City Council Meetings

MINUTES OF THE Mayor Steve Washburn WATERTOWN CITY COUNCIL Deborah Everson Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters 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 12, 2019 in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Walters. Council Members present: Walters, Deborah Everson, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Adam Pawelk. City Staff present: City Administrator Shane Fineran, City Engineer Andrew Budde and Clerk/Treasurer Lynn Tschudi. Those who signed in were: Mary Jacks, Janessa Berrios, and Brenda Lano. 2. Adopt Agenda EVERSON MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion and 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, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. A. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Workshop Minutes from February 26, 2019 B. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from February 26, 2019 C. Consider Resolution #2019-34, Accepting Resignation and Authorizing Recruitment for Planning Commissioner D. Consider Resolution #2019-35, Approving Closure of Fund 428 E. Consider Resolution #2019-36, Authorising Inter-Fund Transfer from Fund 606 to Fund 402 F. Consider Resolution #2019-37, Authorizing Inter-Fund Transfer from Fund 601 and 602 to Fund 322 G. Consider Resolution #2019-38, Authorizing Cerk/Treasurer to Pay 2nd Half March Claims H. Consider Resolution #2019-40, Approving Consumption & Display Permit for Mario's Italian Kitchen 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business A. Community Programming RFP Dispursements Clerk/Treasurer Lynn Tschudi said she sent out letters to local organizations who actively provide programming for Watertown residents. Tschudi reviewed the requirements they need to meet in Page 1 of 5  order to receive funding from the City. There were seven requests for funds, with three organizations requesting more than their 2018 award. Staff is looking for direction on how to allocate the funds for 2019. Pawelk asked for clarification on the award amounts presented for 2019. Tschudi explained that the amounts were based on either what was requested or what they were granted in 2018, the lower of the two numbers. Pawelk would like to see a percentage of the amount requested granted to each organization. Walters suggested paying each of the lowest requesters their full ask and allocating the remaining $7,300 evenly to the other four organizations. Everson and Guetzkow noted that they sit on boards for two of the requesting organizations. Fineran clarified that as long as a council member is not the director beneficiary of the funds, they can vote. Walters suggested not paying by a percentage since it would be in favor of the Community Ed request of $4,500. Everson would like to see some additional funds granted to WeCab since they will be focusing on the transportation needs of Watertown for 2019. Pawelk stated the amounts may need to be increased in the future for the budget. Walters pointed out that everyone will be receiving either their requested amount or what was received last year. Council discussed placing a cap on the request amount for 2020. PAWELK MOVED TO PRORATE THE BUDGET AMOUNT OF $10,500 ACROSS ALL SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS, AWARDING 76.6% OF THEIR ASKING CONTRIBUTION. MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF SECOND. EVERSON MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED, A MOTION TO AWARD AMOUNTS AS PRESENTED IN RESOLUTION 2019-39, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRANTING AN ADDITIONAL $500 TO BOTH ST. PAULS CHURCH AND WECAB. MOTION CARRIED 3-0, WITH GUETZKOW ABSTAINING. B. Land Trust Property Acquisition - 413 Franklin Ave NW Fineran said that 413 Franklin Avenue NW was abated by the City in 2015 due to hazardous property. Currently this property is in tax forfeiture due to lack of payment of property taxes and is being sold via public auction. This parcel is valued at $7,000 by the county assessor. The city is currently owed a $15,000 assessment for demolition and remediation. Fineran explains that if this parcel is sold for the asking price, the city will not recoup the full amount owed to them. Public entities have the ability to acquire the property if the parcel will be held in perpetuity for public use. The city could support the acquisition of the property by the Carver County Community Development Authority. The CDA would then offer the parcel as part of its Carver County Community Land Trust. Fineran explained how the land trust works. The homeowner would own Page 2 of 5  the structure and the CDA would own the land. The homeowner would “rent” the land for $25 per month. Brenda Lano from the CDA addressed council. Lano said there are a few families in Watertown who are interested in the land trust model. Lano stated the housing market in Watertown is very tight. Lano gave background on the land trust program and its success. Everson asked for clarity on the ownership of the property. Fineran explained that the county will purchase and sell to the CDA. The land will be owned by the State of Minnesota. Walters asked how quickly the sale will occur. Lano said this spring is when they would have the funds and a plan to move forward. Council discussed the process of the CDA purchasing the land. Council is pleased with the synergy this transaction could create between the CDA and the City. EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019- 41, SUPPORTING ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY BY THE CARVER COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. C. Capital Project #UC030 - Approving Low Quote Fineran explained that council has identified Utilities Capital Project #UC030, a 4inch trailered pump. Two quotes were received with Minnesota Pump Works providing the low bid at $44,850 with a 7-8 week lead time. Pawelk asked about the difference in quotes. Fineran said Northern Dewatering charged a higher freight cost. Walters noted that the Minnesota Pump Works is providing a more efficient pump with their quote. Everson asked about the life expectancy. Fineran said ten to fifteen years or more. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019-42, APPROVING LOW QUOTE FOR 4” PORTABLE PUMP. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. D. Personnel Recruitment Fineran is asking that recruitment begins for three positions. First is for the Deputy Clerk-Treasurer. Fineran is hoping for fulfillment by mid-May to ensure for training overlap. Fineran said the position was budgeted for 2019. The job description has been updated and is attached. A seasonal maintenance assistant on the utility side will also be available. This position would be ideal for someone who has had municipal experience or training at a technical college. Lastly, the summer maintenance assistances will begin to be recruited. One summer position would start in early May with the other two starting in June. Guetzkow asked about the wages for the seasonal positions. Fineran said that they will earn $12, which is an increase from 2018. Everson would like to make sure the Deputy Clerk-Treasurer position pay is in line with other cities. Fineran said he believes it is. EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019- 43, AUTHORIZING RECRUITMENT FOR SEASONAL POSITIONS AND DEPUTY CLERK Page 3 of 5  TREASURER POSITION. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. E. Carver County Watershed Management Organization Grant Application Budde said that the Carver County Watershed Management Organization is currently soliciting projects for cost share funding grants to local governments that improve water quality or address water related issues within the watershed. Budde noted that in 2020 the City is planning to mill and overlay Madison Street SE as part of its pavement management plan. The low area of Madison needs a full reconstruction patch. Budde is recommending placing a SAFL baffle and sump structure in this area. Budde would like to apply for the grant from the CCWMO and if awarded the cost would be split 50:50 with the city. Guetzkow asked if we have this sump structure anywhere else in town. Budde said there are a couple near the newer round-abouts. He said they are effective in removing sediment. Pawelk asked where the funding would come from. Fineran said it would come from the Utility Capital Fund. Budde said the area identified currently has no treatment of water before entering the river. The SAFL baffle with the sump structure would act as a pretreatment of the water. Walters asked if staff is cleaning out the other SAFL baffles. Fineran said yes, they would add this one to the list. Everson asked if we are not awarded the grant if the city is required to move forward. Budde stated no. PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019-44, APPROVING APPLICATION TO CARVER COUNTY WATERSHE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION COST SHARE PROJECT FUNDING PROGRAM. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Other Reports Budde updated that Schneider Excavating has installed the rip rap at the Riverpointe Trail. Fineran encouraged residents to help the city with clearing out the hundreds of storm drains. Staff is working their hardest at getting everything cleared out. The Crow River will likely flood and staff is in preparations for that event. Pawelk updated the Park Commission will meet on Wednesday, March 20th to discuss the trail management plan. Guetzkow stated the WM Early Childhood Advisory is set to meet on March 21st. Walters updated that the Planning Commission has been discussing recreational vehicle storage. There is a vacancy on the Planning Commission. 7. Claims PAWELK MOVED, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER FOR THE 2019 BUDGET. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Page 4 of 5 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. EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:46 PM. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Page 5 of 5