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01-12-98 CCCITY OF OTSEGO WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS OTSEGO CITY HALL JANUARY 12, 1998 L Mayor La= Fournier will call meeting to order: Mayor Fournier called the January 12, 1998 City Council Meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Ig Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Fournier led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Suzanne Ackerman, Virginia Wendel, Vern Heidner, Mark Berning. Staff: Andrew MacArthur, City Attorney; Bob Kirmis, Assistant City Planner; Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Elaine Beatty, City Clerk/Zoning Administrator; Judy Hudson, Deputy Clerk. Absent: John Harwood, City Engineer 2. Consider agenda approval, CM Berning requested Item 5.2. removed from the Consent Agenda and placed under Item 9.4.d. Mayor Fournier requested the addition under Item 9.4. Extension of void and expired commission members until interviews are completed. The addition of Item 6.2.b. Discussion of the Kadler Avenue closing per the Meyer Rohlin letter dated 1-9-98. Addition under Item 8. John Harwood's Memo to Mike Robertson dated 1-12-98. CM Ackerman motioned to approve the January 12, 1998 City Council Agenda as amended. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried. a. December 22, 1997 City Council Meeting_ CM Heidner motioned adoption of the December 22, 1997 City Council Meeting Minutes. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. 4. Open Forum: No one appeared. 5. Consent Agenda, 5.1. Approval of Resolution 98-1 adopting an official newspaper. 5.3. Set date for EDA meeting Janu26, 1999 (Immediately followi g regular Council Meeting) - Item . , ing).Item 5.2. was removed for discussion and placed under Item 9.4.d. CM Berning motioned adoption of Consent Agenda as amended. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. Otsego City Council Meeting of January 12, 1998, cont'd. Page 2. (The applicant, Michael Emberton was not in attendance). Mr. Kirmis noted the letter the City received from Mike Emberton dated January 12, 1998 asking for his project be allowed the 60 days to be withdrawn or acted on prior to the expiration timeline. Mr. MacArthur stated the applicant isn't clear in his letter what he is requesting. Don Greninger, land owner, was present and said a letter was received from the City stating that this application would be extended for either 30 or 60 days and Mr. Emberton wants the 60 days. Mr. MacArthur clarified for Mr. Greninger that the reason the City sent the letter to Emberton was because this application was requested to be continued. The City is required, by State Statutes, to act upon an application within 60 days, unless, it is extended for an additional 60 days. If Mr. Emberton withdraws the application within the 120 days he would be able to resubmit the application within one year. If not withdrawn, the City acts on this, Mr. Emberton would not be able to resubmit without the City Council Vote. Mr. Greninger said he understands. He also encouraged the Council to not only look at developing on the eastern side of the City but also on the western side since he feels the City doesn't understand how difficult it is for farmers to continue farming in Otsego. Mike Robertson noted if the Council does not act on this application by February 9, 1997 City Council Meeting, the request for rezoning is automatically approved according to State Statutes. Mr. MacArthur also noted the previous continuation of this request was to give the applicant time to submit additional information and no additional information has been submitted. Otsego City Council Meeting of January 12, 1998, cont'd. Page 3. CM Wendel motioned to continue this request to the January 26, 1998 City Council Meeting and for Mike Robertson, City Administrator to inform Mike Emberton, applicant. Seconded by Mayor Fournier. All in favor. Motion carried. 6.2. Any other Pl nning Business - a. usL iness. a. Consider establishing a Workshop for omV- Plan (Suggested date are February 2- 4.5, or 12th) CM Berning motioned to set February 4, 1998, 8 PM, for the Workshop for Comprehensive Plan during the Planning Commission Meeting with the City Council. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. b. Letter from Meyer-Rohlin. Inc. dated Januar), 9, 1998 received by the City on January 12, 1998. The letter sent to the City included a Kadler Avenue Closing Plan for permanent closure of the road. CM Heidner stated this issue has been previously discussed, at which time the City of Otsego directed that whoever wants this street closed must come before the City and formally request for the vacation of this portion of Kadler Avenue. The vacation process will enable the City to address all issues and collect fees associated with the vacation request. The Mayor and Council agreed to have Mike Robertson contact Meyer-Rohlin, Inc. and clarify this issue. 7. Andrew MacArthur, CityAttorney: 7.1. Discussion of Lease and Agreement of Lease Eaui ment (for lease of tractor). Mr. MacArthur stated he has concerns with the concept of the lease. With not knowing the intentional use of the tractor and storage reasons, he recommends not entering into this lease. Jeff Bartheld, Chair of Parks and Rec., clarified the tractor is used quite often by the Park and Rec. Commission. They use it at their different events for pulling hay wagons and dragging the play area around the ballfields. The owner is not using it personally. The Council discussed concerns of who is responsible for repairs, maintenance, the owner providing proof of commercial insurance, owner's right to examine, and if the owner would want to sell the tractor to the City. Mr. Bartheld said he will ask the owner if he is interested in selling the tractor and if so, a price. Jeff indicated they wanted to use the tractor at the Winter Fest on January 19, 1998. Mr. MacArthur recommended using the City's tractor. CM Wendel motioned for Jeff Bartheld, Chair of the Park and Rec. Commission, to contact Tom Bailargeon, owner of the tractor, if he is interested in selling the tractor to the City and the price and if so, does the budget allow this expenditure. Seconded by CM Ackerman. Voting For the Motion: Mayor Fournier, CM Ackerman, CM Heidner, CM Wendel. Voting Against the Motion: CM Berning Otsego City Council Meeting of January 12, 1998, cont'd. Page 4. Motion carried four (4) to one (1). Mr. MacArthur updated the Council on the wastewater treatment site. John Harwood, the appraiser and himself met with representatives of the Lahn property today. The appraiser will have the appraisal done just as soon as possible. 8. John Harwood, City Engineer: Was not in attendance. 8-1- John Harwood's Memo to Mike Robertson dated January 12, 1998. Mike Robertson went over the two items addressed in the attached memo. 1). John Harwood recommended not to replace the culvert at MacIver Avenue at this time but in the Fall of 1998. 2). Mr. Harwood recommended the City Council accept the Roadway Maintenance Plan Report and for staff to make a recommendation to council on maintenance's costs of paved and gravel roads as outlined in the attached memo. 9. Council Items: 9.1 Mayor Fournier assign Committee Duties to Council Membe Mayor Fournier appointed Councilmembers to committee duties as follows: Planning Commission: CM Heidner Alternate: CM Wendel EDAAC: CM Wendel Alternate: Mayor Fournier Parks and Rec.: CM Berning Alternate: CM Ackerman Heritage: CM Ackerman Alternate: CM Berning Public Works Sub -comm: CM Ackerman, Mayor Fournier Alternate: CM Wendel Administrative Sub -comm: CM Heidner, Mayor Fournier Alternate: CM Berning Otsego Creek Authority: CM Berning, CM Wendel Alternate: CM Heidner Urban/Rural Taxing District: CM Berning, CM Ackerman Alternate: CM Wendel Community Rec.: CM Berning Alternate: CM Wendel Post Office: CM Wendel, CM Berning Alternate: Mayor Fournier Albertville/Otsego Shared Road Sub -committee: CM Wendel, CM Ackerman Alternate: CM Berning Sewer Sub -committee: CM Heidner, Mayor Fournier Alternate: CM Berning Otsego City Council Meeting of January 12,1998, contd. Page 5. Otsego Police Department: CM Berning, CM Heidner Alternate: Mayor Fournier (Note: Otsego Police Department Committee are to have their report completed by the Budget Meeting held in August). CM Heidner motioned to adopt Mayor Fournier's appointments. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. 9.2. Election of Acting Mayor CM Ackerman nominated CM Heidner. Seconded by CM Wendel. CM Ackerman motioned to close nominations. Seconded by Mayor Fournier. All in favor. Motion carried. 9.4_ Any other Council Business_ a. Consider adoption of 1998 Budget. CM Heidner motioned to adopt the 1998 Proposed Budget with the exception of the modifications of the Public Works items that were discussed at the Budget Workshop Meeting of January 7, 1998 of more equitable allocation of funds for maintenance of gravel and paved roads. Seconded by CM Wendel. All in favor. Motion carried. b. Set date for Workshop for Council/Boards and Commissions Mayor Fournier requested this item be continued to the February 9, 1998 City Council Meeting. c Set date for Interviews for Board/Commission positions. Mayor Fournier set January 27, 1998 7 PM. d Extension of void and expired commission members until interviews are completed- Ibis om 1p eted. This item was note addressed. 5.2 Approval of Resolution 98-2 establishing depositories for City Funds. CM Berning noted that the Resolution states Security Bank Northwest of St. Michael. This is no longer the correct name. CM Berning motioned to adopt Resolution 98-2 Establishing Depositories for City Funds dropping Security Bank Northwest of St. Michael. Seconded by CM Heidner. All in favor. Motion carried. 9.5. Mike Robertson, City Administrator - u do ate. a. Update on moving Old Town Hall. Mike Robertson referred to the December 30, 1997 Memo from Jerry Olson, Building Official. The information in the memo lays out some of the issues involved with the proposed move of the old town hall building. Jeff Bartheld reported this project will be on the next Parks and Rec., agenda for discussion. In reviewing the issues laid out in the memo, Jeff questions if they should proceed with this project. He will report back to the Council with the Parks and Rec. recommendation. Jeff also thanked CM Ackerman for her support this past year as Otsego City Council Meeting of January 12, 1998, cont'd. Page 6. council representative to the Parks and Rec. Commission. He looks forward to working with CM Berning in 1998. Mayor Fournier noted the changes to the Wright County Zoning Ordinance that were received. Mike Robertson replied he is in the process of reviewing it and will discuss with Bob Kirmis. 9.6. Elaine Beatty,City Clerk update - Elaine informed the Council the City received $600 from Wright County for dust control which was their share on Kadler Avenue off of CSAH 37. 9.7. Consider Claims List forapproval. CM Heidner motioned to adopt the Claims List as presented. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. 9.8- Adjourn by 10 PM. Mike Robertson reported on the Administrative Sub -committee's recommendation. A recommended 3% across the board pay increase for the City employees and a $50 dollar a month increase for health insurance. Mr. Robertson supports the across the board raise as opposed to merit raises since in smaller cities typically employees do so many different duties it is hard to separate duties out and difficult to measure performance on a production basis. Mike also noted, that although he has only been City Administrator for two months, everyone he has observed is doing their job. Mike stated he will still do personnel reviews. He and Elaine will review the Deputy Clerk and Secretary. He and the Administrative sub -committee will review the City Clerk's position. He and the Public Works sub -committee will review the Maintenance Supervisor. Mike and David Chase will review the Public Works employees. Mayor Fournier and CM Heidner of the Administrative sub -committee noted their support. CM Heidner motioned to provide a 3% pay increase for City employees and to increase their medical benefit to $250 effective January 1, 1998. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried. The Administrative sub -committee has also directed Mike to bring back a recommendation on personal benefits. CM Ackerman motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Heidner. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting #djourned gt 8:09 PM. ttest: Elaine Beatty, City Cler)k/Zoning Adm Recorded by: Judy Hudson, Deputy Clerk City Seal