City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Regular Meeting Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette 9/14/2021 - 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 in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday, September 14, 2021, by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Mike Walters, Adam Pawelk, and Lindsay Guetzkow. City Staff present: Interim City Administrator Jeff O’Neill, Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi, Andrew Budde, City Attorney Jared Shepherd, and City Planner Mark Kaltsas. Guest: Deputy RJ Cripps Those who signed in: Christine Dammann, Nate Pawelk, Dylan Nelson, Lydia Meyer, Stephanie Kerkoff, Rich Raymond 2. Adopt Agenda PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.A. Approve Minutes From August 24, 2021 3.B. Approve Work Session Minutes From August 24, 2021 3.C. Approve M&O Pay App #2 And Change Order #2 3.D. Approve Chemical Well Feed Pay App 2 And 3 4. Open Forum  3.C. Approve M&O Pay App #2 And Change Order #2 3.D. Approve Chemical Well Feed Pay App 2 And 3 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. Carver County Sheriff Department Update Deputy RJ Cripps updated council with current police call volume since the last meeting. He updated council on new deputy hours beginning in October due to reduced staff at Carver County Sheriff office. Council Member Pawelk asked about curfew requirements in Watertown. Cripps stated that curfew will be enforced if minors are violating the curfew hour. Council Member Guetzkow asked Cripps about the recent vandalism about Derson Manufacturing which resulted in 600 gallons of oil being spilled into the Crow River. Cripps said the investigation is ongoing, but the CC Sheriff’s office will be releasing a statement soon. 5.B. Public Hearing - Consideration Of Revocation Of CUP At 676 Industrial Blvd City Planner Mark Kaltsas said the City is considering the revocation of the CUP at 676 Industrial Boulevard for outdoor storage for Crius Corp. The property is mixed use business, residential, light industrial, with an overall size of 1.34 acres. The original CUP for outdoor storage was granted in June of 2020 subject to the completion of approved site related improvements and mitigation measures. The site was not in compliance on August 10, 2021 when council directed staff to begin the revocation process. Kaltsas reviewed the items that are still non-compliant as of today. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. Motion Carried 4-0. City Attorney Jared Shepherd updated that Juan Martinez, Crius Attorney, was encouraged to attend the public hearing. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Motion Carried 4-0. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-99, A RESOLUTION REVOKING THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ALLOWING OUTDOOR STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL GOODS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 676 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.C. Pay Equity And Market Study Adjustments Tessia Melvin with David Drown & Associates approached council to present the Market Analysis and Pay Equity Study for staff wages. Melvin recalibrated the benchmark minimum and maximum by bringing each wage scale to 100% of market. Council voiced their appreciation for Melvin’s hard work on the revisions. WALTERS MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PAY EQUITY AND MARKET ANALYSIS AND ADOPT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OPTION 2 AS REVISED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Mayor Washburn stated the pay equity and market study was scheduled for 2020 but then COVID hit. Washburn is committed to teambuilding and personal development moving forward for all employees. He thanked council and staff for all the hard work.  WALTERS MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PAY EQUITY AND MARKET ANALYSIS AND ADOPT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OPTION 2 AS REVISED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Mayor Washburn stated the pay equity and market study was scheduled for 2020 but then COVID hit. Washburn is committed to teambuilding and personal development moving forward for all employees. He thanked council and staff for all the hard work. 5.D. Authorization To Submit Conservation Legacy Grant Application City Engineer Andrew Budde presented the Conservation Legacy Grant application to council. Budde said the property the City is hoping to purchase is seven parcels of land that total 32 acres. The intent of this grant is to acquire property and/or restore it to its native condition of forest, prairie, or wetland with the intent of creating habitat for wildlife resulting in natural passive park area for public enjoyment as well. Budde explained there may be a parking lot proposed for access to the park. Currently there is only a low maintenance turf trail shown for the application process. The project estimate would have the City applying for the maximum amount of $400,000 with a city match of $40,000 funded by the Park Capital Fund. Budde said there are two parcels located in the township but that should not affect the application. Interim City Administrator O’Neill said the property owner has already removed the property from the market. Council Member Guetzkow asked about the addition of a trail to launch canoes or kayaks. Budde said he will talk to the grant writers about adding that language. Council Member Walters would like to see a fishing area added in the future. He asked when the City would hear back on the grant award. Budde said January 2022 with closing occurring in June of 2022. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-98, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF WATERTOWN TO ACQUIRE AND RESTORE THE MULLEN PROPERTY AND APPROVE FUNDING SOURCE. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.E. Dumpster Share Agreement Administrative Services Director Tschudi said in June of 2021 it was discovered that the Luce Line bar was storing their large and small dumpsters against the exterior west wall of City Hall. Tschudi was informed by an insurance agent from the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust who was on site investigating an insurance claim for the library. Tschudi said she was told by the agent that the dumpsters must be moved as they were a fire hazard. As there was no room behind the Lodge, Tschudi said she met with the owner of the bar to discuss options. After much discussion with both the owner and Randy’s Sanitization, the best solution at this time would be to combine the Luce Line Lodge trash with the City Hall trash and eliminate the Luce Line Lodge dumpsters from behind City Hall building. The containers would remain at the south end of City Hall in the parking lot on the designated concrete pads. The trash container size would increase to a 4 yard (from a 3 yard) and be picked up twice a week rather than once a week. The recycle container would remain a 3 yard and be picked up twice a week rather than once a week. Guetzkow asked if there were grease dumpsters behind Luce Line Lodge that would affect the dumpster share agreement. Tschudi deferred the question to the City Attorney. Shepherd said the current agreement could be signed without knowing the answer as it does not relate to Randy’s Sanitation, but the grease should be addressed. Tschudi said she will investigate if the Lodge has a grease dumpster. Pawelk asked about being able to exit from the contract if it does not work out. Shepherd said there is a 30-day notice required.  current agreement could be signed without knowing the answer as it does not relate to Randy’s Sanitation, but the grease should be addressed. Tschudi said she will investigate if the Lodge has a grease dumpster. Pawelk asked about being able to exit from the contract if it does not work out. Shepherd said there is a 30-day notice required. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DUMPSTER SHARE AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVISION FOR ANY ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR COOKING BI- PRODUCTS. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Other Reports Jeff O’Neill updated that his contract will expire on October 1, 2021. The waste-water treatment plant meeting will be next week to discuss financing options and timing. The building services JPA with Delano will be ending in the near future. Engineer Andrew Budde updated on the Grove Street hockey rink and the 2020 Mill and Overlay that was done improperly. Budde said the contractor has agreed to raise the thresholds near the doors. Budde said the best solution would have been for the contractor to remove the boards and re-pave, but the cost was astronomical for the contractor. Guetzkow voiced concern for the contractor not fixing the issue the correct way. Council would like to hear additional options from the contractor. Public Works Superintendent Mike Dressel updated on the moisture in the library. Dressel said there have been three dehumidifiers in the library all summer. He is hoping the issue will be resolved with the addition of a permanent dehumidifier/reheat system on the existing HVAC equipment. Pawelk updated on the cancellation of the September Park Board meeting. Guetzkow updated on the EDA meeting occurring on Thursday, September 16 at 8:30 am. 6.A. Update - Contracted Patrol Schedule Updates 7. Claims GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2021 CLAIMS. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 7.A. Claims For September 14, 2021 8. Adjournment PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:04 PM. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 ______________________________________________ Steve Washburn, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Lynn Tschudi, Admin. Services Director  ______________________________________________ Steve Washburn, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Lynn Tschudi, Admin. Services Director