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03-08-2011 CCMMINUTES REGULAR MEETING – HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 CALL TO ORDER – 5:30 P.M. 1. Mayor Steve Cook called the meeting to order. Members present were Mary Christensen, Bill Arndt, Eric Yost and Chad Czmowski. Others present were Marc Sebora, City Attorney and Kent Exner, City Engineer. INVOCATION 2. – Pastor Lanny Penwell, Evangelical Free Church, delivered the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS 4. Donna Hammers, 106 Elk Drive, presented before the Council. Ms. Hammers appeared to request the City of Hutchinson rescind the Snow Emergency Ordinance. Ms. Hammers feels Hutchinson has wide streets and doesn’t have a need for the ordinance. She commented she has seen narrow streets in the metro area and understands their need for a snow emergency ordinance. During the holidays, there are up to 6 vehicles st parked at the Hammers’ residence, where are they to park other than the streets. On February 21, Ms. Hammers worked from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. When she arrived at home, she noticed the streets were plowed. The next morning her daughter’s car was towed. Ms. Hammers paid $114.16 for the towing and $32.00 for a ticket. Ms. Hammers explained she does not watch local television or listen to local radio and did not receive any mail regarding the Snow Emergency Ordinance. Ms. Hammers also shared that when she was getting her daughter’s towed car, others in line were unaware of the ordinance. Ms. Hammers felt that the City Council abused their rights by passing this ordinance. Donna’s request was to rescind the city Snow Emergency Ordinance. Mayor Steve Cook asked Ms. Hammers if she gets a water bill, as the Snow Emergency Ordinance information was printed on all water bills, and has been the last two years. Ms. Hammers was unaware this was the second year of the ordinance and stated she doesn’t pay much attention to their water bills. Mayor Cook said this topic would be talked about more later in the agenda. MINUTES 5. (a)REGULARMEETING OF FEBRUARY 22, 2011 Motion by Arndt, second by Christensen, 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) CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF SHORT-TERM GAMBLING LICENSE APPLICATION FOR 3M CLUB ON APRIL 29, 2011 (b)CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS (c)CLAIMS, APPROPRIATIONS AND CONTRACT PAYMENTS Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to approve the consent agenda. 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) UNFINISHED BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES –MARCH 8, 2011 (a) DISCUSSION OF SNOW EMERGENCY ORDINANCE …Continued discussion of the Snow Emergency Ordinance. Council Member Arndt stated he was one that felt there was a need for the Snow Emergency Ordinance. He explained he used to be a bus driver and there were times it was difficult getting through the streets. In some cases, parked vehicles didn’t move all day and plows would have to come back two to three times. It saves the city dollars if the plows only plow one time through. Council Member Arndt also noted he talked with the Police Chief and the number of vehicles being tagged is unbelievable. He stated if it’s snowing, get the vehicles off the streets. Mayor Cook stated there are a number of communities that don’t allow any parking on the streets at all. Public Works Manager John Olson informed the Council that he would be happy to provide Ms. Hammers the information as to the research that had been done prior to the Snow Emergency Ordinance being put in place. Council Member Yost asked Mr. Olson if he has seen efficiency in the Snow Emergency Ordinance. Mr. Olson commented this is an ideal situation, the best thing since windshield wipers. He has seen a dramatic reduction in parking on the streets during snow removal. Council Member Arndt asked if there had been any accidents between parked cars and snowplows this winter. Mr. Olson said there have not been any accidents. For snow emergency information, Hutchinson residents can call 234-5699. Otherwise on the city’s website they can set up automatic notification by e-mail or text message. These are all free of charge. Council Member Christensen stated that not all the streets in Hutchinson are wide; some of the older neighborhoods have very narrow streets. City Engineer Kent Exner commented that a lot of homework was done prior to enacting the ordinance. Ms. Christensen questioned how long the ordinance is in effect.Mr. Olson stated there is not a specific beginning and ending; it is all snow related. Mayor Cook reiterated there has been a request to rescind the Snow Emergency Ordinance. Ms. Hammers stated that the Snow Emergency ordinance affects a small minority in Hutchinson and causes undue burden and stress. Citizens are following the ordinance because they have to and they don’t want to pay the fines. Mayor Cook stated this has been an ongoing issue and the city is trying to save money. Lt. Gifferson presented before the Council. Lt. Gifferson informed the Council in the past 8 snow events, the police department has reached a plateau at 40 cited for tows. Some vehicles get moved prior to being towed. Lt. Gifferson believes the city has done what needs to be done to notify citizens. Council Member Arndt thanked Ms. Hammers for coming and presenting her case. (b)DISCUSSION OF FLOOD PREPARATIONS Mayor Steve Cook stated the city is in the process of flood preparations.Mr. Exner, Mr. Olson and the Public Works staff have been working on a Flood Response