Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Regular City Council

 

 

Item #1- Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm..  All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Members Present: Jim Hemmesch, Mike Mathiasen, Tim Paczkowski, Jeff Mackedanz, Scott Kron

Also Attending: Martin Bode, City Administrator; Adam Ripple, City Attorney; Randy Jenniges, City Engineer; Gordy Dingmann, Public works Director; Kevin Mooney, Parks Director; Greg Stang, People Service; Doug Rainforth, People Service; Chuck Merten, Fire Chief;  Cindy Rathbone, Tammy Paczkowski-Cold Spring Record, Ryan -local Channel 10 videographer.     

 

Item #2-Approval of Agenda

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

Motion made by Kron, seconded by Paczkowski.  Passed unanimously.

 

Item #3- Approval of the Meeting Minutes of March 7, 2012 (Regular and Workshop)

Mayor Hemmesch asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2012 City Council meeting/workshop.  No further comments or questions were brought forward. 

Motion made by Councilor Mathiasen to approve meeting minutes,  seconded by Mackedanz.  Passed unanimously.

 

Item #4-Consent Agenda (approved by one motion)

Mayor Hemmesch asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda (approved by one motion). 

            a.         Approval of Claims Paid

            b.         Resolution 129-12- Approval of March 2012 Journal Entries

            c.         Resolution 130-12-Approval of March, 2012 Donations

 

Motion made by Councilor Paczkowski, to approve Consent Agenda, seconded by Mathiasen.  Passed unanimously.

 

Item #5-Rental Property Ordinances – Adam Ripple

 

Adam referred to the examples of other rental property ordinances that other cities use. 

The Rental License Ordinance would serve a few purposes;  

·         To keep properties up to code

·         Allow the building inspector to view the properties for health and safety issues

·         Assist in keeping the property “crime free”, have owners go through training (which may give them a break on the rental fee)

Setting a licensing procedure would require:

·         Staff time for licensing process

·         Fees: for owner of rental property

·         Inspection from building official 

A Council Member brought this issue forward because of an incident that occurred at a specific rental property.  Made him think about how we, as the city, deal with these different issues.  Council wondering if the city already has something in an Ordinance that would regulate rental properties.  Marti reported that the city does have a nuisance ordinance but that is pretty vague regarding this issue.   The Rental Ordinance would be an ordinance to regulate the property.

Mayor Hemmesch  tabled the discussion until the May City Council meeting.  He would like to continue to pursue this and keep gathering facts and develop to fit the needs of the city.

 

Item #6-Blighted Building Updates – Adam Ripple

(Adam has not  spoken with Ron)

Brief update on the 2 properties that needed the building inspector to follow up on:

residential property –according to Ron,  there were no significant issues that weren’t going to be addressed fairly quickly.  (Adam has not seen the report yet).  The property owner did receive a letter outlining the work that needed to be done and the time requirements.   

commercial property downtown – Adam is not sure about the status of this, Adam stated that Ron has had an appointment to inspect the property, the property owner had to cancel that appointment, due to bad weather.  Unclear if Inspector has been in the property.

Council has already approved the abatement of the properties.  Would not need to continue with the residential property provided they are completing the items outlined by Inspectron.

City Administrator will follow up with Inspectron and determine level of cooperation of the property owner of the commercial property.   The Request is to move ahead with the abatement process of the commercial property and include costs to the property owner. 

Council agreed that we need to move forward with the abatement process.

Item #7 Water/Waste Water Report- Greg Stang (PeopleService)

Greg gave his report.  Greg discussed the bill the Governor signed to eliminate the 2 water pricing system (tiered pricing system).  He also reported that on Tuesday he will be getting a quote for the work on the water tower.   3rd week of April – flushing of water hydrant

 

Item #8- PeopleService Regional Director – Doug Rainforth

Doug gave background on himself.  Pleased with what he found in Richmond, both with Administration and equipment and operation.  Thinks the system is working very well.  He will be coming to Richmond once every two weeks.    

Contract will be up in 2013 – Would be good to have a workshop meeting with them to go over the contract

 

Item #9- Fire Department Report – Chuck Merten

Chief Merten gave March report.  

The Fire relief Association is holding their fundraiser: May 20th

Grants/ Purchases:

·         Exhaust system – (air exchange) - the diesel smoke builds up in station and into city hall

Marti is also getting bids for exhaust fan for the west wall.

·         Safety Equipment- Self Contained Equipment – thru Centerpoint Energy –grant up to $2500.00 project cost total $3450

·         Personnel Carrier Vehicle – replaces existing suburban, paid for by the relief association gambling funds.

