City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Deborah Everson F Jim Kasheimer Fred McGuire Kay Thul 1. Call To Order And Roll Call A 3/25/2025 - Minutes 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 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, by Mayor Mike Walters. Councilmembers present: Mike Walters, Jim Kasheimer, Kay Thul, Fred McGuire and Deborah Everson D Councilmember(s) absent: None City staff present: City Administrator Dan Tolsma, Fire Chief Tom Hanson, Interim Public Services Superintendent Mike Loehrs 2. Adopt Agenda COUNCILMEMBER JIM KASHEIMER MOVED TO APPOVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER KAY THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH EVERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3.A. 3A - March 11, 2025 Council Work Session Minutes 3.B. 3B - March 11, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3C - Appointing Marty Bergland And Rachel Rosckes To The Commission On Aging 3.D. 3D - Appointing Matt Renz To The Parks Commission 3.E. 3E - Authorize Solicitation Of Quotes For Floor Scrubber  3.C. 3C - Appointing Marty Bergland And Rachel Rosckes To The Commission On Aging 3.D. 3D - Appointing Matt Renz To The Parks Commission 3.E. 3E - Authorize Solicitation Of Quotes For Floor Scrubber 3.F. 3F - Resolution 2025-10 Approving Lions Club Temporary Liquor License 3.G. 3G - Resolution 2025-11 Accepting Donations For Commission On Aging Spring Fling Event 3.H. 3H - Resolution 2025-12 Accepting Donations For Highland Park Picnic Tables T 3.I. 3I - Approving Mobile Food Unit Permit For Adventure Bowls 4. Open Forum F 5. New/Old Business Watertown Fire Chief Tom Hanson gave his monthly update. There were 135 calls for service after the close of this month, 10 of those are fire related, 26 medicals and then rescue related calls breakdown for the districts are 26 calls to the city, three in Watertown Township, three in Hollywood Township, one in Franklin Township and four mutual aids to outside agencies. A Tom gave a reminder that anyone who is interested in applying or learning more about the first department, we are having an open hiring night on April 3rd. We encourage people to stop up at the fire station and learn a little bit about the fire department. We will have on-site interviews at that time. We will be open from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. R Tom also wanted to put a reminder out to everyone about the dry conditions as you're having recreational fires and things like that, to make sure you are attending your fire and have water nearby, and you are able to put that out and make sure it is out before you go to bed for the evening. 5.A. 5A - Resolution 2025-13 In Recognition And Appreciation Of Doug Kammerer D Mayor Walters read a plaque that was presented to Doug Kammerer that read: With deep appreciation for 31 years of dedicated service. Your unwavering commitment, hard work, and dedication left a lasting impact on our community. Thank you for your service and leadership. We wish you all the best in your well-earned retirement. Walters also read Resolution 2025-13 in Recognition and Appreciate of Doug Kammerer. This is kind of a proclamation whereas it is appropriate that the city council should recognize and honor those employees that have performed with uncommon devotion and enthusiasm throughout their careers in public service. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-13. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 Doug Kammerer thanked everyone for the kind words and said 30 years went by fast. Chief Hanson came forward to also present Doug with a plaque on behalf of all the employees to be hung in the new wastewater plant lab. It reads: This laboratory is dedicated to Doug Kammerer, Utilities Superintendent for the City of Watertown. Doug served the city from July 1994 until February 2025. In gratitude for his 31 years of commitment, distinguished service, and leadership to the Utilities Department and community. We honor his passion and commitment to protecting and preserving water quality. His efforts were vital in protecting the health of our community and the environment. 5.B. 5B - DWK Clean Water Solutions Consultation Agreement City Administrator Dan Tolsma reported on Doug Kammerer's consulting business DWK Clean Water  Department and community. We honor his passion and commitment to protecting and preserving water quality. His efforts were vital in protecting the health of our community and the environment. 5.B. 5B - DWK Clean Water Solutions Consultation Agreement City Administrator Dan Tolsma reported on Doug Kammerer's consulting business DWK Clean Water Services, LLC. We have been in discussion with Doug about potentially coming back as a consultant and offer assistance to the staff in place. Doug has graciously offered to do that by assisting 6-10 hours per week, cover for conferences, vacations or training in and help if there is an emergency. Tolsma went on to mention that there are funds budgeted for in 2025 for a part-time public utilities employee. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO ACCEPT DWK CLEAN WATER SERVICES CONSULTING AGREEMENT. T COUNCILMEMBER FRED MCGUIRE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.C. 5C - Downtown Parking Discussion And Options F City Administrator Tolsma gave a recap on the downtown parking discussion. The short-term parking signs in front of Crow River Liquors were removed due to the fact that they were not compliant with the City Code under Section 48-16. Council at the last meeting discussed bringing this back to this meeting tonight for some further discussion, mainly around two areas. One is the continuation of A temporary short-term parking signage, and the other is discussion of adding permanent short-term parking signage either at that specific location or throughout the corridor in numerous locations. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO KEEP THE 20 MINUTE SIGNS WHERE THEY ARE. MOTION DIED. NO SECOND. R COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE MOVED TO ALLOW THE PERMANANT 20 MINUTE PARKING SIGNS ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH SPOTS FROM THE NORTH AND THAT OTHER BUSINESSES COULD MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL PARKING UP TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR AT THEIR BUSINESSES. D COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION FAILED 2-3 (Aye - McGuire and Walters; Nay - Thul, Kasheimer and Everson) COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO AMEND THE CITY CODE LANGUAGE TO SECTION 48-16, SECTION B TO SAY THE ZONING ADMINISTSRATOR MAY APPROVE TEMPORARY SIGNS ON PUBLIC OR INSITUTIONAL PROPERTY FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. FOR THE FIRST APPROVAL FOR A SITE MAY ALLOW FOR THE USE OF THE CITY SIGN FOR TWO SPOTS NOT TO EXCEED THREE DAYS. SUBSEQUENT PPROVALS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF SIGN FOR THE SAME BUSINES WOULD BE LIMITED TO 30 DAYS PER CALENDAR YEAR, AND REQUESTS FOR THE SIGN WOULD NEED TO BE MADE 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON TO AMEND THAT MOTION FROM ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TO SAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE TEMPORARY SIGNS ON PUBLIC OR INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY FOR SPECIALS EVENTS NOT TO EXCEED THREE DAYS AT A TIME, BUT UP TO 30 DAYS IN A CALENDAR YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED THE AMENDMENT. MOTION CARRIED 4-1 (Aye - Everson, McGuire, Thul and Kasheimer; Nay - Walters) 5.D. 5D - Solicit Quotes For 2025 Pavement Maintenance Project Interim Public Services Superintendent Mike Loehrs reported on the annual pavement maintenance plan. Staff is planning on doing crack sealing and seal coating in several areas.  5.D. 5D - Solicit Quotes For 2025 Pavement Maintenance Project Interim Public Services Superintendent Mike Loehrs reported on the annual pavement maintenance plan. Staff is planning on doing crack sealing and seal coating in several areas. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR THE 2025 PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 6. Other Reports T City Administrator Tolsma gave an update on our search for the Public Services Superintendent. There are 14 applicants. After going through and scoring we have a finalist group of three at a minimum and five on the high end. We are tentatively looking at the week of April 7th for interviews. Councilmember Thul reported she attended the Park Board Commission this week. They re-elected Brad F Kipp and Terry Gallagher as Chair and Vice Chair. They will be visiting all the parks looking at the good things and what maybe can be improved and bring back next month. We did have good discussion about a lot of the vandalism thats gone on in town. Just like our deputy says, See Something, Say Something. I'm going to add, in that moment, don't call the next day, call when you see it. A Thul also wanted to include that the Commission on Aging is hosting a Spring Fling senior dance on Saturday, April 5th at Westwood Place. You need to RSVP to Community Ed to attend. Mayor Walters reported that he and Kay Thul both attended the first Public Safety Commission meeting which was an introductory and setting the scope of the commission. The main focus of this commission is to monitor response times with our new policing contract to make sure that we are meeting the needs and R requirements for our first responders and just proactively engage our community on anything safety related and to act as a liaison to the council. 7. Claims D COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 7.A. 7A - Claims 8. Adjournment COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7:55 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 _________________________________________________ Michael Walters, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________________ Dan Tolsma, City Administrator ATTEST: ________________________________________________ Dan Tolsma, City Administrator F T R A D