City Council Minutes 09-25-1978REGULAR MEETING
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
September 25, 1978 -- 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Gene Walters, Arve Grimsmo, Phil White, Dan Blonigen.
Member absent: C. 0. Johnson
Citizens Comments:
Larry Flake, owner of Monticello Ford, requested a variance from the Certi-
ficate of Occupancy requirements that all landscaping be completed prior to
occupancy of the new building. Mr. Flake indicated that he would like to
move from his downtown location to the new building by October 1, 1978, and
requested an additional 30 days to have the landscaping completed.
Motion was made by A. Grimsmo, seconded by D. Blonigen and unanimously
carried to approve the landscaping variance on the Certificate of Occu-
pancy requirement for up to 30 days provided a bond is posted with the
City of Monticello.
1. Public Hearing for Proposed Assessments on Delinquent Accounts.
A public hearing was held by the City Council for the purpose of collecting
delinquent accounts for various types of current services provided by the
City through a special assessment method.
Motion was made by D. Blonigen, seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously carried
to place a delinquent tree removal assessment against Lots 11 2 and the West
2 of 3, Block 48, in the amount of $226.82 on the tax rolls for 1979• Motion
was also made by P. White, seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously carried to
place a delinquent sewer and water bill in the amount of $765.80 on a special
assessment for 1979 against the Monticello Recreation Cafe.
2.' Public Hearing on Proposed 1979 Budget including Appropriation of Federal
Revenue Sharma Funds.
Federal Revenue Sharing laws require that a public hearing be held by the City
on the appropriation of Federal Revenue Sharing funds for 1979 along with a
public hearing on the municipality's entire budget.
The 1979 Budget presented to the City Council proposed an $847,734 levy for
1979, which would amount to a City mill rate of 21.35 mills. The 1979 Budget
is approximately $22,000 less than the 1978 levy.
A request was made by the Community School Director, Duane Gates, along with
the Superintendent, Shelly Johnson, asking that the Council consider increasing
its share of the funding for the Joint Recreation Program from the proposed
$3,000 budget amount to approximately $6,225. This request was based on a
Minutes - 9/25/78
report presented by Mr. Gates indicating that 43% of those involved in the
Summer Recreation Program were from within the City limits, and thus, the
City's share should be an additional $3,225. After discussion by the Council
on which taxing district should be responsible to raise the funds, a motion
was made by D. Blonigen, seconded by G. Walters to leave the City's share of
the Joint Recreation Program budget at $3,000 per proposed budget.
Voting in favor - D. Blonigen, G. Walters. Opposed - A. Grimsmo, P. White.
Because of the tie vote, motion was defeated.
Motion was then made by A. Grimsmo, seconded by P. White to authorize that
the 1979 Joint Recreation Budget be placed at $6,225.
Voting in favor - A. Grimsmo, P. White. Opposed: D. Blonigen, G. Walters.
Again, due to the tie vote, motion was denied.
As part of the Fire Fund budget for 1979, a request was made by the firemen
to increase the hourly pay scale of $5.00 for the first hour and $3.00 for
each additional hour thereafter, to a new scale of $7.00 for the first hour
and $5.00 for every hour thereafter. Motion was made by G. Walters, seconded
by D. Blonigen and unanimously carried to approve the increase in the fire-
men's hourly salary from $5.00 and $3.00 to $7.00 and $5.00 respectively.
The Council also received a request from the Public Works Department for a
new street sweeper and from the fire department for a mini -pumper rescue
truck for possible inclusion in the 1979 Budget figures. It was the consensus
of the Council to not include any money in the 1979 Budget for these items
as the Capital Outlay Revolving Fund could be used for these items if purchased
in 1979•
In regards to the Federal Revenue Sharing funds expected by the City in 1979,
a motion was made by A. Grimsmo, seconded by D. Blonigen and unanimously carried
to designate the approximately $89,000 in Federal Revenue Sharing funds towards
the City's portion of the expected $1,0007000 cost for upgrading the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
In regards to the entire budget for 1979, motion was made by D. Blonigen,
seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously carried to adopt the 1979 Budget as
proposed in the amount of $847,734-00.
