City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Mayor Steve Washburn Deborah Everson Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters 7/14/2020 - 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 6:33 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Michael Walters, Deborah Everson, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Adam Pawelk. City Staff present at City Hall: City Administrator Shane Fineran. City Staff present: City Planner Mark Kaltsas. Guests: Erik Loomis, Scott Loomis, and Doug Roy. 2. Adopt Agenda GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval EVERSON MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3.A. 3A - Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Workshop Meetings Minutes Of June 23, 2020 3.B. 3B - Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Of June 23, 2020 3.C. 3c - Consider Resolution #2020-94, Approving Service Agreement With Carver County Assessor 3.D. 3D - Consider Resolution #2000-93, Authorizing Transfer Of Corona-Virus Relief Funds To The Economic Development Authority 3.E. 3E - Consider Resolution #2020-96, Appointing Firefighters 3.F. 3F - Consider Resolution #2020-97, Declaring Surplus Equipment And Authorizing Sale 3.G. 3G - Consider Resolution #2020-99, Accepting Resignation And Declaring Vacancy On The Park Commission  3.F. 3F - Consider Resolution #2020-97, Declaring Surplus Equipment And Authorizing Sale 3.G. 3G - Consider Resolution #2020-99, Accepting Resignation And Declaring Vacancy On The Park Commission 3.H. Consider Resolution #2020-100, Approving Use Of Streets For Car Parade 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. 5A - Forest Hills 9th Addition Final Plat (Presenter: Mark Kaltsas) City Planner Mark Kaltsas addressed council to present the Forest Hills 9th Addition Final Plat. The addition will include 3.5 acres with 12 single family homes. This plan is consistent with the surrounding lots in the area. The homes will be built on Poplar Lane, a new through street in the Forest Hills Development. Kaltsas explained this subzone C has requirements: sidewalks on both sides of the streets and Outlot A to be used for park purposes. The Planning Commission addressed the drainage and grading concerns in the development at their June meeting. Kaltsas said the Commission found the conditions were met for a subdivision and are recommending approval of the Forest Hills 9th Addition Final Plat. Everson asked if this would be the final addition of Forest Hills. Kaltsas said there are lands located to the south, east and northwest of this property that could be developed in the future. The land is owned by the original owner. Everson asked what the resolution of the drainage issue was. Kaltsas said he believes once the development is complete the drainage issues will be resolved. WALTERS MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020-95, APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE SUBDIVISION TO BE KNOWN AS FOREST HILLS 9TH ADDITION. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.B. 5B - Forest Hills Resident Concerns (Presenter: Shane FIneran) City Administrator Fineran said there are residents in the Forest Hills Development who have concerns about construction activity in the development. Fineran invited them to the meeting to voice their concerns. He explained to council and residents that the City of Watertown employs building officials from the City of Delano through a joint powers agreement. Fineran explained the building inspection process from administration to building inspection. Watertown resident Dan Schuette emailed Fineran with his concerns which Fineran has shared with council. Walters is asking how many people have made complaints other than Mr. Schuette. Fineran said he has received various communications from 4-5 different residents in Forest Hills. Walters asked Dornfeld if he is seeing anything different from Loomis Homes than he does from other builders in Watertown and Delano. Dornfeld said they are no different from other developers. They are very accommodating if he has a request for them to clean something up and are easy to work with. Everson asked what the process is when a house is complete. Fineran said if there are outdoor items that need to be completed, there will be a temporary certificate of occupancy issued. This certificate will allow the homeowner to close and move in. Once all items outside are complete such as sod planted, trees planted, driveway complete, etc, a final certificate of occupancy is issued. Guetzkow asked how long a resident has before they must complete the planting if they close in the winter. Fineran said a reasonable date is stated on the certificate. Dornfeld shared with council the difficulties that developers are having obtaining sod for their homes. Dornfeld said the inspectors remind the various contractors to replace the erosion control if it is moved. Washburn asked how frequently the inspectors are in Forest Hills. Dornfeld said one of the three  Guetzkow asked how long a resident has before they must complete the planting if they close in the winter. Fineran said a reasonable date is stated on the certificate. Dornfeld shared with council the difficulties that developers are having obtaining sod for their homes. Dornfeld said the inspectors remind the various contractors to replace the erosion control if it is moved. Washburn asked how frequently the inspectors are in Forest Hills. Dornfeld said one of the three inspectors are in the development at least daily. Fineran added that the Utilities Superintendent is also inspecting storm drainage issues weekly. Walters asked about the stockpiling of dirt concern that was raised. Dornfeld said the way developments are completed today, the stockpiling practice is quite common in order to be efficient. Washburn asked how long the city will allow stockpiling of soil to go before it becomes a concern. Dornfeld said there is not a set standard. Guetzkow said if there is active construction around the dirt, it does not make sense to truck it out. Walters feels the construction activity in Forest Hills is normal construction activity. Everson agreed and compared it to the Paxmar construction area on Reo Road. Pawelk thinks the city is doing a pretty good job with the resources they have. Washburn shared his frustration with erosion control and messy developers in the development he lives in. He would like to see the service level elevated a little to include debris not to sit for long periods of time and additional sweeping of the roads during heavy construction. Guetzkow encouraged residents to call the sheriff if contractors are working outside the allowed hours. Doug Roy from 1000 Hickory Curve addressed the council. He said there are nails and staples found on the streets often. Roy commented on the piles of dirt that have been sitting in vacant lots for over a year. Washburn would like to maintain a good relationship with the developers while having a can-do attitude for the residents. 5.C. 5C - Use Of Streets Request - Mario's Italian Kitchen (Presenter: Shane Fineran) Fineran said Mario Cortolezzis from Mario’s Italian Kitchen has requested to park his food truck in the street and serve food from it. Mario’s experienced water damage in their pizza kitchen and are unable to cook pizzas. Fineran said Mario does have the proper permitting for both the repairs and the food truck. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020-98, APPROVING THE USE OF STREETS. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Reports Fineran updated the 2020 Mill and Overlay project is beginning as well as the crack sealing and seal coating. The Planning Commission on July 23 will be regarding the Dollar General Guetzkow reported the EDA has met to discuss a Coronavirus business relief grant for businesses in Watertown. Guetzkow noted they will meet again on July 16. Everson added that all relief programs will need to be applied for. Pawelk updated the Park Commission will meet to discuss the Sugarbush playground improvements. Washburn updated that he met with the barn quilt group. There is a local Watertown barn that will part of the barn quilt tours. 7. Claims 7.A. 7A - Approve July 14, 2020 Claims Roster EVERSON MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE.  7. Claims 7.A. 7A - Approve July 14, 2020 Claims Roster EVERSON MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 8. Adjournment GUETZKOW MOVED, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:04 PM. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 AFTER ROLL CALL VOTE. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388