City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Adam Pawelk F Fred McGuire Dan Schuette Kay Thul 1. Call To Order And Roll Call A 8/14/2024 - Minutes R Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the Watertown City Council was called to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:32 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, by Mayor Michael Walters. Councilmembers present: Mike Walters, Adam Pawelk, Kay Thul and Fred McGuire D Councilmember(s) absent: Dan Schuette City Staff present: City Administrator Jake Foster, Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld and Utilities Superintendent Doug Kammerer Others present: Jim Kasheimer 2. Adopt Agenda City Administrator Jake Foster made a change to the agenda to add: 5.B. Discussion of issues with outdoor storage at 696 Industrial Boulevard. 5.C. Discussion of property owner intentions regarding parking at 104 Madison Street. Councilmember Kay Thul Moved to approve Agenda as Amended. Councilmember Walters seconded. Motion carried. 4-0 Mayor Walters asked to move the August 27, 2024 meeting. Jake Foster reminded council of Public Hearing on August 27 th and recommends additional date rather than move. Mayor Walters proposed dates to Jake Foster. Dates proposed and discussed. Mayor Walters proposed all-commission meeting before Jake’s end date. Jake Foster suggested a workshop preliminary budget at the August 27 th meeting and suggested a meeting on September 3.  Hearing on August 27 th and recommends additional date rather than move. Mayor Walters proposed dates to Jake Foster. Dates proposed and discussed. Mayor Walters proposed all-commission meeting before Jake’s end date. Jake Foster suggested a workshop preliminary budget at the August 27 th meeting and suggested a meeting on September 3. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval No consent agenda for consideration. 4. Open Forum T No open forum requests. 5. New/Old Business 5.A. Discussion On City Administrator Recruitment F City Administrator Foster summarized his strategy and actions taken so far. Recommends using David Drown Associates, who conducted his recruitment. Stating that, with minor updates to that previous recruitment proposal, the current timeline estimate could be reduced. A Council Member Pawelk discussed the firm vetting process The City had undergone prior to Jake Foster's recruitment. Mayor Walters discussed the unsatisfactory experience with a competing firm when hiring the previous interim administrator. R Council Member Pawelk recommended using David Drown Associates based on their performance previously and the benefit of a quicker timeline. Mayor Walters proposed seeking City Planner Mark Kaltsas as interim administrator. City Administrator Foster said that City Planner Kaltsas offered additional capacity to aid an incoming D interim administrator, but did not have the capacity to serve in that role. City Administrator Foster proposed Fire Chief Tom Hanson as interim with Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld focusing on budget. City Administrator Foster stated that Chief Hanson is considering and weighing the balance of interim administrator and chief duties. Mayor Walters asked about compensation. City Administrator Foster recommended offering his current rate. City Administrator Foster stated he would use the City Attorney to draft a contract/offer with language discussed by Council. Mayor Walters states Tom Hanson is option 1, followed by Mike Ericson, who had been recommended to City Administrator Foster. If those options were exhausted, further recommendations from the League of MN Cities' list would be considered, followed by Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld. Councilmember Thul Moved to Approve hiring David Drown Associates to recruit the new City Administrator. Councilmember McGuire Seconded. Motion carried. 4-0 5.B. Discussion Of Issues With Outdoor Storage At 696 Industrial Boulevard. City Administrator Foster stated that the current use falls within the conditional use permit. Mayor Walters said that the owner had told him he was ok with a fence but didn't believe pavement should be required.  5.B. Discussion Of Issues With Outdoor Storage At 696 Industrial Boulevard. City Administrator Foster stated that the current use falls within the conditional use permit. Mayor Walters said that the owner had told him he was ok with a fence but didn't believe pavement should be required. Council Member McGuire and Mayor Walters agreed that a gravel surface would be better for the owner’s intended use. City Administrator Foster mentioned owner could get a waiver from City Council. C ouncil Member Pawelk said it would have to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to Council consideration. T Mayor Walters said that the owner stated he would leave if the building does not go in, in September. C ouncil Member Pawelk said that, even if everything were within code and perfect, it would still need to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission on September 12 th and to Council on September 24 th . F Mayor Walters wanted to go on the record with other council members, that he wants to be open to businesses and work with them an accommodate where they can. A 5.C. Discussion Of Property Owner Intentions Regarding Parking At 104 Madison Street. City Administrator Foster said that the owner does not want to use commercial garage for parking. The owner wants to park behind the business, in the alley. Due to the distances involved, the City Planner has stated that it would be a variance process. R City Administrator Foster stated that the original issue began with an illegal apartment, which the City has been trying to accommodate retroactively. Hurdles continue to arise because the plan is outside of the building's intended use. Council Member Thul said, the zoning is set as commercial and that should be the use. The building is D non-conforming. She then outlined safety issues she saw with the uninspected alterations inside. City Administrator Foster said, if granted conditional use, the property would have to come into building code. Council Member Thul said that the Planning and Zoning Commission had discussed that accommodating the unpermitted alterations would be rewarding an owner for violating all the rules. City Administrator Foster could go to the City Planner to see what it would take to outline a process that would continue with a C.U.P. without an additional variance. 6. Other Reports 7. Claims 8. Adjournment Councilmember Pawelk Moved to Adjourn at 8:09 p.m. Councilmember Walters Seconded. Motion Carried. 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 T ATTEST:__________________________________________________ Jake Foster, City Administrator AF D R