11-13-01 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 13, 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 6:31 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Council members: Vern Heidner, Virginia
Wendel, Suzanne Ackerman and Jerry Struthers.
Staff. Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Judy Hudson, City Clerk/Zoning
Administrator and Ron Wagner.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mayor Fournier led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consider agenda approval.
Mike Robertson requested to remove the City Attorney Agenda Items and place on the
next City Council Agenda. CM Struthers requested to add under Item 9.1. City Festival
and Emergency Preparedness. Mayor Fournier requested to remove Item 9.A. and place
on the November 26, 2001 City Council Agenda.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of the Agenda as amended. Seconded by CM
Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
3. Consider the followinc minutes:
A. August 23, 2001 Kadler Avenue Bike Path Special Meeting_
Mayor Fournier noted correction on Page 1, under Item 1 that no council action will be
taken.
CM Heidner motioned to adopt the minutes as amended. Seconded by CM
Struthers. All in favor. Motion carried.
B. City Council Meeting of October 22 2001
Mayor Fournier motioned adoption. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor.
Motion carried.
C. Parson's Avenue Vacation Public Hearing of October 29 2001
Ctil Heidner motioned adoption of the minutes. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in
favor. Motion carried.
4. Open Forum:
A. Citizen Police Concerns
Jeff Bartheld: 14018 85`h Street NE. Jeff stated he feels there is a lack of police
protection for Otsego. His house was broken into three times last year, his mailbox is
constantly down and his son's windshield was smashed. He requested more police hours
to cover the city around the clock.
City Council Meeting of November 13, 2001. Page 2.
Ron Tong, 9277 Page Avenue. He has complained to the police about a neighborhood
problem and doesn't get any results. He doesn't feel we have enough police protection
and wants Otsego to have their own Police Department.
Pauline Nelson, 9448 Nason Court. Mrs. Nelson feels the public doesn't understand how
a contracted police department works. People do not call the police with the small
incidents, which are turning into large incidents. She wants faster response time and more
hours of coverage.
Sharon Carter, 9466 Nashua. Mrs. Carter complained about the time it takes for a deputy
to get to her house regarding a snowmobile problem.
Frank Miles, Odean Avenue. Mr. Miles stated concern for speeding on Odean Avenue
and teenagers roaming wherever they want.
Sue Kroll, Ogren Avenue. Ms. Kroll had her purse stolen out of her car, which was
parked in her driveway. She also complained of snowmobiles speeding around the curve
at Ogren and 78`h Streets and wants the curve repaired.
Jack Soderlund, 96`h Street. Mr. Soderlund supports police protection 24 hours a day
seven days a week. He cautioned the Council about going into their own Police
Department and encouraged them to contact Zimmerman about problems with their police
department.
Tom Carter, 9266 Nashua. Mr. Carter stated that the Council should dictate law
enforcement. He also complained about the snowmobile ordinance and enforcement.
Jessica Stockamp, 81' Court. She would like to see a better response time and related a
recent incident she had at her home.
Mayor Fournier addressed the recent flyer many residents received which stated the City
had to choose between recycling and more law enforcement. Mayor Fournier stated no
decision has been made on recycling at this time. The Council is trying to find more
dollars for police protection. The Council may consider using recycling money for more
police hours as it is a $40,000 budget item and the garbage haulers want to double that
amount.
CM Struthers said that he felt that the City didn't need 5 officers to start a police
department. He thought that even 2 - 3 officers would provide better service than what
the City is currently receiving from the County.
Mayor Fournier summed this issue up by stating law enforcement is his top priority. The
Council wants to find dollars this year to get as close to 24-hour coverage as possible.
The Council has had several meetings with the Sheriff on improving police service. They
are also looking at their own police department. However, the Council is restricted in the
amount of money it can spend by State imposed levy limits.
Mayor Fournier invited everyone to the November 15`h meeting with Sheriff Miller and the
Council.
Jessica Stockamp introduced herself and thanked the Council for appointing her to the
Parks Commission. She is looking forward to working with this Commission.
