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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.04.06 CC Minutes Meeting held remotely pursuant to MN Statute Sec. 13D.021. ZOOM meeting ID #509 613 803 Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL PRESENT REMOTELY: Haas, Klein, Miron, Petryk, Weidt OTHERS PRESENT REMOTELY: City Engineer Mark Erichson. City Attorney Dave Snyder, Community Development Director Rachel Juba PRESENT AT CITY HALL: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Clerk Michele Lindau March 16, 2020, City Council Meeting Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on March 16, 2020, as presented. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. March 20, 2020, City Council Emergency Meeting Klein made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council Emergency Meeting held on March 20, 2020, as presented. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Update on COVID-19 City Response City Administrator Bryan Bear provided an update on how the City was responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Weidt had declared an emergency on March 18, and the Council extended it at the Emergency Meeting held on March 20, 2020. Since then, no official actions had been taken, but the City was in a state of readiness. Bear informed Council staff was available 24/7 as needed, and City services remained available, some with modifications. Events had been canceled through May 1 except for some official meetings. The Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting and the Planning Commission meetings will be held virtually on April 9, as well as the Park Commission meeting on April 15 and the EDA meeting on April 21. By MN Statute, the Chief Administrative Officer must be must be physically present at the normal meeting location, all members must be able to hear each other, and votes must be conducted by roll call. The public can watch meetings on Cable TV Channel 16 or the livestream found on the website. If anyone wished to participate in a meeting, arrangements could be made in advance Minutes HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING REMOTE MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 – 7 P.M. Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2020 Page 2 of 6 with the City Clerk. The City was following public health expert’s guidance since the City did not have a health professional staff. The Stay at Home Order was being followed with most staff working remotely. Public Works crews were working in shifts independently as much as possible. The Sheriff’s Department had implemented many of the same changes. Some planning applicants had put their projects on hold. Building permit applications were still being accepted, and inspections were being done with modifications. The compost site was open and being operated by Washington County, but no food waste was being accepted. Also, the Washington County Library Kiosk was partially opened after undergoing repairs unrelated to the virus. Construction projects that had been initiated were continuing, such as the water tower project and Goodview Avenue street project. Projects not yet begun may be slowed down. The HBA had information on small business loan programs. The County Board would be meeting to talk about modifying the property tax payment requirement to waive late fees and penalties. Mayor Weidt clarified that playground were permitted to be open under the Governor’s order, but can be closed by the cities. The City of Hugo chose to keep them open and asked that parents followed the Center of Disease Control’s guidelines if their children visit them. The City was putting up signs and would monitor the playgrounds and make changes if necessary. The Mayor stated he had not seen a lot of activity so far, and closing them could be an enforcement issue. Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to direct staff to follow the Governor’s recommendations on what public facilities are open or closed unless directed otherwise by the Mayor through emergency actions or by vote of the Council. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Washington County Assessor’s Report – Assessor Dan Squyres Washington County Assessor Dan Squyres was in attendance remotely to provide information on the County’s Assessor report as it pertained to Hugo and answer questions from the Council in preparation for the Board of Appeals and Adjustments meeting on April 9, 2020. Dan shared information on work done by the County on property reviews and establishment of market values. Properties are reviewed every five years, and one-fifth of the properties are looked at every year. Each year, there are reassessments based primarily on sales. This year, the county will review approximately 1,400 parcels. Last year, 26,420 parcels were reviewed county-wide. There were 110 new homes constructed in 2019, slightly down from 124 in 2018. Arms- length sales (willing seller and willing buyer) are used to establish market value. There were 428 sales and 337 arms-length transactions. There were 91 foreclosure sales county-wide, which was not a big factor in the market. The median home value was $290,000, up 4.1% from last year. County values were about $16,000 higher than Hugo’s. Commercial values increased significantly throughout the metro area at 5.9%. Apartments increased at 4.7%, and agriculture classified properties had increased 6.3%. He reviewed the appeals process saying tax statements were mailed in March. He had received 34 appeal calls, and was able to handle all but two. He stated they would likely be appealing to the Local Board. Bear encouraged anyone who had a question on their classification or value to first contact the County Assessor. There was an option to provide a written appeal or contact the City to make Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2020 Page 3 of 6 arrangement to attend the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization virtually. Documents should be provided to the City in advance. As a last resort, because the tax notice directs them to, property owners could come to City Hall. Consent Agenda Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Pay Voucher No. 8 to CB&I for Water Tower No. 4 3. Approve Pay Request to Scandia Trucking, LLC for JD2 Ditch Maintenance 4. Approve Release of the Letter of Credit for Clearwater Cove 1st, 2nd and 3rd Additions Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Approve Claims Roster Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Pay Voucher No. 8 to CB&I for Water Tower No. 4 CB&I, LLC had submitted Pay Voucher No. 8 for work on the Water Tower No. 4 Improvement Project certified through February 28, 2020. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved payment to CB&I in the amount of $226,486.86. Approve Pay Request to Scandia Trucking, LLC. For JD2 Ditch Maintenance The City of Hugo received a request from Scandia Trucking, LLC, for approval of its first pay request for the 2019-2020 maintenance on Judicial Ditch #2. City staff had reviewed the pay request and found it to be satisfactory for work completed to-date. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved partial payment to Scandia Trucking, LLC, in the amount of $30,162. Approve Release of the Letter of Credit for Clearwater Cove 1st, 2nd and 3rd Additions Developer DR Horton had requested the City release their letter of credit for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Additions of the Clearwater Cove Development. City staff had inspected the work and found it acceptable. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the release of the letter of credit being held in the amount of $235,857.43 for the 1st Addition, $44,383.60 for the 2nd Addition, and $44,482.80 for the 3rd Addition. Approve Goodview Avenue Plans and Specs and Authorize Advertisement for Bids City Engineer Mark Erichson provided background on the Goodview Avenue street improvement project that would be from the southern City border north to Egg Lake Road/137th Street/County Road 8. The project would include bituminous pavement reclamation, roadway construction to 26-foot width, minor subgrade corrections, minor drainage improvements, and grading and Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2020 Page 4 of 6 culvert replacement only as necessary to address isolated drainage issues. In October, 2019, the Council authorized the preparation of the feasibility study. At their January 6, 2020, meeting Council approved receipt of the study and set a public hearing for February 3, 2020. The Council held the hearing and approved a resolution ordering the project and authorizing staff to prepare plans and specifications. He explained plans did not include the utility extension to the property located north of 130th Street, west of Goodview Avenue that was in question as to whether it would be subdivided. Plans and specifications had been prepared and were ready to be advertised for bidding and were available for review at City Hall. He provided a project schedule saying the next step was to advertise for bids. Award of a contract would occur at the May 18, 2020, City Council meeting. Construction would likely begin in June of 2020 with completion in September and the assessment hearing occurring in October. Weidt asked if there would be any delay with MnDOTapproval on the design because of COVID- 19. Mark said they were working closely with MnDOT and other agencies who are continuing to operate, and he did not anticipate any delays. Haas asked about the northwest corner of the intersection of Goodview Avenue and 130th Street where the land had been cleared. Mark explained that intersection was not quite complete. The City had worked with the landowner during the 130th Street project for additional right-of-way to shift the road to the south to improve sight-line issues. Klein made motion, Haas seconded, to approve RESOLUTION NO 2020-18 APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR THE 2020 GOODVIEW AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Update on 2021 Street Reconstruction and Lions Park City Administrator Bryan Bear provided an update on various items occurring in the downtown area that were related. Projects included Lions Park, downtown streets and the street CIP, stormwater reuse projects on CSAH 8 and downtown, proposed apartment project, extension of 147th Street, and COVID-19 impacts. He showed how these projects were geographically connected. He began with Lions Park stating the Council had directed staff to prepare for possible construction in 2021. Improvements to streets surrounding the park were scheduled to be done in 2022 according to the Street CIP. Bear explained the benefits of coordinating these projects. The next steps would be to update the CIP, begin the feasibility study and prepare for the 2021 street project. He talked about the stormwater re-use project for CSAH 8 explaining the project was ready to build. Funding would be available through an updated grant agreement with the Rice Creek Watershed District, in addition to money already allocated, and funds from the Metropolitan Council. There would still be a substantial City cost share, and the City needed to identify the source for those funds. Bear next talked about the proposed Hugo Gardens Apartments project that would include nearly 100 units. A public hearing was scheduled at the Planning Commission, and construction could begin this year and extend into 2021. This could Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2020 Page 5 of 6 include a negotiated cost share arrangement for Finale Avenue reconstruction and extension of 147th Street. Bear explained the benefits of coordinating a stormwater reuse project to serve the apartment project, Keystone Place, Lions Park, CSAH8, and possibly City Hall. This could all be done with the Hugo Gardens Development Agreement. COVID-19 could cause financial uncertainty and delays. Bear asked for Council to discuss the timing and pace of projects and direct staff to prepare for an amended CIP. Council asked questions about the feasibility study for Lions Park, amended CIP, timeline, and the importance of different projects. Bear responded saying the feasibility study would cost approximately $15,000 to update the study and would work best if combined with the street project. Staff could try to provide a timeline for projects considering the scope of it and the possible impacts of the coronavirus. Also, the resiliency of the projects were in question and whether they would continue to move forward. If the apartment project moved forward, there would be cost share with the City involved. Lions Park, streets, and water reuse projects could all be connected. Bear said Lions Park could probably still move forward even if other projects were pushed back temporality. He stated there could be more information in a few weeks. Petryk made motion, Miron seconded, to direct staff to prepare an amended CIP for Council review. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Update on Yellow Ribbon Network Council Members Chuck Haas and Phil Klein updated the Council on the activities of the Yellow Ribbon Network to date. The YRN had been contacted for help on Easter meals and gift cards. Hunt club members donated 150 pheasants to the Stillwater National Guard members who will be picking them up for their soldiers. In the next few weeks, the National Guard will be dong virtual drills. April Burger Night had been cancelled as well as other events of the YRN. Local Board of Appeals and Equalization on Thursday, April 11, 2019 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council they were scheduled to meet as the Local Board of Appeals and Equalization on Thursday, April 11, 2019, in the Oneka Room from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Due to the pandemic, the meeting would take place virtually. Staff had been working on modifications to ensure the public would be able to address the Council. Cancel Spring Cleanup on April 11, 2020 Cancel Kidz ‘n Biz on April 18, 2020 City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council the Spring Cleanup and Kidz ‘n Biz events had been cancelled due to the COVID -19 pandemic. Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2020 Page 6 of 6 Adjournment Miron made motion, Petryk seconded, to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau City Clerk