01-11-2000 CCM
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2000
1. Mayor Torgerson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Marlin Torgerson,
Council Members Jeff Haag, John Mlinar, Kay Peterson and Duane Hoversten. Also
present: City Administrator Gary D. Plotz, Director of Engineering John Rodeberg and City
Attorney Marc A. Sebora.
2. Reverend Paulus Pilgrim gave the invocation.
3. MINUTES
The minutes of the regular meeting of December 14, 1999, December 28, 1999 and special
organizational meeting of January 3,2000 were approved as presented.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
(a) REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
1. BUILDING OFFICIAL'S REPORT
2. PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY EDUCATION ADVISORY
BOARD MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2, 1999
(b) RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
1. RESOLUTION NO. 11391 - ACCEPTING PLEDGED SECURITIES
FROM CITIZENS BANK & TRUST CO., HUTCHINSON, MN
2. RESOLUTION NO. 11392 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
HUTCHINSON TRANSPORTATION PLAN
3. RESOLUTION NO. 11394 - RELEASING PLEDGED SECURITIES
FROM FIRST MINNESOTA BANK N.A., HUTCHINSON, MN
COMMERCIAL/RECYCLING HAULERS LICENSE FOR WITTE SANITATION
INe.
(c)
(d)
APPOINTMENTS:
y COUNCIL MEMBER DUANE HOVERSTEN TO HCDC/EDA BOARD
y NORMAN HOEFER TO SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD (SECOND TERM)
y DAVID WETTERLING TO UTILITIES COMMISSION (SECOND TERM)
y ROBERT HANTGE TO AIRPORT COMMISSION (SECOND TERM)
Motion by Peterson, second by Mlinar, to approve the consent agenda. Motion
unanimously carried.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE
6. COMMUNICATIONS. REQUESTS AND PETITIONS
(a) UPDATE REPORT BY SCOTT L. YOUNG OF EARTH TECH REGARDING
WASTEWATER RATE STUDY
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 11,2000
Scott L. Young of Earth Tech reported he had reviewed the water rate increase with
City staff. He recommended waiting until a later time to implement the rate increase.
In late February Young will report to the staff, and he will present the report to the
City Council in March.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE
8. NEW BUSINESS
(a) CONSIDERATION OF DECLARING VACANCY OF COUNCIL MEMBER ON
HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Mlinar, second by Peterson, to approve the vacancy and adopt Resolution
No. 11393. Motion unanimously carried.
(b) CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER
y MICHAEL CAMPA
y STEVE COOK
y JIM HAUGEN
Motion by Mlinar, second by Peterson, to ratify the appointment of Jim Haugen to
fill the City Council vacancy. Motion unanimously carried.
(c) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR
WASTEWATER DRYING FACILITY ASHBROOK BELT PRESS HIGH SOLIDS
RETROFIT EXTENSIONS
Motion by Peterson, second by Haag, to approve advertising for bids. Motion
unanimously carried.
(d) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING ADVANCED CASH FOR PURCHASE OF
GRAIN ELEVATOR PROPERTY AND BUSINESS
Director Julie Wischnack reported on the glitch in the purchase ofthe grain elevator.
She stated that due to a discrepancy in the DNR budget reports, there was a
$5,758.00 budget shortfall to complete the demolition. Since there may be additional
funding available in June 2000, the City will submit an application to the DNR.
Rodeberg stated that the City would not be involved in the demolition, but rather in
the site work completion. Smce the DNR will not release the remaining $96,235.00
funding until the entire project is completed, it was recommended that the City
advance $96,000.00 to the Region to cover the project until funding is granted.
Motion by Haag, second by Hoversten, to approve the recommendation that the City
advance $96,000.00 to the Region to cover money for the project. Motion
unanimously carried.
(e) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO HOLD BAVARIAN HAUS
OKTOBERFEST 2000 ON SEPTEMBER 22 & 23, 2000 IN CITY PARKING LOT
Rodeberg requested to defer this item to a February meeting. He wanted to meet
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 11,2000
with some neighbors who had contacted him to discuss some issues.
Motion by Mlinar, second by Haag, to defer. Motion unanimously carried.
(f) DISCUSSION OF SOUTH AREA TRUNK SEWER PROJECT
Rodeberg requested that the City Council: (1) accept the Report on Feasibility
prepared by SEH and authorize the preparation of plans and specifications at an
estimated cost of $1,751,700.00, with the money to come out of the sewer fund;
(There will be no assessments since no property is within the city limits at the
present time.); (2) approve the letter agreement with SEH-RCM to complete the
plans and specifications at a proposed rate of$55,524.69; and (3) approve Resolution
No. 11395 authorizing acquisitiOn for utility and street purposes.
Motion by Hoversten, second by Mlinar, to accept the "Report on Feasibility" and
authorize preparation of plans and specifications, approve the letter of contract and
adopt Resolution No. 11395. Motion unanimously carried.
(g) CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO CEMETERY RULES AND
REGULATIONS AND CORRESPONDING FEE ADJUSTMENTS
Motion by Mlinar, second by Peterson, to approve the amendments and fee
adjustments and to adopt Resolution No. 11396 and waive first reading of Ordinance
No. 00-266 and set second reading for January 25, 2000. Motion unanimously
carried.
