City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Deborah Everson F Jim Kasheimer Fred McGuire Kay Thul A 4/22/2025 - 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 6:36p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, by Mayor Mike Walters. Councilmembers present: Mike Walters, Jim Kasheimer, Kay Thul, Fred McGuire and Deborah Everson Councilmember(s) absent: None D City staff present: City Administrator Dan Tolsma, City Attorney Jack Brooksbank, Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld, Fire Chief Tom Hanson and Interim Public Services Superintendent Mike Loehrs 2. Adopt Agenda City Administrator Dan Tolsma added one proposal: 5D, Amendment to property declaration. COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH EVERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER KAY THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER JIM KASHEIMER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER FRED MCGUIRE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3.A. 3.A. April 8, 2025 City Council Work Session Minutes 3.B. 3.B. April 8, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3.C. RFA - Appointing Jack Lynch To The Planning Commission 3.D. 3.D. RFA - Solicit Towing Contract Proposals  3.B. 3.B. April 8, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3.C. RFA - Appointing Jack Lynch To The Planning Commission 3.D. 3.D. RFA - Solicit Towing Contract Proposals 3.E. 3.E. RFA - Grove Street Hockey Rink Lighting Pay App No 2 (Final) 3.F. 3.F. RFA - Approve Fencing Change Order For The Water Tower Project 3.G. 3.G. RFA - Fire Department Hiring Sommerfeld And Moran T 3.H. 3.H. RFA - Peddlers Permits 3.I. Resolution 2025-16 - Approving Tobacco License 3.J. 3.J. Resolution 2025-17 Approving Lions Club Liquor Events F 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business A Fire Chief Tom Hanson gave a status report for the fire department. We had 46 calls for service, there were 14 fire calls, 32 medicals, zero rescue calls. 36 of those calls were to the city, two to Watertown Township, two to Hollywood Township, two to Franklin Township, zero to Woodland Township and four mutual aids. R Chief Hanson also noted as a safety message that the farmers are getting into their fields and moving around. Just a reminder for all drivers to be patient, slow down and make sure you give them a lot of space. 5.A. 5.A. RFA - Fire Department Floor Scrubber D Chief Hanson also presented on the fire department replacement floor scrubber purchase. COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE PUCHASE OF A TRIDENT T30SC FLOOR SCRUBBER. COUNCILMEMBER MIKE WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.B. 5.B. RFA - Public Works Paint Sprayer Interim Public Services Superintendent presented on the Public Works paint sprayer purchase. April 8th is when we went out for quotes for a new paint sprayer/striper for our athletic fields/some roadway striping. COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE NEWSTRIPE NEW RIDER 1700 AIRLESS FIELD STRIPER FROM SHERWIN WILLIAMS FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF $10,750. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.C. 5.C. Public Services Superintendent Employment Offer Tolsma presented on the interview process. On April 10th we interviewed three finalists. There were two candidates that were both deserving of a potential offer. An offer was made to one of the candidates and he politely declined the offer. The consensus was to make an offer to Mr. Van Lith giving him the same offer to consider. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTACHED EMPLOYMENT OFFER TO MATT VAN LITH WITH A BEGINNING BALANCE OF 120 HOURS FOR PTO AND PLACING MATT  two candidates that were both deserving of a potential offer. An offer was made to one of the candidates and he politely declined the offer. The consensus was to make an offer to Mr. Van Lith giving him the same offer to consider. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTACHED EMPLOYMENT OFFER TO MATT VAN LITH WITH A BEGINNING BALANCE OF 120 HOURS FOR PTO AND PLACING MATT AT 6 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR PURPOSES OF PTO AND ACCRUAL RATE. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-2 (Aye: Kasheimer, Walters, McGuire; Nay: Thul and Everson) 5.D. (PROPOSED NEW AGENDA ITEM) 5.D. RFA - Amendment To Real Property Declaration T COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PROPERTY DECLARATION DATED MAY 8, 2023, FILED AS DOCUMENT NO. A760057. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 F 6. Other Reports Administrative Services Director Michael Sommerfeld reported that he sent out letters and awards for the Community Development Grants and that he asked that any of the applicants or grantees come to the May A 13th meeting to share about their programs with the public. City Administrator Tolsma reported on the economic development front, mentioning he met two and have a third party that we are trying to get lined up for later this week. He said one that he met with was Jeff Munio on the Spring Milll development R Councilmember Kasheimer reported that he went to the Planning Commission meeting, and they have another new member. Jim also mentioned they went over one site plan, but the Commission wanted a more detailed plan. Councilmember Thul reported that she also attended the Park Commission meeting last week. The board D all went out and assessed each of the parks on what was good and what needs some help. There was a lot of discussion on Highland Park. They are looking for public feedback about putting a fence around to fence off the field to protect part of our investment. They are having an Open House at Highland Park for public feedback on May 14, 2025, at 6:30p.m. Thul continued that she attended the Carver County Commissioner's work session. They are beginning their budgeting process, and she learned that his budget plan is to shift many of its expenses that the state has paid to the county level, which could result in a 5% to 20% property tax increase for all of the counties, but 5% to 20% just in Carver County. Thul encourages everyone to go to the Carver County's website and read the press release. Mayor Walters mentioned that he gave his State of the City address at the Watertown Chamber meeting last week, and it has been posted on our city website and Facebook page. 7. Claims COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 7.A. 7.A. Claims 8. Special Business COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO CLOSE THE MEETING FOR POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION AT 7:33 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO REOPEN THE REGULAR MEETING AT 8:04 P.M.  8. Special Business COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO CLOSE THE MEETING FOR POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION AT 7:33 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO REOPEN THE REGULAR MEETING AT 8:04 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 8.A. 8.A. Closed Session: Attorney-Client Privileged Discussion Of Potential Legal Action Relating To City Code Violations At 400 State Street, Watertown. (The City Council May Close The Meeting As Permitted By Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, Subd. 3(B) To Hold A Confidential, Attorney-Client Privileged Discussion Of Legal Rights, Remedies, And Strategy Regarding The Above Potential Legal Action) T 9. Adjournment COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:05 P.M. F COUNCILMEMER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 A _________________________________________________ Michael Walters, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________________ R Dan Tolsma, City Administrator D