City Council Meeting of November 13, 2001. Page 3.
5. Consent Agenda. (Non -controversial items
5.1. Approve Claims List
5.2. Approve 88`' Street Assessment Roll
CM Heidner motioned adoption. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor.
Motion carried.
6. Dan Licht, Citv Planner:
There were no Planning Items.
7. Ron Wagner, City Engineer:
7.1. East & West Sewer Update.
Mike Robertson reported the equipment for the East Plant II has been ordered and will
arrive in the Spring when construction starts.
Ron Wagner presented two quotes for wetland delineations for the West Plant, one was
for $2,800 and one was for $700.00.
Mayor Fournier motioned to direct the City Engineer to go ahead with the $700.00
quote as recommended by the engineer. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor.
Motion carried.
There was discussion about other sites. Ron Wagner said he would have information at
the next Council Meeting.
Mayor Fournier motioned to accept the City Engineer's recommendation setting
prices for topography for western Otsego at $15.00 per acre. Seconded by CM
Heidner. All in favor. Motion carried.
7.2. 85`h Street Plan Cost Estimate.
Ron Wagner went over the estimate.
CM Heidner motioned to authorize the City Engineer to proceed with the Plans and
Specs for 85`h Street Plan not to exceed $47,500. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in
favor. Motion carried.
7.3. Consideration of Final Pay Estimate for 2001 Crack Sealing.
CM Heidner motioned to approve the Final Pay Estimate but for the City Engineer
to determine his additional costs as a result of work being re -done and to deduct
from the Final Pay Estimate. Seconded by CM Struthers. All in favor. Motion
carried.
7.4. Other Euineering Items
The Council discussed with Ron Wagner the intersection of Odean and County Road 37
that the bank to the east is creating visual concerns. Mike Robertson will contact the
Cable Company who owns the land to cut the bank back. Also discussed was the curve
on Ogren and 78`x' Street where only one inch of overlay was placed.
8. Andrew Nlac Arthur City Attorney:
8.1. Update on Court Filings on Nuisance actions
This item was removed and will be placed on the next Council Agenda.
City Council Meeting of November 13, 2001. Page 4.
9. Council Items:
A. Consideration of the 2002/2003 Sheriffs Contract.
This item was removed and placed on the November 26, 2001 Council Agenda.
B. City of Shorewood Letter.
CM Struthers motioned to support the Resolution from the City of Shorewood with
letters of support send to Representative Anderson and Senator Ourada. Seconded
by CM Ackerman. All in favor. Motion carried.
C. Set a meeting for the Otsego Creek AuthoriM.
November 29, 2001, Thursday, 4 PM was set.
D. City festival.
CM Struthers discussed having a City festival and he will continue to check into this.
E. Security
CM Struthers questioned if the water systems shouldn't be gated to block access. The
Council directed Mike to get a price on a gate.
F. Emergency preparedness.
CM Struthers questioned if the City should have an emergency plan. Mike Robertson
explained the planning done for Y2K and suggested he write a plan.
CM Heidner is concerned with the City's generators sitting out in the open and accessible
to theft. The Council directed staff to review the storage for generators.
9.1. Mike Robertson, City Administrator:
Mike had no items.
9.2. Judv Hudson, City Clerk.
A. Consideration of Facility Use Policy.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of the Facility Use Policy and Permit. Seconded by
C vI Ackerman.
Voting For the Motion. CM Ackerman, CM Struthers, CM Heidner, Mayor
Fournier.
Abstained: CM Wendel.
Motion carried four (4) to zero (0).
Judy Hudson said a resident for a streetlight at 93rd Circle and Padgett has contacted her.
The Council authorized to have a street light installed there if it is an intersection.
10. Adjourn by 10 PM.
CM Wendel motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Ackerman. All in favor.
Motion c ed. Meeti adjourned at 9:23 PM.
layor La Fournier
LA-
A to t a d ecorded by: Judy Hudson, City Clerk