City Council Worksession

Watertown City Council Work Session Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette 5/10/2022 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call Acting Mayor Mike Walters called the Watertown City Council work session to order at 5:38 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in the council chambers of City Hall. Council Members Present: Walters, Dan Schuette, Adam Pawelk, and Lindsay Guetzkow. Staff Present: City Administrator Jake Foster, Utilities Superintendent Doug Kammerer, and City Engineer Andrew Budde. Others Present: Superintendent of Schools Darren Schuler, School Board Chair Hunter Feldt, School Board Clerk Jim Burns, and School Board Treasurer Erika Schulz. 2. New Business 2.I. CSAH 10 And Bickford Street Pedestrian Improvements City Administrator Foster introduced the agenda item and provided background information for discussion. The City Council and School Board Members spoke in general support of the pedestrian improvements. Councilmember Guetzkow had questions relating to whether or not these improvements or any future improvements could qualify for the State's Safe Routes to School Program. City Engineer Andrew Budde Addressed Guetzkow's questions and added that there likely isn't any work that could be done to prepare for any future enhancements that would be worthwhile. The City Council and School Board agreed in concept to a 50/50 cost share for the proposed pedestrian improvements. 2.II. Quarry Avenue Access Project – Tree Preservation City Administrator Foster introduced the School Board's concern with the replanting aspects of the City's tree preservation policy for their additional access project off of Quarry Avenue. Superintendent Schuler provided additional detail. The City Council and School Board discussed these items in general terms. 2.III. Carver County Patrol Weekday Officing City Administrator Foster and Superintendent Schuler provided background information on the School  Schuler provided additional detail. The City Council and School Board discussed these items in general terms. 2.III. Carver County Patrol Weekday Officing City Administrator Foster and Superintendent Schuler provided background information on the School District's desire to have a weekday presence of the on-shift deputy at the school buildings. Furthermore, Superintendent Schuler stated the School District would provide an office space for the deputies to write reports and maintain a presence at the school. The City Council expressed some concern with the City covering the costs of the entire policing contract while the School District reaped additional benefits. The School Board felt that increasing the presence of deputies at the schools would benefit the entire community. Both parties agreed to entertain and discuss this item further. 2.IV. City Of Watertown Growth Outlook Superintendent Schuler provided background information on how Carver County and School District data indicated that the total number of eligible kindergarten enrollees has declined within the district, as have kindergarten enrollment numbers themselves. City Administrator Foster detailed infill developments that have either had City Council plat approval, submitted applications for preliminary and/or final plat approval, submitted concepts for review, or have in any other way indicated progress toward development. Additional general discussion took place regarding residential and commercial development and the growth outlook for the City. 3. Adjournment After extending the meeting to continue the discussion, Acting Mayor Walters adjourned the work session at 6:37 p.m. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 __________________________________________________________ Steve Washburn, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________ Maggie Reisdorf, Admin. Services Director