City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Mayor Steve Washburn Deborah Everson Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters 11/10/2020 - 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 6:34 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 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 Planner Mark Kaltsas, and Clerk Treasurer Lynn Tschudi. Those who signed in: Amy Mandt, Brad Kipp, Robb Empson, Sam DeLeo, Terry & Doug Roy, Tanya & Andy Gosha, Katy Jo Danielson, Andy Lundgren. 2. Adopt Agenda PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval EVERSON MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3.A. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes Of October 27, 2020 3.B. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Of October 27, 2020 3.C. Consider Resolution #2020-121, Approving Liquor Licenses For 2021 3.D. Consider Resolution #2020-122, Approving Liquor License For Riverside Bar & Grill 3.E. Consider Resolution #2020-123, Approving Tobacco Retail Licenses 3.F. Consider Resolution #2020-124, Approving Mobile Home Park Licenses 3.G. Consider Resolution #2020-125, Approving Waste Hauler Licenses 3.H. Consider Resolution #2020-132, Approving Prosecution Services With Carver County Attorney’s Office  3.F. Consider Resolution #2020-124, Approving Mobile Home Park Licenses 3.G. Consider Resolution #2020-125, Approving Waste Hauler Licenses 3.H. Consider Resolution #2020-132, Approving Prosecution Services With Carver County Attorney’s Office 3.I. Motion To Approve Amendment For Police Services Contract 3.J. Motion To Approve Pay Application #3 For 2020 Mill & Overlay Project 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. 600 Paul Avenue - Dollar General Site Plan Review City Planner Mark Kaltsas said the site plan for DGOG Watertown was originally presented to the Planning Commission in July 2020. The request from Dollar General is to locate a store at 600 Paul Avenue in the Forest Hills development that is zoned for neighborhood commercial. The original request was for a variance for a larger building as well as additional parking. The planning commission denied both variances. Since then, the applicant has revised a plan to avoid needing a variance for the building and the parking. Kaltsas showed on a map the location of the property and explained the use PUD FH subzone H. This subzone would permit neighborhood commercial businesses offering goods and services to residents within this development. The applicant, Dollar General, operates nationally carrying a variety of general convenience products. The applicant has proposed a building 7,500 square feet with 38 parking spaces. City Planner Kaltsas said in the PUD FH subzone H, the ordinance has requirements for building architecture, landscaping, and intent of the district. The City has worked with the applicant multiple times to address a plan that works with the ordinance. Kaltsas said the application before council meets most requirements, but there are some outstanding questions. Kaltsas said it is stated the building should be front with parking in the back, which would require multi-faced architecture. Kaltsas stated storm water has been reviewed at the property and the applicant is confident they are able to meet the requirements. He shared a map showing the entrances, sidewalks, parking lot, and building location. The landscaping plan meets the criteria of the ordinance; however, the overall design and aesthetic of the plan and species could use improvement. It was suggested to use a landscape architect. Kaltsas reviewed the lighting plan from the applicant. Kaltsas noted the original proposal for the architecture of the building showed a flat roof with simple construction materials. The new proposal now shows a gable roof with various types of materials used for construction but still does not appear to reflect the context of the surrounding neighborhood. Kaltsas reviewed the fenestration numbers for the proposed building and showed that two sides did not meet the required fenestration percentages. Kaltsas said the City Council can act on the presented site plans to either accept, reject or send back to planning commission. Council Member Pawelk asked about the building architecture requirements relating to residential character. Kaltsas said the city worked with the applicant on trying to interpret the residential character by providing examples of other commercial buildings that started to break into the residential characteristics. Council Member Everson asked if the application will need outdoor storage. Kaltsas said he visited local Dollar General stores in the area where he saw outdoor storage of ice machines, propane, retail displays, etc. All of which would not be allowed in this district. Mayor Washburn asked about the fenestration definition. He asked about the sign permissions in the subzone H and if it would be the traditional yellow Dollar General sign. Kaltsas said the provision states a master sign plan shall be developed for the subzone. He said the City would have ability for review of the sign prior to approval and it would need to blend into the residential area. Pawelk asked Kaltsas about the proposed materials for the building. Kaltsas noted redwood is not a color seen much in Watertown and he does not believe the other proposed materials are reflected in the Forest Hills neighborhood. Council Member Guetzkow asked Kaltsas if the applicant knew they did not meet standards for fenestration, landscape and architectural design. Kaltsas said the applicants were aware of it.  review of the sign prior to approval and it would need to blend into the residential area. Pawelk asked Kaltsas about the proposed materials for the building. Kaltsas noted redwood is not a color seen much in Watertown and he does not believe the other proposed materials are reflected in the Forest Hills neighborhood. Council Member Guetzkow asked Kaltsas if the applicant knew they did not meet standards for fenestration, landscape and architectural design. Kaltsas said the applicants were aware of it. WALTERS MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO DRAFT THE RESOLUTION TO DENY THE SITE PLAN AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Council Member Walters explained that any commercial business that wants to come into Watertown can choose where they would like to open their business. The City cannot deny them based on whether they like their business or not. Many residents think that the City can tell businesses to relocate to another part of the town, but that is not the case. Walters continued to say that the City has no pull over what businesses are brought into Watertown and where they are located. Walters said that the parcel is a subzone H, however, and the Dollar General does not meet the residential character of the area. Guetzkow added that the council is here tonight to discuss the land use, not the type of business that is on the application. The Dollar General had an opportunity to meet the requirements and still does not meet the stated requirements in the ordinance and that is why she is denying the site plan. Pawelk hopes that some of the discussion tonight is educational for residents who are listening to the discussion. He stated the proposed plan would require additional modifications as well as a large argument of neighborhood component. Everson said there are design elements such as landscaping and building design that are not fitting into the Watertown windshield appeal. She appreciates the thoroughness that City Planner Mark Kaltsas has put into this subject. Everson is concerned with the unaddressed outdoor storage for the site plan. Mayor Washburn said if Dollar General brought forward an application that met all requirements, he would have voted yes on it. As it stands, the building does not meet the residential feel requirement. Washburn stated that staff has received many unprofessional comments from residents and they have nothing but lost his respect. He also stated that the residents of Forest Hills have moved into a PUD. It is important that they educate themselves if they do not know what a PUD is. 5.B. CARES Act Funding Expenditures City Administrator Fineran said that the City received coronavirus relief act funds (CARES Act) from the federal government in July 2020. Under federal guidance, there were specific expenses the City could use the money on. The City immediately transferred $250,000 to the EDA to assist small businesses in Watertown with COVID relief efforts. The EDA was able to assist 21 businesses by granting $80,053. The remainder of the funds will be transferred back to the General Fund to be spent on eligible items such as: cleaning, law enforcement, hardware, software, and other payroll diverted to respond to the pandemic. Fineran reported that all $350,564 was utilized by the City. Mayor Washburn noted the resolution is to memorialize the expenditures related to the CARES Act funds. GUETZKOW MOVED, EVERSON SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020-133 APPROVING CORONAVIRUS RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING AND APPROVING THE USE OF CARES ACT FUNDS. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Reports Fineran updated on the election from November 3, 2020. He reminded residents that the parking restrictions are in effect. There is no overnight parking from 2 am – 6 am. The Grove Street Rink boards will be installed next week. Guetzkow updated that the EDA met to approve the pandemic business rebate grants for liquor licenses and utilities. 7. Claims  restrictions are in effect. There is no overnight parking from 2 am – 6 am. The Grove Street Rink boards will be installed next week. Guetzkow updated that the EDA met to approve the pandemic business rebate grants for liquor licenses and utilities. 7. Claims 7.A. Approve November 10, 2020 Claims Roster PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. Adjournment EVERSON MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:47 PM. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388