11-25-96 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6:30 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
OTSEGO CITY HALL
NOVEMBER 25, 1996
1 Mayor Norman F Freske will call meeting to order.
Mayor Freske called the November 25, 1996 City Council Meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Norman F. Freske; Councilmembers: Suzanne Ackerman, Ron
Black, Larry Fournier and Vern Heidner
Staff: Bob Kirmis, Assistant Planner; Larry Koshak, City Engineer; Elaine Beatty, City
Clerk/Zoning Administrator; Judy Hudson, Deputy Clerk.
2. Consider Agendap rp oval
CM Heidner requested: Removal of Item 5.3 and place under Item 9.1.
CM Black requested: Removal of Item 5.1. and place under Item 9.1.
CM Fournier motioned to approve the November 25, 1996 City Council Agenda as
amended. CM Ackerman seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.
A November 12, 1996 Council Meeting.
CM Black motioned to approve the minutes as amended.. Seconded by CM
Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
(Discussion occurred between the motion being made and the actual vote)
Discussion: CM Fournier corrected on Page 6, my decision should read my discussions.
4. Open Forum.
4.1. Special Presentation:
A Mayor Brad Fyle, Monticello. Mark Wallen, Monticello
Fire Chief, Tom L.iefert. Captain of Fire Department, and
Ted Holker and Ken Scadden, Monticello Township.
Discussion of Fire Contract and services offered with
Monticello Fire Department,
Monticello Mayor Brad Fyle introduced Mark Wallen, Tom Liefert, Ken Scadden and Ted
Holker.
Mr. Holker presented the Monticello Fire Contract to the City Council. He pointed out a
great concern of the Fire Department, which is costly and very time consuming for the
volunteer fire department members are the false alarm calls. Mr. Holker reviewed C.
under Article IV on Page 2 with the Council. This has been adopted in Monticello
Township. It costs about $250 for the first hour for the fire department to make a run.
toMr. Holker also explained how they will be advertising trying to make people
Otsego City Council Meeting of November 25, 1996, cont'd. Page 2.
aware of the impact of the false alarms and how they will be charging the property owners
for these false alarm calls.
There was discussion on the rates and notification/billing of this.
The Council was concerned with Item D, billing procedures and also giving the City
enough time to hold a public hearing and placing it on the assessment roll.
CM Black motioned to refer Item 5.1., Monticello Fire Service Contract, to the City
Attorney to verify that these charge back costs are assessable. The Council agrees
with the concept. Seconded by CM Fournier. All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Liefert, Captain of the Monticello Fire Department, announced the Monticello Fire
Department will be 100 years old next year.
Mark Berning: Expressed his disappointment and questioned the Council's decision of the
job elimination done at the last City Council Meeting. He was disappointed that the newly
elected Council members were not made aware of this. He had no knowledge of the
reorganization of the City Staff and questioned why it was done this year and not wait
until the new council takes over.
Mr. Berning feels the City needs to face many important issues which involves a lot of
money. Three issues: Wasteful spending problem, Comprehensive Plan Update because
two-thirds of the City is a legal non -conforming use, and a one house, per one to 10 acres
with no sewer and the City has not set aside any money for sewer and water. Mr. Berning
also noted that at a City Council Meeting, CM Fournier, CM Ackerman and the City Clerk
were appointed to find answers related to the October 3, 1996 Sewer Workshop. He
questioned why the Economic Director wasn't involved. Mr. Berning also reported the
first bill the City Planner submitted to help find these answers was $1,300 and assumed
that CM Ackerman and CM Fournier approved these bills.
Mr. Berning also stated disappointment that at the November 12th Council Meeting CM
Fournier did not add the job elimination to the agenda.
Rod Bengtson, Rogers Tax and Accounting, a registered business in Otsego. He
applauded the Council action to attempt to control the costs by reviewing the cost benefit
ratio of the services being offered and he hopes this continues.
As a registered business in Otsego, he was disappointed that the City didn't include local
businesses, such as Rogers Tax and Accounting, in contracting accounting services for the
City. He asked the Council why local businesses were excluded from this?
There were no comments from the Council.
Rod Bengtson, Otsego resident, discussed his application for Alternate Planning
Commission member he submitted in October 1995 and as of this date he has not received
formal notification of this position. He expressed disappointment that the City has no
formal process or procedure in place for handling of commission applications. He feels
the City appears to be personally bias against selected areas and doesn't have the ability to
approach things objectively. Mr. Bengtson formally withdrew his application.
Otsego City Council Meeting of November 25, 1996, cont'd. Page 3.
CM Fournier explained that normally the City fills commission position in January of each
year and urged Mr. Bengtson to reconsider withdrawing his application.
Mr. Bengtson responded his application should have been considered in January of 1996.
5. Consent Agenda:
5-1- Approval of Monticello Fire Service Contract (removed and placed under
Item 91,
5-2- Approval of Albertville Fire Service Contract,
5.3. Receive Sewer and Water Information Report and set Workshop
for Monday, December 21996 at 6.30 PM (Removed and placed under
Item 9 1
CM Black motioned approval of the Consent Agenda as amended. Seconded by
CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
6-1. Consider Lin -Bar Development,_ Inc-, 5475 Parnell Ave. NE, Rogers
PID 118-500-284300 (Continued from 10-14-96 and 10-28-96 and 11-
12 96 Agenda) (See attached letter from Engineer)=
A Planned Unit Development once an)
Mr. Koshak reviewed with the Council the meeting he had with Lin -Bar's Engineer and
Surveyor. Together they reviewed the cluster systems. He stated a joint conclusion was
not arrived at. The developer wants the one acre lots with sewer lines in the street with 3
or 4 lots on a cluster system. Mr. Koshak's concept of a cluster system was with urban
size lots.
CM Fournier motioned to continue this matter until the next City Council Meeting
in order to give time to the Building Official time to comment on the feasibility of
both systems in regards to how they protect the environment. Seconded by CM
Black.
Voting For the Motion: CM Ackerman, CM Black, CM Fournier, CM Heidner.
Voting Against the Motion: Mayor Freske
Motion carried four (4) to one (1).
CM Heidner needed clarification if a motion was needed. He stated this plat was
previously approved provided a cluster was put in.
Mr. Kirmis stated he is correct and that a cluster system is part of the conditions. If the
Building Official shows no support for a community system, than it would appear that a
new motion would be needed.
Otsego City Council Meeting of November 25, 1996, cont'd. Page 4.
6-2- Consideration of Planning Commission Recommendation on
Administrative Permit Approvals (Memo of November 7, 1996 from NACI
Mr. Kirmis reviewed his October 15, 1996 Memorandum with the Council.
CM Fournier motioned to direct the Planning Commission to hold a Public Hearing
for consideration of the various requests to be accommodated by administrative
(rather than conditional) permit as recommended by the Planning Commission.
Seconded by CM Black. All in favor. Motion carried.
7 Andy MacArthur, City Attomeye
The City Attorney was not in attendance.
9-1 Any other Engineering Business.
Mr. Koshak discussed with the Council the issue of grates on culverts and if a Policy is
needed at this time. This issue was raised at the last council meeting.
The Council agreed that a policy, at this time, is not needed but to review this issue
project by project. The Council asked the City Engineer for his written comments.
9.1- Any Council Business.
item 5.3. Receive Sewer and Water Information Report and set Workshop for Monday.
December 2. 1996 at 6. 30 PM.
The Council decided this item should be placed on the first City Council Agenda of
January 1997.
Judy Hudson asked for authorization to install new ballests and bulbs for the Council
Chamber. The old ones are interfering with the sound system. She received a quote for
$337.86. The Council gave approval.
CM Black referred to the November 22, 1996 Memo regarding the City's Snowplowing
Policy.
CM Fournier motioned to cease snowplowing of private driveways effective
January 1, 1997. CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Council directed Judy Hudson to send letters regarding this.
9.2. City Clerk's Update.
There was none.
Otsego City Council Meeting of November 25, 1996, cont'd. Page 5.
9 Consider Claims List for Approval"
CM Black motioned to approve the Claims List. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All
in favor. Motion carried.
9.4_ Adjourn by 10 PM.
CM Black motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion
carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.
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Mayor 14dN4ifnV.T7rMkew6
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Att't: Elaine Beatty, City Clerk/Zoning dministrative
Recorded by: Judy Hudson, Deputy Clerk