Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Wednesday March 6, 2013

City Council Meeting

 

Item #1: Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance

 

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

 

Council Members noted as being present: Pat Evens, Jeff Mackedanz, Scott Kron, Mike Mathiasen, Tim Paczkowski

 

Also present were: Martin Bode, City Administrator;  Kevin Mooney, Parks & Rec Director; Gordy Dingmann, Public Works Director; Randy Jenniges, City Engineer; Tammy Paczkowski, Cold Spring Record; Ryan, Channel 10; Jim, State Bank of Richmond;

 

Item #2: Approval of Agenda

 

Mayor Kron asked if there were any additions or changes to the Agenda.  

Add to Item #6: Resolution 128-13 – Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Loan Application

 

Mayor Kron asked for the Approval of Agenda, with addition to item #6.

 

Motion made by Councilor Mackedanz to Approve Agenda with addition, seconded by Councilor Paczkowski.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Item #3: Approval of the Meeting Minutes of February 6 and February 21, 2013

 

Mayor Kron asked for any corrections or additions to the February 6th and February 21st 2013, hearing none, Mayor Kron asked for a motion of approval.

 

Motion made by Councilor Evens to Approve Minutes of February 6 and February 21 2013 seconded by Councilor Mackedanz.  Motion passed.

 

Item #4: Consent Agenda

 

a)      Approval of Bills Paid

b)      Resolution 125-13 Acceptance of February 2013 Donations

c)      Resolution 126-13 Approval of February 2013 Journal Entries

 

Mayor Kron asked for any questions or comments, hearing none.  Mayor Kron asked for a motion of approval of consent agenda.

Motion made by Councilor Evens, to approve Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilor Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.

Item #5: Presentations and Action Items: none

 

Item #8: Parks/RLCA Report – Kevin Mooney, Parks Director

a)      Figure Skating show – March 8th and March 9th. Mooney reported that hockey is over and ice will come out sometime after the March 11th.

b)      Lacrosse (6th – 12th grade) is beginning this spring – new for Richmond this year. They would like to hold a tournament with 6-8 teams.

c)      Beer & Wine Expo, 2:00 – 6:00 pm April 13th     

d)      Had a parks meeting with all the groups/organization that use the arena and parks.  They discussed the up coming year and working together.  

e)      Crosswalk – Mr. Mooney had received a complaint regarding parking so close to the crosswalk; May need a sign, cones or lights highlighting the crosswalk.  Definitely need to keep cars from parking over the crosswalk.

f)        Score Board at Centennial Park cost $900- $1000, joint effort with parks, little league and get local companies to sponsor to help offset the cost.

g)      Projects-Finish Centennial park walking trail – contractor to do work and we seed it.

h)      Glacial lakes trail- they will be bidding in March and the work done in June – August.

 

Item #7: Water/Waste Water Report – Chad Johnson, PeopleService -Written report 

             

Item #6: City Engineer Report -Randy Jenniges

a)      Main Street Lighting: the proposal is for 12 poles, staggered along the street.  Engineer will drop off at City Hall a plan for public to look at.  Cost will be $120,000 - $125,000 for lighting.  LED lights, automatic settings, energy efficient.

b)      2013 Main Street Project: Put together plans for City part of the project.  The project will be bid out jointly with the County.   County will administer the advertising and bidding.  The city will reimburse the county for the City’s portion.   Jenniges asked for Council to authorize the County to advertise for bids.

 

Mayor Kron asked for any questions or comments, hearing none.  Mayor Kron asked for a motion of approval of Resolution 127-13 approval of Plans & Specifications and Authorize to Advertise for bids.

Motion made by Councilor Paczkowski, to approve Resolution 127-13 approval of Plans & Specifications and Authorize to Advertise for bids, Seconded by Councilor Mathiasen.  Motion passed unanimously.

Jenniges outlined the PFA loan for the water/sewer portion of the project.  It is a 20 year loan with an interest rate will be around 1.5 % to 2 %,  saving the city about $10,000.00 a year for 20 years.

 

Mayor Kron asked for any questions or comments, hearing none.  Mayor Kron asked for a motion of approval of Resolution 128-13 Approving the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) Loan Application.

 

Motion made by Councilor Paczkowski, to approve Resolution 127-13 approval of Plans & Specifications and Authorize to Advertise for bids, Seconded by Councilor Mathiasen.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

c)      Kim Lucas, Seh, inc. will be in the City next week doing a walk through.

           

Item #9: Fire Department Report – written report: Mayor Kron read the written report.

 

Item #10: Other

a)      41 Main St W – Zoning violation, need council to approve addressing this with the owner.

b)      Amendments if any to Resolution 123-13 Stearns County All Hazard Mitigation Plan- item tabled.

c)      25 Main St W- Stearns County Work Sheet – Council discussed the unpaid Assessments on this property.  Council decided to recertify the property at 100% over 5 years as long as the County/State owns the property.   

Mayor Kron asked if there is any further discussion.  Hearing none, he asked for a motion approving the recertification at 100% over 5 years.

Motion made by Councilor Paczkowski, Seconded by Mayor Kron to recertify 25 Main St W. at 100% over 5 years.  Motion passed unanimously.

d)      Garbage Hauling Survey Question:  Council discussed putting the survey question in the utility billing.  Council gave permission to include the survey question.

e)      FYI: New Renter/Home Owner Information letter.  Administrator Bode reported that this letter is sent out to new residents.

f)       Utility Bills going to postcard – Administrator Bode reported that the city staff are considering going to postcard billing starting for the September billing.

g)      Parking Main Street – Administrator Bode reported that he had received concerns from businesses on Main Street regarding parking on Main Street.  Administrator Bode asked if the Council would ever consider limiting the time people can park.  Council discussed the issue.  And discussed placing signs, etc.

h)      Council asked Chief Merten about the trainings that fire fighters attended and why we did not use the cheaper of the 2 different schools.  Chief Merten reported that we (along with other cities fire departments) had some issues with the other school: instructor showing up over 1.5 hours late, not showing up at all, etc. 

Council also discussed that because the fire department training is scheduled in advanced and (per policy) Chief Merten should bring in the request to the Administrator and then it will be taken to the Council for approval.  Chief Merten assured the Council that he can do that.  Chief Merten reported to the Council that some of the expense will be reimbursed.

Item #11: Council Reports:

a)      EDA – Councilor’s Evens and Mathiasen reported that the Expo will not happen in April of this year, but they will begin in November for an Expo in 2014.   Councilor Mathiasen reported that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 19th, 2013.

b)      Planning Commission – Councilor Mackedanz reported that the public hearing (to approve rezoning the Aho property and to determine the rezoning classification) is scheduled for March 28th, and a meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 14th.

c)      Parks/Rocori Trail – Councilor Paczkowski reported that the grant they applied for was denied and they are working to find other ways to fund this project.  They will be moving to Phase 3 of the project.

d)      Tri City Cable – Next meeting is scheduled for April 10th 5PM.  Mackedanz and Kron will be attending.

 

Item #12: Purchase Requisitions Allocations and Transfers

 

a)      Acknowledge that Mayor Kron will be attending legislative conference.

A Motion was made by Councilor Mackedanz  to Approve the Purchase Requisitions, Seconded by Councilor Paczkowski.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

Item #13: Other Matters of Concern and Related Matters

 

Item #14: Adjournment

 

Mayor Kron asked for a motion to adjourn.  Councilor Evens made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Paczkowski.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mayor Kron declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Martin M. Bode

Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer