City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Regular Meeting Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette 11/23/2021 - 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 6:31 p.m. Tuesday, November 23, 2021, by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Adam Pawelk, Dan Schuette, and Lindsay Guetzkow. City Staff present: City Administrator Jake Foster, Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi, and City Engineer Andrew Budde Guests: Amy Anderson – WSB, Tim Sundby – Carver County, Jason Kamrud – Carver County Sheriff 2. Adopt Agenda GUETZKOW MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval PAWELK MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.A. Work Session Minutes From November 9, 2021 3.B. Regular Minutes From November 9, 2021 3.C. 2022 License Renewals 3.D. 2022 Fire Contract Rates 3.E. Employee Handbook Revisions  3.C. 2022 License Renewals 3.D. 2022 Fire Contract Rates 3.E. Employee Handbook Revisions 3.F. Bremer Bank Rewards Points 3.G. 2021 Mill & Overlay Pay App #3 3.H. Watertown-Mayer Education Foundation Gambling Permit 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. Update From Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamrud from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office presented the Policing Detour power point to council. He discussed the staffing shortages at the County and asked council to continue to be flexible with scheduling. Kamrud laid out the Sheriff’s Office plan for retention and recruiting. Council thanked Kamrud for attending the meeting. 5.B. Watertown Streambank Feasibility Study City Engineer Andrew Budde said Tim Sundby from Carver County water management compiled a Watertown Streambank Feasibility Study along with the engineering firm WSB and they are here to present the study to council. Amy Anderson with WSB presented the Streambank Feasibility Study to council. She showed six areas along the Crow River in Watertown with sediment loss. Each area was rated based on severity. WSB created proposed stabilization methods for each location and assigned a cost for the repair. The total repairs for all locations was over $3M. Mayor Washburn asked Sundby what the County is interested in contributing. Sundby said the project was grant funded with $30,000 remaining to be spent within the City. The County is willing to secure additional grant funds to fix the severely eroded areas but would be looking for the City to be a partner in the project. Guetzkow noted she would be most interested in the area near the downtown boardwalk because it may impact the infrastructure. Washburn said he is in favor of supporting the project and the outreach to the community. 5.C. Northland Securities Financial Planning Services City Administrator Jake Foster said Tammy Omdal presented to council at the work session to propose a financial and utility rate study. Foster said council needs to decide whether to approve the full study or the paired down version. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2021-103, APPROVING FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES WITH NORTHLAND SECURITIES. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.D. Public Hearing - Certify Delinquent Utilities Tschudi said under Minnesota law, the City may certify for payment with tax collections, delinquent utility accounts, and other charges that have not been paid throughout the year. This year there are only unpaid utility bills and all residents have been notified multiple times of their outstanding balance. Tschudi said after November 24, 2021, residents will need to pay the certified amount at Carver County if they want it removed from their 2022 Property Taxes.  5.D. Tschudi said under Minnesota law, the City may certify for payment with tax collections, delinquent utility accounts, and other charges that have not been paid throughout the year. This year there are only unpaid utility bills and all residents have been notified multiple times of their outstanding balance. Tschudi said after November 24, 2021, residents will need to pay the certified amount at Carver County if they want it removed from their 2022 Property Taxes. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Tschudi indicated there was no written or oral comment received. SCHUETTE MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO CLOSE THE FLOOR FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. GUETZKOW MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-117, ADOPTING CERTIFICATION OF DELINQUENT UTILITY AND OTHER CHARGES FOR SERVICES FOR PAYMENT WITH TAXES IN 2022. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.E. Professional Services Agreement With MNSPECT, LLC City Administrator Foster said staff has been working with building services vendor, MNSpect to firm up the contract language. Foster shared the revisions provided by the City Attorney. Pawelk thanked staff for their hard work on this transition. SCHUETTE MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-129, APPROVING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF WATERTOWN, MINNESOTA AND MNSPECT, LLC. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Other Reports Tschudi updated that staff has had three transition meetings with MNSpect to discuss workflows and processes for their Community Core Software. She said Nancy and Christine have been busy decorating for the holidays and the Public Works staff has done a fantastic job decorating the downtown with garland. She reminded the residents that City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Pawelk updated on the Park Commission meeting that was held November 17. Guetzkow updated on the Fire Advisory Board meeting that was held November 15. She updated on the Community Education Advisory Board meeting. The Economic Development Authority will be meeting on December 7 at 8:30 am. Schuette updated that there will be a Planning Commission meeting on December 16. Washburn recognized Doug Kammerer on his efforts on the House of Representatives tour that was held on November 18. 7. Claims 7.A. Claims For November 23, 2021 PAWELK MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2021 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.  7.A. Claims For November 23, 2021 PAWELK MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2021 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 8. Adjournment GUETZKOW MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:03 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