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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.03.18 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, March 18, 2024 7:00 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call COUNCIL PRESENT: Klein, Miron, Petryk, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Engineer Mark Erichson, City Attorney Dave Snyder, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approval of Minutes for the City Council Meeting on March 4, 2024 Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on March 4, 2024, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Strub seconded, to approve the agenda as amended by adding a notice of the Two Rivers Land Trust open house. All Ayes. Motion carried. Lakes Center for Youth and Family – Community Outreach Coordinator Linda Madsen and Executive Director Jamie Prettner City Administrator Bryan Bear explained the Lakes Center for Youth and Family (LC4YF) is one of two organizations that provide mental health services and youth diversion programs to Hugo residents, and Council allocates funding in the budget to support these programs. Linda Madsen had presented to Council in the past as the Executive Director of LC4YF. Linda retired from that position and was now the part-time Community Outreach Coordinator. Jamie Prettner had been selected to be the new Executive Director. Linda provided background beginning with her work in the Forest Lake School District and with the LC4YF since 2018. She introduced Jamie, who thanked the Council for their support and said she appreciated that Linda would be mentoring her. Linda talked about Jim Trudeau, a Washington County Sheriff who in 1976 wanted an option for troubled youth, so he began the youth program. Linda explained some of their recent work included making sure they were HIPPA compliant, and data was being protected. She said the pandemic hit them hard, and they were lucky to have received two PPP loans. Revenue sources included grants, insurance contracts, and money from the County and municipalities. They also receive money through Council Meeting Minutes for March 18, 2024 Page 2 of 5 charitable gambling at Running Aces and the Chisago Lakes Golf Course. They purchased their building in 2017. During the pandemic most meetings were virtual, and 95% still were because it was convenient. Since their building was paid for and many continued to work from home, they sold it in five days for the asking price and had 60 days to move. They were now leasing office space in the old Central Learning Center. Linda shared information on the programs the LC4YF offered. There were 115 clients that attended their enrichment and safety camps including three Hugo youth. There were 189 intervention clients, and of the 673 sessions held, six were clients from Hugo. In total, the LC4YF saw 214 clients for Counseling and held 2,878 sessions. The ages they served were between 3-80 years old. She said they do not turn anyone away. Grants are used for families that don’t have insurance or have a high deductible. Their goal was to maintain and expand program areas while watching finances and making sure salaries were keeping up with the market. They were also paying attention to what was needed in the community. Washington County Assessors Update - Appraisers Dan Squyres and Tyson Terry Washington County Residential Property Appraiser Tyson Terry was in attendance with Commercial Appraiser Dan Squyres to provide Council an update on County and Hugo property assessments in preparation for the Local Board of Appeals and Adjustments meeting on April 4, 2024. Tyson began by explaining the assessment year timeline begins on October 1 and goes to next September 30. They were currently working on the year 2025. Values were locked in currently and would be payable in 2024. Valuation notices were sent out the previous Friday. Tyson reviewed what residents would be seeing on the tax statement and some of the questions that may come up. The date of the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting would be on there, and they were starting to set up appointments for those looking to appeal. Tyson provided information on the assessment cycle. From March to October they will be out taking photos and knocking on doors. He talked about the quintile process that required properties be reviewed and updated every five years. This year, 1,123 properties were to be reviewed. Last year, they reviewed 1,536. He showed a map of the quintile area for this year which will be properties south of 130th Street. He reviewed sales statistics for last year saying there were 219 qualified sales. This did not include new construction or arm’s-length sales. This was down from 315 sales last year. The average sales price was $403,800, which was up from 2023 but down from 2022. The median price of a home was slowly rising. Lender mediated sales had dropped to 35 last year in the County with none in Hugo. There was only one new commercial building in Hugo, and that was the Premier Bank. There were 119 new residential homes constructioned last year, which was substantially down from 2021, likely due to high interest rates. Builders were creating programs to help new home buyers. Median home values last year declined by 4.7 %. Agricultural