Meeting Minutes of the
Wednesday June 1, 2011
Regular City Council Meeting
Item #1: Call to Order
Mayor Hemmesch called the meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m. at the
Members noted as being present: Jim Hemmesch, Mike Mathiasen, Jeff Mackedanz and Scott Kron.
Absent: Tim Paczkowski
Also present were: Martin M. Bode, City Administrator; Adam Ripple, City Attorney; Chuck Merten, Fire Chief; Greg Stang, PeopleService; Marilyn Zenner, Administrative Assistant; Randy Jenniges, City Engineer; Gordon Dingmann; Public Works Director, Jesse Kollman; Emergency Management Director, Michael (Tucker) Plantenberg, Scott Keho, Mark Kremer; Richmond Firefighters Relief Association, Chad Bueckers, Mike Schriefels; Affordable Disposal, Andrea Nestor; EDA Director and Ryan Meyer, Local TV Channel 10 camera operator.
Item #2: Approval of Agenda
Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda.
Administrator Bode requested permission to add to Consent Agenda Item h. Resolution 145-11.
A Motion was Made to Approve Agenda as amended. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #3: Approval of City Minutes of May 4, 2011 (Regular and Workshop).
A Motion was Made to Approve the City Council Minutes of May 4, 2011 (Regular and Workshop). Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Mackedanz. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #4: Consent Agenda.
Mayor Hemmesch read aloud the list of the following consent agenda items:
a. Approval of
Just and Correct Claims
b. Approval Purchase Requisitions /
Allocations and Transfers
c. Approval of Summary Publication of
Ordinance 2011-100
d. Resolution
135 – 11 Approval of Closing 2010, Final 2010 and April 2011 Journal
Entries
e. Resolution
136 –
11 Acceptance May 2011 Donations
f. Resolution
137 – 11 2011-2012 Liquor
License Renewal
g. Resolution
138 – 11 2011-2012
Tobacco License Renewal
h. Resolution
145 – 11 Authorization for Lawful Gambling Permit
To
A Motion was Made to Approve the Consent Agenda as Presented. Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #5: Presentation of Action Items
None
Presented
Item #6:
Jesse Kollman Richmond Emergency Management Director reported to the Council that he had sent out five letters to various businesses as well as to the Richmond Firefighters Relief Association requesting donations to help with the cost of replacing the City’s warning sirens.
Michael (Tucker) Plantenberg
President of the Richmond Firefighters Relief Association along with Gambling
Manager Scott Keho and Mark Kremer were present to present to the City a check
in the amount of $4,500.00 as a donation to
Item #7: Affordable Disposal –
Chad Bueckers, owner of Affordable
Disposal was present to express to the Council his desire to be allowed to be a
licensed solid waste disposal hauler in the City of
Item #8: Police Department Report – Chief Phil Jones
Chief Jones reported to the Council
that it’s been rather a quiet first half of the year with a total number of
calls of 228. Noting
that serious crimes are down.
Chief Jones would like to remind the residence that the City does have a
nuisance ordinance and encouraged residents to do spring cleanup to avoid
violations of City of
Item #9: Water / Wastewater Operator Report – PeopleService Operator Greg Stang
Operator Stang updated the Council on the Reed bed reseeding process noting that things are going well and Reed beds should be replanted if not this week possibly the week after. Stang noted that the VFD for Well #4 is up and running and is working great. Stang informed the Council that the rebate expected for the VFD drive will be $1,600.00 not $2,000.00 as previously thought and that rebate will be sent directly to the City. Stang also asked the Council to consider amending its current fee schedule in specific the Septic Hauler Discharge Rates which is currently set at $20.00 per 1,000 gallons. Stang suggested that in staying in line with what other area communities are charging the Council consider changing it to $30.00 per 1,000 gallons. Administrator Bode noted to the Council that Resolution 144–11, a resolution updating the City’s current fee schedule has been prepared for Council consideration.
Item #10: AMC Music in the Park – EDA Director Andrea Nestor
Director Nestor reported to the
Council that the EDA is working very close with the
Item #11: Parks, Recreation and Arena Director Report –
Mayor Hemmesch stated that Director
Mooney was unable to attend tonight’s meeting and that Mooney had one item for
the Council to consider and that was consideration of Resolution 139–11, a
resolution approving internship of Josh Engquist. Mayor Hemmesch explained that Engquist a
former part-time arena employee is attending college at
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 139-11. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #12: Public Works Director Report – Gordon Dingmann
Director Dingmann reviewed with the Council Resolution 140–11, a resolution awarding bids for repairing City Hall roof. Tabled for consideration.
Dingmann
reported that the City of Richmond has received notice that the U.S. Department
of Energy is mandating the discontinuance of magnetic ballast most commonly
used for the operation of commercial and industrial T12 lamps, and Xcel Energy is currently offering rebates to
commercial users for the change out of the old T12 fluorescent lamps to the
newer more energy efficient T8 and T5 lamps.
