Meeting Minutes of the Richmond  Council

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Council Meeting / Workshop

Item #1: Call to Order

 

Mayor Hemmesch called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Richmond Hall and asked those present to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

 

Members noted as being absent: Mike Mathiasen

 

Also present were: Martin Bode, City Administrator; Richmond Planning Commission members: Tom Niehaus and Maxine Weismann and Cynthia Smith-Strack, City Planner.

 

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 Mackedanz.  Second by Kron.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Item #3: Approval of  Minutes of August 3, 2011.

 

A Motion was Made to Approve the City Council Minutes of August 3, 2011.  Motion Made by Kron, Second by Hemmesch.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Mayor Hemmesch recessed the regular meeting in order for the Council to discuss the following workshop discussion items:

 

A.                 Main Street Overhead Wiring – Joe Klein and Karen Young of Xcel Energy

Joe Klein and Karen Young with Xcel Energy reviewed with the Council the proposed cost estimates for the Main Street Overhead wiring project.  It was noted that the current numbers are approximately $64,000.00 more than previously anticipated.  The Council inquired if it would be possible to do the project in two phases.  Phase I would consist of moving the power for the Main Street business owners off Main Street into the alleys.  Phase II would be to move the Main Street Phase Three power off of Main Street which could be done next year in 2012 or even 2013.

B.                 Rural Service District – Richmond Planning Commission and Cynthia Smith-Strack, City Planner

City Planner Cynthia Smith-Strack along with Richmond Planning Commission reviewed with the Council a summary of how the Planning Commission is proposing the RSD be made up and the process for putting it in place i.e. the RSD would create two types of service district, urban and rural.  Urban district would include properties that are traditionally thought of as developed such as: commercial, industrial, government facilities and residential properties with ordinary sized lots.  The rural district would include properties that are traditionally considered undeveloped and might include: vacant land, agricultural land and rural residential properties.  All property out side the City limits except for commercial property would be classified as rural.

It was the consensus of the Council that the Planning Commission along with City Planner Ms. Strack have done an excellent job of putting together a proposed RSD and that the decision of the Council for right know was to put on hold the process for implementing the RSD policy.

 

C.                 2012 Budget –

Administrator Bode provided an overview of the proposed budget for 2012 which included budget cuts that would address anticipated local government aid cuts as well as anticipated loss of Township revenue for the Fire Department.  Staff noted that the budget is extremely lean and that if any large unanticipated expenditures come in 2012 it would require the Council and staff together to put their heads together to try an resolve these issues.

Administrator Bode said that it was staff’s recommendation (per Council request) that the 2012 budget consist of a levy left at the same level as in 2011.  The Council thanked the staff for providing them with a draft budget that reflected their wishes and acknowledged that the preliminary levy resolution would be considered by the Council at their next meeting.

D.                 City Fee Schedule

E.                 5th Monday Meeting

F.                  SCDP Monitoring Report

G.                 Other Matters of Concern and Related Items

a. Minnesota Unemployment claims filed to-date by previous City employees.

b. Invitation received for Sauk River Watershed 25th Anniversary Celebration on September 13, 2011.

c. Small City’s Development Program Loan requirements.  It was the consensus of the Council that it be made clear that the current Council position on the requirement of the City of Richmond portion of the SCDP loan repayment for the Main Street business owners regarding the moving of the overhead wiring project be waived in the event the business owner should decide to sell his / her business with in the next ten years.

d. Claim filed with LMCIT.

 

(Reconvene Council Meeting)

 

Mayor Hemmesch reconvened the regular council meeting at 9:07 p.m.

 

Item #4: Additional Purchase Request, Allocation & Transfers

 

Consideration of Purchase Request for the authorization of moving Stearns County electrical transfer box as it relates to the Safe Routes to School Project.

 

A Motion was Made to Approve Purchase Request.  Motion Made by Paczkowski, Second by Hemmesch.  Motion Failed.  Voting in favor: Hemmesch and Paczkowski. Voting against: Mackedanz and Kron.

 

Item #5: Other Matters of Concern and Related Items

 

A.        Consideration of Resolution 164-11 a resolution amending the City’s Fee Schedule. i.e. water and sewer per gallon usage rate.

 

A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 164-11.  Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mackedanz.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

B.         Consideration of Resolution 165-11 – A resolution approving of authorization of tax exempt gambling for Cold Spring Area Hockey.

 

A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 165-11.  Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mackedanz.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

C.        Consideration of Resolution 166-11 – a resolution of approving scope of work agreement with Xcel Energy regarding the Main Street overhead wiring project.

 

A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 166-11.  Motion Made by Hemmesch, Second by Paczkowski.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

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 Mackedanz.  Second by Kron.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Martin M. Bode

Richmond  Administrator