City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow F Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette A 7/26/2022 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call R 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 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, by Mayor Steve Washburn. Councilmembers present: Steve Washburn, Adam Pawelk, Lindsay Guetzkow, and Dan Schuette. D Councilmembers absent: Michael Walters. City Staff present: City Administrator Jake Foster, City Planner Mark Kaltsas, City Engineer Andrew Budde, Administrative Services Director Maggie Reisdorf and Public Services Director Mike Dressel. Others Present: Kelly and Chris Zwilling, Bobbie Harder, Steve Burns, Glenn Gruenhagen. 2. Adopt Agenda COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER SCHUETTE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER SCHUETTE MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. PAWELK SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. GUETSKOW ENTERED THE MEETING AT 6:32 PM 3.A. 3A - July 12, 2022 Workshop Meeting Minutes 3.B. 3B - June 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3C - Rails To Trails Lions Donations 3.D. 3D - 2022 M&O Pay App 1  3.B. 3B - June 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3C - Rails To Trails Lions Donations 3.D. 3D - 2022 M&O Pay App 1 3.E. 3E - Liquor Licence - La Catrina Restaurante And Bar 4. Open Forum 4.A. Glenn Gruenhagen – Minnesota State Representative T Minnesota State Representative, Glenn Gruenhagen, introduced himself to the City Council. He informed that he is running for re-election at the 2022 elections. He stated that as part of the redistricting process, that he represents part of Carver County. He reviewed his accomplishments at a State Representative and his future goals if reelected. This included bonding bills for vital infrastructure projects including roads and bridges. F Washburn thanked Gruenhagen for coming to the meeting. 4.B. Bobbie Harder – Candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives 17B A Bobbie Harder introduced herself to the City Council. She informed that she is running for election for the 17B seat for Minnesota House of Representatives. She said that she is running unopposed. She stated that she is currently a Sibley County County Commissioner. She reviewed that her priorities center on flooding issues and that she is excited to be a voice at the state level. R 5. New/Old Business 5.A. 5A - Melroe Toolcat Public Services Director, Mike Dressel, introduced this item to the City Council. D Dressel reviewed that at the February 8, 2022 City Council meeting, the City Council authorized the purchase of a 2022 Melroe UW 5600 Toolcat with a material bucket and 72” V-snowplow. He informed that at that same meeting, staff was seeking to purchase a broom and snowblower as well for the Toolcat. Dressel said that it was determined to wait on those purchases because of the pricing for everything coming in high and over budget. Dressel explained that the City Council recommended brining the items back later in the year to reassess the purchases of these items. Dressel provided information that another project, the 2022 asphalt maintenance CIP project was under budget by $58,203.44. Because of this, Dressel recommended that purchasing the two remaining attachments for a total of $12,262.10. Dressel stated that the quoted prices were received from Lano Equipment Inc. using the MN State Contract Pricing. He reviewed the quotes with the City Council as $5,717.95 for the 68” Bobcat angle broom and $6,544.15 for the 32” x 74” Bobcat snowblower. Pawelk expressed support for the purchasing of the two items. He did ask that staff continue to monitor when projects come in high and low and when there are funds being shifted to cover the overages for other projects. Guetzkow agreed. She informed that she was glad to see the asphalt project come in lower and was happy to see that these two items could be purchased. GUETZKOW MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2022-62 APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF THE 68” BROOM AND 74” SNOWBLOWER. SCHUETTE SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 5.B. 5B - 2023 Mill And Overlay City Engineer, Andrew Budde, introduced this item to the City Council. Budde provided some history on the placement management strategies and plan implantation that has taken place since 2016.  68” BROOM AND 74” SNOWBLOWER. SCHUETTE SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 5.B. 5B - 2023 Mill And Overlay City Engineer, Andrew Budde, introduced this item to the City Council. Budde provided some history on the placement management strategies and plan implantation that has taken place since 2016. He informed that for 2023, the city’s plan is to perform a Mill and Overlay of Arnica Drive, a section of trail reconstruction within that area, the Mill and Overlay of two downtown parking lots, the repaving of the Fire Department’s north parking lot and some utility adjustment work in preparation for the 2024 Mill and Overlay project. Budde estimated the project to be around $1,116,000.00. Budde informed that at this time, staff is recommending the authorization for the City Engineer to T prepare plans and specifications for the 2023 Mill and Overlay project. Pawelk asked Budde if there would be a financial benefit to get the project out for bid in January/February instead of March. F Budde responded that it could go out earlier and has potential to reduce costs. Guetzkow asked about whether the trail along Arnica was going to be moved next to and up to the street pavement. A Budde stated that there has been no determination or discussion on moving the trail at this time. He informed that it is currently an 8-foot trail. He said that the trail was originally scoped to match the same width as the current width. Guetzkow requested that the downtown parking lots be done with a mindful timeline as to not interview with the city’s July city celebration in 2023. ` R PAWELK MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022-65 AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND SPECIFICATION FOR THE 2023 MILL AND OVERLAY PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROJECT. GUETZKOW SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. D 5.C. 5C - 2022 Cast In Place Pipe (CIPP) City