City Council Meetings

MINUTES OF THE Mayor Steve Washburn WATERTOWN CITY COUNCIL Deborah Everson Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 14, 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, May 14, 2019 in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Michael Walters, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Adam Pawelk. City Staff present: City Administrator Shane Fineran, City Engineer Andrew Budde, and City Planner Mark Kaltsas Those who signed in were: Greta Pudas, Jim & Trista Gilchrist, Matt Rosckes, Gary Harding, Ross Theisen, Jim Kasheimer, James & Michelle Brabeck, Dan Larson, Hubie & Denice Widmer. 2. Adopt Agenda GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS 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. PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. A. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes from April 23, 2019 B. Adopt a motion to approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from April 23, 2019 C. Consider Resolution #2019-66, Approving Use of Streets & Closure for Edina Realty D. Consider Resolution #2019-67, Approving Step Movement for Jason Raser 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business A. 2018 Audited Financial Statements Greta Pudas with Abdo, Eick & Meyers presented the final 2018 audit results to council. WALTERS MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019- 68, ACCEPTING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. B. AT&T Cellular Tower Conditional Use Permit Amendment Page 1 of 5  City Planner Kaltsas said there has been a request by AT&T and SAC Wireless for a conditional use permit amendment and a site plan review. The amendment will allow minor modifications and upgrades to be approved at the administrative level. The planning commission reviewed the CUP and found it routine and recommends approval by council. Walters asked if the city receives any money for hosting these antennas. Fineran said there is an existing annual lease revenue on one tower. The city collected a lump sum payment in 2008 for the other tower and does not receive any annual payments. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019-69, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT AND SITE PLAN REVIEW AS REQUESTED BY SAC WIRELESS, LLC FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 700 LEWIS AVENUE N. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. C. Ordinance #413 - Recreational Vehicle & Equipment Parking Kaltsas said the proposed ordinance change would add standards relating to the location and requirements for parking recreational vehicles and equipment. The city routinely reviews ordinances to assure language is clear and applicable. The identified recreational vehicle ordinance contains unclear language and direction and has been reviewed by the planning commission. The commission would like to have a base guideline as well as balance for property owners and their neighbors. Kaltsas said the definition of recreational vehicle was broadened to encompass anything that would be stored outdoors. Location of vehicles in the front yard would be limited to the driveway as long as there was no encroachment onto the sidewalk. Location on the side and rear yard would be allowed with set-back requirements and some screening. There would be no limit on the number of recreational vehicles on a property. There would be no defined surface area required under the vehicle, however the surface needs to be maintained. Recreational vehicles would not be allowed on vacant lots. Vehicles would need to be registered and owned by the principal owner/resident of the property. Staff found there were about 120 properties in Watertown that had recreational vehicles stored on their properties. Kaltsas showed council photos of compliant and non-compliant properties within Watertown. Walters asked how the ordinance will be enforced. Fineran said the ordinance is complaint based. Walters asked what the penalty would be for not complying. Fineran said the city can pursue legal action for compliance. Walters asked why this ordinance is being addressed now. Fineran said the ordinance was identified at a council work session in 2017. Resident Jim Gilchrist approached council. He shared personal poll results stating that 279 out of 311 people were against the ordinance. However, people are interested in removing the blight. Gilchrist agreed that people should not park on sidewalks or neighboring properties. Resident Gary Harding approached council. Harding addressed the high cost to the residents of Watertown to construct screening for recreational vehicles. He also addressed the set-backs. Resident Dan Larson approached council to discuss the limitations for owners of small lots in the city. Resident Hubie Widmer approached council to share his concern on screening his motor home. Pawelk asked about the screening requirement. Kaltsas said the screening requirement is only Page 2 of 5  necessary if items are stored directly against a neighboring property. Council discussed parking passenger vehicles on property. Washburn called for a motion. Motion failed. Washburn stated that the city needs a regulation for the blight that is accumulating in the city and this ordinance is not addressing that problem. He also voiced his dislike for abandoned vehicles stored in front yards. Kaltsas said the planning commission could address the language in the current ordinance addressing junk. Fineran added that policing junk throughout the city would be time consuming. Currently the city operates on a complaint basis and changing to a proactive approach would require staff investment. Council agree to workshop the blight item on a future date. D. Disc Golf Course Fineran said a disc golf course concept was approved by the Park Commission and is being recommended to council. The commission would like to host a community open house to obtain feedback on the course layout and location. Pawelk said the commission discussed the future plans at Oak Grove Community Park and how the disc golf course would fit well. Guetzkow asked if all the holes are on city property. Fineran said yes. Guetzkow asked about the maintenance for the course. Fineran said there would be mowing, and some brush maintenance in the wooded areas. Walters asked about the Community Park future vision and if the park commission feels the course will fit. He also asked about clearing through the woods and what would be cut down. Fineran said it would be mostly undergrowth that will be cut. Council discussed the course layout presented. PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEVELOPMENT STAGE FOR THE DISC GOLF COURSE. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. E. Trail & Sidewalk Master Plan Fineran said the park commission recommends the city complete a trail and sidewalk master plan for the community. A scope of work was created by City Engineer Andrew Budde. The city would hold public input sessions both in person and online in order to prioritize improvements. Fineran said there would be a grant available to fund half the cost of the plan through SHIP. Guetzkow asked about the timeline. Fineran said most work would need to be complete by October in order to receive SHIP funds. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019-70, Page 3 of 5  APPROVING TRAIL AND SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND GRANT AGREEMENT. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. F. Derson Tank Easement Paving Fineran said at the April 23 meeting, council directed staff to acquire quotes for reconstructing and paving the parking lot area that is within the drainage and utility easement located within the Derson Tank property. Omann Contracting provided the low bid for the repairs. Fineran said Derson is interested in improving their lot as well. Walters asked what the engineer’s estimate was. Budde said the estimate was about $6,000 lower than the quotes presented. Guetzkow asked what repairs Derson would be completing. Fineran said it would be mostly repaving. PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019-71, APPROVING EASEMENT REPAIR LOW QUOTE AND AGREMENT AND RIGHT OF ENTRY AT 200 MADISON STREET SE. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. G. Extra Work for 2019 Mill & Overlay Project Engineer Budde said there was additional paving repairs identified after the snow melt. The first is the lift station off of Newton Avenue. The estimate for this is $4,000. The second area is the ADA access on the corner of Madison Street and Newton Avenue. The estimate for this improvement is $8,716.80. Budde said the total project cost came in well under budget, so the additional $13,000 would still be under budget. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2019- 72, APPROVING EXTRA WORK FOR 2019 MILL & OVERLAY PROJECT. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Other Reports Budde updated on the 30th Street Trails project. Fineran updated on the city wide clean-up. Pawelk said the park commission will be cleaning up Rick Johnson Park on May 15. Guetzkow said the EDA adopted a business subsidy application. Walters commented that Evergreen Park looks great with all the updates. 7. Claims GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER FOR THE 2019 BUDGET. 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. Page 4 of 5 PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:13 PM. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Page 5 of 5