Memo geared to the public works operation. The memo has been passed onto City Administrator, Jeremy Carter. Mr. Exner will forward to the Council Members. Maps have been put together where significant, isolated flooding is expected. Looking back at the city buyouts post 1997 flood, this lets the city know what areas will be affected. Mr. Exner also noted that the new dam will be effective. Hutchinson has done a lot to prevent a flood event; however the city will see substantial flooding this spring. The National Weather Service cannot start predicting flooding until the snow melts and water starts flowing. Council Member Christensen commented that if residents are in probable flood areas, they should purchase a flood insurance policy. Mr. Exner stated such a policy requires a thirty (30) day waiting period, which may be very close at this point. Mr. Exner also commented on sewer water back up riders which could protect residents from sump pump back up. Rob Collett, DNR, presented before the Council. Mr. Collett stated last year floods came as early as March th 16 and the city peaked at 3,600 cf per second. The National Weather Service has run probable forecasting and reports chance for flooding is quite great. Mr. Collett reiterated the 30 day window for flood insurance, but still encouraged it as often times we get a rainstorm which gives us a second peak. So far ideal weather has occurred with the melting during the day and freezing at night. Snow maps show the west had a lot of snow, the potential for flooding is there, the weather will determine. New studies and maps are coming from FEMA. Residents can go to FEMA, DFIRM and DNR websites for flooding information, including clean up information. Mr. Collett assured the Council that Hutchinson is in good shape compared to a lot of communities. The National Weather Service doesn’t start measuring until rivers start flowing. Council Member Arndt noted the field drainage hasn’t stopped flowing all winter. 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES –MARCH 8, 2011 Mayor Cook stated that the request has come before the Council to take $50,000 to have 100,000 sandbags and 2,000 yards of sand readily available in the event of a flood. These supplies would be available to property owners. Mr. Olson commented washed sand be used as it can be used for winter sand as well. Mr. Olson also stated he would research how the sandbags should be stored and what can be expected for shelf life. Mr. Collett suggested the city be involved. Instead of each property owner putting a dyke around their own residence, the city could coordinate or suggest how high and how far out sandbagging is needed to protect a few houses. Mr. Exner noted the city will not enforce sandbagging. The city can provide the resources, guidance and information including sandbagging techniques. Council Member Yost asked if 100,000 bags are enough. Mr. Exner noted that the city is being conservative as New Ulm has 100,000 bags and are in a much greater flood area. Staff is figuring 15 properties with 100 feet around the property at 3 feet high. Ms. Christensen noted it was better to be prepared rather than looking back thinking we should have done something. Mayor Cook also stated the city will not go around cleaning up sand bagged areas. A drop off area will be determined and the city will pick up in those areas only. Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to approve expenditure to be prepared. 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 process items.) (a)SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES FROM JANUARY 24, 2011 (b)FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2011 No action required for these items. MISCELLANEOUS 12. Bill Corby, President of the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau – 2 Main Street South - presented before the Council. Mr. Corby stated he came to the meeting to give an update on the Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (HTI) layoff news. HTI reported today that they will be moving their manufacturing operations from its Hutchinson site to its Eau Claire, WI, site. This means a loss of approximately 600 jobs in Hutchinson. Mr. Corby informed the Council that he has been working with HTI, Minnesota Workforce, Central Minnesota Job Training and Ridgewater College. Mayor Cook asked if there were any dollars for training. Mr. Corby and HTI are trying to connect with different entities for the benefit of the employees being layed off. Mayor Cook thanked Mr. Corby for working on this and staying on top of it. Mayor Cook also stated it was a very unfortunate situation and as a city we need to work together and keep a positive spin on it. Mr. Corby reminded the Council and the Hutchinson residents what HTI has done for our community in the past. We are strong as a community and we will all come together. All of the Council Members expressed their concerns for, and encouraged others to support those employees and their families affected by the HTI layoffs. Mary Christensen – Ms. Christensen received a call from a citizen regarding the need for a crosswalk on Hassan Street in front of the library. Ms. Christensen noted that the street is well traveled and narrow with vehicles parking on both sides of the street. City Engineer Kent Exner stated he will do some research. Steve Cook – Mr. Cook congratulated the high school girls’ hockey team, high school girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. ADJOURN 13. Motion by Arndt, second by Cook, to adjourn at 6:34 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 3