Loading...
10-27-2009 CCMMINUTES REGULAR MEETING – HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 CALL TO ORDER – 5:30 P.M. 1. 2.Mayor Cook called the meeting to order. Members present were Jim Haugen, Bill Arndt, Eric Yost and Chad Czmowski. Others present were Gary Plotz, City Administrator, Kent Exner, City Engineer, and Marc Sebora, City Attorney. INVOCATION 3. – Rev. Rick Stapleton, Shalom Baptist Church, delivered the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS 4. MINUTES 5. (a)REGULARMEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2009 Motion by Czmowski, second by Yost, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA 6. (Purpose: only for items requiring Council approval by external entities that would otherwise have been delegated to the City Administrator. Traditionally, items are not discussed.) (a) REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS (b)RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 1.RESOLUTION NO. 13640 – RESOLUTION CERTIFYING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS 2.RESOLUTION NO. 13641 – RESOLUTION APPROVING DEFERRED ASSESSMENT FOR HARDSHIP FOR SENIOR CITIZEN OR DISABLED PERSON 3.RESOLUTION NO. 13642 – RESOLUTION SETTING INTEREST RATE FOR 2009 ADOPTED ASSESSMENT ROLLS 4.RESOLUTION NO. 13643 – RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT FOR AIRPORT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION 5.ORDINANCE NO. 09-0534 - AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL PROPERTY TO HUTCHINSON HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (GLEN STREET) (SECOND READING AND ADOPTION) 6.ORDINANCE NO. 09-0535 - AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL PROPERTY TO WARRIOR MANUFACTURING, INC. (SECOND READING AND ADOPTION) (c)REAPPOINTMENT OF DOUG MCGRAW TO AIRPORT COMMISSION TO SEPTEMBER 2014 (d)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 – LETTING NO. 11, PROJECT NO. 09-12 (LES KOUBA PARKWAY NW IMPROVEMENTS) (e)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF 2010 CITY ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HUTCHINSON AND MCLEOD COUNTY (f) CLAIMS, APPROPRIATIONS AND CONTRACT PAYMENTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES –OCTOBER 27, 2009 Items 6(b)1, 6(b)6 and 6(e) were pulled. Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to approve consent agenda with the exception of the items noted above. Motion carried unanimously. Item 6(b)1 had further discussion. Mayor Cook questioned the unpaid water and sewer charges that are assessed to properties. Jeremy Carter, Finance Director, explained that the delinquent charges typically follow the property. If the owner of the property is able to be located, the City attempts to collect delinquent charges from them, however if the property owner is unknown, the charges go against the property. Mr. Carter further reviewed the policies put in place to collect delinquent charges. Gary Plotz, City Administrator, noted that state law authorizes that water bills are retained with the property at which the water meter is located. The policy the City currently utilizes for unpaid water and sewer bills will be reviewed for 2010. Motion by Haugen, second by Arndt, to approve Item 6(b)1. Motion carried unanimously. Item 6(b)6 had further discussion. Mayor Cook noted that at the last meeting, the approval of this item was contingent on the City receiving a signed purchase agreement. Miles Seppelt, EDA Director, explained that a signed purchase agreement was received today along with earnest money. Motion by Haugen, second by Arndt to approve Item 6(b)1. Motion carried unanimously. Item 6(e) had further discussion. Council Member Yost asked about the rate increase from $10.00/parcel to $10.50/parcel. Gary Plotz, City Administrator, noted that the new rate has been proposed by the Assessor’s Office. Mr. Plotz mentioned that the City could counterpropose a new rate, however according to a survey completed a few years ago, the value of this contracted service is very high versus having full-time staff. The Council asked that staff counterpropose a new rate based on the County’s salary/benefit percentage increase for 2010. Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to table Item 6(e). Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS – 6:00 P.M. - NONE 7. COMMUNICATIONS, REQUESTS AND PETITIONS 8. (Purpose: to provide Council with information necessary to craft wise policy. Always looking toward the future, not monitoring past) (a)DISCUSSION OF SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS John Olson, Public Works Manager, presented before the Council. Mr. Olson reviewed changes being considered for the 2009-2010 snow removal season. Changes include having the parks department operating the school/park facilities and sidewalk/trail snow removal. There are no scheduled alternate employees for the snow removal season. Due to the staffing changes, the capability of handling downtown snow removal concurrently with other operations will be minimized. In addition, the reduced amount and frequency of application of sand/salt will be of limited use due to these expensive materials. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. (a) DISCUSSION OF BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF HUTCHINSON AND THE CITY OF GLENCOE Gary Plotz, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Plotz explained that the City of Glencoe has approached the City of Hutchinson about sharing or contracting building inspection services. Glencoe is currently contracting with a private firm. Lenny Rutledge, Building Official, presented before the Council. Mr. Rutledge explained that projects the building department is currently working on include construction of NuCrane, remodel of National Guard 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES –OCTOBER 27, 2009 Armory, construction of hangar at airport, remodel of Ridgewater East, along with approximately $11million worth of miscellaneous projects. Reimburseables, such as travel time, will have to be considered if a contract is entered into between the two entities. Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to move forward with the concept of entering into a partnership with the City of Glencoe for building inspection services. Motion carried unanimously. (b)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF LEASE AGREEMENT FOR OFFICE SPACE AT THE HUTCHINSON FIRE STATION Gary Plotz, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Plotz explained that in the past the City has leased space to other agencies. This particular instance is to lease office space at the fire station to the State Fire Marshal’s office. Coincidentally, the assistant state fire marshal is also the assistant fire chief. By leasing space to the assistant state fire marshal, the Hutchinson Fire Department is provided benefits with the fire marshal’s presence for answering customer calls, coverage of the office and responding to emergency calls. Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to approve lease agreement for office space at the Hutchinson Fire Station. Motion carried unanimously. (c)DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE NO. 09-0536 – AN ORDINANCE REGULATING WINTER PARKING Marc Sebora, City Attorney, presented before the Council. Mr. Sebora explained that this item is to consider parking restrictions for more efficiency of snow removal. The ordinance would not allow parking between the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. from December 1 to March 15 on any street, avenue, thoroughfare or alleyway. The ordinance would authorize the police department to remove vehicles when vehicles are left unattended. Chief Dan Hatten spoke about snow removal in City parking lots. Mayor Cook noted he would like some time to review and consider this. He has concerns with single garages and single lane driveways where the only option is to park on the street. Council Member Arndt noted he is in favor of this ordinance. Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to set public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 09-0536 for November 10, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. (d)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 13644 – A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE CITY BUDGETING PROCESS AS PRESENTED IN THE CITY CHARTER Gary Plotz, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Plotz explained that this Resolution clarifies ongoing expectations of monitoring all budgets throughout the City. The Resolution describes deadlines that staff and Council should adhere to as well as the process to be used if/when the budget needs to be revised. Motion by Czmowski, second by Cook, to approve Resolution No. 13644. Motion carried unanimously. (e)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF SETTING BUDGET WORKSHOPS Gary Plotz, City Administrator, explained that Jeremy Carter, Finance Director, is requesting that budget workshops be held to review the enterprise fund budgets and follow-up on the revised water and sewer budgets as well as review the general fund budget before the truth in taxation hearing scheduled for December 3, 2009. Motion by Czmowski, second by Yost, to set budget workshops for November 10, 2009, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. and November 24, 2009, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. GOVERNANCE 11. (Purpose: to assess past organizational performance, develop policy that guides the organization and Council and manage the logistics of the Council. May include monitoring reports, policy development and governance 3 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES –OCTOBER 27, 2009 process items.) (a) PLANNING/ZONING/BUILDING DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2009 (b) HUTCHINSON HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 (c)CITY OF HUTCHINSON WEB SITE STATISTICS REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER (d)CITY OF HUTCHINSON FINANCIAL REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2009 (e)CITY OF HUTCHINSON INVESTMENT REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2009 Council Member Yost asked about some budgets reaching 100% of their budgeted amount. Jeremy Carter, Finance Director, explained that many items are one time payments or are contractual which track the calendar year. These are typical ratios of percentage of the budget used for this time of year. MISCELLANEOUS 12. Chad Czmowski – Council Member Czmowski asked that the 2:00 a.m. closing for restaurants be considered again at the request of the Lamplighter. This item will be placed on the next Council agenda. Gary Plotz – Mr. Plotz noted that staff has been working on creating a wellness program and the program will be kicked off at the employee health fair on November 5, 2009. Mr. Plotz spoke briefly about some of the incentives that are part of the program. A presentation on the program will be given at the next Council meeting. Kent Exner – Mr. Exner explained that a neighborhood meeting was held a week or so ago on the Washington Avenue/Adams Street intersection with somewhat limited attendance. A community-wide meeting will be held next month. Mayor Cook – Mayor Cook noted that a Resolution was distributed amongst the Council for their review. The Resolution is to create a joint City-School District-Community Member advisory committee. The Committee is proposed to engage in long-range comprehensive joint facilities planning, suggest future public facility priorities, possible collaborative service arrangements and ways to maximize shared use of existing and future public facilities and identify financing options that minimize the tax impact of future public utilities. Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to place consideration of said Resolution on the November 10, 2009, City Council agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Cook also asked about the stop sign located at County Road 7 and Airport Road. The stop sign is now well lit. ADJOURN 13. Motion by Arndt, second by Cook, to adjourn at 6:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 4