City Council

City of Pelican Rapids Council Minutes - 11-13-00 City of Pelican Rapids City Council met in regular session on Monday, 11-13-00 in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Present: Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Paulette Nettestad, John Waller III, Denise Magnusson and Dave Gottenborg. Also present: Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk- Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier and Street and Park Superintendent Vern Benson, Dwight Maack, Jerry Oliver, Dick McGregor, Duane Haiby and Pat Westby. Meeting called to order by Mayor Wayne Runningen. The following items were added to the agenda: Maplewood Park Hiking/Biking Trail, Library Survey, Street Light Contract and Letter from Friends of Maplewood State Park. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to approve minutes of 10-09-00 and 10- 27-00 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Dwight Maack distributed copies of a petition signed by people opposing the location of the Maplewood Hiking/Biking Trail along OTC Hwy.No.3. Maack said the petition includes names other than landowners and includes 100 % of adjacent landowners on north side of No. 3 and the east side of Hwy. 59. Mayor Runningen read a letter from the Friends of Maplewood State Park requesting City Council’s continued commitment to the Hiking/Biking Trail. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to approve payment of the Accounts Payable Listing of 11-13-00 with additions. Motion passed unanimously. Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier presented a report on his departments’ activities. City Attorney Scott Dirks reviewed AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND PELICAN RAPIDS CITY CODE CHAPTER 6, PART 3, ENTITLED “BEER LICENSING” TO ALLOW “OFF- SALE” OF BEER in reference to allowing the off-sale licenses permitting the sale of 3.2 beer at retail at grocery stores and convenience stores. Mayor Runningen and Dirks discussed various provisions. Council Member Gottenborg said he is opposed to the ordinance for several reasons. He feels that all beer is intoxicating. He said that the Municipal Liquor Store has a sign: “Stop – If you are under age 21, do not enter.” The convenience stores and grocery stores would have young people who might not show good judgement supervising the selling of beer or selling beer if this ordinance is passed. He has had several comments from people expressing concern about the licenses. Council Member Nettestad said she is looking at this as a request from the business owners to serve their customers and that the City has adequate provisions to enforce the license provisions. Mayor Runningen discussed concerns regarding fines. Council Member Gottenborg discussed including a schedule of fines, suspension and revocation. City Attorney Scott Dirks said the City could include additional language that the State has to combine fines, suspension and revocation. Dirks agreed that a schedule of consequences for offenses would benefit business owners and the City Council. Council Members Gottenborg and Nettestad proposed a fine schedule of first offense - $500 and 30 days suspension; second offense - $1,000 and 60 days suspension and third offense in a three year period - $2,000 and revocation for sale to minors. Other violations would not trigger this schedule. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Waller to adopt ORDINANCE 00-6, set the annual fee at $120 and include above fine schedule. Voting yes: Mayor Runningen, Council Members Waller, Magnusson and Nettestad. Voting no: Council Member Gottenborg. Motion carried. Mayor Runningen and Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson will review language prior to publication and ordinance will take effect upon publication. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reviewed other cities’ requirements for on- sale of strong beer. Some other communities combine a wine and strong beer license. City Attorney Scott Dirks recommended leaving 3.2 Beer License as it is and combining a strong beer and wine license. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to create a combination strong beer and wine license with a fee of $250. Voting yes: Mayor Runningen, Council Members Waller, Magnusson and Nettestad. Voting no: Council Member Gottenborg. Motion carried. Street and Park Superintendent Vern Benson reviewed his departments’ activities. He requested authorization to hire employee for Heavy Equipment Operator/ Service Mechanic according to committee’s recommendation. Council discussed adjourning meeting to 11-20-00 to receive recommendation and authorize hiring. No action was taken. Police Chief Greg Ballard reported that the prospective candidate for police position is proceeding with psychological testing and physical testing. Mayor Runningen thanked Police Department for handling of recent burglary incident. Police Department received $46,789.50 in a federal COPS grant for a portion of the years 1999 and 2000. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to authorize a transfer of $45,000 from the Sewer Fund to the Water Fund to meet water tower bond payment requirements. Motion passed unanimously. Auditor Dan Rollie said the General Fund substantially improved from 1998 to 1999. He also suggested that the Improvement Reserve Fund and Community Development Fund are inactive funds and could be closed and the fund balances transferred to the General Fund and then to the Water Fund if City Council desired. Rollie reviewed the Financial Statements and graphs charting the City’s position. Jenson reviewed Library Survey of Property at a cost of $2,400. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve payment of $2,400 for Library Survey of Property. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson reviewed street lights which are up and operational except four by the elementary school. These will be installed after freeze up. The street lighting contractor has requested an extension in the contract completion date to 6-31-00 to permit cement work to be accomplished in the spring. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Gottenborg to grant the street lighting contractor an extension in the contract completion date to 6-30-00. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to adjourn meeting to 11-16-00, at 3:00 p.m., upstairs at City Hall for review of City Disaster Plan. Glenys Ehlert, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer