09-27-21 Special City Council MinutesSPECIAL OTSEGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
6:00 PM
OTSEGO PRAIRIE CENTER
Call to Order.
Mayor Jessica Stockamp called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Jessica Stockamp; Councilmembers: Tom Darkenwald, Jeff Dahl, and Tina
Goede. Absent Councilmember: Brittany Moores. Present City Staff: City Administrator/Finance
Director Adam Flaherty, City Planner Daniel Licht; City Engineer Ron Wagner; City Attorney
Dave Kendall; and Deputy City Clerk Bethany Benting.
City Engineer Ron Wagner arrived at 6:01 PM. Councilmember Tina Goede arrived at 6:13 PM.
1. Wright County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff Sean Deringer, Sergeant Jason Oltmanns, Chief Deputy Matt Treichler and Lieutenant
Jason Kramber presented information about the City law enforcement contract for 2022-2023.
Due to the growing community Wright County is proposing more hours for years 2023 and
2024. They want to provide a great service for a cost-effective agreement.
The raw data they presented was compared to cities like Sartell, Hutchinson, Rogers, Alexandria
and Anoka to name a few. Due to the growth, Otsego is now surpassing population in those
communities. Otsego is the largest populated city that Wright County was comparing data too.
Overall Otsego is the largest City (population wise) in Wright County and has significantly
increased in business development as well. Otsego has approximately 30.6 square miles to
cover. Calls for service, cases and population growth suggest that Otsego would benefit from
adding hours.
Ability to retain or recruit is always stressful but has been steady. Recommendation would be
adding 2 additional hour which is 50 hours total in 2023 and add 10 hours which would be 60
hours total for 2024.
Councilmembers discussed what it would look like if they kept the same hours or increased
hours. They discussed what the increased cost would be knowing keeping our city safe is top
priority. Sheriff Deringer is not asking the Council to make any decisions at this time, rather to
have the information to try and stay ahead of the future planning needs.
CM Darkenwald at 7:02 PM motioned to continue this special meeting following the
7 PM regular City Council meeting, seconded by CM Goede. All in favor. Motion
carried 5-0.
CM Darkenwald motioned to reopen this special meeting at 7:55 PM, seconded by
CM Goede. All in favor. Motion carried 4-0.
2. Franchise Fees.
City Administrator/Finance Director Adam Flaherty introduced the Franchise Fees for Electric
and Gas Utilities and was hopeful the Council would approve on the October 11th meeting. City
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CITY OF OTSETO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
Attorney Dave Kendall presented the slide presentation to Council on how to implement the
Franchise fees.
Mayor Stockamp asked when would the average resident understand there is a Franchise fee.
She also asked how other cities could add or change items. City Engineer Wagner said it has to
be established in the beginning.
CM Darkenwald asked what others have charged for gas and electric. City
Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty reviewed rates from other surrounding cities.
Mayor Stockamp said the Franchise fees would cover or pay for streets/roads. This keeps the
assessments down per resident to a max of $1,000.
Discussion between Councilmembers were on new streets that will eventually need to be
replaced and the funding will come from these franchise fees instead of a surprise cost to
residents.
3 Closed Session — Consider Offer for the Sale of Real Property (MN Statute
13D.05, Subd. 3, C-3).
Mayor Stockamp stated this meeting will be closed in accordance to Minn. Stat. 13D.05, Subd.
3, C-3.
CM Darkenwald motioned to close at 8:21 PM to a closed session. Seconded by
Mayor Stockamp. All in favor. Motion carried 4-0.
CM Darkenwald motioned to re -open the regular meeting at 8:39 PM. Seconded by
CM Dahl. All in favor. Motion carried 4-0.
4. Adjourn.
CM Darkenwald motioned to adjourn at 8:41 PM, seconded by CM Goede.
All in favor. Motion carried 4-0.
CIL
MaMayor Jessica Stockampr'�
Y
ATTEST:
Bethany B t ng, Depu ty Clerk
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