Engineer, Andrew Budde, introduced this item to the City Council. He stated that the 2022 Capital Improvement Plan includes a Cast in Place Piping (CIPP) project. He explained that CIPP lining project lined the interior of the old sanitary sewer pipe to help eliminate inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer lines and system. Budde said that the project is under $175,000 and therefore is not required to go through the public bidding process. Staff did however solicit quotes from three companies for the project. Budde informed of the following received quotes: Hydro-Klean - $137,907.39 Insituform - $147,573.50 Visu -Sewer - $171,296.00 Budde stated that the city budgeted $150,000 for the project. Budde said that staff is recommending to the City Council awarding the Contract in the amount of $137,907.39 to the low bidder, Hydro-Klean. Pawelk asked Budde if there was a schedule yet for the work to be completed. Budde said that the project timeline is still being coordinated. Guetzkow asked if Budde knew why the bids came in so differently.  Pawelk asked Budde if there was a schedule yet for the work to be completed. Budde said that the project timeline is still being coordinated. Guetzkow asked if Budde knew why the bids came in so differently. Budde guessed that it is related to the demand for work and that some contractors may be busier than others. GUETZKOW MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022-66 AWARDING THE CAST IN PLACE PIPE LINING PROJECT. SHUETTE SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 5.D. 5D - PUD-GR Ordinance Amendment T City Planner, Mark Kaltsas, introduced this item to the City Council. F Kaltsas informed that the City Council is being asked to consider an amendment to the Watertown Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 62, Article IV. Districts, Division 21, Planned Unit Development – General Residential with new language that amends Subzone B, Twin Homes, to correspond with the existing conditions within the Rosewood Estates Subdivision. The amendment would amend the setback A provisions to more closely correspond with the existing and future twin homes in the development. Kaltsas reviewed the reason for the request including that already constructed twin homes within the development do not meet the applicable side yards setbacks. He informed that Rosewood Estates is currently zoned Planned-Unit Development – GR (PUD-GR) and is the only development with this zoning designation. R Kaltsas informed that currently 18 of the 26 units that have been constructed do not meet the setback requirements. He said that these units are currently illegal. Kaltsas proposed amending the PUD-GR zoning ordinance subzone requirements in a way that would allow existing structures to be considered legal nonconforming uses and to establish that a zero-foot side yard setback can be used for new D accessory structures or expansions. Kaltsas recommended one condition however that would maintain a minimum separation of 10 feet between buildings. Kaltsas informed that the Planning Commission reviewed this issue and worked with staff to propose a text amendment that would address the issue and provide some ease of administration moving forward. Kaltsas said that the Planning Commission had several property owners address the Commission expressing a desire that the city resolve the issue. He informed that the Planning Commission had lengthy discussions on the topic and ultimately recommended that the new (not yet constructed) units should be permitted to utilize the zero-foot side yard setbacks that the existing units were permitted to use as long as there is a minimum of 10 feet of separation between adjacent buildings. Kaltsas stated that the Planning Commission recommended to the City Council approving the proposed ordinance amendment as presented in the City Council packet. Pawelk asked if the city attorney had any concerns. Kaltsas informed that the city attorney agreed on the format of the changes and the process. He said that the city attorney agreed that the structures are currently illegal and that the resolution would be to do the proposed amendment. Pawelk expressed concern about creating a liability. Kaltsas said that the structures would be legal nonconforming as far as a zoning standpoint. Guetzkow wondered how 18 units were constructed this way and how this should have been caught  Pawelk expressed concern about creating a liability. Kaltsas said that the structures would be legal nonconforming as far as a zoning standpoint. Guetzkow wondered how 18 units were constructed this way and how this should have been caught with foundation inspections. Kaltsas stated that the building permits for some reason were approved with the zero-foot setback. Guetzkow said that she was concerned about other structures being put in the zero-foot setback. She wondered if it would cause territorial issued for property owners. She asked if neighbors should have to sign off on each other’s permits. T Steve Burns, the developer of Rosewood Estates, informed that these permits were reviewed and approved by the city as presented in the plans. He expressed concern regarding the permitting process and how they got approved. He thanked the city for working on a resolution to the current issues. F Washburn informed that it was a staff misinterpretation and mistake. There was City Council discussion on if all of the properties within the Rosewood Estate Development should be surveyed to ensure property compliance. A Burns stated that if the City Council were to approve surveying the lots for noncompliance in the Rosewood Estates Development, that the city would have to do the entire city. He said that there are currently no issues and that if any issues were identified that the city would have to pay to fix them. He preferred addressing the issues later as they come up and if they come up. Schuette expressed concern about the city ignoring potential issues. He questioned that if someone R went to sell and they had an issue, that they would run into problems selling. Washburn informed that the city is only looking to resolve the zero-foot side yards setbacks. Washburn referenced a topic of discussion that is currently being discussed at the City Council level D relating to a mid-survey review being conducted during the building process. He said that enforcing the mid-survey requirement would have caught this issue. Washburn expressed appreciation for staff working through this issue. He stated that the city needs to make sure that the city ordinances are being enforced. Burns expressed support for the mid-survey requirement with new construction. SCHUETTE MOVED TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 433 AMENDING CHAPTER 62 OF THE WATERTOWN CITY CODE RELATING TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT – GENERAL RESIDENTIAL. (PUD – GR) ZONING DISTRICT. GUETZKOW SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. Guetzow informed that she wished the city wouldn’t be in this position, but that it is important to find a solution that will work moving forward. Pawelk agreed. 