City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Mayor Steve Washburn Deborah Everson Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters 6/9/2020 - Minutes 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 6:31 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2020 in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present online using Zoom.com: Washburn, Deborah Everson, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Adam Pawelk with Mike Walters arriving at 6:37 p.m. City Staff present at City Hall: City Administrator Shane Fineran. City Staff present online: Public Works Superintendent Mike Dressel and Clerk Treasurer Lynn Tschudi. 2. Adopt Agenda EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 3.A. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes From May 26, 2020 3.B. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes From May 26, 2020 3.C. Consider Resolution #2020-82, Appointing William Meyers As Maintenance Worker 3.D. Consider Resolution #2020-84, Approving Step Movement For Mike Loehrs 3.E. Consider Resolution #2020-85, Approving Quote For Water Plant Brick Seal 3.F. Consider Resolution #2020-84, Approving Strong Beer Retail License For South Fork BBQ 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business  3.F. Consider Resolution #2020-84, Approving Strong Beer Retail License For South Fork BBQ 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. COVID-19 Response; ERU Reduction & Liquor LIcense Fees For Impacted Businesses City Administrator Fineran said the State of Minnesota has slowly allowed restaurants to open for indoor dining at 50% capacity. The Economic Development Authority had paid the utility bills for all businesses in Watertown for the past three months amounting to a total stimulus of just over $41,000. Fineran noted the restaurants, bars and salons were unable to open at full capacity. Further action to assist these types of businesses that continue to be impacted in their operations by COVID-19 mitigation strategies could be considered. He explained the how this could be done by reducing the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) calculation on the water/sewer billing structure. Fineran explained that the ERU equivalent for fast food type restaurants is 1 per 22 seats and for full-service is 1 per 8 seats. Salons and barbershops is 1 per 4 chairs. Council could consider reducing the ERU calculation for all restaurant and bars to 1. All salons and barber are currently at 1. The approximate loss in revenue for reducing the ERUs on the impacted businesses would be about $1,654.38 per month until they could operate at 100%. Guetzkow asked if the CARES act is funded if it could be used to replace this revenue. Fineran said it cannot be used to replace lost revenue. Walters asked why the EDA would not fund this business initiative. Fineran said that decision is up to the council and EDA. Walters asked if council would be approving the ERU reduction for a period of time. Fineran said it would be monitored based on operating capacity determined by the Governor. Everson stated that there is the unknown of how long the Governor will keep the operating capacity at 50% for the bars and restaurants. She asked how this will impact the budget for the wastewater treatment plant. Fineran said this could be of a concern if the Governor keeps the restaurants operating at less than 100% for long-term. Overall, the restaurants are a small percentage of the total revenue for the Enterprise Funds. Everson asked if the restaurants are asking for this relief. Fineran said he is being proactive. Everson asked how other businesses would feel if they are not being covered. Fineran said the difference is how the ERUs are calculated for these businesses as stated in city code. Washburn asked council if they think the ERU strategy should be passed to the EDA. Pawelk said he thinks the council should consider it and assess it monthly. Guetzkow agreed with Pawelk. Walters agrees that the reduction better reflects the occupancy rates. Washburn would like to see more support from the Governor’s office, but in the meantime the city will support the businesses the best way they can. Everson noted that this program is not using taxpayer dollars, it is from water funds. EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2020-83 AUTHORIZING THE REDUCTION OF EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR UTILITY BILLING PURPOSES. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 5.B. Capitol Project #CI102 - Highland Grandstand Painting Public Works Superintendent Mike Dressel said there are buildings at Highland Park that are in need of painting. This work is listed on the Capital Improvement Plan at a budget of $17,000 for 2020. Dressel detailed the work to be done at the park. Pawelk asked Dressel to elaborate on the start date of August 1. Dressel said he would have about three weeks to get the bids and then give the contractor a month to line up the work. Pawelk expressed concern for possible conflict with baseball teams that my re-convene when allowed later this summer. Guetzkow would like to see the contractor work with any teams who may be scheduled to play on the field. Dressel agreed. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2020-86 AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR PAINTING AT HIGHLAND PARK  Pawelk asked Dressel to elaborate on the start date of August 1. Dressel said he would have about three weeks to get the bids and then give the contractor a month to line up the work. Pawelk expressed concern for possible conflict with baseball teams that my re-convene when allowed later this summer. Guetzkow would like to see the contractor work with any teams who may be scheduled to play on the field. Dressel agreed. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2020-86 AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR PAINTING AT HIGHLAND PARK GRANDSTAND AND OUTBUILDINGS. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 6. Other Reports Walters updated that the Planning Commission met at the end of May to discuss a Conditional Use Permit for Crius Corp in the Industrial Park. The CUP will come in front of council at the next meeting. Dressel updated that crack sealing and seal coating will be starting soon. Washburn complimented the public works on their work around the community. Fineran updated that $30,000 of Chamber Checks have been used so far. There were about 75 checks returned and more addresses were discovered that had been missed. Fineran expressed his sadness and condolences for the passing of Dean Hecksel. Guetzkow updated that Kids Company is open for the summer. Guetzkow updated that the Rails to Trails committee will meet to discuss plans for whether or not it will move forward. Everson updated that she will not be running for re-election in 2021. She encourages anyone who has ever been interested in city government to run for city council. Fineran said the park commission will meet June 23. Washburn thanked council and staff for continuing to move forward through everything going on with the Coronavirus. Washburn encouraged residents to reach out if they are struggling or need assistance. 7. Claims EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2020 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 8. Adjournment GUETZKOW MOVED, EVERSON SEDONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:39 PM. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388