City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-02-22-05 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Tuesday, 02-22-05, at 4:00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, John E. Waller, III and David Gottenborg were present. Council Member Richard Peterson was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg, Comprehensive Plan Facilitator Gene Miller, Planning Commission Chairman Daren Berube, Planning Commissioner Judith Marko, Park Board Chairman Denise Magnusson, Johanna Christianson, Sally Perrin, Kate Westby, Paul King and Hugh Veit of Moore Engineering, Harold Marty and Merle Miller were also present. Mayor Runningen called the meeting to order. Comprehensive Plan, Street Lighting and Experience Works/Green Thumb were added to the agenda. Johanna Christianson spoke about the work of the Friends of Vision. They have tried to keep the Vision Statement in front of the community by reporting on the projects accomplished. Tami Skinner serves as co-chair of the group. Since the community has incorporated the Vision Statement in the Comprehensive Plan, the group has decided to shift focus by concentrating on youth – the future of the community. Sally Perrin, Kate Westby, Brett Ripley and Miguel Diaz are part of the group. Sally Perrin discussed the development of the youth survey and Kate Westby presented the survey results. Park Board Chairman Denise Magnusson said the Park Board is interested in having youth representation on the Board. Christianson said, “It is very exciting for the community to have the voice of the youth involved in the community. The Park Board is interested in having youth representation on the Board. If you have any ideas for us, please let us know.” Council Member Woessner said the youth survey is more than just the city. The entire school district is represented. Sally Perrin said it’s more fun to have kids your age helping plan things rather than have parents plan for the kids. The youth group identified important aspects of the park to include grassy areas and flowers in the parks. Administrator Don Solga provided a park board update. The Park Board decided that they were not ready to apply for a grant to develop River Park at this time. They would like to develop a timeline for park improvements. “If we received the grant, the park land would need to be utilized as directed by the grant without any future changes,” said Magnusson. Harold Marty explained to Council why he was present at meeting. Mayor Runningen said the Council would discuss item later in the meeting. The Planning Commission presented the Comprehensive Plan to City Council on 02-14-05, and recommended adoption. Mayor Runningen said, “It’s very thorough and there are no details missing. In regard to the park concepts in the Comprehensive Plan, there are conceptual drawings. The Park Board will work with all entities, including the City Council and the library, to develop the park areas.” The other issue concerns agri-business in town. In the Comprehensive Plan, Volume One, Economic Development Objectives, page 20, Section D states “Agri- business Industries and Services – Encourage and support the local agri-business industries and services for their job base and value-added economic base, as a means of keeping the area farming community a strong part of the Pelican Rapids economic base.” The Comprehensive Plan lays out that agribusiness is important to the community. The City Council is supportive of agribusiness. Council Member Gottenborg said he was very happy with the roadmap provided by the comprehensive plan. Council Member Woessner said the plan provides a vision to the future. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to introduce the following resolution, entitled, RESOLUTION ADOPTING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BASED ON THE 02- 14-05 RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Mayor Runningen, Council Members Gottenborg, Woessner and Waller voted in favor of the motion. No one voted against the motion and no one abstained from voting. The resolution was declared duly adopted. Council Member Woessner suggested that the City have the Comprehensive Plan displayed at the Trade Show with Facilitator Gene Miller available to answer questions. Paul King and Hugh Veit of Moore Engineering were present to provide information on a street rehabilitation project. King said the City will be able to maintain the curb and gutter and storm drain in place. It is in good shape although perhaps 10% will need replacement. The utilities appear to be in good shape and they would not need to be replaced in this project. Inflow and infiltration problems usually come where there is clay tile as in the city center and older residential area. Most of the streets to be rehabbed have PVC for sewer mains and cast iron for water. Overlaying these streets will just be money wasted because they will break up again without work to the base. We’re recommending a pavement section that will last 25 to 30 years plus you will have an asphalt course that can be milled to gain more wear. There are four quadrants of the City and the project plan depends on budgeting and neighborhood inconvenience. There is no low interest money available for the next two to three years to replace streets while updating water lines. City could stage the project and pull out the nine blocks with cast iron water mains to wait for water main improvements. The next set of streets for work will be up in 2009. The City will need to look at those projects too as well as sewer mains inflow and infiltration. It wouldn’t take a long time to develop the plans. Moore Engineering could put together a bidding package in a couple of weeks. Council Member David Gottenborg said, “The City will need to gather public input about the project as part of the decision making process.” Mayor Runningen said the Budget Committee, Administrator Don Solga and Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg need to meet and prioritize the scope of the project relevant to the City’s future budgets. Council reviewed the 02-22-05 Accounts Payable Listing. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve payment of the 02-22-05 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga recommended joining the Minnesota Council of Airports. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to authorize the City of Pelican Rapids to join the Minnesota Council of Airports at a cost of $50 for the year 2005. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the application for a cigarette license from Linda Smuda. Motion by Woesnner, seconded by Waller to approve a Cigarette License to Linda Smuda to sell cigarettes at Pelican Tobacco. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to certify unpaid utility bills to the Otter Tail County Auditor for collection with real estate taxes for Parcel No. 7600027062000 in the amount of $127.40 and Parcel No. 76000990097000 in the amount of $131.35. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga and Mayor Runningen reviewed information on employee insurance. Council requested more information on life insurance. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to authorize a change in medical insurance for city employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield with the Lakes Country Services Cooperative to Health Partners, effective 03-01-05, subject to verification of policy. Motion passed unanimously. Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg reviewed a request for a street light in the alley by Lloyd Hovland’s, between 1st and 2nd Ave. NW and 1st and 2nd St. NW. Soberg explained that seven residents use this alley on a regular basis. Council Members discussed the possibility of individuals installing a motion detector light or private security light if the purpose is to light the area around a private garage. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to deny the request. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga recommended a contribution to Experience Works/Green Thumb. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to contribute $750 to Experience Works for the year 2005. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen reviewed a request by Harold Marty for a resolution to support appointment of Erhard’s Grove Township representative to the Hospital District Board. The Council did not have a copy of the proposed resolution available and no action was taken. Comprehensive Plan Facilitator Gene Miller reviewed activities taking place downtown. The Comprehensive Plan addresses what the downtown should look like. The recommendation is to start to move on these things. A suggestion is for the City Council to put together some guidelines and empower a Planning Commission Committee to carry them out. As an example tuck pointing and preserving brick buildings is important to the downtown. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to direct the Planning Commission to gather public input and recommend an ordinance for an overlay of the downtown facade. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, CMC