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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-12 Council Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2004 1 The Corcoran City Council met on February 12, 2004 at City Hall in Corcoran, Minnesota. Present were Councilors Gageby, Lymangood and Thomas. Mayor Guenthner and Council Bucher were excused absent. Also present were Administrator Vergin, and Attorney Carson. Acting Mayor Lymangood called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Acting Mayor Lymangood addressed the group indicating that he has a different style of leading. That with only three members of the council present a minority point of view would be given more weight and if necessary would lay items over for a full council to consider. Appointed Councilor Thomas as Vice Chair, if in the event that he were to be challenged during the meeting. MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Gageby, and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following addition: • 10.a.1. State Auditor’s Report Open Forum There were no requests from the public to speak during open forum. Consent Agenda MOTION by Gageby, seconded by Thomas, and carried unanimously to approve the consent agenda items a through f, pulling item 5.g. Year End Financial Report. a. Approve the Regular Council Meeting minutes of January 22, 2004, as presented. b. Approve the payment of February 12, 2004 claims, #3051 - 3098= 57,931.76, as presented. c. Approve the Agricultural Preserve Applications as submitted by James and Beverly Patnode, Daryl J. Patnode, Daniel and Cynthia Patnode, and Richard and Donna Dempsey, Resolution No. 2004-01. d. Approve entering into the Recycling Grant Agreement for 2004 with Hennepin County, Resolution No. 2004-02. e. Approve entering into a street maintenance agreement with Maple Grove for 81st Place. f. Approve entering into an agreement with North Hennepin Mediation Services. Planning Business Exemption from Application Requirements A request by Ernie Mayers to be exempted from the Certificate of Survey requirement in his submittal of a variance application was reviewed. The Council discussed the purpose of a Survey, concluding that the City has not waived this requirement since the adoption of the ordinance, and that it was implemented as an essential tool in the planning process. Call to Order Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Acting Mayor Lymangood Agenda Approval Open Forum Consent Agenda Planning Business Mayers – Certificate of Survey Exemption Request MOTION by Gageby, seconded by Thomas, and carried unanimously to deny the request of Ernie Mayers to waive the CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2004 2 requirement of a certificate of survey. Planning Commission Alternate Position Administrator Vergin informed the Council that the vacancy to the Planning Commission alternate seat has been published since the end of December, 2003 and no additional applications have been received. It was noted that one application had been received prior to that, by Mr. Tom Cossette who currently serves on the Waste Water Commission. The consensus of the council was to lay the matter over to the February 26, 2004 council meeting. Unfinished Business Police Facility Expansion Representatives of the Police Facility Committee David Andersen and George Gmach were present requesting authorization to proceed with architectural services and continued coordination for moving the police facility expansion project forward. Attorney Carson informed the council, for the record, that the City is not required to go through the formal bidding process for contract services. That it is not a conflict of interest for Mr. Andersen to enter into contract with the City even though he is a planning commission member, as that is an appointed position not an elected position. On the other hand a council member could not enter into a contract with the City as that would be perceived as a confli ct of interest. Carson further informed the council that he has reviewed the contracts and has spoken with Mr. Andersen regarding the services which will be provided and is comfortable with the City entering into the contract. Gmach informed the Council that Andersen has the background information necessary and understands the objectives of the project from being on the committee. Administrator Vergin has reviewed projects from other cities and the fee is low in comparison to others. Addressed whether or not to utilize the mechanical and electrical engineering service for the design build. This method would provide the city with tighter specifications on the design, creating a better product for the City and will most likely result in more competitive bids. Acting Mayor Lymangood requested that both the Fire Chief and Building Official become involved in the review process at the front end. MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Lymangood, and approved unanimously to enter into contract with The Andersen Group Architects, Ltd. for services as described in Proposal for Limited Professional Services, dated 2/3/04. Exemption Request Denied Alternate Position to PC Tabled to 2/26/04 Police Facility Expansion Approval of Architectural Services MOTION by Gageby, seconded by Thomas, and approved unanimously to authorize the Facility Committee to proceed with the coordination of the CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2004 3 project. New Business 2004 Goals and Objectives Due to the lack of a full council it was the consensus that this matter be laid over to the March 11, 2004 council meeting. Any modifications are to be submitted to staff prior to that time. Civic Center Rentals During the Truth in Taxation Hearing process staff had been requested to review revenues and expenditures for the civic center. During 2003 there was a difference of $600, with expenditures exceeding revenues. Acting Mayor Lymangood indicated that the difference is more than made up by the appreciation of the land value. Gageby noted that the facility’s purpose is to provide something back to the community, and that by increasing fees to certain civic organizations is in poor taste. Staff was directed to contact the Maple Grove Lions for consideration of a donation for 2004. 2004 Fee Schedule Staff was directed to reevaluate ball field fees and false alarm fees. A few other modifications were made to the proposed fee schedule including park dedication fees and finger printing children. MOTION by Gageby, seconded by Thomas, and approved unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2004-03, adopting the 2004 Fee Schedule per city ordinance. Municipal Code Amendment, Section 91.02 Dogs, Ordinance No. 191 The modification to the ordinance is required to address the change in the licensing periods. MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Gageby, and approved unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 191, amending the Municipal Code, Section 91.02. Advertising Signs on Ball Fields The Athletic Association has made a request of the city to be all owed to place advertisement signs on the ball field fences as a source of revenue. The current sign ordinance does not allow for this. Staff was directed to proceed with modifying the ordinance to allow those types of signs. Facility Committee Precede 2004 Goals and Objectives Civic Center Rentals 2004 Fee Schedule Resolution No. 2004-03 Municipal Code Amendment Ordinance No. 191 Advertising Signs – Ball fields Northland Securities, Paul Donna Sale of Equipment Certificates Paul Donna of Northland Securities was present to address the sale of $414,000 equipment CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2004 4 certificates for the capital equipment purchases for 2004 and 2005, as approved in the City’s 2004 budget. Private placement has been chosen with Farmers State Bank of Hamel and Bankwest of Rockford at an interest rate of 2.95%. This is a five year term, which is wrapped into the existing CIP debt, allowing the payment to remain consistent at approximately $172,000 per year. Donna further noted that public vs. private placement was looked into, and that private placement did save the City money by reducing financing fees. The City’s debt level is very low comparable to other communities. MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Gageby, and approved unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2004-04, awarding the sale of $414,000 general obligation equipment certificates of indebtedness for 2004. Police Department Expansion Financing Options Paul Donna addressed three options that the City has available to them for financing the expansion to the police facility: General Obligation Bonds, Lease Purchase Revenue Bonds or General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds. The scenario provided was for a project cost of $350,000 over a 15 year term. This would impact a $250,000 home by about $17.50 per year. Discussed the ability to delay the debt so that current residents are less impacted. Donna explained that in this small project the difference over the term of the debt would only be $1 - $2 a year in savings to current residents. Suggested that a shorter term, such as 10 years, with an eight year call feature may be more cost effective to the City. Addressed the various processes that the City would need to undergo to proceed with the bonding options. General Obligation Bonds – Requires a special election on this question. Lease Purchase Revenue Bonds – The City would lease the facility from the EDA. The EDA has the ability to levy outside of the levy limits. This does not require a referendum. General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds – A capital improvement plan must be developed and approved by the City following a public hearing. The bonds would be subject to a referendum only if a petition was received calling for a vote within 30 days of the public hearing. The petition must be signed by voters equal to 5% of the votes cast in the City’s last general election Donna was requested to come back to the council at their next meeting with scenarios of different terms and types of bonding for the full council to consider. Attorney Carson was asked to clarify how this may be impacted by the City’s Charter. Equipment Certificates Resolution No. 2004-04 Sale of GO Equipment Certificates Police Department Expansion Financing Options Staff and Council Reports WWC Liaison Report Acting Mayor Lymangood provided an overview of the Waste Water Commission meeting. They are currently working on a mailing, which is being targeted to those CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2004 5 that are not in compliance with the City’s current maintenance program. The MPCA is proposing some changes to the 7080 Rules, regarding local control and policy issues. Corcoran as well as other Cities and the League of MN Cities should be aware of these proposed changes. Staff was directed to provide the proposed changes to the Council for information purposes, along with other Cities and the League of MN Cities. State Auditor’s Report Acting Mayor Lymangood announced that State Auditor Patricia Anderson has commended 53 cities for sound fiscal management, by maintaining acceptable reserve fund balances between 35 – 50 percent of a city’s annual expenditures. The City of Corcoran was not a part of that list “yet”, however continues to work toward that goal, with a current reserve balance of approximately 34%. PC Liaison Report Councilor Thomas reported on the Planning Commission meeting. During their meeting it was addressed if a variance would have been the appropriate tool to use for granting Mr. Kuehn an additional building right. Attorney Carson informed the Council that he has spoken with Planner Lindahl on this matter and that typically this would not be done by a variance. It is done by an analysis and a decision by the City, in writing. Councilor Thomas indicated that additional properties along the CSAH 19 corridor may have similar situations. Attorney Carson and Planner Lindahl were directed to come back with a recommendation to the Council on a policy that would deal with similar situations, which may include land locked parcels. The matter of the Colebanks' land division which was not recorded was also addressed by the Commission. Because the legal descriptions are no longer valid the division can not be recorded and there is nothing that the City can do regarding that matter. Administrator Vergin informed the council that the Colebanks’ are working with staff to precede with options to create two lots from their remaining parcel. MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Gageby, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. _____________________________ Susan Vergin, City Administrator Reports Waste Water Commission State Auditor’s Report Planning Commission Adjournment