properties were being adjusted to be more in line with residential sites. Overall, the adjustment was down 3.7%. New listings had gone down over the last two years. Sellers are still getting 100% of their asking price. Council Meeting Minutes for March 18, 2024 Page 3 of 5 Petryk questioned whether they would be identifiable as County Assessors when going to homes. Tyson replied that he would be driving his personal vehicle but would have ID and wear a vest and Washington Count hat. He said they would be leaving contact information if no one was home. Approval of Consent Agenda Petryk made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Special Event Permit for Legion Family Day on April 27, 2024 3. Approve Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for the Chain of Lakes Rotary Event on May 3, 2024 4. Approve Temporary Liquor License for the Chain of Lakes Rotary Event on May 3, 2024 5. Approve Resolution Approving Encroachment Agreement for 4702 Fable Hill Parkway North – Teich and Moe All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Claims Roster Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Special Event Permit for Legion Family Day on April 27, 2024 The Hugo American Legion Auxiliary had applied for a Special Event Permit to hold a festival on Saturday, April 27, 2024. A Special Event Permit approved by Council was necessary because alcohol would be sold outdoors, there may be more than 200 people in attendance throughout the day, and there would be amplified music and event announcements. The event would include a BBQ contest, raffles, and games for children and adults. The BBQ teams would begin to set up at 6 a.m., and the event was to end at 6 p.m. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Special Event Permit for the Hugo American Legion Family Day on April 27, 2024. Approve Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for the Chain of Lakes Rotary Event on May 3, 2024 The Chain of Lakes Rotary had applied for a Lawful Gambling Permit to hold raffles during their event on May 3, 2024, at the Pede Pedersen Pavilion. Lawful Gambling Permits were issued by the State after approval from the City. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for the Chain of Lakes Rotary. Approve Temporary Liquor License for the Chain of Lakes Rotary Event on May 3, 2024 The Chain of Lakes Rotary had applied for a Temporary Liquor License to serve alcohol during their event on May 3, 2024, at the Pede Pedersen Pavilion. Temporary Liquor Licenses were issued by the State after approval from the City. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Temporary Liquor License for the Chain of Lakes Rotary subject to receipt of the Certificate of Liability Insurance for the serving of alcohol. Council Meeting Minutes for March 18, 2024 Page 4 of 5 Approve Resolution Approving Encroachment Agreement for 4702 Fable Hill Parkway North – Teich and Moe Daniel Teich and Molly Moe had requested an encroachment agreement to construct a fence and rock pathway within a drainage and utility easement on their property located at 4702 Fable Hill Parkway North. The Senior Engineering Technician had reviewed the location of the fence and rock pathway and was comfortable with the request. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved RESOLUTION 2024-9 APPROVING AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A FENCE AND ROCK PATHWAY WITHIN A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4702 FABLE HILL PARKWAY NORTH. Public Hearing on Drainage and Utility Easement Vacation at 12796 Ethan Avenue The applicant, Raj Alexander, had requested to vacation of a portion of drainage and utility easement located over a portion of his property at 12796 Ethan Avenue North. The City maintains drainage and utility easements over wetlands on site. The applicant had a wetland delineation completed in 2023 that revealed upland in an area indicated in a previous delineation to be wetland. The vacation request was to remove the easement over the upland to allow for the construction of an accessory building. Staff was comfortable with the request to vacate that portion of the drainage easement. Mayor Weidt opened the public hearing. There were no comments, and the Mayor closed the public hearing. Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the notice to vacate a portion of the drainage easement over 12796 Ethan Avenue North. All Ayes. Motion carried. Reminder Local Board of Appeal and Equalization on April 4, 2024 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council they will meet as the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization on April 4, 2024, in the Oneka Room at City Hall from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Two Rivers Community Land Trust Open House City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council that Two Rivers Community Land Trust will hold an open house on March 28, 2024, from 3-5 p.m. at 14914 Glenbrook Avenue North. The Land Trust supported affordable housing in Washington County by buying properties and making them available at discount prices. Bear asked Council to let staff know if they were interested in attending. Council Meeting Minutes for March 18, 2024 Page 5 of 5 Adjournment Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk