City Council

Owatonna City Council Minutes The Owatonna City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Council President Schultz called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone in attendance. Attending were Council Members Dotson, Schultz, Burbank, Svenby, Raney and Voss; Mayor Kuntz; Community Development Director Klecker; Human Resource Director Gorski; City Attorney Walbran; City Administrator Busse and Administrative Specialist Clawson. Council Member Okerberg was not in attendance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Council Member Dotson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, Council Member Svenby seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. Council Member Raney made a motion to table Public Hearing planned for the Proposed Mowing Assessments to comply with notification requirements. Council Member Burbank seconded the motion; all members present voted aye in approval. Two representatives from Kibble Equipment were presented a plaque from Mayor Kuntz in recognition of Outstanding Community Service. Following the windstorm on September 20th, Kibble Equipment provided equipment and workers to assist in the clean-up for the Betterment of the City. Mayor Kuntz recommended Brenda DeVinny be appointed to Economic Development Authority (EDA). This is a six-year appointment to expire September 30, 2024. Council Member Raney made a motion to approve this recommendation for appointment; Council Member Dotson seconded the motion, all members present voted aye for approval. Mayor Kuntz introduced Brenda DeVinny and administered the Oath of Office. Mayor Kuntz proclaimed Red Ribbon Week from October 23-31, 2018. Citizens are encouraged to participate in drug prevention education activities to make a visible statement that we are strongly committed to a drug-free society. Families are encouraged to attend the Red Ribbon Week “Kickoff” event in Central Park from 5-6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 29th. Students Helping Others Choose (SHOC) will engage kids in fun games & activities, face painting, and pledge booths. Kiwanis will serve a free meal and root beer for all who attend. SHOC partners with our Steele Co. Safe & Drug Free Coalition hosting prevention booths with a variety of information and drug prevention promotional items. Also attending will be school administrators, local law enforcement, SADFC members, United Way Representatives and Mayor Kuntz. Council President Schultz explained council members review Consent Agenda Items prior to the meeting for approval in one motion. Current Consent Agenda Items for approval include: Minutes: City Council Meeting – October 2, 2018. Event Permit – Lighted Holiday Parade – November 29, 2018. Minutes – Human Rights Commission Meeting – September 11, 2018. Minutes – Park & Rec Board Meeting – October 8, 2018. Monthly Building & Inspection Report – September 2018. . Change Order - Mosher Avenue Sanitary Sewer Project. T-Hangar Lease Agreement – Bate Byplanes, LLC. Council Member Voss made a motion to approve these Consent Agenda Items and Council Member Dotson seconded the motion. All members present voted aye to approve of these items. Vice-President Raney recapped the expenses for the period. Bills presented for payment totaled 725,557.54. Council Member Svenby made a motion to approve these payments; Council Member Voss seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. Council Minutes October 16, 2018 Page 2 of 4 Community Development Director Klecker presented the second reading of Proposed Ordinance 13-18, a request from Steve and Connie Seidler to vacate a portion of the utility easement located on the west side of their property at 810 18th Street SE. Council approved the first reading of this proposed ordinance during the October 2nd Council Meeting and there have been no changes. Council Member Dotson made a motion to approve the second/final reading of Proposed Ordinance 13-18; Council Member Voss seconded the motion. With a roll call vote, voting aye were Council Members Dotson, Burbank, Raney, Svenby and Schultz; the motion carried. This will be known as Ordinance 1587 to be effective after its passage and publication. Community Development Director Klecker requested approval of Resolution 92-18 approving the Preliminary Plat of Sanders Energy Addition. Owatonna Public Utilities on behalf of the City of Owatonna is requesting a two-lot industrial plat located in the Owatonna Industrial Park at 400 32nd Avenue NW. There are large LP tanks located on this property, which OPU has determined they no longer need. To clean up the title and create the necessary property lines, the property needs to be platted. The two parcels being platted do not have street frontage. The parcels have been accessed through a gravel drive on the northerly side of the property, adjacent to the railroad right of way. This access area is currently part of a utility easement. A written easement will be recorded for access over the north 33’ of Lot 2 to ensure access to the compost site if the lot is sold. Staff is also working with Holland Trucking to get an access easement over the north 33’. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this request with no objections heard and recommend approval of this preliminary plat with three conditions: 1) The final plat shall be approved within one year of the date of approval of the preliminary plat. 2) The title opinion shall be approved by the City Attorney prior to recording of the final plat. 3) A written access easement shall in favor of Lot 1 and Lot 2 shall be recorded with the final Plat. Council Member Raney made a motion to approve Resolution 92-18 as recommended by the Planning Commission; Council Member Burbank seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. Community Development Director Klecker requested approval of Resolution 93-18 approving the Final Plat of the Voll Addition. This 0.63+ acre, two residential lots is located at 732 and 740 South Oak Avenue. Property owners Christopher Call and Kelly Voll proposed to relocate the joint property line approximately 16’ to the north. The Planning Commission held a public hearing with no objection to this request and recommend approval of this Final Plat. Council Member Svenby made a motion to approve Resolution 93-18, Council Member Dotson seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. Community Development Director Klecker requested approval of the proposal received from WSB & Associates, Inc. (WSB) to provide planning services for a Master Park and Trail Plan. Requests for Proposals were sent to 12 firms with three submitting plans. After review, staff is recommending approval of the proposal received from WSB; they were competitive in price and familiar with Owatonna. WSB is currently working on the City’s Downtown Streetscape Plan and have completed other work in the City. The proposed cost is $72,133 which includes the original plan and additional services for facilitating stakeholder meetings and a pop-up event. Council Svenby questioned when trail counts would be taken; Klecker responded this would be done during the spring/summer season when there is more activity on the trails. Council Member Raney made a motion approving this proposal, Council member Svenby seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. Council Minutes October 16, 2018 Page 3 of 4 Community Development Director Klecker requested approval of the airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP). This plan has been developed utilizing FAA Advisory Circular guidance and expert technical assistance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. This plan focuses on controlling the species of concern to prevent bird strikes from gulls and geese. Roles and responsibilities of agencies tasked within the plan have been coordinated. The presence of flocks of geese or gulls is typically observed for a two to three week period every fall. The Owatonna Police Department has no issues with assisting with the mitigation efforts and has approved a safety plan. The Airport Commission has also reviewed and recommend approval of this WHMP. Council Member Dotson made a motion to approve this plan, Council Member Voss seconded the motion; all members present voted aye for approval. During Staff Comments, Human Resource Director Gorski provided a report of employees recently hired: Police Department - Brooke Baker, Collin Regenschein and Colin Troeger are new Community Service Officers and interviews are currently being conducted for hiring patrol officers; Public Works Department - Joel Kath was recently promoted to a Senior Maintenance Worker in the Street Department. Mr. Kath was previously a 28-hour Laborer with the Parks and Recreation Department; Engineering Department - Mitchell Schwering will be starting with the City on November 5th as an Engineering Technician III; Community Development - Ghassan Madkour started October 8th as the Housing Manager; Library Department - Dakota Kath and Zach Lenz were recently hired as pages. Dakota and Zach are students at Owatonna High School; Finance Department - JoAnn Matejcek started on October 15th as the Accounting Technician. Community Development Director Klecker advised all development projects are well underway. The apartment building on Pearl Street had a setback and now a different developer is planning to take over the project. Amending the Development Agreement for this project will probably be on the next Council Agenda. City Administrator Busse gave a brief report on progress of the Public Works Projects: Park Drive – Phase 2 paving should start tomorrow. The plan is to hold off paving from the DM&E RR north and west to 21st Ave NW until spring. Mosher Avenue – Water main is completed and Alcon is waiting for the bacteria tests to pass. The final sanitary main connection will be done tomorrow at McKinley. Services to the properties will be connected next. Downtown Alley & Parking Lots – The concrete paving on the alley has been completed except around the CenturyLink vault. I believe Oct.29th the vault will be replaced and the concrete pavement will be completed. The parking lot pavement is supposed to be completed by the end of the week. Lake Kohlmier Drive & Trail (Parking Lot) – The area where the retaining wall was removed has been excavated and graded. The outlet structure and 24” RCP storm main has been installed across the drive. The 1-1/2” sanitary main and 2” water main have been completed. JJD started the excavation on the new portion of the parking lot. Then the street will follow. Hemlock Ave. – Complete, the striping and cross walk were completed today. Projects completed include the Street & Utility Project, 18th Street SW & Trail, overlays and the CIPPS. City Administrator Busse then reminded everyone about the Park & Rec event, Trick & Treat Trail planned for Saturday, October 27th; Carole Monson’s Retirement Celebration planned for Friday, Council Minutes October 16, 2018 Page 4 of 4 October 26th, and the changed date of the next council meeting date is Monday, November 5th as Tuesday, November 6th is the 2018 General Election. During Public Comments, Roger Wacek, 646 E Vine Street asked the City not use any herbicides or fertilizers on City properties. He requested three items: 1) City to establish a Chemical Use Policy that requires no killer chemicals (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) or fertilizers be used. 2) Prepare report showing annual expenditure for herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers. (This would be the annual savings if the first request were implemented). 3) Ask the City Attorney to research the law requiring signs advising to "Keep Children & Pets Off this Chemically Treated Lawn"; the City sprays when people are around. Randall Doyal, 500 Kim Lane, commended the City for the work done to clean up after the recent wind storm. He was impressed how quickly the city's employees cleaned up the mess and OPU was able to reconnect power. Mr. Doyal is a member of the OPU Commission and he and City Administrator Busse are members of the OPU Director Interview Panel. During the last two days, they have conducted interviews and he has been very impressed with Ms. Busse’s skills and knowledge. During Council Comments: Council Member Raney thanked Mr. Doyal for his comments, too often comments heard are negative and positive comments seem rare. We did receive a lot of thank you for the work done for this storm clean up and we always appreciate it when a citizen steps forward with good comments. Council Member Voss said he attended the Fire Relief Associations’ Chili-Wild Rice Feed last Sunday and pleased with the large crowd. At 7:30 p.m., Council Member Raney made a motion to adjourn, Council Member Dotson seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned. Dated: October 22, 2018 Respectfully submitted, Jeanette Clawson, Administrative Specialist