe character. However, there are drawbacks to living in the
area. For instance, there is the potential of a busy 7th Street once it is
completed, I-94 road noise, Ruff Auto on the east side, and the apartments
next to the public works area serve to diminish the value of the Country
Club Manor residential area. He voiced the group's concern about the
possibility of another multi-Family housing development nearby. The group
would not support development that would diminish residential property
values. Tt was felt that development of the parcel for church or park uses
would be more positive for the neighborhood and would provide a better
image of the city to travelers on T-94.
Walters went an to note that if the City sells to a developer, he felt that a
request for. proposals process would be appropriate and strongly advised in-
depth research on developers to make sure that the City sold the property
to a developer that would manage the facility well. Finally, he noted that
landscaping and boulevard tree plantings along 7th Street between the
development area and the Country Club Manor neighborhood would be
desirable.
Brad Fyle indicated that the City obtained the property through a tax
forfeiture process; and in order to recover some of our cost, it will need to be
sold. It is highly unlikely that the City will want to leave it vacant. He
indicated that his desire would be to press toward a moderate density
townhouse style development.
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Shirley Anderson indicated that development of Outlot A will result in a
barrier built between the freeway and the Country Club Manor homes;
thus, the noise from the freeway will actually go down.
Other members of the neighborhood mentioned concerns regarding potential
development of the site for multi_family use.
After discussion, a motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by Brad
Fyle to reaffirm the R-3 zoning district designation for Outlot A of Country
Club Manor. Motion carried unanimously with Patty Olsen absent.
A motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by Shirley Anderson to
authorize City staff to prepare a request for proposals application to be
reviewed by Council at an upcoming meeting. Motion carried unanimously
with Patty Olsen absent.
11. Consideration of chan~~ order #1 for Cit~Project 93-02C, Cardinal Hills 3rd
Addition.
After discussion, a motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by
Shirley Anderson to approve change order #1 for Cardinal Hills 3rd
Addition, City Project 93-02C, in the amount of $7,893.93. Motion carried
unanimously with Patty Olsen absent.
12. Consideration of updating welder at the public works shop.
After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle and seconded by Clint
Herbst to offer Jim Eisele $1,500 for his used welder. If the offer is not
acceptable to Eisele, then staff is authorized to purchase a new welder from
Central McCxowan in the amount of $2,450. Motion carried unanimously
with Patty Olsen absent.
13. Consideration of purchase of ]~/2~ton 4-wheel drive pickup for street
department.
John Simola outlined the need fora 1/2-ton 4-wheel drive pickup for the
street department.
After discussion, a motion was made by Clint Herbst and seconded by
Shirley Anderson to table the issue until they are provided with an
inventory of all of the vehicles at the public works department along with
the primary driver of each vehicle. Motion carried unanimously with Patty
Olsen absent.
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14. Consideration of a resolution su ortin Prairie Island nuclear fuel stora e
rp oiect.
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson and seconded by
Brad Fyle to approve the resolution as submitted. Motion carried
unanimously with Patty Olsen absent. SEE RESOLUTION 94-2.
15. Consideration of bills for the month of Januar .
After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson and seconded by
Brad Fyle to approve payment of bills as submitted. Motion carried
unanimously with Patty Olsen absent.
~ F
Jeff O'Neill
Assistant Administrator
1
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