Discussed where to store the vehicle, don’t really want to keep it at private homes.  Possibly a car port, storage shed, will need to look at this further.  We have some time to decide where to park the vehicles.

The Suburban (the current personnel carrier vehicle):   We would keep and use for multi-purpose.

            40% EMS (would be responsible for maintenance and general upkeep)

            30% Fire

            30% General Government - for meetings, meter reading equipment,

Need permission from the Council for the City-general government to purchase 30% of the Suburban, EMS will purchase 40% of the Suburban and the Fire department would continue to own 30%.    No motion made.

Request for Council Action: to purchase Lap Top for Fire Department and the Relief Association buys the projector.  Cost would be about $700 - $1000.00;  Will do during the Purchase Requisition item #13.

 

Item #10-City Attorney Report – Adam Ripple

Reported on Tower Acres- things are moving forward and hopefully will be ready by the next EDA meeting.  Adam believes that the buyer is still interested.  We will need to deal with the one parcel that has the water tower on it,  may need to do an administrative plat, etc.

 

Item #11- Administrator’s Report – Martin M. Bode,

Utility Sewer Averaging –current policy is that we take the winter 6 months to average their usage.  Discussed the possibility of lessoning the number of months used to calculate the usage.  Commercially installed system they can purchase a meter and not go with the averaging. 

Motion made by Councilor Mackedanz to change the averaging months to Nov thru February, seconded by  Kron                             Motion failed 2/3.

Caterers Ordinance- Consensus to bring to the May meeting a Caterers Ordinance that requires them to go through the City and the liquor license process.  Making them abide by the same rules as the bars and liquor stores in town. 

Wood Burning Stove Ordinance- discussion held regarding the city adding an ordinance dealing with outdoor exterior wood burning stoves for residential and commercial.  Agreed to move forward with this.  Marti would put together something for the next meeting.

LMC Annual Conference- if anyone would like to attend please notify Marty, deadline for registration is May 19th.

 

Item #12- Council Reports

EDA – next meeting April 23rd 6:00PM, held at maintenance building.

            Main focus is the Main Street Project 2013.

            Music in the Park will be starting May 29th at  park

Planning Commission 

A. Consideration of Resolution 132-12 Approving of Variance – Anything Outdoors

Mayor Hemmesch asked for a motion to approve Resolution 132-12 – Consideration of a Variance from required lot width on a public street. Motion made by Mackedanz, seconded by Mathiason, Kron abstained.  Motion passed

 

B. Consideration of Resolution 131-12 Approving Preliminary and Final Plat for “Outdoor Acres”

Brief discussion held

Mayor Hemmesch asked for a motion to approve Resolution 132-12 – Conditionally approving preliminary and final plat for Outdoor Acres.  Motion made by Mackedanz, seconded by Paczkowski  , Kron abstained.  Motion passed

 

Parks- Kevin Mooney gave report

·         Bean Bag Tournament was held – low attendance, but those who attended said don’t stop having it.  this was the first time, takes time to build up attendance.

·         April 13th – Arvig Business Expo

·         April 15th - 6 -8pm Richmond Little League Registration at Arena Lobby

·         May 9th Hazardous waste collection – Arena Parking Lot

·         May 11th Area Water Festival

·         May 19th Taste of River lakes Beer and Wine Expo

·         June 2nd City Cleanup, Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Celebration

Kevin reported on the work being done on the parks:

Centennial Park – will be doing playground renovation, changing wood chips over to pea rock.  Discussion was held on pros and cons of pea rock vs wood chips.    

Council requested the park be mowed more often this year, want to take pride in this park.

Lions Park – Put Booy’s

Base Ball Park – the flag pole is crooked.  Kevin will look into this. Necessary to get this fixed.

Rocori Trail- Closing is set for April 10th

Tri City Cable – Next meeting is April 11th. 

 

Item #13- Purchase Requisitions

Mayor asked for any questions or comments, any additions. 

Addition:  Purchase LapTop @ $1,000.00 (as discussed earlier) for fire department.

Further discussion regarding the wood chips at Centennial Park.  Would like Kevin to get prices on the wood chips and the pea rock and combine with lions park. 

Further discussion on the flag pole at lions park- stated will look into it.

The Council recommended changing the Purchase Requisition # 1, 2, 3 to a cap of $4500.00. Kevin agreed to do so.

A Motion was Made to Approve the Purchase Requisitions with the above change, by Paczkowski, Second by Mackedanz.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Item #14- Other Matters of Concern and Related Matters

            River Lakes Day Meeting May 7th at 7pm at the Snow Cruisers building.

 

Item #15 Adjournment

 

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

 

A Motion was Made to Adjourn by Paczkowski,, Second by Mackedanz.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Martin M. Bode

Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer