City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Adam Pawelk F Fred McGuire Dan Schuette Kay Thul A 9/24/2024 - 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 6:31 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, by Mayor Michael Walters. Councilmembers present: Michael Walters, Adam Pawelk, Kay Thul and Fred McGuire D Councilmember(s) absent: Dan Schuette City staff present: Interim City Administrator Tom Hanson and Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld Others present: Carver County Sherrif's Corporal Cripps and Deputy Riggleman 2. Adopt Agenda Interim City Administrator Tom Hanson added there is an Amendment to the Agenda. Under the Consent Agenda 3.I. Approval of Drainage Easement agreement for 821 Dutchman's Way for the sanitary sewer extension. COUNCILMEMBER FRED MCGUIRE MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER KAY THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 3.A. Minutes - September 10, 2024 -Regular Meeting 3.B. Minutes - September 10, 2024 -Workshop Meeting  COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 3.A. Minutes - September 10, 2024 -Regular Meeting 3.B. Minutes - September 10, 2024 -Workshop Meeting 3.C. Resolution 2024-44 PFA Water Tower Funding 3.D. Metronet Peddler Permits 3.E. Crow River Bank Restoration Pay App 6 3.F. Step Movement For Michael Sommerfeld T 3.G. Step Movement For Doug Kammerer 3.H. Commission On Aging - Holiday Dinner Entertainment F 3.I. RFA Approval Of Drainage Easement - 821 Dutchman's Way 4. Open Forum Mr. Jim Kasheimer, 300 Grove Avenue, posed a couple questions regarding the water tower project asking if A all documents have been signed for the land exchange. Interim City Administrator Hanson responded, no, engineering is working with property owners, and we have a couple of land use agreements. R Mr. Kasheimer continued asking about the power pole being moved. Tom Hanson discussed that Xcel had unfortunately gone back on what they originally planned with the distribution. They will continue talks with Xcel and business owners. Mr. Steve Burns, 2510 Co.Rd 21, Watertown, responded to Xcel topic. I really think you guys have way more power with Xcel Energy than you're using. In the City of Watertown everybody uses their power. They D need your land for the land swap. You need to use your power because you have the power. I think this council needs to stand together and say stop your project and call it good because we're not playing this game. You guys need to stand up for your city members. Plus, you guys can go down to the Senate and the House and make their life miserable because you have access to the Senate and House. Those are the people that actually run Xcel Energy. 4.A. Gather And Grow Food Shelf Update Angie Cruzen from Gather & Grow Food Shelf gave a brief update and thanking Tom Hanson and the fire department for the open house last night. They invited us to have a table there and we were able to be face-to-face with the community and answer questions and give information. Angie continued that they are having an Open House in a couple weeks and formally invited the Council and Mayor. Angie reported that they were able to get two grants that have funded all of this so not a penny of dollars or donor dollars have been spent. Angie went on to say they are excited they expanded into the kitchen area and allowed for an indoor shopping experience. The Fire Department came and put together the shelving which is all mobile and can be put away when space is needed from rentals. The Open House will be October 9th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, with the Chamber having a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:30pm. Carver County Public Health will be here and some members of the University of Minnesota Extension Office that we are getting certified as a Super Shelf. Its going to be a great opportunity for the community to come. It will be a family-friendly event. 4.B. CCSO Update Carver County Sheriff's Corporal R.J. Cripps gave his monthly report. He reported that there is now a third night car up and rolling. A reminder he has is, don't believe everything you see on the internet. There has been mention of some vehicle break-ins that people have mentioned their cars were locked and secured, where maybe thats not the case. All break-ins we have had, the keys have been inside  4.B. CCSO Update Carver County Sheriff's Corporal R.J. Cripps gave his monthly report. He reported that there is now a third night car up and rolling. A reminder he has is, don't believe everything you see on the internet. There has been mention of some vehicle break-ins that people have mentioned their cars were locked and secured, where maybe thats not the case. All break-ins we have had, the keys have been inside the vehicle and vehicles were unlocked. Remember to take belongings out of your car, take your garage door opener in, lock your stuff, keep your keys out of your car. You live in a safe community, but help keep it safe by locking your stuff. Mayor Walters responded, we have a ton of faith in our law enforcement. We respect and appreciate you guys so much. Councilmember Thul mentioned that when she was walking down the Luce Line Trail last week she was T almost hit by a probably 10 or 11 year old kid on an e-bike who was flying wide open across the bridge. Kay asked Corporal Cripps if he can give any direction or how can we share with the community that you have to be 15 years old to ride an e-bike. F Corporal Cripps responded that this is a good forum. I think of lot of people watch these meetings so just being brought up to parents' attention, that way they can monitor their children. We see it all the time too with dirt bikes, ATVs, four-wheelers, e-bikes. We can get together with Tom and put something in the newsletter. 4.C. Fire Department Update A Fire Chief Tom Hanson gave his monthly update. Right now, we are at 450 calls for service since the beginning of the year. 43 since we last met, which 7 of those were fire-related, 32 medicals, and 4 rescue-related. The geography of those calls there were 30 in the City, 4 to Watertown Township, 2 in Hollywood Township, 6 in Franklin Township and 1 to Woodland Township. 5. New/Old Business R 5.A. 2024 Preliminary Tax Levy For Collection In 2025 D Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld provided a recap of discussion on the preliminary tax levy for collection in 2025. We are looking for a maximum preliminary levy of what would equate to a 3.78% increase for a median household. Mayor Walters responded that taxes would be less than $5.00 per month increase. He said that number could even go down from there. Councilmember Pawelk noted for the record that we update what the definite, as discussed verbally in the workshop, I was making sure that we're clear in terms of Scenario One is the total amount, not necessarily the breakdown as yet defined in the packet here tonight, just from a recordkeeping perspective. COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2024-45 APPROVING PRELIMINARY LEVY SCENARO #1. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION#2024-47, ADOPTING THE 2025 PRELIMINARY EDA LEVY. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 5.B. RFA - Public Works Lot Paving COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE SOLICITATION OF COSTS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PACING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS APRON.  5.B. RFA - Public Works Lot Paving COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE SOLICITATION OF COSTS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PACING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS APRON. COUNCILMEMEBER THULE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 6. Other Reports Interim City Administrator Hanson mentioned to the Mayor and Council that the German exchange students are coming again this year. They will come down to City Hall on October 22nd at 9:00am. We will pull together some things for them again and share about our city. Mayor Walters was involved with that last T year and a fire truck was brought down for them to see as well. Tom shared that he has had some meetings regarding the Felt property and Spring Mill. Tom also made council aware that they need to make some decisions on cannabis as our moratorium is F going to end at the end of the year. Councilmember Pawelk reported that he and Tom talked about getting a Parks Commission meeting in October, as it would be good to meet with the group still in 2024 rather than waiting until a new City Administrator has started. A Councilmember Pawelk also wanted to take a moment to thank Michael for his taking on the preliminary levy and all of that and taking the reins, especially in Jake's absence, and working with Tom and staff and bringing that all together for what we have here tonight. I appreciate the efforts and the good work, and again, also to Tom for stepping up. I think its been a pretty smooth transition so far. This idea of having Tom step into this role as an interim has sure made things go much smoother. R Mayor Walters also responded; I think we are in a really good position. Very good job. I really appreciate it. Mayor Walters mentioned attending the Chamber meeting the other day, they have a couple of big events D coming up with Ladies' Night Out on October 3rd from 5:00pm-8:00pm, and the big Halloween Trick or Treating downtown for the kids from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Our Chamber does a great job of bringing activities to the community. 7. Claims Councilmember Thul asked for clarification on the fence for St. Paul's church parking lot. COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 7.A. 7A - Claims 8. Adjournment COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7:39PM. COUNCILMEMBER PAWELK 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 ATTEST:__________________________________________________ T Jake Foster, City Administrator AF D R