City Council

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL May 14, 2024 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Oakdale was held on May 14, 2024, at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Zabel at 7:00 PM. CALL OF ROLL On a call of roll, the following were present: Mayor Kevin Zabel Council Members: Noah Her Andy Morcomb Susan Willenbring Staff Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Sara Ludwig, City Clerk Jim Thomson, City Attorney Brian Bachmeier, Consulting City Engineer Andrew Gitzlaff, Community Development Director Nick Newton, Police Chief Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager Kyle Stasica, Finance Director Others Present: Dave Langer, Langer Real Estate Services Luke Ledoux, 7057 28th Street North Not Present: Council Member Jake Ingebrigtson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLENBRING, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 14, 2024, AS PRESENTED. 4 AYES APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES : Workshop, April 23, 2024 Regular Meeting, April 23, 2024 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO APPROVE THE WORKSHOP MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2024. 4 AYES 1 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLENBRING, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2024. 4 AYES PUBLIC HEARINGS a) Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) – Annual Report for the 2023 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Consulting City Engineer Brian Bachmeier presented an update on the annual Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and the items yet to be completed which include updating the policy relating to erosion control and inspection of the illicit discharge in the community. Mayor Zabel opened the public hearing and welcomed comments from the audience. No comments were heard. Mayor Zabel closed the public hearing. OPEN FORUM a) Proclamation: Public Works Week Mayor Zabel proclaimed the week of May 19-25, 2024 as “Public Works Week”. b) Proclamation: Mental Health Awareness Month Mayor Zabel proclaimed the month of May, 2024 as “Mental Health Awareness Month”. c) Proclamation: National Police Week Mayor Zabel proclaimed the week of May 12-18, 2024 as “National Police Week”. Mayor Zabel shared a few words on the importance of all peace officers, and thanked Police Chief Nick Newton and his staff specifically for everything they do for the City of Oakdale. He noted that Chief Newton will be giving a speech at noon tomorrow during the Law Enforcement Memorial Event at the Stillwater Courthouse. Mayor Zabel invited comments from the audience. Dave Langer with Langer Real Estate Services represents the property owners of 6138 Highway 36. The lot is currently vacant, and has been on the market for almost eight years. Hi Hi Adult Day Care in St. Paul is proposing to use the property for a community garden as an interim use, as the reconstruction of that area is likely 7+ years out, according to MnDOT’s timeline of the interchange project. Mr. Langer said that a community garden could deter a homeless encampment from re-developing there and would keep the area upkept while giving the Day Care residents a project in the community. The owner of Hi Hi Adult Day Care would like an opportunity to talk more with staff about this proposal. Luke Ledoux, 7057 28th Street North, addressed the Council asking that residents be allowed to have more chickens than currently set forth in the ordinance; as well as the City allow 50cc 2 motorized dirt bikes on sidewalks. CONSENSUS MOTIONS a) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to enter into the Agreement between Rainbow Treecare and the City of Oakdale for treating Emerald Ash Borer. b) Request that the City Council approve the noise variance(s) requested by Oakdale Summerfest Community Organization for the dates of June 27 – 29, 2024 for the hours of 6:30PM – 10:30PM each night, at 1584 Hadley Ave N. c) Request that the City Council approve the issuance of a temporary on-sale liquor license to Maplewood Oakdale Lions Club Organization for their fundraiser scheduled for June 27 - 29, 2024 during the Oakdale 2024 Summerfest Celebration located at 1584 Hadley Avenue North. d) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to sign and execute the Development Agreement for Willowbrooke Tenth Addition. e) Request that the City Council approve the noise variance requested by Tartan High School’s Relay for Life Event located at 828 Greenway Avenue for the date of May 17, 2024 from 6:00PM – 6:00AM. f) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec.2-36 (c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint Mark Lemen as full- time probationary Public Works Director effective June 17, 2024 at a rate of pay consistent with the City base pay schedule. g) Request per the City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec.2-36 (c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint Erik Andrews as a probationary Public Works Lead Worker – Streets Division effective May 15, 2024, at a rate of pay consistent with the City base pay schedule, and Ryan Anderson as a probationary Public Works Lead Worker – Parks Division effective May 15, 2024, at a rate of pay consistent with the City base pay schedule. h) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec.2-36 (c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint Jack Erickson, Isaac Golen, Nash Hutton, and Jack Schoenecker as Public Works Seasonal Workers at a rate of pay equal to $16.00 per hour. i) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Ordinance No. 925, Amending the Code of Ordinances for the City of Oakdale, Chapter 22 – Trees, Repealing Section 22-21 Related to Tree Service Licensing. Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2024-43, Refunding Pro- rated Fees for Commercial Tree Cutting, Pruning, Removal, or Spraying Licenses. 3 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB TO APPROVE CONSENSUS MOTIONS A-I, AS PRESENTED. 4 AYES ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Economic Development Commission (5/1/24 meeting cancelled, Council Liaison Her) Environmental Management Commission (no meeting, council Liaison Zabel) Planning Commission (met on 5/2/24, Council Liaison Ingebrigtson) Due to the absence of Council Member Ingebrigtson, this item will be carried over to the May 28, 2024 meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Morcomb) Tree Board (no meeting, Council Liaison Willenbring) AWARD OF BIDS None STAFF REPORTS None CITY ATTORNEY No report. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT a) Donation to the City – Proceeds from Discovery Center Art Gallery City Administrator Chris Volkers explained that the donation came from local artist Beth Meyers who utilized the Discovery Center for an art event and was pleased with her experience. To show her appreciation, she sent a check representing 10% of her sales to the City as a donation. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLENBRING TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-42, ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM BETH MEYERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $120. 4 AYES b) Master Agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Bolton & Menk, Inc. Ms. Volkers explained that the agreement is for former Oakdale City Engineer Brian Bachmeier, who now works for Bolton & Menk, Inc, to step in as the City’s Consulting Engineer and fill the vacancy created on April 1, 2024. 4 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE MASTER SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES BETWEEN BOLTON & MENK, INC. AND THE CITY OF OAKDALE, RETROACTIVE TO APRIL 1, 2024 WHICH IS THE DATE THE CITY ENGINEER POSITION WAS VACATED, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE TASK ORDERS UNDER THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT. 4 AYES COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS Mayor Zabel made announcements about the following: • Registration is now open for early summer programming through Oakdale Recreation. Check out the full list of programs offered along with the new registration process at www.oakdalefun.com. • The Summer 2024 Oakdale Update newsletter should arrive in mailboxes this week. • Mark your calendars for June 24–29, 2024 for Summerfest. For the full schedule, visit www.oakdalesummerfest.com. CLAIMS A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLENBRING TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 24, 2024 TO MAY 14, 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,715,079.58. 4 AYES ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 14, 2024 AT 7:23 PM. 4 AYES Respectfully submitted, Sara Ludwig, City Clerk 5