5.E. 5E - 101 Hope Variance City Planner, Mark Kaltsas, introduced this item to the City Council. He informed that an application was submitted by the buyer of the property for 101 Hope Ave NE, Kelly Zwilling. He informed that the applicant is requesting a variance to the City Code that would allow for ta four-foot-high fence in the front and corner yards of the property. The four feet is over the current City Code requirement. Kaltsas provided visuals for the desired location of the fence and the proposed construction materials.  He informed that an application was submitted by the buyer of the property for 101 Hope Ave NE, Kelly Zwilling. He informed that the applicant is requesting a variance to the City Code that would allow for ta four-foot-high fence in the front and corner yards of the property. The four feet is over the current City Code requirement. Kaltsas provided visuals for the desired location of the fence and the proposed construction materials. Kaltsas reviewed several considerations that he recommended to be taken into consideration by the City Council as they review the application and request for a variance. Kaltsas said that the request was brought to the Planning Commission for review and discussion. He stated that the Planning Commission discussed the current driveway relocation and the change of the T garage door location to the east side of the building. Kaltsas said that the Planning Commission recommended approval of the variance stating that they believed the request to meet the criteria for granting a variance. Their recommendation came with several conditions. Kaltsas reviewed the recommended conditions from the Planning Commission that are requested to be F included in the variance stipulations. PAWELK MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2022-63 GRANTING APPROVAL OF A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A 4-FOOT-TALL FENCE TO BE LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND STREET SIDE YARD FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 101 HOPE AVE. NE. GUETZKOW SECONDED. A MOTION PASSED 4-0. 5.F. Ironwood Avenue Traffic Issues R City Administrator, Jake Foster, introduced this item to the City Council. Foster informed that at a previous City Council meeting, resident Andy Gosha, expressed concerns to the City Council during the open forum of that meeting. Gosha raised concerns about significant traffic issues on Ironwood Ave. D Foster provided a review of suggestions that Gosha recommended to assist in alleviating the traffic issues. This included increased police presence in the area, the installation of speed bumps and the installation of decorative boulders on each side of both sidewalks to deter speeders and drivers from driving on the curb and along the sidewalks. Foster informed that after internal staff discussion, staff agreed that the initial strategy to address the concerns would be to add decorative boulders along both sides of the sidewalks and to increase police presence in the area. Foster suggested that a total of 12 boulders would suffice and would be installed and placed by the city’s public works department. Foster stated that the boulders were thought to be able to be sourced internally and if not, purchased for between $50-$75 each for a total project cost between $600-$900. Foster asked the City Council to provide guidance on the recommendations. Pawelk stated that he was ok with the approach. He mentioned that collecting data with a speed trailer would be helpful. He stated that speed bumps can be difficult for different reasons. He agreed with increased police presence. Guetzkow said that she hopes the solutions will help. Washburn expressed appreciation for the quick response of staff to seek solutions. The City Council directed staff to install the boulders, ask for increased police presence in the area and for the public work’s department to place a speed sign out there. 6. Other Reports  Washburn expressed appreciation for the quick response of staff to seek solutions. The City Council directed staff to install the boulders, ask for increased police presence in the area and for the public work’s department to place a speed sign out there. 6. Other Reports Foster informed that Carver County will be bringing a semi full of food each Wednesday in August for residents between 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm at City Hall. Foster stated that the Primary Election will be held at City Hall on August 9, 2022. Pawelk stated that the Park Commission did their clean up day event instead of their regular meeting. T Guetzkow informed that the EDA met and discussed and approved a trunk fee waiver request for Workshops of Watertown. Guetzkow provided updates and information on the Rails to Trails events coming up later in the week. F Washburn stated that he attended a Carver County Leaders meeting in which they discussed Metronet and the fiber ring buildout project. He informed that there is a high demand for these services. 6.A. June And Q2 2022 CCSO Reports A Foster referenced the June 2022 and Quarter 2 Carver County Sheriff’s Office Reports within the packet. 7. Claims 7.A. 7A - Claims Packet 7-26-22 R SCHUETTE MOVED TO APPROVE THE JULY 26, 2022 CLAIMS PACKET, PAWELK SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 8. Adjournment D PAWELK MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:00 PM, SCHUETTE SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 ________________________________________________________ Mike Walters, Acting Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Margaret Reisdorf, Admin. Services Director