City Council

Draft - Council Minutes Owatonna City Administration Building Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. The Owatonna City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building. Council President Abraham called the meeting to order. Present were: Council Members Abraham, Okerberg, Burbank, Schultz, Svenby, Dotson and Raney; Mayor Kuntz; City Attorney Walbran; Community Development Director Klecker; City Administrator Busse; and Administrative Specialist Clawson. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Council President Abraham welcomed everyone present. Council Member Svenby made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; Council Member Burbank seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. City Administrator advised notice of proposed assessments was published and mailed to the property owners for sidewalk repairs completed during 2015. At 7:01 p.m., a public hearing for comments on the proposed assessments was opened. Roger Wacek, 646 E Vine Street, commented it was unnecessary for sidewalks on both sides of the streets except for streets in the downtown business district. Last year, he observed numerous repairs being done to sidewalks on both sides of Main Street in a residential area and thought it would have been better to remove the sidewalks on one side of the street; he also asked if the public is aware the City offers deferment of assessments to qualifying Senior Citizens. Council President Abraham replied the City can’t just decide to remove a sidewalk and there would be costs incurred to remove sections of sidewalk, the repairs made were completed according to the City’s Sidewalk Policy and yes, property owners do receive information about payment options and deferments when they are advised of a Preliminary Assessment on their property. Council Member Dotson added the City’s Sidewalk policy does allow removal of a sidewalk if conditions are met and a petition is received. He reminded everyone a section of sidewalk along Grandview Avenue was removed within the last three to four years. With no additional comments, at 7:03 p.m., Council Member Dotson made a motion to close the public hearing, Council Member Schultz seconded the motion. Resolution 93-16 was presented for approval of the Assessment Roll of the 2015 Sidewalk Project; there are five proposed assessments for collection of $5,058.04 over a three-year period at 3.5% interest. Council Member Okerberg made motion to approve Resolution 93- 16, Council Member Dotson seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. Council Vice President Schultz recapped the expenses for the period totaling $758,182.31. Council Member Raney made a motion to approve payment of these bills. Council Member Dotson seconded the motion, all members voted aye for approval. Council President Abraham advised council members review Consent Agenda Items prior to the meeting to approve in one motion. Current Consent Agenda Items include: Minutes - City Council Meeting – October 4, 2016. Minutes – Airport Commission Meeting – September 8, 2016. Minutes – Human Rights Commission Meeting – September 13, 2016. Minutes – Park & Rec Board Meeting – October 10, 2016. Monthly Report – Building Inspections – September 2016. Change Order #1 – 2016 CIPPS Project – Hydro Kleen. Change Order #2 – Runway 5-23, Taxiway B & Apron Crack repair & Slurry Seal Project at the Airport – Gee Asphalt Systems Inc. Council Minutes October 18, 2016 2 of 4 Council Member Burbank made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda Items, Council Member Svenby seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. City Attorney Walbran presented the second reading of Proposed Ordinance 10-16 to amend Section 113 of the City’s 2015 Code of Ordinances, Alcoholic Beverages. This ordinance will adopt the provision approved by the Minnesota State Legislature authorizing issuance of: Brew Pub On-Sale and Off-Sale License; Brewer Taproom License; Small Brewer Off-Sale License and Brewer Temporary On-Sale License and will also authorize license fees and provide regulation of such establishments. Council approved the first reading of this proposed ordinance during the September 6, 2016 Council Meeting; there has been one amendment made since the first reading was approved which is the authorization of Sunday Sales if they hold a license for such. A request to amend the fee schedule for Sunday Sales will be presented at a future meeting. Council Member Schultz made a motion to approve the seconded reading of Proposed Ordinance 10-16 as presented; Council Member Dotson seconded the motion. With a roll call vote, voting aye were Council Members Schultz, Burbank, Raney, Svenby, Dotson, Okerberg and Abraham; voting nay were none. This will be known as Ordinance 1545. Community Development Director Klecker presented the second reading of Proposed Ordinance 12- 16 to add Section 157-002(b) – Animal Shelter to the City’s 2015 Code of Ordinances. Council approved the first reading of this proposed ordinance during the October 4, 2016 Council Meeting. There has been an amendment to the proposed ordinance since the first reading which is a requirement of six foot screenings on outdoor exercise runs. Also, property owners within 350 feet of the proposed site to be purchased by the Steele County Humane Society were notified this ordinance would be considered for approval during this meeting. Council Member Dotson asked if there was any opposition to approving the proposed ordinance and with none heard, Council Member Dotson made a motion to approve the second reading of Proposed Ordinance 12-16 as presented, Council