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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.16.96 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR DECEMBER 16, 1996 1. Mayor Kuchera convened the meeting at 7:00 P.M.. Members Present: Kuchera, Ristow, Fitch, Galler. Members Absent: Gamer. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, Attorney Grannis. 2. Mayor Kuchera led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Galler, second by Ristow to approve the agenda with the following changes: a) Item Sj - Wausau Fence Completion - additional information added, remove from Consent for abstention. b) Item Sm - Approve Release of Liability for Sewer Back Up Claim - remove from Consent for discussion. c) Item So - 1997 COLA Increase for Non Bargaining Employees - additional information added, remove from Consent for discussion. d) Add item 9a - Agreements for Purchase of Land for Water Reservoir Site. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Citizen Comments Henry Iwerks: voiced his concern about the cost involved with televising Council meetings and whether use by residents would justify that cost. He also stated his belief that Department Heads were overpaid and the Council needed to decide if they represented the employees or the citizens. Jeff Thelen: Representing Farmington Snow Tigers. Addressed Council regarding his group's desire to help resolve problems associated with snowmobiling in the City and offered to participate in the workshop to be held to review and revise the City's snowmobiling ordinance. Dave Pritzlaff: Asked whether pine Knoll sanitary sewer connections was on the evening's agenda. No, will be on agenda in January. 5. MOTION by Ristow, second by Galler to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve minutes of ll/20 (Special), 12/2 (Regular) and l2/4 (Special). b) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R125-96 approving a request for additional SCBG funds for City Hall ADA requirements. c) Approve capital outlay purchase - ice skid unit for the Rescue Squad d) Approve capital outlay purchase - mobile radio for Rescue Squad e) Approve capital outlay purchase - carbon monoxide detector kit - Fire/Rescue f) Received update on Metropolitan Council projected sewer flows g) Set January 14, 1997 at 7:00 P.M. for Restorative Justice workshop h) Approve hiring Dianne Nourie as library/Idea School Custodian i) Accept the resignation of Economic Development Director Gerald Henricks effective January 31, 1997 j) Receive "Toys for Tots" update k) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R126-96 opposing any increase in speed limit on TH 3 1) Approve school and conference request - City Engineer Conference m) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R128-96 accepting drainage easements in prairie Creek 4th n) Approve payment of the bills as submitted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. Wausau Fence Completion Per the recommendation of Attorney Grannis a to direct staff to complete the installation Wausau property per the approved agreement. ABSTAIN: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION of the VOTING by Galler, second by Kuchera chain link fence on the FOR: Galler, Fitch, Kuchera. 7. Sewer Claim Liability - 35 Elm Street Councilmember Galler requested this item be removed from Consent for discussion. It was his belief that paying the 10 year old claim would set a precedent whereby other old claims which had been denied by the City's insurance carrier would be resurrected for Council review. Administrator Erar stated that he and City Engineer Kaldunski had reviewed the incident and it was possible that work being done by the City in the area at the time of the back up may have caused the problem, which was further substantiated by the fact that no backups had occurred since. MOTION by Ristow, second by Fitch to reimburse John Richardson owner of 3S Elm Street for costs incurred by a sewer backup at his home. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Kuchera, Fitch. VOTING AGAINST: Galler. MOTION CARRIED. 8. 1997 COLA Increase for Non Bargaining Employees Councilmember Ristow asked what criteria was used to determine the percentage of the COLA increase. City Administrator Erar noted that based on his conversations with other cities, in addition to market comparisons, the 3% increase was the average. He also noted that the 1997 Budget had included a 3% wage increase. MOTION by Galler, second by Kuchera to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R127-96 approving the 3% COLA increase for non bargaining employees for 1997. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. Continued Hearing - Truth in Taxation Finance Director Roland stated that the Truth in Taxation hearing of December 4th had been continued until this evening and Council now needed to decide whether or not they were going to approve the 1997 Budget and Levy. Discussion regarding the benefits of holding public hearings to discuss budgets and tax levies followed, with the consensus of Council and audience members that it was a valuable tool for taxpayers, although few participated in the process. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Ristow, second by Kuchera to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R129-96 approving the 1997 Budget and Tax Levy. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Public Hearing - MUSA Expansion/Comprehensive Plan Amendment City Planner Tooker presented the background that led to the request for an expansion of MUSA boundaries in the City and reviewed various maps which indicated boundary, land use, and transportation layouts. Mr. Tooker reported that he had met with Metropolitan Council staff and their concerns revolved primarily around the capacity of the Empire wastewater treatment plant which was recently expanded and for which another expansion is being discussed. Other topics of the discussion were the need for more upscale housing in the City, and the expected continuation of residential growth in the near future. Administrator Erar commended Planner Tooker and Planning Intern Mike Schultz for their efforts in preparing the expansion application. Mr. Tooker requested that the Council approve the Comprehensive Plan/MUSA Expansion Amendment pending Metropolitan Council approval. MOTION by Ristow, second by Galler to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to approve the MUSA Expansion Comprehensive Plan Amendment pending approval by the Metropolitan Council. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. Cameron Woods POD Zoning Ordinance Amendment Planner Tooker informed Council that a public hearing was required before the City's zoning ordinance and map could be amended to include the Cameron Woods PUD. Mr. Tooker reviewed the site plan for Cameron Woods with Council and answered questions regarding the SO foot buffer on the north and south boundaries of the plat. He noted that there had been some changes made to the grading plan but that the trees in the buffer would remain. Council requested that language requiring the trees in the buffer be protected be placed in the development agreement for the plat. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fitch, second by Ristow to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 096-384 amending the City's zoning ordinance and map by rezoning the plat known as Cameron Woods from R-l to R-l PUD. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 12. Agreements for Purchase of Site for Water Reservoir City Attorney Grannis reviewed the changes to the agreements between the City and the Wenzel's, and between the Water Board and the City. Changes to the purchase agreement with the Wenzel's were a change in the legal description, change in the closing date, and clarification of City payment of any special assessments connected to the County Road 31 realignment. Changes to the payback agreement between the Water Board and City were a change in the legal description, 2 dates which were missing in the document were filled in, and clarification of the interest accrual on payback payments. Mr. Grannis informed Council that the Water Board had approved both agreements. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to approve the agreements with the noted changes. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. Snowplowing Concerns Questions regarding the policy on call outs for snowplowing and how requests and concerns regarding plowing were to be reported after regular business hours were discussed. The policy states that calls should be made to the Police Department who would then notify the employee on call. Councilmember Ristow was concerned about having to go through the Lakeville Police dispatch on weekends and after hours, since they were extremely busy during snowfall events. The snow removal crew was commended for their work during the recent snow storms. No action was needed. 14 . ROUNDTABLE City Engineer Kaldunski: Reported that he had discussed the Elm Street project with parkwood Presbyterian Church and off zone behind the church rather than on Elm. the future regarding their proposal. striping they had They proposed creating a drop will contact the City in City Administrator Erar: Informed Council that a reception honoring retiring Mayor Kuchera and Councilmember Galler was being 6th before the scheduled Council meeting and invited the two attend. planned for January retiring members to 15. MOTION by Fitch, second by Galler to adjourn at 9:07 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~ Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist