City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Regular Meeting Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette 12/14/2021 - 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 6:31 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2021, by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Adam Pawelk, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Mike Walters. City Staff present: City Administrator Jake Foster, City Planner Mark Kaltsas, Public Services Director Mike Dressel, and Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi. Those who signed in: Adrie Stewart and Steve Bunn. 2. Adopt Agenda GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.A. Approve Regular Minutes From The November 23, 2021 City Council Meeting 3.B. Approve Minutes From The November 23, 2021 City Council Work Session 3.C. Adopt Resolution #2021-136 Approving Liquid Waste Haulers License 3.D. Approve Resolution #2021-132, Authorizing City Clerk/Treasurer To Pay Second Half Of December 2021 Claims  3.B. Approve Minutes From The November 23, 2021 City Council Work Session 3.C. Adopt Resolution #2021-136 Approving Liquid Waste Haulers License 3.D. Approve Resolution #2021-132, Authorizing City Clerk/Treasurer To Pay Second Half Of December 2021 Claims 3.E. Deeming The Northern Tool Pressure Washer As Surplus Equipment 3.F. Approve Resolution #2021-131, Transfer Of Funds From Inactive Accounts To Misc. Revenue 3.G. Accept Fire Chief Resignation And Authorize Completion Of Recruitment Process 3.H. Adopt Resolution #2021-138, Approving Prosecution Contract With Carver County Attorney’s Office 3.I. Approve The Hiring Of Robert Hoen For The Newly Created Public Services Operator Position 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. Consider Interim Use Permit Extension For 605 Lewis Avenue N City Planner Mark Kaltsas said the City considered and approved an Interim Use Permit (IUP) for 605 Lewis Avenue N in October of 2020. The IUP granted approval for sales of automobiles and equipment on the subject property and associated with the existing automobile and equipment repair business. Kaltsas explained that the IUP that was granted permitted up to 30 informal parking spaces that would be used for selling cars and equipment. The parking area is comprised of a gravel base and is currently used for outdoor storage on the property. Kaltsas said the IUP was granted for a period of one (1) year with the ability to extend the IUP in the future based on the initial success. The City granted the IUP with the following condition: The interim use shall be regularly monitored by the City and will expire on December 31, 2021, unless extended by the City Council. The applicant may request an extension of the IUP by submitting a written request to the City at least 60 days prior to the expiration date provided herein. Kaltsas said the applicant has submitted a written request to extend the IUP. There are several additional considerations that should be noted by the City Council when considering the request for an extension. The applicant has noted that they now only need a total of 6 spaces for vehicle sales rather than 30. They would like the IUP to reflect that the initially identified area is no longer applicable and that the 6 spaces would be located along the east wall of the existing building. The area originally approved for the outdoor sales has been found to be a collection point for other businesses that lease space on the subject property. The City noted that there were concerns relating to the maintenance of this area as well as the level of outdoor storage that appeared to be associated with the IUP. It has been determined that the majority of issues/storage relates to other business use of this area and not Midwest Services. The City will need to consider working with the property owner to eliminate the outdoor storage that is not approved and to clean up and maintain the area (i.e. mowing of grass, grading of the gravel, etc.). If considered for approval by the City Council, the extension of the interim use permit would be for one (1) additional year ending on December 31, 2022. Council Member Guetzkow asked what surface the parking area is. Kaltsas said it is gravel and the business owner did add gravel and improve their area for this purpose.  grass, grading of the gravel, etc.). If considered for approval by the City Council, the extension of the interim use permit would be for one (1) additional year ending on December 31, 2022. Council Member Guetzkow asked what surface the parking area is. Kaltsas said it is gravel and the business owner did add gravel and improve their area for this purpose. Steve Bunn, owner from Midwest Services approached council and informed them they do not intend to have a parking lot full of vehicles which is why they would like to decrease the number of parking space to six. WALTERS MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-137, APPROVING AN EXTENSION TO THE INTERIM USE PERMIT AS REQUESTED BY MIDWEST SERVICES, LLC FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 605 LEWIS AVENUE N. MOTION CARRIED 4- 0. 5.B. Authorize Purchase Of Liquid Storage Tank Public Services Superintendent Mike Dressel public works currently has a 1,500-gallon tank for storing liquids that they would like to replace. The age of the tank is unknown and it is a single walled tank so leaks could not be contained. The 2,000-gallon tank that staff would like to purchase would be dual walled meaning it would contain any leak that may occur. Staff solicited quotes from two venders. Both venders are quoting the same tank made by Snyder Industries Inc. Dressel said the life expectancy for the tank is between 15-20 years and warranty on the tank is 3 years. Delivery could take 15 weeks for time of purchase. Funding for the tank would come from the ice and snow removal operating fund. Currently in that budget there is a fund balance of just over $15,000 after all expenditures. Guetzkow asked if there is future use for the 1,500 tank. Dressel said there is no use currently but he could try to surplus the equipment. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-139, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 2,000 GALLON TANK. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.C. Approve Ordinance 428, Amending Chapter 14 Pertaining To Plumbing Plan Review & Inspections City Administrator Jake Foster explained that since the City has partnered with MNSPECT to provide inspection services to residents and commercial businesses within Watertown, they offer commercial plumbing review and inspections for the following types of projects: (1) state-licensed facilities as defined in section 326B.103, subdivision 13; (2) public buildings as defined in section 326B.103, subdivision 11; and (3) projects of a special nature for which department review is requested by either the municipality or the state. Historically, commercial plumbing projects have been reviewed by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. Staff would like to take advantage of the full services being offered by MNSPECT as to not delay any projects during the review process. In order to make this change, the City needs to adopt an ordinance stating the new requirements for plumbing plan review and inspections as it relates to Chapter 14 – Building Construction.  Historically, commercial plumbing projects have been reviewed by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. Staff would like to take advantage of the full services being offered by MNSPECT as to not delay any projects during the review process. In order to make this change, the City needs to adopt an ordinance stating the new requirements for plumbing plan review and inspections as it relates to Chapter 14 – Building Construction. WALTERS MOVED, GUETZKOW SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 428, AMENDING CHAPTER 14-BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO PLUMBING PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTIONS. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.D. Adopt 2022 Budget & Levies Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi presented the final budget and levy for council. Walters commended Tschudi on her work with the budget for 2022. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2021-133, APPROVING THE CITY PAY PLAN FOR 2022. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. WALTERS MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2021-134, ADOPTING 2022 BUDGET FOR ALL GENERAL, ENTERPRISE, FIRE, EDA AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2021-135, ADOPTING A 2021 TAX LEVY FOR THE CITY OF WATERTOWN FOR COLLECTION IN 2022. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO 429, ESTABLISHING A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF FEES, CHARGES, COSTS AND RATES FOR CITY LICENSES, PERMITS, APPLICATIONS, INFORMATION, SERVICES AND OTHER MATTERS. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Other Reports City Administrator Foster commended Tschudi on her work on the budget during the transition from City Administrators. He updated on the grant the City will be receiving from the DNR for the Mullen Property purchase in the amount of $400,000. Foster and Kaltsas met with the new owners of the Hooked-on Classics location for ideas on the space. Guetzkow updated that the EDA met on December 7 and approved the EDA budget. They approved utility trunk fee support for the second phase of the Workshops of Watertown. Mayor Washburn said the EDA has been doing a great job to continue to get developers into town. Washburn said a new fire chief was appointed for January 1 – Tom Hanson. 7. Claims 7.A. Approve December 14, 2021 Claims Roster Guetzkow would like staff to check on the Sugarbush generator and if the city has any recourse to recover the repair. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR 2021. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 8. Adjournment  recover the repair. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR 2021. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 8. Adjournment PAWELK MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:13PM. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 ________________________________________________________ Steve Washburn, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Lynn Tschudi, Admin. Services Director