Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Council Workshop

Item #1: Call to Order

Mayor Hemmesch called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Richmond City Hall.

Council Members noted as being present: Jim Hemmesch, Tim Paczkowski, Jeff Mackedanz and Scott Kron. Absent: Mike Mathiasen.

Also present were: Martin Bode, City Administrator; Adam Ripple, City Attorney; Chuck Merten, Fire Chief; Marilyn Zenner, Administrative Assistant; Public Works Director, Gordon Dingmann; Randy Jenniges, City Engineer and David Drown, Financial Advisor.

Item #2: Approval of Agenda

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the presented agenda.

Motion to Approve Agenda. Motion by Kron. Second by Paczkowski. Motion Passed Unanimously.

Item #3: Approval of City Minutes of April 6, 2011 (Regular and Workshop Meetings).

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the meeting minutes. None presented.

A Motion was Made to Approve the City Council Minutes of April 6, 2011 (Regular and Workshop Meetings). Motion Made by Paczkowski, Second by Mackedanz. Motion Passed Unanimously.

Item #4. Consent Agenda.

Mayor Hemmesch read aloud the list of the following consent agenda items:

a. Just and Correct Claims

b. Purchase Requisitions / Allocations & Transfers

c. Resolution 127-11 – Approval of March Journal Entries

It was the consensus of the Council to remove item d. Resolution 128-11, Approval of Temporary 1 - 4 Day Liquor License to Country Snow Cruisers

A Motion was Made to Approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Paczkowski. Motion Passed Unanimously.

Mayor Hemmesch recessed the regular meeting at 6:34 p.m. in order for the Council to discuss the following workshop discussion items:

a. City Warning Sirens - Emergency Management Director Jesse Kollmann

Director Kollmann reviewed again with the Council the status of the City warning sirens. Kollmann stated he has updated numbers for the cost of updating or replacing the current sirens the City has in place.

a. 2013 Main Street Project

Engineer Jenniges reviewed with the Council a revised draft of the 2013 Main Street Project Cost Summery work sheet that he had created. The project, which includes approximately one and a half blocks of Main Street in the down town business area, and also includes work to be done from Main Street on two blocks of Grant Ave. N., one block of 1^st Street N., on each side of Grant Ave. N., three quarts of a block of Hall Ave S., one block of Central Ave. S., as well as one block of Ivy Ave. N. The purpose of the project is to make needed repairs to these areas: water, waste water, storm water, curb and gutter as well as street repairs.

Staff and Council discussed the moving of the overhead electric wires and poles along Main Street within the downtown area as part of the aesthetic improvements. Xcel Energy has provided the City with a rough cost estimate to complete the work and Rod Gertken of Electrical Installers has provided the City with a cost estimate associated with relocating individual businesses electrical services from the front to the back alley, which is not covered by Xcel.

SEH continues to look into any possible Grant funds that might be available, including hardship grants for those that might qualify. Other funding considerations would be to bond for the project and fund the payment of the bonds through special assessments and property taxes.

The Council set the date of April 26, 6:00 p.m. to conduct a special Council meeting specifically inviting the business owners on Main Street that are affected by this project.

c. No Fault Sewer Backup

Council again considered the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust policy regarding no fault sewer backup. After a brief discussion, the consensus of the Council was not to include no fault sewer backup on the City’s liability insurance policy.

d. 25 Main Street West

Administrator Bode informed the Council that he had been approached by Patty Plantenberg President of the Richmond Civic and Commerce, and she had expressed concern over what can be done with the building at 25 Main St W. that has been sitting vacant for over three years. Bode noted that the taxes have not been paid for over three years. Attorney Ripple stated that the City can start condemnation process. Part of that process would be to document trying to contact the current owner and asking him to clean his property up, and also ask his permission to do an interior inspection. If the property owner would not voluntarily grant permission to do an inspection the City can file for an administrative search warrant. Council directed Bode to write a letter to the current property owner requesting permission to do interior inspection.

e. Other Matters of Concern and Related Items

Council discussed the possibilities of starting Council meetings at 6:00 p.m. instead of the current 6:30 p.m. there was some consensus but not unanimous that this would be okay. Council suggested that Bode first talk with Councilmember Mathiasen to see if the time change would work for him.

(Reconvene Council Meeting)

Mayor Hemmesch reconvened the regular council meeting at.

d. Resolution 128-11 – Approval of Temporary 1-4 Day Liquor License Country Snow Cruisers

Item #3. Additional Purchase Request, Allocation & Transfers

None Presented

Item #4 Other Matters of Concern and Related Items

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additional items for the Council to consider that evening. Hearing no further comments, he asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion to Adjourn. Motion by Paczkowski, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.

Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 10:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Martin M. Bode

Richmond City Administrator