09-10-01 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001
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 6:35 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: .Virginia Wendel, Vern
Heidner and Jerry Struthers. Suzanne Ackerman arrived at 6:35 PM.
Staff. Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Judy Hudson, City Clerk; Andrew
MacArthur, City Attorney; Bob Kirmis, Assistant City Planner; Larry Koshak, City
Engineer.
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Fournier led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consider agenda approval.
CM Wendel requested to add Disaster Relief, CM Heidner requested to add: Street Sign
Size; CM Struthers requested to add: Discussion of the 7976 Odean Avenue House; Mike
Robertson requested to add: Waiver of Statutory Tort Limits; Larry Koshak requested to
add: Report on Regional Transportation Meeting; Mayor Fournier requested to add: Set a
Truth and Taxation Meeting, set a Sewer sub -committee meeting with Dayton and
discussion of Crack Filling.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the agenda as amended. Seconded by CM
Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
3. Consider the following_ minutes:
A. August 27, 2001 City Council Meeting_
CM Heidner requested to add his remarks for his reasons for voting against the motion
under Item 6.1. Mayor Fournier corrected a statement on Page 4.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of the minutes as corrected. Seconded by CM
Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
B. July 30, 2001 Public Hearing for 88th Street Improvement
CM Ackerman motioned to table the minutes as recommended by the City
Attorney. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
C. August 28, 2001 Council Budget WorkshW.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the minutes. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in
favor. Motion carried.
4. Open Forum: (5 minute limit
4.1. Special Presentations:
A. Jerry Olson, Building Official, adoption of the
1997 Fee Schedule.
Jerry presented the 1997 Fee Schedule
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the 1997 Building Fee Schedule. Seconded by
City Council Meeting of September 10, 2001. Page 2.
CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
B. Slabtown Assessment Hearing.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Hearing at 6:50 PM.
Judy Hudson attested the publishing and noticing was done. Judy also stated she received
a letter from Elaine Sand-Schulenburg objecting to their street assessment.
Mike Robertson went over the proposed assessment.
Andy MacArthur explained the process to appeal the assessment.
Mayor Fournier opened Hearing for Public comment.
Rick Grupa, 6201 Richardson Avenue. Mr. Grupa has six assessments and would like to
pay off one assessment every three years. Mr. MacArthur advised him that at the time he
final plats his property he should request the assessments are reapportioned accordingly.
There was no further public comment.
CM Heidner motioned to continue the Slabtown Public Hearing to September 24,
2001, 6:30 PM, City Council Meeting. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor.
Motion carried.
Clair Brauch of 17950 62°d Street said her driveway has not been resurfaced with similar
rock and a patch of her lawn has not been re -seeded.
Bruce MacAlpine, Richardson Avenue. He was concerned with the water drainage.
When there is a hard rain, the water now pools in his backyard instead of going to the
river as it did before the project.
Open Forum:
Rick Grupa stated he would like to do some grading before it freezes. Andy MacArthur
explained this can be authorized via a Grading Agreement and Letter of Credit.
Mark Campbell 14330 81' Street. Mr. Campbell explained he has been given a 10 x 16
shed by his neighbor and asked the Council to waive the Conditional Use Permit since it is
not a permanent structure. Mayor Fournier directed staff to bring this back to the next
City Council Meeting with a drawing and a report.
Jay Larson, 17322 53rd Street. Mr. Larson lives next door to Riverpointe (Orrin
Thompson). Mr. Larson's corner posts have been removed. On the far end of his property
the land has been build up 5 or 6 feet and he's worried the water will pool year around
rather than just in the spring. There is a lot of traffic going down the sewer treatment plant
road and is also being used by the construction equipment. He would like to see a gate or
lights installed. The construction crew is starting way too early in the morning.
Larry Koshak replied the ponding of water should be taken care with construction of the
plat. S. R. Wiedema has been talked to several times on the starting up time and use of
the road. The corner posts should be replaced. Mike Robertson will write a letter to
S. R. Wiedema and tell them they can work from 7 AM to 7 PM and must stay off the
treatment plant driveway. Council directed Mr. Larson to call the Sheriff if any violations
City Council Meeting of September 10, 2001. Page 3.
continued.
Jessica Stockamp, 15243 81' Court. Her lot is along Page Avenue. She needs to
complete the drainage in her backyard and would like to know when Page Avenue will be
completed.
5. Consent Agenda. (Non -controversial items)
5.1. Approve Claims List.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the Consent Agenda. Seconded by CM Ackerman.
All in favor. Motion carried.
6. Dan Licht, City Planner:
A. Final Plat for Hidden Creek Trails
Bob Kirmis presented the Planner's Report.
Larry Koshak stated the developer needs to complete a Wetland Plan; DNR needs to
approve the size of the pipe and do a risk assessment. Also their engineer should address
the 100 Year Flood Level.
Joyce Mickelson, applicant. She stated the Plan has been done. She has been talking with
the DNR and is trying to get them to comment to the City on this plat.
CM Heidner motioned to approve the Final Plat for Hidden Creek Trails subject to
the five conditions listed in the August 13, 2001 Findings of Fact, changing
Condition No. 4 to City Engineer and add to provide size of pipe, risk assessment
and wetland Plan. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
7. Larry Koshak, City Engineer:
A. Page Avenue Update
Larry Koshak presented the Engineering Memo.
Mayor Fournier motioned to do Option 4 (Complete entire project, using Park and Rec.
Funds to pay for bike path along Page Avenue bike path along 78`" and Quaday) along
with doing the storm sewer and 3" gravel Page Avenue 81' Street this fall. Seconded by
CM Struthers.
CM Heidner stated he has no problem with 80% of this project and graveling this fall but
he is concerned with the time line and who is responsible for the removal of the buildings
on the Sadowsky farm. He would like more information from staff on this.
Mayor Fournier withdrew his motion and CM Ackerman withdrew her second.
Mayor Fournier motioned to recommend Option 1 (storm sewer and 3" of gravel on
Page Avenue from 79h Street to 81S` Street this fall. Seconded by CM Heidner. All
in favor. Motion carried.
Council directed staff to bring back a report on how to complete Option 4.
B. Street Signs
CM Heidner said he has received complaints on the size of the city's street signs, being
City Council Meeting of September 10, 2001. Page 4.
too small. The Council directed the Engineer to change the requirement to a larger siz8
for future signs.
C. Regional Transportation Meeting
Larry Koshak reported the State wants the District 3, which Otsego is part of, to follow a
specific planning process and require cities and counties to get into more detail work
planning their street needs. This requires financial planning for 15 to 20 years. Mr.
Koshak will have this on the next City Council agenda with more information.
D. Crack Filling_ Project
Mr. Koshak reported the Company who did the Crack Filling will repair it and take care of
any other issues.
E. Quotes for soil borings on the Duerr property.
Mr. Koshak went over the quotes and recommended that these borings could be reduced
by one-third. CM Heidner said the borings should be done more in the northeast corner of
this property.
CM Heidner motioned to proceed with 66% of the borings shownin the northeast
corner of the property and not to exceed $4,000. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All
in favor. Motion carried.
8. Andrew MacArthur. City Attorney
A. Snowmobile Ordinance.
Mr. MacArthur said he hasn't been able to discuss this with the County Attorney, who has
been on vacation.
Mayor Fournier motioned to table this. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor.
Motion carried.
B. Facility Use Polic,
Mr. MacArthur went over the proposed changes.
CM Heidner requested to include language that if any liquor violation occurs, no damage
deposit will be refunded, any false fire or police alarm fines will be paid by renter.
Mayor Fournier motioned to stop renting out the City Hall for private parties as of
December 31, 2001. Seconded by CM Ackerman.
Voting For the Motion: Mayor Fournier, CM Struthers.
Voting Against the Motion: CM Wendel, CM Ackerman, and CM Heidner.
Motion failed three (3) to two (2).
CM Heidner stated his reason for voting against the motion is to allow staff to check with
a security company for their rates and if they would be a building supervisor. If the City
can't get building supervisors than he feels the City Hall can't be rented.
C. 7976 Odean Avenue.
Mr. MacArthur said the next step would be to have Jerry Olson, Building Official, to
review the property for junk and blight. The Council directed Jerry to start with inspection
and start enforcement action and for the City Attorney to get a copy of the Police Report.
D. Statutory Tort Limit
CM Heidner motioned not to waive the Statutory Tort Limit. Seconded by CM
Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
City Council Meeting of September 10, 2001. Page 5.
9. Council Items:
A. Set Preliminary Tax Levy Certification
CM Wendel motioned to approve the Resolution 2001-27 setting a Preliminary Tax
Levy of $1,163,468. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Council set December 10, 2001 for a Truth and Taxation meeting.
B. Update on East and West Sewer Plants
The bid opening is on October 2`d, 2001 for the East Plant Phase II.
October 18`h or the 25`h at 4 PM was set for the Sewer Sub -committee with Dayton at
Otsego.
C. Fence request at Treatment Plant entrance
The Council authorized an entrance sign with "Private Road - No Trespassing" and a
street light at the entrance.
10. Adjourn by 10 PM
CM Ackerman motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor.
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM
ayor �#U tournier
At es and a rded by: Judy Hudson, City Clerk
City Seal