05-14-01 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 14, 2001
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
OTSEGO CITY HALL
6:30 PM
1. Mavor Fournier will call the meeting to order.
Mayor Fourneir called the City Council meeting to order at 6:40 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Vern Heidner, Virginia
Wendel, Jerry Struthers. Suzanne Ackerman arrived at 7:09 p.m.
Staff. Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Judy Hudson, City Clerk/Zoning
Administrator; Andrew MacArthur, City Attorney; Dan Licht, City Planner; Ron Wagner,
City Engineer.
Pledge of Alle iance: Mayor Fournier led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consider agenda approval
CM Wendel added discussion of shrub planting and discussion of the joint EDA/EDAAC
meeting under Item 9. Mike Robertson added appointment of Dayton Sewer Committee
and set a Sewer sub -committee meeting under Item 9. Mayor Fournier requested to add
County Road 42 & 85`s street berm, and City Street Intersections under Engineering, and
37/101 Darkenwald building under Item 9.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of the City Council Agenda as amended. Seconded
by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
3. Consider the following minutes:
A. April 23 2001 City Council Meeting,
CM Wendel motioned to accept the City Council Minutes as written. Seconded by
CM Heidner. All in favor. Motion carried.
4. Open Forum.
4.1. Open Forum
Betty Benson, 8982 Mason Avenue, expressed concern with the Hidden Creek
development proposal.
4.2. Alena DeCandia - Owner of Riverwood Conference Center.
Alena DeCandia stated she is committed to participate in the West Otsego Sewer Plant.
She would also like to connect Riverwood to City water if it is available. Mayor Fournier
thanked her for her support.
5. Consent Agenda.
5.1. Approve Claims
CM Wendel motioned to approve the Consent Agenda. Seconded by CM Struthers.
All in favor. Motion carried.
6. Dan Licht City Planner:
6.1. Meadowlands Subdivision
City Planner Licht presented the staff report. City Engineer Ron Wagner went over his ,
report. Mayor Fournier said he thought the development needed a second full width
access going east to O'Brian Avenue. Mayor Fournier indicated there were two choices,
90`h Street or 87`h Street, and that he personally preferred 87`h Street. CM Heidner stated
he would prefer an access on the southern end of the development but not necessarily 87`h
Street. He suggested that the City give the developer the flexibility to negotiate an access
witk any interested landowner.
CM Ackerman arrived at this point (7:09 PM)
CM Heidner said that after speaking to the City Engineer he would be willing to allow
asphalt curb because it would be cheaper to remove if sewer and water were ever
installed, but he would like the straight up and down curb so contractors aren't driving
over it. Administrator Robertson said he thought that contractors would still drive over
the blacktop curb and that it.will never look as good or last as long as concrete curb. CM
Wendel would support blacktop curb to allow the developer to save money because it will
be more expensive for them to put in the additional street access.
CM Heidner asked if southern access road does not use the 87`h Street easement does that
have any implications for any property owners who wouldn't have access? City Planner
Licht stated they still could extend a street to the 87`h Street easement. CM Heidner noted
that easements should be preserved to do that. Mayor Fournier stated if this was done
some properties could potentially subdivide their lots and avoid paying for the new road.
City Attorney MacArthur said that the developer would bear all costs until the other
properties develop, but that the City could charge those properties a road access fee and
reimburse the developer. This would be set up through the Development Agreement.
CM Struthers asked what would happen if DNR doesn't give approval for an outlet? City
Engineer Wagner said that the City received verbal permission in 1995 for an outlet. He
will be submitting a plan and doesn't see a problem. CM Heidner stated he would like
City Engineer to work with developer to make the stormwater pond on the east side of the
development a little bit deeper.
Mayor Fournier stated that he supports this project because it will help to solve a serious
stormwater drainage problem.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt Resolution NO. 01-15 amending the Comprehensive
Plan to include the entire parcel described by attached Exhibit A within the Long
Range Urban Service Area and designate it for future Low Density Residential Use.
Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
CNN Heidner motioned to amend the Zoning Map to rezone property located
northeast of Nashua Avenue and 85`h Street from A-1 District to R-3 District to
allow development of single family uses as part of the Meadowlands Preliminary
Plat. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the CUP/PUD Preliminary Plat of Meadowlands
subject to 11 conditions, modifying Condition 3 regarding the location of the
secondary street access per recommendation of staff and with the higher blacktop
curb. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried.
6.2. Final Plat for Prairie Creek 5`h Addition
City Planner Licht presented the Planner's Report. City Engineer Wagner went over his
report.
CM Heidner moved adoption of the Final Plat for Prairie Creek 3`s Addition subject
to the 4 conditions listed in the Findings of Fact. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All
in favor. Motion carried.
6.3. Hidden Creek Trails Subdivision
City Planner Licht presented the Planner's Report. Joyce Michaelson, representing the
applicant, stated they had discussed looping the road within the subdivision and not
running it to the east, and wanted to know if that would still be considered a cul-de-sac?
Dan Licht said that it would be a cul-de-sac because it would have just one access and
they would need two accesses for the road not to be a cul-de-sac. Dan Licht noted that
density is the main issue, not the road design.
CM Heidner stated he was not completely convinced that 90`h street is that beneficial to
city. He noted that it would probably be a 55 mph street with speeding problems, and that
future maintenance costs would be up to the city. City Engineer Wagner said that they
could design the road for a lower speed.
Betty Benson, 8982 Mason Avenue, adjacent to property, said that her concern is that
they should be limited to 4 per 40 density, the same as she was.
