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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991.02.19 CC MinutesMINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19. 1991 The regular meetinq of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Stol.tzman at 7:00PM. PRESENT: Brunotte, Jesinski, McAllister, Miron, Stolt man, City Attorney Charles Johnson, City Administrator Huber, Deputy Clerk Carole LaBelle Motion made by Miron, seconded by McAllister to approve the claims of February 19, 1991, in the amount of $99,219.98 All aye, motion passed. Motion made by Miron, seconded by Brunotte to approve the minutes of February 4, 1991 as amended. All aye, motion passed. APPOINTMENTS TO PLANNING COMMISSION Currently, there is a vacancy on the Planning Commission for a two-year term from the community at -large, and the Council representative to the Planning Commission, who serves as an ex -officio, nonvoting member. The Council -appointed committee has interviewed candidates for the community -at -large position and recommended that Mr. Dan Davis be appointed to the position. Motion made by Brunotte, seconded by Miron to appoint Mr. Dan Davis to the Hugo Planning Commission for a two year term endinq December 31, 1992. All aye, motion passed. The names of the other three candidates will be retained and considered for future appointments to the planning commission. Mayor Stoltzman volunteered to serve as ex -officio, nonvoting member of the Planning Commission. APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF APPEALS Currently, the Board of Appeals has one vacancy, which is the Planning Commission representative. Debra Barnes now serves in that capacity, and has indicated she would like to remain as the Planning_ Commission's representative on the Board. Motion made by Brunotte, seconded by Jesins4::i to appoint Debra Barnes to the Board of Appeals for the year 1991. All aye, motion passed. TELEVISE COUNCIL_ MEETINGS Administrator Huber stated that the City is currently running behind schedule in getting City Council meetings televised. The City has experienced some difficulties in putting together the right equipment City Council Meeting - February 19, 1991 Page confiquration to meet the City Council's needs. Currently, the equipment we requested is on order, and we are anticipating a mid-March completion date. Cable TV North Central has made a commitment of $3,000 toward the purchase of equipment; however, with the use of two cameras, and combining our audio and video equipment, it would appear that the total cost to equip the Council chambers will be approximately $6,500. The City Council expressed no objection to the increased cost and instructed Administrator to proceed with the installation of the equipment as discussed. ELMOREST AVENUE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT The City received a letter from City Engineer KUUsisto regarding the Elmcrest Avenue bridge replacement project. It was noted that the revised estimate for this project is $107,260, compared with the original estimate of $78,208 in 1988. The primary reason for the increase is the need to better address the roadway approaches to this bridge. Based on the engineer's report, it would appear that approximately $50,000 of this project will be the local share, making Hugo's commitment approximately $25,000. This is up approximately $12,000 from the budgeted funds for the making of this improvement. It is our understanding that this project is fairly high on the State's list, and we are looking at a 1991 or 1992 project date. After a lengthy discussion, the council directed the city engineer to proceed with this project as presented in the report dated February 7, 1991 PARk::ING IMPROVEMENTS FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS When the City completed its improvements to the athletic fields, north of City Hall last fall, the parking facilities to serve this complex were dropped from the project. The reason for this last-minute change was the high cost of the improvement over the engineer's estimate. We have contacted the Washington County Highway Department to see if they would be willing to do some of this construction work: for us in the spring. We feel it is imperative that we provide off-street parking to accommodate this new facility, and would recommend authorization to proceed with this proposal. Administrator Huber informed the Council the parking improvements would be paid for out of park funds at a cost of approximately $6,i)(M).00. Miron made motion, seconded by McAllister to authorize Administrator Huber to work with Washington County to accomplish the parking lot project within the scope of the cost estimate referred herein. All aye, motion passed. LETTER FROM BRUCE FAULk:EN A letter from Mr. Bruce Faul4::en, written on behalf of Dr. Robert k::ieffer was provided to the City Council. Councilman McAllister read the letter to the audience. The council felt copies of the letter should be provide, to the Ordinance Violations Committee. Councilman McAllister stated he objected to the executive session scheduled for later and felt discussion at said meeting should be restricted to the ad hoc committee report. City Attorney Charles Johnson informed the council that listening to the demands of the litigants was not a problem; however, responses that would be expressed could be a problem. City Council Meeting - February 19, 1991 Page 3. Councilman Miron asked whether the ad hoc committee listening to the Schumann's demands jeopardized the City's insurance. Charles Johnson stated that just listening to the demands, the risk. would be minimal, but the City must cooperate and communicate with the insurance company. STANFORD KRUEGER CASE The City Council was provided information regarding previous dealings with Mr. Stanford Krueger involving a Special Use Permit #1987-27 issued several years ago. Mr. Krueger had made a verbal commitment to bring his property into compliance with the SUP right after January 1, 1991. We have requested that the City attorney bring the Council up-to-date on the status of this issue. Attorney Charles Johnson informed the Council that he had been in contact with Mr. Krueger's attorney. Mr. Krueger is currently out of the state, but will return February 25, 1991. Inspections of the property revealed that no commercial activity is currently tak::inq place on site. Motion made by Miron, seconded by Jesinski to table the Stanford Krueger matter until the City Council meeting of March 18th, 1991 to allow Mr. Krueger time to confirm whether or not his contract for deed on the property has been paid off and construction of a home can begin. All aye, motion passed. The Forest Lake Lions were present with an application for a Charitable Gamblinq License/Premise Permit. The clerks office had received no paperwork: from the club prior to the city council meetinq. Mr. Lloyd Sather and Mr. Dale Swanson were anxious to have the Hugo City Council waive the 60 waiting period and adopt a resolution regarding this request. After a lengthy discussion regarding whether a resolution was required, the council decided to follow the same procedure as in previous requests, and if a problem occurred, the council would consider the resolution. Councilman Miron moved that the Hugo City Council does hereby resolve that they have no objections to issuance of a Premise Permit, pursuant to M.S. 349.213, Subd. 2, for the property described as R.J.'s Restaurant and Lounqe, 13891 Forest Boulevard, Hugo, MN, as submitted by the Forest Lake Lions Club, for the purpose of conducting lawful gambling. All aye, motion passed. Administrator Huber stated the building inspector would be in need of assistance during the summer months, and unless the Council expressed objections, an intern would be hired to work; with John Benson starting in mid-April. Noting that this is a budgeted item, the City Council indicated no objection to proceeding as recommended. City Council Meeting - February 19, 1991 Page 4 EXECUTIVE SESSION (SCHUMANN LITIGATION) After a brief recess to clear the council chambers, the Council met in executive session. PRESENT: Brunotte, Jesins4::i, McAllister, Miron, Administrator Huber, City Attorney Charles Johnson and Prosecutor Rich Hocking, Deputy Clerk Carole LaBelle Discussion to include the Ad Hoc Committee report and third party summons involving Mr. David Schumann and the City of Hugo. The regular City Council meeting reconvened at approximately 10:30PM. Councilman Miron moved to accept the report of the Ad Hoc committee and direct the city prosecutor to prepare a report regarding the nature of the Schumann's demands and that said report be sent to the City's insurance company with copies to the City Council. The City Attorney is to secure an attorney general's opinion on whether or not the council has the authority to negotiate and allow a specific land use in a zoning district where that land use is currently not allowed, and that the Ad Hoc litigation committee serves no further purpose and that it be dissolved. Motion seconded by Councilman McAllister, all members voting aye. Motion passed. Motion made by Miron, seconded by Jesinsk.i, to adjourn at 10:40PM. All aye, motion passed. Carole LaBelle, Acting Secretary