Also, Xcel Energy has recently announced it will discontinue their
rebate program for replacing T12s with the T8s or T5s after December 31,
2012. Dingmann stated the City of
Consideration of Resolution 143–11,
a resolution authorizing the replacing of outdated fluorescent lamps in City
Hall and the
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 143-11. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mathiasen. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Dingmann noted that the City was awarded a $12,000.00 (Just received last week) grant from the SRWD for the 2008 Central / Southside Water Garden Project (water retention pond near the Post Office). As that project is closed the Council has a couple of options of what to do with these grant funds.
1. The City’s General Government (Streets CIP) contributed approximately $35,000.00 for its share of that project. The $12,000 can be placed back into the Streets CIP for future street project or
2. the City recently purchased an Air Patcher for about $8,000 those funds came out of the current 2011 street repair budget The $12,000 could be used to reimburse the current year street budget.
3. The $12,000 can be put in the Central / Southside Debt Service Fund for future debt payment.
Administrator Bode informed the Council he has temporarily placed the funds into the Streets CIP Money Market account. It was the consensus of the Council to leave these funds in the streets CIP Money Market account.
Item #13: City Engineer Report – Randy Jenniges
Engineer Jenniges reviewed with the
Council Resolution 141–11, a resolution amending SCDP Commercial
Guidelines. Jenniges noted that minor
changes needed to be made in order for these grant funds to be used for the
moving of overhead electrical lines on
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 141-11. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Jenniges noted that there is some concern by some of the property owners involved in this project regarding Deferred Loans i.e. the agreement states the deferred loans shall be forgiven over a ten year period (10% forgiven each year). When a property ceases to be the applicant's property, the City has the option to collect the remaining loan principal or waive the repayment. Attorney Ripple noted that it would at the discretion of the City Council that is in place at the time the request is made to determine if the loan portion would be waived; the current Council can not bind future Councils to this policy.
The Council discussed its desires to provide business
opportunities to the local electrical contractors of
Consideration of Resolution 142–11, a
resolution naming electrical contractors for
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 142-11. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mathiasen. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #14: Fire Department Report
– Fire Chief Chuck Merten
Chief Merten reviewed, with the Council, his submitted written report. Noting that for the month of May there was a total of 7 calls: 5 medical, 1 car accident, and 1 garage fire. Merten stated that the monthly training drill consisted of defensive driving set up to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards. Training included backing, parking, narrow area, and driving between cones in forward and reverse. Merten informed the Council that the fire department radios will need to be reprogrammed in the near future, as the County’s getting ready to turn over to narrowband some time in September / October. The cost to the City is approximately $25.00-35.00 per pager and $35.00-45.00 per radio. Merten thanked all those who supported this years Firefighters Relief Association’s annual chicken barbecue. Approximately 630-640 in attendance and a total of 700 tickets sold.
Item #15: City Attorney Report –
Adam Ripple
Attorney Ripple reported to the Council that last week he along with Administrator Bode had met with utility companies Stearns Electric, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Gas to discuss the City’s proposed franchise agreement and fees. Ripple feels the meeting went very well and all three utility companies were onboard with moving forward with an agreement. Ripple noted that the Council would need to conduct two separate public hearings to establish a franchise agreement between Stearns Electric and CenterPoint Gas and suggested conducting these hearings at the July 6, 2011 Council meeting. Council directed Administrator Bode to go ahead and publish the required public hearing notices for the July 6, 2011 Council meeting.
Ripple reported to the Council that the ROCORI trail project continues to move forward on a positive note. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has issued a decision on the abandonment and interim use of the trail and the decision was in favor of. Discussions continue to move forward with BNSF railroad regarding acquisition. Ripple noted that finally a portion of the funds have been released. Ripple further noted that he along with SEH Scott Hedlund engineer for the ROCORI Trail Board met with the appraiser and toured the ROCORI trail corridor.
Item #16: City Administrators
Report – Martin M. Bode
Nothing additional
Item #17: Council Reports -
a. EDA
Councilmember Mathiasen reiterated what director Nestor
had stated and encourage the public to attend the AMCs Music in the Park on Tuesday evenings, and also to
remember the 50-50 raffle which supports the Glacial Lakes Trail Pavilion
reminding everyone that the drawing will be held on June 11, 2011. Mathiasen also stated that the EDA is looking
at promoting the resale of Tower Acres and also assisting with the redesign or
improvements of the downtown businesses area for the
b. Planning Commission
Councilmember Mackedanz reported that the Planning Commission continues to work on the Rural Service District as well as the feasibility of extending city utilities to the Southeast project.
Item #18: Additional Purchase Requisitions
None presented.
Item #19: Other Matters and Related Issues.
Consideration of Resolution 144–11, a resolution amending the 2011 City Fees and Charges.
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 144-11. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Mathiasen. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution 140–11, a resolution awarding bids for repairing City Hall roof.
A Motion was Made to Approve Resolution 140-11. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mathiasen. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Mayor Hemmesch reported that there was an article in today’s St. Cloud Times mentioning the County’s Five-Year plan which includes the City of Richmond 2013 Street project.
Council member Kron reported that
there will be a youth baseball camp held at
Item #20: 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. Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Kron. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martin M. Bode