(h) PRESENTATION OF FINAL REPORT BY COMMUNITY NEEDS TASKFORCE
Steve Cook, Chair ofthe Community Needs Task Force, presented the final report to
the City Council. He stated the Task Force's recommendations were divided into the
following three areas.
1. COMMUNICATIONS
a. Since the survey indicated that the people wanted more information about
City issues, it was recommended that a regular column appear in the
Hutchinson Leader
b. Since no one media source reaches everyone, it was recommended that a
variety of communication possibilities be used.
c. The Task Force recommended that the City continue to conduct community
surveys every three to five years in a similar manner as the 1999 survey was
done.
2. FACILITY AND PROGRAM NEEDS
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 11,2000
a. The Community Needs Task Force identified the following as the top five
facility and program needs.
1. Education Needs
2. Community Center
3. Senior Center
4. Teen Center
5. Affordable Housing
The Task Force suggested converting the Park Elementary School into a
multiple use community center when the school is replaced and vacated. A
list of20 possible uses for the facility was presented. Cook also provided the
advantages and disadvantages of remodeling and using the building as a
community center.
3. THE PROCESS
It was reported that the survey responders supported the following five items.
a. People overwhelmingly want the right to vote on maj or new facilities.
b. If multiple projects are included on a referendum, then the public
overwhelmingly wants to be able to vote on each proj ect individually.
c. People prefer to vote in the November elections.
d. If a special election is required, then using a mail ballot is preferred.
e. Most people agree that there should be a local vote on an issue before
it goes to the State Legislature.
Cook addressed other needs and issues that had come to the attention of the Task
Force during presentations from various groups. He also noted that in the survey
only 30% of the public preferred the million dollar State grant going to a privately
financed and managed conference center. In addition, 80% of the respondents
thought public use of such a facility was important if the City offered the grant
money to a private developer. It was the Task Force's opinion that the public wanted
the grant money used on a public use building such as a community center.
The Mayor commended the Task Force on its extensive report that contained a great
amount of important information. He thought the suggestions and ideas should be
reviewed, and the report should be referred to the HCDC. The Mayor questioned if
the State grant money could be extended.
Haag commented that he liked the idea of the Park Elementary School site being
given a value. However, he thought the disadvantage could be the operating cost of
ownership while acquiring the facility from the School District and making it into a
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 11,2000
community facility. The maintenance costs could be high, but the overview of the
school use was good.
Mike Campa stated he thought the building could have public use.
Roger Petersen commented that it was not the Task Force's task to outline all the
steps in the process, but rather only to present the "big picture." The committee
members were not trying to resolve all the issues at this meeting.
Roger Steams informed the City Council that Steve Cook chaired the committee.
Also, he basically wrote the final report, with input and editing of the contents by the
committee members.
Mike Ribich stated that since all of the information was available, it would be
presented to the public for their reaction and input.
Hoversten stated that he appreciated the report and felt the ideas should be used and
not shelved. He recommended assigning a City department to determine the
financial information.
Mlinar thanked the Task Force for all their work.
Peterson extended a thank you to the Task Force for the report they had presented to
the Council for their further review. She stated it contained conclusions that were
based on the survey report.
9. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) COMMUNICATIONS FROM DIRECTOR RANDY DEVRIES
Director Randy DeVries requested a special City Council workshop on January 25,
2000 at 4:30 p.m. to review the biosolids drying project and change order. Mr. Ed
Nevers of Donohue will be present to explain the project.
Motion by Mlinar, second by Peterson, to approve the workshop. Motion
unanimously carried.
(b) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR MARLIN TORGERSON
The Mayor stated that since he would be attending a meeting in Grand Rapids, MN
on January 25, he would not be able to attend the 1:00 p.m. meeting with the
communications group at LOGIS. He requested authorization for the City Council
members to attend since it would be a quorum in attendance.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 11,2000
Motion by Haag, second by Mlinar, to approve the January 25 LOGIS meeting.
Motion unanimously carried.
(c) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY ATTORNEY
Sebora commended the Community Needs Task Force for their excellent work in
writing and presenting the final report.
(d) COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN MLINAR
Mlinar commended the Mayor on being selected to participate in the Blandin
Leadership Conference.
(e) COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Plotz mentioned setting up a calendar of events to cover the year.
(f) COMMUNICATIONS FROM DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING
Rodeberg commented on homeowners who wanted their water tested to determine if
it was pumped directly into the City's sanitary sewer. It was noted that since older
homes were built to drain water into the City's sanitary sewer line, there wouldn't be
a penalty but the necessary corrections would be required.
Rodeberg also reported that he received two letters addressed to the City Council.
Greg Pearce, 786 Madson Avenue SW, wrote regarding water service in front of his
property. The second letter, from Merlyn and Lucille Danielson, 1060 Dale Street
SW, pertained to a question on their assessments. Both of these issues will be dealt
with at the next City Council meeting.
10. CLAIMS. APPROPRIATIONS AND CONTRACT PAYMENTS
( a) VERIFIED CLAIMS
Motion by Mlinar, second by Haag, to approve the claims and authorize payment
from the appropriate funds. Motion unanimously carried.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
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