City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Adam Pawelk Fred McGuire Dan Schuette Kay Thul 11/14/2023 - 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 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, by Mayor Mike Walters. Councilmembers present: Mike Walters, Adam Pawelk, and Kay Thul, and Fred McGuire. Councilmembers absent: Dan Schuette City Staff present: City Administrator Jake Foster,, Administrative Service Director Michael Sommerfeld 2. Adopt Agenda COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MAYOR WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 3.A. 3A - Crow River Bank Restoration Pay App 2 3.B. 3B - WWTF Pay Application No. 18 3.C. 3C- Personnel Policy Revisions 3.D. Fremont Street Closure 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business  3.D. Fremont Street Closure 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. 5A - 2025 Mill And Overlay And LRIP Grant Philip Schrupp presented the 2025 mill and overlay project and The City Council has previously identified the need to mill & overlay Lewis Ave from Angel Ave to Territorial Street/County Road 10 which serves the City’s downtown business district. This corridor not only serves as a route for vehicles, but also for pedestrians. The corridor’s existing lighting system limits snow maintenance operations, restricts pedestrian facilities, and prohibits ADA access along the corridor. The 2023 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation makes available up to $1,500,000 to apply towards projects on local roads that are regionally significant, result in safety improvements, address transportation deficiencies, and contribute to economic development. Receiving these grant funds would allow the city to fund a long-term sustainable rehabilitation effort for this corridor. The LRIP Grant is a competitive process and funding is not guaranteed. The project will include and address the following major components: • Mill & overlay of Lewis Ave • Storm sewer repairs • Upgraded lighting • Pedestrian mobility improvements along the corridor • Pedestrian bump outs • Parking deficiencies and the construction of parking lots Staff has scoped the cost for the improvements to be under $3,239,000, which would include the expansion of the parking lot at the City Center Park and WiFi Park. As the City of Watertown is not a State Aid City, Carver County will act as the City’s sponsor for the project and will collect and disburse the LRIP funds to the City should funding be awarded for the project. It is anticipated that the grant application would cost approximately $8,000 to prepare and submit. If the City Council authorizes to proceed with the LRIP Grant the City would also be eligible for the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator grant. The League of Minnesota Cites initially awards cities $5,000 to provide funding to apply for grants, such as the LRIP Grant. PROJECT SCHEDULE: The overall project delivery schedule for the Lewis Avenue Mill & Overlay Project is as follows: November 2023: City and County Resolutions, Letters of Support, etc. December 8, 2023: LRIP Application Deadline March 29, 2024: LRIP Award / Rejection Letters Distributed Summer 2024: Upgrade Parking Study/Final Project Scope and Plans based on Award/Rejection Fall 2024 / Spring 2025: Construction of Final Project Scope Based on Above Staff is recommending authorization to submit a grant application for the MnDOT LRIP Grant and the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator. Budget Impact: • 2025 Street Mill & Overlay $930,000 (CI030)  Staff is recommending authorization to submit a grant application for the MnDOT LRIP Grant and the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator. Budget Impact: • 2025 Street Mill & Overlay $930,000 (CI030) • Downtown Street Light Replacement $567,000 (CI099) • Downtown City Parking Lots Mill & Overlay $400,000 (CI127) • Utilities for Street Mill & Overlay $50,000 (UC015) • Stormwater Repairs – General $125,000 (UC075) • Storm Sewer Repairs – Lewis Ave $187,000 (Not currently included in CIP) • WiFi Parking Lot $480,000 (Not currently included in CIP) • City Center Parking Lot $500,000 (Not currently included in CIP) Total $3,239,000 Funding Source: • Capital Improvement Fund • Enterprise Funds (Water, Stormwater, Sewer) • Street Reconstruction Bonds (If needed) • LRIP Funding (If awarded) MAYOR WALTERS MOVED TO APPROVE AUTHORIZE PREPARATION OF THE LRIP GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE LEWIS AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES GRANT NAVIGATOR APPLICATION , THE NOVEMBER 14, 2023, CLAIMS PACKET. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 6. Other Reports Jake Foster gave a update on staffing, and park commission has been on a hiatus due to the staffing issues. Councilperson Thul gave a update on the Commission of Aging, they will be hosting the Senior Dinner again this year on December 5, 2023 at 4 pm. 7. Claims COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE MOVED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 14, 2023, CLAIMS PACKET. COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 7.A. 7A - Claims 8. Adjournment MAYOR WALTERS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 14 2023. COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK SECONDED. MOTION PASSED 4-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 ________________________________________________________ 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 ________________________________________________________ Michael Walters, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Jake Foster, City Administrator