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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.12.04 CC MinutesMINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 4.2000 Mayor Walter Stoltzman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PRESENT: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Petryk, Stoltzman City Administrator, Michael Ericson City Attorney, Mark Vierling City Engineer, Dave Mitchell Community Development Director, John Rask City Clerk, Mary Ann Creager ADDITIONS TO AGENDA White Oak Heights Stop Sign Meeting of EDA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 20.2000 Barnes made motion, Leroux seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of November 20, 2000 as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. CONSENT AGENDA Haas made motion, Barnes seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: Approval of Claims Approval of Anthony Bronk as a Regular Firefighter Review CUP for Bald Eagle Sportsman Assn. All aye. Motion Carried. APPROVAL OF ANTHONY BRONK AS A REGULAR FIREFIGHTER Anthony Bronk has completed Firefighter 1 training, and I" responder training, and met the Hugo Fire Department's required amount of drills, business meetings, in-house training, and response -to - calls. Upon recommendation from the Fire Chief, Joe McMahon, City staff recommended the Council approve Anthony Bronk as a regular member of the Hugo Fire Dept. REVIEW CUP FOR BALD EAGLE SPORTSMAN'S ASSOCIATION The BESA has a Conditional Use Permit to operate a gun club. The CUP requires a biannual review. Staff has reviewed the CUP and found the operation of the site to be in compliance with the conditions of approval. The CUP is subject to a review only, as opposed to a renewal; therefore, no formal action is required of the City Council, provided the Council finds that the operation is in compliance with the conditions of approval. City staff recommended the Council accept its review of the CUP, and allow the continued operation of the BESA. City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 2 RESIGNATION OF PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER Haas made motion, Leroux seconded, to accept the letter of resignation from the Hugo Fire Department as submitted by Ryan Fure. All aye. Motion Carried. REAPPOINTMENT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL Because the City Council felt that the newly -elected City Council would concur that the Fire Chief and his assistants have done an exemplary job for the City: Leroux made motion, Haas seconded, that the City make the following Fire Department appointments for the year 2001: Joe McMahon, Fire Chief; Greg Burmeister, Assistant Fire Chief; and Jim Compton, 0 Assistant Fire Chief. All aye. Motion Carried. TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING FOR PROPOSED 2001 CITY BUDGET As required under Minnesota Statute, the City Council called a public hearing for the purpose of considering the proposed 2001 City Budget. At this public hearing, the Council heard a presentation from the Finance Director regarding the proposed 2001 budget. Under direction from the Council, City staff recommended the same City tax levy as last year, or a 0% levy increase. There will be no increase in the City tax rate. The Council cannot adopt the proposed 2001 City budget at this meeting; it must be adopted at a subsequent Council meeting. Mayor Stoltzman called the public hearing to order, and there were no oral or written comments. The Council will consider adoption of the proposed 2001 budget at their regular meeting of December 18, 2000. STREET WIDTH DETERMINATION FOR PELOOUIN INDUSTRIAL PARK At its October 2, 2000 meeting, the Council ordered the City Engineer to design and develop construction plans for the Peloquin Industrial Park Public Improvement Project. At that meeting, the Council ordered that the street width be designed at the City's present engineering street standard of 44 ft., as well as taking testimony from property owners questioning the street width standard, both from a cost perspective and rationale as to why a narrower street wouldn't be just as functional as a 44 ft width street. City Engineer, Dave Mitchell, recommended that 152i4 Street be constructed at a width of 44 ft, and Freeland Avenue and Francesca Avenue be constructed at a width of 36 ft. Barnes made motion, Haas seconded, to accept the City Engineer's recommendation and construct 152nd Street as a 44 ft street, and Freeland and Francesca Avenues be constructed as a 36 ft street. All aye. Motion Carried. PURCHASE AGREEMENTS FOR NEW CITY HILL PROPERTIES At its October 30, 2000 meeting, the Council voted and authorized staff to begin negotiations to City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 3 purchase three parcels of land directly across Fitzgerald Avenue from the current City Hall for the site of the new City Hall. Subsequently, at its November 20, 2000 meeting, the Council voted and directed staff to begin negotiations with the property owners of two parcels immediately south of the proposed new City Hall site. Staff has had extensive discussions with property owners regarding the parcels, and has reached a verbal agreement for the parcel owned by Viola and Earl Williams. Staff has made an offer for the two parcels located immediately south of the Williams' property, owned by Joe and Quentin Marier. After subsequent discussions with property owners, the City Administrator recommended that the City finalize Purchase Agreements to acquire the Steiner property, the Williams property, and the northern -most lot owned by the Mariers. The City Hall Building Committee met on November 29, 2000, and has proposed a new City Hall design that comfortably fits any of the parcels of land. Staff recommends the Council approve the new City Hall concept/footprint-design hereby recommended by the City Hall Building Committee, and direct the City architect to prepare construction plans and specs, and take bids. Barnes made motion, Haas seconded, authorizing staff to finalize Purchase Agreements for the Steiner, Williams, and Marier property (Option C), and continue negotiations for acquisition of the Rainer property. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Stoltzman VOTING NAY: Petryk Motion Carried. Leroux made motion, Barnes seconded, authorizing the architect to prepare construction plans and specs for review by the City Council. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Stoltzman VOTING NAY: Petryk Motion Carried. Leroux made motion, Barnes seconded, to call for a meeting of the Economic Development Authority on December 18, 2000, at 7:00 pm. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Stoltzman VOTING NAY: Petryk Motion Carried. RICCI'S PARKING At its November 20, 2000 meeting, the City Council considered the issue of safety for the patrons parking in the Ricci's parking lot immediately adjacent to Oneka Lake Blvd. Council directed staff to review the accident/incident reports from the State of Minnesota and report to Council. City staff presented the findings from the State noting that there had been six accidents at that location for a three-year period. No further action was taken, but staff was encouraged to review this situation in the future due to amount of development to the east. City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 4 WHITE OAKS HEIGHT STOP SIGN The Council was updated on the stop sign situation at this subdivision. To date, the City has not received a response from Mr. Bilotta as to how he will regulate the speed of vehicles leaving his business. 129TU STREET UTE11TY MWROVEMENT PROJECT In 1999, the Council approved the 1290 Street utility improvement project, adopted the, assessment roll on 2/1/99, and ordered the project in March 1999. Since that time, there was a sale of a home on 129m Street, which necessitated the deposit of escrow funds to the City to pay for the estimated cost of the public improvements. Staff was informed by the former property owner that her funds were still deposited with the City, with no movement on the public improvement project. The City Administrator and City Engineer held a meeting on October 24, 2000 with property owners where they shared the history of the project, and subsequent decisions by the Council. The meeting was an excellent opportunity for the staff to learn fust -hand of the property owners' original interest in the project. City staff recommended Council take public testimony from invited residents as to their interest in the project, and direct staff to either initiate the project or abandon the project and refund the property owner's escrow funds, with interest. City Attorney, Mark Vierling, stated that the City was past the 12 -month time limit (March 2000), and the City could no longer take further action on this petition. Petryk made motion, Barnes seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 2000-49, A RESOLUTION VACATING PREVIOUS ACTIONS/RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO THE 129TM STREET P.I. PROJECT, AND REFUNDING ANY MONEYS RELATED THAT WERE PAID, WITH INTEREST. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Petryk, Stoltzman Motion Carried. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PLANNING CHARRETTE VISIONING PROCESS The Metropolitan Council informed the City that they had been awarded a $60,000 planning grant for the purpose of a planning charrettelvisioning process for the City. Staff prepared a RFP in order to solicit proposals to do this work. Barnes made motion, Petryk seconded, that the Council approve the RFP, and direct staff to solicit proposals for this process. All aye. Motion Carried. PROPOSED SEWER RATE REVISION Currently, the number of gallons charged for residential sewer service is determined by the amount of water used by residents during the fall quarter, which is October, November, and December. Over the past two years, fall quarters have not been typical, and with residents watering new sod, sanitary City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 5 sewer rates have been set at a higher -than -average number. Sewer charges should be set on the actual amount of gallons entering the sewer system. Staff recommended that the City adopt a resolution establishing sanitary sewer rates using the winter quarter consumption, which would be January, February, and March. Stoltzman made motion, Barnes seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 2000.50, A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SANITARY SEWER SERVICE RATES. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Haas, Leroux, Petryk, Stoltzman Motion Carried. PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS The Council will need to make three Planning Commission appointments as current Planning Commission members, Patrick Rooney and Sandy Malaski terms expire on 12/31 /00, and PC chair, Frank Puleo, was elected to the Hugo City Council. Staff reviewed City ordinance regarding PC appointments, and determined that the newly elected 2001 City Council will make those PC appointments at its fust meeting in January 2001. Staff will advertise and set up interviews for these vacancies. REVIEW ALTERNATE PLANNING COMMISSION POSITION In 2000, the Council adopted an ordinance creating an alternate Planning Commissioner. The Council appointed David Buller and Patrick Rooney to serve as the alternate members, and those two individuals served in that capacity until Mr. Rooney was interviewed, and appointed by the Council to serve out the remaining term of PC member, Jim Kellison. The Council created the alternate PC member as a means by which a full PC board could be assembled to deal with the volume and complexity of issues presented to the PC monthly. Leroux made motion, Stoltzman seconded, to schedule a public hearing for January 2, 2001 to consider repealing the ordinance creating the alternate Planning Commission position. All aye. Motion Carried. REVIEW BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS The City of Hugo Board of Zoning Appeals exists to review variances, and act as an appeal board for residents and property owners in the City to appeal zoning interpretations made by staff. The three- member board includes the Mayor, Chair of the Planning Commission, and a resident -at -large. This additional layer of government has served the City for a number of years, and its efficiency has been reviewed by staff as to its overall effectiveness. Consequently, staff has completed extensive research as to the role the Board of Zoning Appeals plays for the City, and recommended that the Council consider three options: 1) leaving the Board as is; 2) directing staff to prepare an ordinance whereby the PC would be the Board of Zoning Appeals with a subsequent appeal process to the Council; and 3) that the Planning Commission become the Board of Zoning Appeals. City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 6 Leroux made motion, Barnes seconded, to schedule a public hearing for January 2, 2001, to consider amending the land use regulations regulating the Board of Appeals. All aye. Motion Carried. CONTRACT STAFF EVALUATIONS At its November 20, 2000 meeting, the Council agreed that they would review this year's performance of all contract staff, including the City Administrator, and report back at its December 4, 2000 meeting with the results. Any review of the three -contract staff would be a recommendation to the new City Council. Council should consider the satisfactory completion of the six-month probationary period by the City Administrator, and subsequent formal approval to a regular employee status. Leroux made motion, Haas seconded, to conduct contract staff evaluations for the year 2001 on December 12, 2000, at 7:00 pm, at the Hugo Fire Hall. All aye. Motion Carried. COUNCIUCOUNCIL-ELECT MEETING At its November 20, 2000 meeting, the Council inquired and agreed that a meeting with the Mayor - elect and two Council -elect members should be scheduled to allow for a dissemination of information in effort to make for as smooth a transition as possible between the current and new Council. The City Administrator met with the three newly elected Council members, and all have agreed to meet with the current Council either before the end of the year, or in January 2001. It was agreed that, if a meeting was indeed needed, that it be held in year 2001, and the outgoing Mayor and City Council would be invited back. CHANGE JANUARY 1. 2001 CITY COUNCIL MEETING As Council is aware, the first regularly scheduled meeting in January 2001 falls on New Year's Day. Council typically selects the next day immediately following a holiday, which would make the first meeting of the new year, Tuesday, January 2, 2001. Stoltzman made motion, Petryk seconded, to reschedule the first Council meeting in January 2001, on January 2, 2001, due to the New Year holiday. All aye. Motion Carried. The Council will attend the JD2 trial scheduled for January 2, 2001 in Washington County. A published notice of this meeting will be published. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DETERMINATION FOR MAYOR -ELECT Mayor -elect, Fran Miron, has submitted a letter to the City for a conflict of interest determination in regard to the JD2 lawsuit as it relates to him as a property owner in the City of Hugo. City Council meeting of December 4, 2000 Page 7 Barnes made motion, Leroux seconded, that the Council has considered Mayor -elect's request and ordered a review and determination, with the agreement of the City Attorney, by the Minnesota Attorney General, Mike Hatch, in an effort to provide a clear and clean legal opinion before the Mayor -elect takes office in January 2001. All aye. Motion Carried. RECESS Barnes made motion, Petryk seconded, to recess tonight's meeting at 10:35 pm until December 6, 2000, at 3:30 pm, Hugo City Hall, and December 12, 2000, at 7:00 pm, at the Hugo Fire Hall, if available, or the second choice, Hugo City Hall. All aye. Motion Carried. Mary reager City C er