City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-12-27-05 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, 12-27-05, Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, Richard Peterson, John E. Waller, III, and David Gottenborg were present. No one was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk- Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Michele Hartman of Municipal Economic Development Network, Inc., Library Director Pam Westby and Jerry Barney of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Mayor Runningen called meeting to order. Added to agenda: Approval of Licenses Motion by Peterson, seconded by Woessner to approve payment of the 12-27-05 Accounts Payable as presented with addition of Farnam’s, street tools, in the amount of $300.73 and Ace Hardware, street tools and supplies, in the amount of $623.71. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Woessner to approve the following licenses: 2006 Cigarette Licenses: Cynthia Stotesbery, Larry’s Supermarket; Galen Teichert, Park Region Co-op; VFW Gilmore Weik Post #5252; Rick Loerzel, Pelican BP; Jeanne Hovland, Southtown C Store; Patrick Serquina, Pelican Cash-N-Dash; Paul Evenson, Bridges Bistro & Bar and Pelican Tobacco. 2006 Recreational Gaming Licenses: Paul Floberg, Pelican Drive Inn; Pearl Schultz, Sportman’s Recreation; Paul Evenson, Bridges Bistro & Bar and VFW Gilmore Weik Post #5252. 2006 Business Licenses: Z & Z Associates, Mobile Home Park 2006 Charitable Gambling Licenses: VFW Gilmore Weik Post 5252, VFW Gilmore Weik Post Auxillary and Pelican Rapids Firemen’s Relief. Motion passed unanimously and licenses were approved. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Peterson to approve the 2006 Plumbers’ Registration List as follows: Marty Hanson, Pelican Plumbing; Rodney Hanson of Hanson’s Plumbing & Heating; Glen Smith, Smith Appliance Repair; Jim King, Jim’s Plumbing; Jerome Toftely, Jerome Toftely Plumbing, Corley B. Benson, Grant’s Mechanical; Howard Wrigley, Wrigley Mechanical; Dwight R Carlson, D. Carlson Plumbing & Excavating, and Joe Vesey, Modern Heating and Plumbing. Motion passed unanimously. Michele Hartman of the Municipal Economic Development Network, Inc., explained some historical items on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District 3-Ridgecrest Apartments, TIF District 5-Lake Region Electrical Cooperative and TIF District 2- Nettestad Housing. Hartman explained that the State of Minnesota provides “Special Pooling” as a provision in the TIF Law created to help with the cash flow problems caused by the Property Tax Law Changes in 2002. She reviewed the resolutions necessary to “Special Pool” TIF District 3 funds to help pay expenses in TIF District 5. Tax increment dollars come from new construction value. When the expenses for the tax increment project are paid back, the tax dollars go back to the various taxing districts. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to introduce the following resolution, entitled RESOLUTION TO AMEND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO. 3 “RIDGECREST” AND APPROVING THE AMENDED TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN RELATING THERETO. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Peterson to introduce the following resolution, RESOLUTION TO DOCUMENT THE EXISTENCE OF A TAX INCREMENT PLEDGE BETWEEN TIF-3 “RIDGECREST” AND TIF-5 “LREC” FOR PAYMENT TOWARDS THE WATER TOWER & UTILITIES BOND DEBT. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Administrator Don Solga reviewed Personnel Ordinance updates relating to holidays, vacation, sick time, retirement health care savings plan and employer health insurance contributions. These items have been approved by City Council previously as part of the Personnel Policy, but they need to be adopted as ordinance amendments to become part of City Code. Other changes involved City Council and Planning Commission meeting place listed as Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway, instead of the Pelican Rapids Library Meeting Room. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to introduce the following ordinances: ORDINANCE NO. 05-10 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.14, SUBDIVISION 1, RELATING TO HOLIDAY SCHEDULES FOR REGULAR, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS ORDINANCE NO. 05-11 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.14, SUBDIVISION 3, RELATING TO OVERTIME PAY OF EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS ORDINANCE NO. 05-12 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.07, SUBDIVISION 1, RELATING TO THE VACATION SCHEDULE FOR REGULAR, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS ORDINANCE NO. 05-13 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.08, SUBDIVISION 7, AND SECTION 208.08, SUBDIVISION 8, RELATING TO SICK LEAVE FOR REGULAR, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS ORDINANCE NO. 05-14 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.20, SUBDIVISION 1, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FOR HEALTH INSURANCE OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS ORDINANCE NO. 05-15 – AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 204.03, SUBDIVISION 2, RELATING TO MEETINGS, RECORDS AND REPORTS OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS (A complete text of these ordinances is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and ordinances are adopted and considered to be in full force and effect upon publication. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to introduce the following resolution for ORDINANCE NO. 05-16 – AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 208.26, RELATING TO EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION POLICY OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS. (A complete text of this ordinance is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and the ordinance is adopted and considered to be in full force and effect upon publication. Mayor Runningen explained that the Police Department is in the second year of a two year contract so their wages will increase effective 01-01-06. Administrator Solga and Mayor Runningen have reviewed the other employees and recommend a 3.5% increase. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to accept the recommendation of Administrator Solga and Mayor Runningen to increase non- union employee wages by 3.5%, effective 01-01-06. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga reported that the Planning Commission met on 12-15-05 and considered the application of Peter C. Lund for a special use permit to allow conversion of a commercial office space to residential apartment space in the Commercial (C) Zone, located at 26 W. Mill Ave., PIN 76000990394000. The Planning Commission denied the application. The Planning Commission did not want to deviate from the comprehensive plan at this time. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation to deny Peter Lund’s request for a special use permit. Motion passed unanimously. Library Director Pam Westby reported that Janet Lindberg is completing her term on the Library Board and Deb Evenson is willing to accept a three year term as Library Board Member. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to appoint Deb Evenson to the Library Board for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer