03-11-02 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 11, 2002
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
OTSEGO CITY HALL
6:30 PM
1. Mayor Larry Fournier will call the meeting to order.
Mayor Fournier called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Virginia Wendel, Vern
Heidner, Jerry Struthers and Suzanne Ackerman.
Staff. Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Judy Hudson, City Clerk/Zoning
Administrator; Andrew MacArthur, City Attorney; Dan Licht, City Planner and Ron
Wagner, City Engineer.
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Fournier led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consider agenda approval.
Andy MacArthur requested to remove Item 8.1. Closed Meeting from the agenda since it
is not needed. CM Struthers requested to add under Item 6.2. Park Data. Mayor Fournier
requested to add under 9.a.1. The Roden/Weidenbach Letter and 9.a.2. Wayne Becker
Letter.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of the agenda as amended. Seconded by CM
Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
3. Consider the following minutes:
A. February 25, 2002 City Council Minutes.
CM Wendel motioned to accept the minutes as written. Seconded by CM
Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
4. Open Forum:
Tom Carter, 9466 Nashua Avenue, addressed the Council stating support of Otsego
starting a Police Department. He wants better response time and a department that knows
the City Ordinances better than the County's.
Ron Tong, 9277 Page Avenue. He also spoke in support for a Police Department in
Otsego.
Sharon Carter, 9466 Nashua Avenue. .She would like to see a Police Department in the
city. She feels Otsego's own Police Department would know the community better and
the residents would see the same officers rather than different officers.
5. Consent Agenda. (Non -controversial items
5.1. Approve Claims List.
5.2. Approval of Mechanical Games License for Fun City.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the Consent Agenda. Seconded by CM Struthers.
All in favor. Motion carried.
City Council Meeting of March 11, 2002, cont'd. Page 2.
6. Dan Licht, City Planner:
6.1. Final Plat for Otsego Commercial Park.
Mayor Fournier motioned to table this Item until the March 25, 2002 City Council
Meeting. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
6.2. Park Data
CM Struthers asked how many neighborhood parks there will be when the City is fully
developed. Dan Licht replied there is one planned for every section. Mayor Fournier
requested this Item be placed on the next City Council Agenda and discussed with the
Park and Recreation Commission.
7. Ron Wagner, City Engineer:
7.1. Approval of Page Avenue Plans and Revised Intersection with 85th Street
Order Ad for Bids and set Bid Opening Date - Recommend April 8 2002
Bid Opening_
Ron Wagner reviewed the Plans. Mike Robertson went over the financing. The Street
Access Fees will fund this project.
CM Struthers motioned to approve Page Avenue Plans and Revised Intersection
with 85th Street, order the ad for Bids and set the Bid Opening Date of April 8, 2002.
Seconded by CM Heidner. All in favor. Motion carried.
7.2. Consider ordering Stormwater Impact Fee Studies for NW Otsego
Watershed and Otsego Creek Watershed.
Ron Wagner reviewed the proposal.
CM Wendel motioned to approve to do studies for both NW Otsego Watershed and
the Otsego Creek Watershed. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion
carried.
8. Andrew MacArthur, Citv Attornev:
8.1. Closed Meeting due to Attorney -Client Privilege.
This item was deleted from the agenda.
8.2. Discussion of Fire Districts.
Andy MacArthur reviewed his letter. No action was taken.
8.3. Discussion of FEMA Floodplain Grant Program.
Andy MacArthur reviewed his memo. He noted no one would be forced to sell his or her
property.
Mayor Fournier motioned to direct staff to complete the application for this grant.
Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
9. Council Items:
A. East and West Sewer Plant Update.
Mike Robertson reported the City has received official acknowledgement of Otsego's
application for the West Sewer Plant from MPCA.
City Council Meeting of March 11, 2002, cont'd. Page 3.
9.a.1. The Roden/Wiedenbach letter.
The letter requested sewer lines to serve the Floyd Roden, Donald Weidenbach and
Vernon Weidenbach lands. Staff recommended that this letter be presented at the April 1,
2002 Comprehensive Plan Hearing.
9.a.2. Wayne Becker letter
The Council agreed that the Public Works Sub -committee should address this letter.
9.1. Mike Robertson, City Administrator:
A. Police Report.
Mike Robertson went over his memo. Mayor Fournier said several cities have a Polic
Commission and maybe Otsego should have one. Mike replied that typically they are
established because there will be a lot of work Council or Staff can't do. In Otsego's
case, a lot of work has already been done. CM Struthers noted in Mike's Report that
there are cities where the fines exceed the prosecution costs. Mike suggested that he put
together a sample budget and also costs of remodeling the City Hall to accommodate a
Police Department. Mayor Fournier agreed that the Council needs to know the costs and
directed Mike to prepare a three-year sample budget with 24-hour coverage.
CM Heidner said that the concerns of the residents are that they want officers to get to
know the residents, reduce the response time, know the street names and see more
officers in the neighborhoods.
10. Adjoum by 10 PM.
CM Ackerman motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor.
Motion carried.
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