Consideration of the Award of Sale of
Improvement Bonds for the 1978-1 Impr
,000 in General Obligation
ovement Project.
King Forness, of our bonding consultant Springsted, Inc., opened five bids
on the sale of $1,475,000 General Obligation Improvement Bonds for the 1978-1
sewer and water project. The bids received were as follows:
Firm
Continental Bank of Illinois
1st Nat'l of Chicago
BancNorthwe st
Dain, Kalman & Quail, Inc.
1st St. Paul
Net Interest
Net Interest
Dollar Cost
Rate
$452,101.47
5.341621%
$449,480.04
5.310649%
$451,585-00
5.3355%
$450092.42
5.323'7
$445,179-38
5.259%
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A recommendation was made by King Forness, bonding consultant, that the City
accept and award the sale of the bonds to the low bidder, the 1st National
Bank of St. Paul.
Motion was made by P. White, seconded D. Blonigen and unanimously carried to
adopt a resolution awarding the sale of the general obligation bonds to the
low bidder, the lst National Bank of St. Paul in the amount of $1,475,000-
Consideration of Recommendations on Ellison Park.
At the last City Council meeting, the Council received a list of recommendations
from the neighborhood residents in the Ellison Park area to help curb some of
the traffic and juvenile problems.
The City Administrator indicated to the Council that the following recommenda-
tions of the neighborhood residents have or will be implemented:
1. Installation of a Dead End sign at the corner of Dayton and River Streets
and a barricade sign at the east end of River Street at the Hospital
property line.
2. Installation of Yield signs at the foot of Dayton and Washington Streets
where they intersect with River Street.
3. Trimming of trees around the existing lights in Ellison Park.
4. The Wright County Police have been advised of problems in the Park area
and will be monitoring the Park more regularly.
The Council also discussed the closing of the Park during the nighttime hours
from 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. along with the installation of additional lighting
in the area, but by consensus of the Council, these items will not be imple-
mented until these other control measures are reviewed.
The Wright County Sheriff's office also recommended that the Park rules and
regulations that are posted in the Parks be adopted by means of an ordinance
so that violators could be tagged and cited by a specific ordinance number.
Motion was made by D. Blonigen, seconded by P. White and unanimously carried
to adopt a new ordinance entitled Chapter 4 - Parks, Sections 8-5-1 thru 7.
(See ordinance amendment 9-25-78 71/60).
Additionally, the Council will be, in the future, reviewing the feasibility
of the other requests made by the neighborhood residents in regards to the
possibility of closing the eastern portion of the loop road in the Park,
along with possible speed control berms, etc.
5. Consideration of Conditional Use Permit for a Tri-Plex Apartment House by
Tom Chock.
Mr. Tom Chock applied for a conditional use permit to allow him to make a
third apartment in his existing duplex at 801 W. 3rd Street. The apartment
house was just recently built and was the original intention of Mr. Chock
to have a large area downstairs devoted to a laundry room and storage room,
but after the building was occupied, Mr. Chock felt the area would be better
put to use as an efficiency apartment.
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According to the City ordinances, a three unit apartment house would have to
have a lot size of 12,500 square feet, while Mr. Chock's lot size is currently
only 10,890 square feet. As a result of this provision, in addition to the
conditional use, a variance would be necessary.
The Planning Commission at their previous meeting recommended approval of the
conditional use permit based on the fact that Mr. Chock presently owns a four-
plex that is adjoining his duplex property and when the two parcels are com-
bined, there is sufficient land to allow seven units on both parcels.
Motion was made by A. Grimsmo, seconded by P. White and unanimously carried to
approve the conditional use permit for the three -unit apartment to Mr. Chock,
and the necessary variance from the 12,500 square foot provision to a 10,890
square feet.
