City Council Meetings

MINUTES OF THE WATERTOWN CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 13, 2018 1. Call to Order and Roll Call Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Watertown City Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Vice - Mayor Mike Walters. Council Members present: Walters, Deborah Everson, Lindsay Guetzkow and Adam Pawelk. City Staff present: City Administrator Shane Fineran, City Engineer Andrew Budde, Public Works Superintendent Mike Dressel, and City Clerk-Treasurer Lynn Tschudi. Those who signed in were: Natalya Wells, Madeline Peterson, Hunter Remington, Elsa Thonn and Kallie Unowsky. 2. Adopt Agenda EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AMENDED AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion & Approval All items listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion on an affirmative vote by roll call of a majority of the members present. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member or citizen so requests, in which event, the item(s) will be removed and discussed prior to the adoption of the consent agenda. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. A. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Work Session Minutes from February 27, 2018 B. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Meeting Minutes from February 27, 2018 C. Consider Resolution #2018-38, Approving Consumption & Display Permit D. Consider Resolution #2018-39, Accepting Freezer Donation E. Consider Resolution #2018-40, Accepting Resignation & Declaring Vacancy on the EDA F. Consider Resolution #2018-42, Authorizing Clerk to pay second half March 2018 claims 4. Open Forum 5. New / Old Business A. 2018 Evergreen Park Improvements Fineran explained to Council that planned park improvements for Evergreen Park for 2018 include field layout and fencing, tree screening, drainage improvements, temporary gravel parking and a new skate park. Council has budgeted $225,000 in the CIP for these improvements chosen from the master park plan. Fineran detailed these proposed improvements and their estimated costs. Work to be completed after little league seasons ends on July 26th. Fineran stated the Park Commission would like authorization for a youth engagement process for completion of the skate park. Page 1 of 3  Walters mentioned that this discussion was triggered in 2017 due to a budget overage. Everson asked Pawelk what kind of feedback the Park Commission offered. Pawelk said that the investigation process started with stakeholder meetings and onsite visits to gather information on the needs. With that, they were able to identify the high priority needs for Evergreen Park. He said that the Park Commission is in support of the plan laid forward. Everson is glad to see the planned youth involvement and is wondering if they would be provided with a budget while assisting with the planning. Fineran said that they would know the budget. Everson asked if the $25,000 set aside for gravel parking lot would be suffice. Fineran does not know how much gravel will be needed at this time. Guetzkow is pleased with the phased approach that the Council is taking to address the park improvements. Pawelk asked if quotes come in higher on the gravel, if that piece will get moved to a different phase. Fineran said that will be addressed when staff has a better idea of funds available. Pawelk stated the fencing and gate language is a bit confusing. Budde said the intent was to leave a gap so pedestrians can cross, but the language can be cleaned up. Walters stated that Council has improved many of the parks in the City with very little impact to taxes. GUETZKOW MOVED, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2018- 41 APPROVING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR THE 2018 EVERGREEN PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. B. King's Meadows Park Encroachment Issues Fineran said that the King’s Meadows Park encroachment is a discussion and direction item that stemmed from a resident request in 2017 where their landscaping had encroached into municipally owned property as well as drainage and utility easements on the property. During that time it was discovered that many residents in the King's Meadows development are encroaching on the municipally owned land. Fineran said the sheds that were identified did have permits pulled and were approved by the City. Guetzkow appreciates the work done by staff. She said that property owners with sheds have completed the necessary steps at the time of completion. She doesn't think that now the City can go back and tell them it was done incorrectly. Everson agreed with Guetzkow in that they followed the process at the time and she is comfortable not asking them to move the permitted sheds. Walters agreed as well. Pawelk stated he is disappointed that there is an issue of this topic. He doesn't think that residents followed the entire process at the time and believes they may still be beyond easement. Fineran speculated that inspection services provided years ago were more lax. Pawelk said there were steps the homeowner should have taken when constructing the shed i.e.:finding their property pins. He doesn't want to promote allowing residents to encroach on City property. Walters said he doesn't think there is a lot of appetite to go out and enforce the property lines. He suggested a possible warning letter to residents to let them know that the City is aware of their encroachment. Guetzkow agreed and added that the homes may have changed ownership and therefore the current owners may need to be informed. Everson agreed about sending out a letter to residents. Fineran said that marking property pins could be a service offered to residents in those areas. Council discussed trying to avoid future encroachment issue. Guetzkow suggested putting information in the City newsletter for education. Pawelk added that what will make residents open their eyes is by City staff finding the property pins and flagging them. Fineran stated that City staff does not have the resources to flag property pins. Page 2 of 3  Fineran stated is looking for direction on just the King's Meadows Park area, not the entire City of Watertown. Pawelk suggested identifying properties in this area that are out of compliance and sending letters. Walters agreed that a letter would be a good course of action to let residents know there is an encroachment issue so that they are informed. 6. Other Reports Everson stated that Lewis Avenue was nominated by Stihl Tools as one of America's Main Streets. She encourages residents to vote at Mainstreetcontest.com until April 22nd. 7. Claims EVERSON MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2018 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 8. Adjournment Members of the City Council and City staff may convene directly following the adjournment of the meeting at the Luce Line Lodge in a purely social event. Membes of the public are welcome to attend. GUETZKOW MOVED, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:29 P.M. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Page 3 of 3