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Home My WebLink About1997-07-24 Council MinutesCORCORAN CITY COUNCIL JULY 24, 1997 Y33 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Larkin called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M. Present were Mayor Larkin, Council Members Ken Kluck, Dixie Lindsley, Ernie Mayers, and Ken Guenthner. Also present were City Clerk Stacy Doboszenski, City Planner Gary Eitel, City Engineer Vince Vander Top, and Interim Public Works Supervisor Pat Meister. There were approximately 18 people in attendance at the meeting. SET AGENDA The following items were added to the Agenda: • Add under consent agenda, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT and Approval of the August 1, 1997 Bond Payments OPEN FORUM The following people addressed the City Council during the open forum: Jeff Becker, 63QQ Horsesho Bend Drive Ms. Becker was present to discuss with Council problems she has been experiencing with her driveway. She also spoke on behalf of her neighbor, Jeff CIine. Ms. Becker stated that her driveway and neighbors driveway are getting too much water causing upheaval of their culverts and driveway. She requested that Horseshoe Bend Drive and their driveways be fixed. Mayor Larkin asked for a recommendation from Pat Meister and Vince Vander Top. Vince stated that he has done some rough cost estimates for culverts, draintile, and bituminous, and that it comes to approximately $37,000 to fix the problem correctly. He further stated that he has put together a report to come under the Public Works portion of the meeting that addresses these concerns as well as others. Council continued to discuss this item with Vince. They discussed the following: • Packaging a number of repairs needed into one project to get a better price • Fixing the problem correctly the first time, to avoid spending more dollars in the future • Grading the ditches along Horseshoe Bend Drive versus installing draintile Vince gave a recommendation to put a plan together for repairing problem. areas, obtaining quotes, and to have ditching be an alternate on the bid. On a motion by Guenthner, seconded by Lindsley, to accept Vince's recommendation to advertise for quotes as he described, paying particular attention to Horseshoe Bend Drive and Rolling Hills Road. Motion carried with Guenthner, Lindsley, Kluck, and Larkin voting aye; Mayers voting no and asking for clarification of the motion. Once motion was clarified, Mayers now in favor. Dean Utermarck, 23110 Strehler Road Mayor Larkin introduced Mr. Utermarck's request for a 14 foot sidewall height on an accessory building, and questioned the Council's feelings on the issue, to try to avoid Mr. Utermarck paying -- $200 to apply for a Conditional Use Permit, and then be denied. Mr. Utermarck questioned where the sidewall height is measured from. Gary responded. There was a lengthy discussion on Conditional Use Permits. 134 Councilor Guenthner stated that he is not in favor of granting a Conditional Use Permit for sidewall height, he feels that the ordinance should be amended first. This raised a discussion on a time frame for amending the ordinance. On a motion by Guenthner, seconded by Lindsley, to direct the Planning Commission to examine the current accessory building ordinance, and to bring forward a revised ordinance that addresses recreational vehicles. Motion carried unanimously, Tony Ruppert, Well at City Hall Tony Ruppert was at the meeting to update the Council on the work he performed on the well. He informed the Council that the casing was bent, he replaced the portion of casing that was bent, and that he added 100 feet of pipe and dropped the pump an additional 99 feet. Shaun Irwin, the City's insurance agent, suggested that the bent casing be turned into the League of Minnesota Cities as an insurance claim, for them to determine if the City can be reimbursed for any or all of the expenses. No action was taken. COUNCIL DECISION ON PERSONNEL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Councilor Guenthner opened the discussion. There was brief discussion among Council members. Mayor Larkin then called on audience members for their input, There was then discussion between audience and Council on the following: • Use more out sourcing, not staffing City Hall • Having Council members take a more active roll in City operations • The need for a planner At this point in the meeting, Councilor Guenthner stated that if Council was going to open the floor for public comment, he would leave the meeting; wanting to discuss this with the Council, not the public. Council then discussed the following: • Councilor Guenthner feels there is a need for someone to perform the Planning/Zoning function, but to have Clerk report to Council to get away from a City manager type situation • Councilor Mayers questioned if Position B would cover administrative duties for Public Works • Justification of hours for Public Works position • Councilor Guenthner questioned if the administrative duties described in Position A should be switched to Position B • Public Works lead person to take a stronger roll • Having someone accountable for the Public Works Department • Contracting out snowplowing, have them plow cul-de-sacs On a motion by Guenthner, seconded by Larkin, to except the recommended job description for Position A and to fill the position with existing staff and to sub -contract for additional help when needed. Motion carried unanimously. Larkin then moved to designate Pat Meister as lead person for the Public Works Department. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Councilor Lindsley suggested that the current employees of the Public Works go through an interview process. The discussion was then focused on Position B, a planning/zoning/administrative position. Council— 3 5 discussed the following: • Mayor Larkin stated he did not want to vote on the issue tonight • Councilor Guenthner has difficulty with a City Manager concept; have councilors work as liaisons with departments and reporting channels need to be established • Councilor Muck stated that it's not a question of reporting, but a question of who makes a decision and where do calls get routed to • Councilor Mayers questioned how many hours a week a liaison has to work • Mayor Larkin suggested hiring Loren Kohnen to fill the vacancies • Problem with enforcement of ordinances Councilor Lindsley suggested tabling a decision on Position B until August, until she had a chance to meet with the Clerk. There was a brief discussion by Council. On a motion by Lindsley, seconded by Muck, to delay a decision on the Planning/Zoning/Administration position until the August 14, 1997 meeting. There was discussion by Council and motion was amended to include that the Public Works position will be established by that time. Motion carried with Lindsley, Kluck, Mayers and Larkin voting aye; Guenthner voting no stating that he was ready to make a decision tonight. Councilor Kluck then questioned who will conduct the interview for the Public Works position. Council consensus was that Councilor Mayers will conduct the interviews. SHAUN IRWIN. CITY'S INSURANCE AGENT, REQUEST TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL WITH 1998 INSURANCE QUOTES Shaun Irwin presented the insurance information to Council. There was some discussion regarding the premium amount. Shaun stated that he is checking into the increase of general liability and will report back to Council. There was then discussion on the amount of a deductible for work comp. On a motion by Kluck, seconded by Mayers, to approve the option to have a $250 deductible for workers compensation insurance. Motion carried unanimously. On a motion by Kluck, seconded by Mayers, to accept the insurance proposal as submitted by Shaun Irwin. Motion carried unanimously. TED BERNER, REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION TO CHANGE FRONT YARD SETBACK VARIANCE FROM 40 FEET TO 30 FEET There was a brief discussion by the Council. On a motion by Muck, seconded by Lindsley, to accept the change in front yard setback variance from 40 feet to 30 feet. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE Vince distributed the cost estimates to the Council for asphalt maintenance, crack sealing, striping, and culverts. Due to action taken in the open forum portion of the meeting, no action was taken at this time. 136 CONSENT AGENDA On a motion by Larkin, seconded by Mayers, to approve the consent items as follows: • Approval of List of Claims #559 - 587 • Approval of the July 10, 1997 and July 17, 1997 City Council Minutes • Approval of the August 1, 1997 Bond Payments • Approval of Resolution No. 1997 - 57, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING HENNEPIN COUNTY'S APPLICATION FOR ISTEA FUNDS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF CSAH 19 • Approval of Resolution No. 1997 - 58, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION Corres ondenc There was a discussion on the letter from the City of Maple Grove regarding a reduced cost to oversize the Maple Grove sewer line for Corcoran's use in the future. Council discussed the following: • Forwarding this to the Sewer Task Force • Discussing this with the Hennepin Rural Utilities Cooperative (HRUC) • Basic cost estimates for Maple Hill Estates and the downtown area as presented by Vince • Timeline for Maple Grove Council suggested that staff and/or Vince meet with the HRUC prior to the special meeting if possible. On a motion by Guenthner, seconded by Lindsley, to call a special meeting of the City Council for Tuesday, August 5, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss and act on the cost of oversizing the Maple Grove sewer line. Motion carried unanimously. Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council There was a brief discussion on the request from Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council for membership fees. On a motion by Lindsley, seconded by Kluck, to approve $1000 be paid for membership fees to Northwest Hennepin Human Services. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN Mayor Larkin adjourned the meeting at 10:24 p.m. ATTEST: City erk �`7 Mayor