6. Consideration of Approval of Subdivision of Land.
Jim Metcalf and Brad Larson requested a subdivision of land whereby they would
subdivide a portion of the lot they own and sell this portion to the abutting
property owner, Viva Jean Abrahamson. The proposed subdivision would result
in the original lot remaining at approximately 12,700 square feet with a
second parcel consisting of 7,700 square feet being divided and sold to
Mrs. Abrahamson.
This subdivision of land does meet the criteria of the City ordinances in
that the newly created property lines will not cause the existing house to
be in violation of the minimum lot size requirements, and therefore, a
motion was made by P. White, seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously carried
to approve the subdivision contained in the certificate of survey submitted
provided that the parcel of land added to Mrs. Abrahamson' s lot be added to
her present legal description also.
7. Consideration of Extension of Variance for River Meadows Apartments.
On September 26, 1977, the City Council approved a variance request by
River Meadows Partnership to allow a variance for the construction of up to
a 30 -unit apartment along East County Road 39. Since this variance request
will expire on September 26, 1978, the Partnership requested an extension
of time in which to complete the work on the proposed apartment building.
The primary reason for the request of an extension is that the developers
are currently in the process of lining up financial commitments in order to
allow construction to begin in the spring of 1979•
Motion was made by A. Grimsmo, seconded by P. White and unanimously carried
to approve the extension of the variance for the River Meadow Apartments.
This variance extension will be for one year.
8. Consideration of Improvement to Hart Boulevard.
At the last Council meeting, a request was made by Dr. Kasper that the Council
consider improving Hart Boulevard with at least a bituminous surface beyond
the proposed termination point on the '77-3 project which is now at the
Hospital's east property line.
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The Public Works Director, Mike Rajala, has reviewed this portion of the
road along with the City Engineer and has come up with a cost estimate for
this project of $10,100 to $10,800 for a l --Jt bituminous overlay. The Council
was also informed that if a permanent type of street along with curb and
gutter were installed, the cost would be in the neighborhood of $63,000.
City Engineer, John Badalich, informed the Council that this section of road
may have to be torn up in a few years for possible sewer improvement, and
would not recommend a permanent type of street being installed at the present
time.
After discussing the necessity of a bituminous overlay versus repairing and
maintenance, it was the Council consensus to proceed on Hart Boulevard with
a maintenance type program only during 1978 and also suggested that a main-
tenance program for all unimproved streets in Monticello be made up dividing
the City into sections where improvements could be made in various years.
9. Consideration of Resolution Relative to Initiating Eminent Domain Proceedin s
on Easements necessary for the 197 -1 Improvement Project.
Appraisal values for the easements necessary on the 1978-1 Improvement Project
have been previously submitted to property owners Tim Genung and Harold Ruff
for their consideration.
A letter was received from Mr. Ruff's attorney indicating that they would not
accept the City's offer and also they made no other counteroffer on the
appy ai sal .
Mr. Tim Genung presented a letter to the Council from his attorney indicating
that he would not accept the City's appraisal offer and also requested that
an exact certificate of survey be prepared showing the exact square footage
of the necessary easement.
The Council informed the property owners that negotiations could continue
with a hope of a settlement being reached between the property owners and
the City, but a motion was made by P. White, seconded by A. Grimsmo to
adopt the resolution authorizing the City Attorney on behalf of the City
to proceed with the acquisition of the easements through eminent domain
procedures. Voting in favor were: G. Walters, P. White, A. Grimsmo.
Opposed: D. Blonigen. (See Resolution 1978 - 12.)
10. Approval of Bills.
Motion was made by D. Blonigen, , seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously carried
to approve the bills for September 1978 as presented. (See Supplement
9-25-78 #1).
11. Approval of Minutes.
The Minutes of the City Council meeting held September 11, 1978 were
approved as presented.
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12. Miscellaneous.
The meeting date for the regular Council meeting scheduled for October 9,
1978 was rescheduled to October 10, 1978, due to the Holiday.
Meeting adjourned.
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Richard Wolfs eller
Assistant Administrator