Mayor Fournier motioned to table this issue until a new street design could be
reviewed. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
6.4. Comprehensive Plan - Limitation on townhouse uses
City Planner Licht went over his memo. Administrator Robertson asked if Pheasant Ridge
5`h Addition would be exempted from this as they have already applied. Dan Licht said
that he assumed they would. Administrator Robertson noted that the only other land that
is guided for town homes and has sewer available would be the Darkenwald land at 78`h
Street and Quaday Avenue. CM Wendel wondered if the City was sending the wrong
message. City Attorney MacArthur said that this policy could be changed by the City at
any time.
Mayor Fourneir motioned to adopt Resolution 01-16 establishing a policy on
additional townhome unit development with the city to maintain a balance in the
supply of housing choices. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All voted in favor except
for CM Wendel. Motion carried 4-1.
6.5. Any other Planning Issues
Berm at intersection of County Road 42 & 85'h Street
Mayor Fournier noted he had received a call from a resident stating that he thought there
was going to be more of a berm screening the Stonegate Addition at County Road 42 &
85`h Street City Engineer Wagner reviewed the grading plan and said that everything has
been constructed according to the approved plan. City Planner Licht said it was noted at
the hearing that the berm provides screening in the south part of the development and
trees provide screening in the north part from the future industrial area across the street.
He -indicated that the developer hadn't gotten to that portion of the development yet.
Parks and Recreation Commission Requests
A. Installation of Irrigation System at Prairie Park. City Planner Licht
reported that the Three Rivers Soccer Association would like to apply for a grant to install
an irrigation system in Prairie Park. Mike Day, Park Commission Chair, said there will
actually be two separate applications, one for the VFW soccer fields and one for Otsego.
The Soccer Association is talking about giving additional funds to assist in the project.
CM Heidner said to make sure that the Soccer Association doesn't think that all of its
funds are going to the VFW field and none to Prairie Park.
CM Wendel motioned to authorize the City Engineer to prepare an estimate for
irrigation for Prairie Park. Seconded by Mayor Fourneir. All in favor. Motion
carried.
B. School Knoll Park Plan
City Planner Licht went over the plan. Staff was directed to place this on the next City
Council Agenda. CM Heidner would like to see any Park Plan give a yearly estimate on
maintenance costs.
7. Ron Wagner City Engineer:
7.1. Downtown Service Road Improvement
Administrator Robertson said the patch would be a 1-1/z inch overlay over the bad parts of
the road. He also indicated that the business owners have talked about taking over the
service road and turning it into a parking lot. After discussion, Council was in consensus
to continue minor patching and not do an overlay.
7.2. 2001 Roadway Maintenance Plans
Mayor Fournier motioned recommendation to get quotes for these projects.
Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
CM Ackerman motioned to accept Road Management Plan Update of April 2001.
Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
7.3. Consider passing a Resolution approving no parking along 88`f' Street
as Required by State Aid
CM Wendel motioned to pass Resolution No. 01-17 relating to Parking Restrictions
on 88`s Street with two "No parking signs". Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in
favor. Motion carried.
7.4. Any other En ineerin Ig, tems
City Street Intersections
Mayor Fournier said that some Class 5 was needed on the corners of intersections in the
Antelope Park area. Mike said he talked to Dave Chase and they will take care of it.
8. Andrew MacArthur City Attorney_
8.1. Workshop for City Commissions
The,City Council set Monday, June 18, 2001 at 8 PM for the workshop for all
commissions and directed staff to not allow any other items that night.
8.2. Today Properties Development Agreement
City Attorney MacArthur reviewed the Developers Agreement. Mike & Bob Day said
they were satisfied with the agreement.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the Developers Agreement with numbers staff
provided. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
9. Council Items:
A. Ted Field, Bonestroo Engineering - West Otsego WWTP Update
Ted went over his report and noted that the next step is to identify a site and a size for the
sewer plant so Bonestroo can begin work on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet
(EAW). CM Wendell asked if the design of this plant would be the same as the eastern
plant. Ted Field said yes. Council would like to see a 15 to 20 acre site obtained so that
there is room for expansion and a buffer from surrounding uses. Mayor Fournier
suggested a workshop, with staff to identify potential sites, a potential initial sewer
district, and options for reserving capacity for commercial and industrial uses. Council set
June 12, 2001 at 4:00 PM for a West Otsego WWTP Workshop.
B. Dayton Sewer Sub -Committee
Council was in consensus that the existing sewer sub -committee of Mayor Fournier and
Councilmember Heidner would act as the subcommittee to meet with Dayton about sewer
issues.
C. Darkenwald Caved in Building
CM Heidner noted that per previous agreement, the Darkenwald's had agreed that when
Highway 101 was expanded to 4 lanes they would not be able to fix up any of their old
buildings. Administrator Robertson was directed to contact them to have the building
removed.
D. EDAAC/EDA Meetin
Council agreed to cancel this group meeting due to lack of agenda items.
E. Shrub update
Council reviewed the document known as `THE SHRUB PLAN'.
CM Wendel motioned to plant shrubs in front of City Hall, costs not to exceed $500.
Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
F. Discussion of Law Enforcement
CM Struthers said he was dissatisfied with the service the City was receiving from the
Shefiff's office. CM Heidner noted that he heard a dirt bike buzzing around all weekend
that obviously had not been addressed. After discussion Council directed Administrator
Robertson to write a letter to Sheriff that the entire Council would sign.
9.1. Mike Robertson City Administrator
No items.
9.2. Judy Hudson, ity Clerk
No items.
10. Adjourn by 10 PM
CM Ackerman motioned to adjourn at 10:17, seconded by CM Wendel. All in
favor. Motion carried.
yor L ou er
Att st Ju udson, City Clerk
ccmin05-14-0I/mr