Member Raney seconded the motion. With a roll call vote, voting aye were Council Members Schultz, Burbank, Raney, Svenby, Dotson, Okerberg and Abraham; voting nay were none. This will be known as Ordinance 1546. City Administrator presented Resolution 94-16 appointing Election Judges to serve at the City’s ten polling sites during the 2016 General Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., judges will be paid $10.00/hour with the Head Judge receiving $11.00 per hour. Administration staff is also authorized to assign Election Judge substitutes if needed. Council Member Svenby made a motion to approve Resolution 94-16, council member Okerberg seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. City Administrator Busse presented Resolution 95-16 to adopt the proposed assessment on Parcel #17- 002-3203 on the assessment roll of the Mineral Springs Parkway Project. Council Member Schultz recused himself as he is one of the owners of this parcel. During the public hearing previously held to consider the proposed assessments for this project, property owner Lowell G Schultz requested the assessable footage of this parcel be confirmed. Last week, staff measured the parcel and advised the measurement was correct; however, the proposed assessment was incorrectly calculated. Assessable footage of the long side of a corner lot is billed at 10 feet for the first 150 feet; this parcel measures 602.15 feet so the assessment should be calculated on 462.15 feet. The corrected proposed assessment Council Minutes October 18, 2016 3 of 4 amount owed for this parcel is $24,031.80; 462.15 feet at $52.00 per foot. Council Member Burbank made a motion to approve Resolution 95-16 adopting the corrected proposed assessment for this parcel. Council Member Dotson seconded the motion; six all members voted aye for approval and Council Member Schultz returned to his seat. Community Development Director Klecker presented Resolution 96-16 authorizing submission for additional grant funding through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Flood Reduction Grant. The City currently has a DNR Flood Reduction Grant of $500,000 which can be used to remove structures in the floodplain. The DNR has unused funds from the program to distribute to jurisdictions that currently have open grants. The City of Owatonna would qualify to add approximately $50,000 to the current grant. Council Member Okerberg asked what amount of the current grant has not been used; Klecker advised two properties have been purchased and this additional funding would allow purchase of one additional property. Council Member Raney made a motion to approve Resolution 96-16, Council Member Okerberg seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. City Administrator presented a request received from Greg Schultz for deferment of the assessment approved September 6th for Parcel #17-002-3105. Council Member Schultz recused himself from his seat for consideration of his request. This parcel is included on the Assessment Roll of the Mineral Springs Parkway Project. The parcel is currently undeveloped which is one of the deferments the City is authorized to allow a property owner per the City’s Assessment Policy. Council Member Dotson made a motion to approve this deferment request, Council member Svenby seconded the motion; six members voting aye for approval and Council Member Schultz returned to his seat. City Administrator recommended Community Development Director Troy Klecker be appointed as the City’s representative member of the newly created Steele County Economic Development Authority (EDA). Council approved participation in the Steele County EDA during the June 7, 2016 meeting via Resolution 54-16. Last month, the Steele County Board of Commissioners created the Steele County EDA to be comprised of nine members which includes one representative from the City of Owatonna. Council Member Schultz made a motion to approve this recommendation, Council Member Raney seconded the motion; all members voted aye for approval. During Public Comments, Roger Wacek, 646 E Vine Street advised a copy of his recent Letter to the Editor regarding the increasing costs of health insurance premiums which he presented Council during the October 4th Council Meeting will be sent to Governor Dayton. This last week, Governor Dayton was quoted saying the current Obamacare Healthcare Plan is unaffordable for most Minnesotans and we’re back to the drawing board; however, the drawing board will be useless unless the drivers of the increasing healthcare premium costs are addressed. During Council Comments, Council Member Raney asked for residents help in keeping the catch basins cleared of fall foliage. Council Member Dotson said he recently received a call from someone claiming to be with the Department of Homeland Security; when he asked for his name the caller hung up so he believes this was a potential scam and warned residents to be wary of giving personal information to unknown callers. Council Member Schultz commented while driving to tonight’s meeting he observed people raking leaves, others playing golf and others walking on one of the City’s Council Minutes October 18, 2016 4 of 4 trails. Council Member Burbank wished everyone a safe and happy Halloween. Mayor Kuntz commented daylight hours are getting shorter and asked walkers to wear reflective outerwear for their safety when walking. At 7:22 p.m., Council Member Raney made a motion to adjourn, Council Member Schultz seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned. Dated: October 19, 2016 Respectfully submitted, Jeanette Clawson, Administrative Specialist