HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-09 Council MinutesCITY OF CORCORAN
City Council Meeting Minutes
®ecem ber 9, 2021 - 7: 00 pm
The Corcoran City Council met on December 9, 2021, in Corcoran, Minnesota. The City Council
was held in person and the public was present in person and remotely through electronic means
audio and video conferencing platform Zoom.
meeting
using the
Mayor McKee, Councilor Bottema, Councilor Nichols, Councilor Schultz, and Councilor Vehrenkamp were
present.
Interim City Administrator Beise, Deputy Clerk Friedrich, Public Works Director Mattson, and Director of
Public Safety Gottschalk were present. City Planner Lindahl and Planner Davis were present via electronic
means.
'I. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mayor McKee called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor McKee invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Agenda Approval
items added due to reviews on a tax rate change, and an
Interim City Administrator Beise noted two
amendment to the wage scale for part-time police officer positions.
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to approve the agenda as modified.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
4. Comm'
Mayor
ussion rcepresentaiives
McKee noted Planning Commissioners Shoulak and Parks and Trails Commissi
oner Dugan
were present via electronic means.
5. Open Forum (Public Comment Opportunity)
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate
in -person or telephonically during the public comment
opportunity. Interim City Administrator Beise noted no public comment cards were received and
explained the instructions to participate in the meeting via the Zoom video format and
instructions for participation in the meeting through telephone or computer. No reside
in the public comment opportunity.
reviewed
nts
participated
Councilor Vehrenkamp noted Bechtold Road signs were replaced.
6. Presentations/Recognitions
a. Watershed Update — Ken Guenthner and Kris Guentzel
Commissioner Guenthner, Elm Creek Watershed, introduced Kris Guentzel, Senior Water Resource
Specialist with Hennepin County Environment and Energy. Commissioner Guenthner reviewed the
history of the Elm Creek Watershed and presented an overview of commission responsibilities and
focus. Commissioner Guenthner noted utilizing the watershed as a conduit for community education
resource. Commissioner Guenthner reviewed the Local Governing Unit (LGU) within the City and the
process in creating and implementing surface water plans, and collaboration with joint power
agreements to create management organizations to accomplish management plan requirements.
Commissioner Guenthner noted the joint cities within the Elm Creek Watershed District include
Champlin, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Corcoran, Medina, and Dayton. Commissioner Guenthner noted
review of the permit is completed and reviewed by the watershed for compliance with the statutory
mandated requirements. Commissioner Guenther noted the watershed sets common surface
management policy standards allowing communities a similar in approach surface water management.
1
Commissioner Guenthner reviewed the three areas of watershed funding include dues by each city,
application and escrow fees, and levy of up to $500,000 annually for capital improvement projects,
noting grant funding availability for water improvement projects within a city.
Kris Guentzel, Senior Water Resource Specialist, noted current work being completed in Corcoran
regarding rural conservation. Mr. Guentzel outlined the conservation district's priority in protecting
natural resources, and reviewed Hennepin County's community outreach calendar with public
involvement noting adoption of the Natural Resources Strategic Plan in the fall of 2022. Mr. Guentzel
noted initiatives include reduction in climate change and conservation in rural farm areas.
Commissioner Guenthner closed the presentation thanking Council for their time, future of surface
water management responsibilities within the City, and reappointment to the Elm Creek Watershed
Commission. Council thanked Commissioner Guenthner for his service to the commission.
7. Consent Agenda
a. Draft Work Session Minutes of November 227 2021
b. Draft Council Meeting Minutes of November 22, 2021
c. Financial Claims
d. Liability Coverage - Waiver
e. Magnan Acres Wetland Waiver
f. Test Well # 2 -- Award Bid
g. Appraisal — Park Trail Road Feasibility.
h. Memorandum of Understanding — Union Wages
MOTION: made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Bottema to approve consent agenda it
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
8. Planning Business (Public Comment Opportunity)
ems
No Planning Business was heard. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity.
9. Unfinished Business (Public Comment Opportunity)
Mayor McKee noted residents are invited to participate in person and telephonically for public comment
opportunity for items 9b-e. Administrative Services Director Beise explained the instructions to
participate in the meeting via the Zoom video format and reviewed instructions for participation in the
meeting through telephone or computer. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity.
a. Budget and Levy Hearing — 2022 Budget and Property Tax Levy
Finance Manager Ung reviewed the budget and levy timeline process beginning in April each year with
a County open book meeting, budget draft review by Council in June and July with continued budget
refinements at Council work sessions through August, with preliminary adoption of the draft budget by
Council in September, and Hennepin County distribution of proposed levies and taxes for 2022 in
November. Finance Manager Ung reviewed the 2021 tax rate of 45.322 percent, and the final, reduced
tax rate of 43.099 percent for 2022. Finance Manager Ung reviewed Budget and Levy Hearing
definitions, what property tax levy includes, revenue sources by year, expenditures by year, the
proposed 2022 budget, and property tax levy history. Finance Manager Ung noted a decrease in tax
rates from 2017 to 2022 of 2.895 percent and is a significant achievement with increase tax levy while
decreasing tax rate. Council noted request for actual tax rate on each funding source. Finance
Manager Ung reviewed home value, tax capacity, tax rate, and city tax portion. Finance Manager Ung
reviewed cost of City services on a median household value of $400,000 equates to an annual cost of
$1,724, or $144 per month.
Mayor McKee opened the Budget and Levy Public Hearing. Administrative Services Director Beise
explained the instructions to participate in the meeting via the Zoom video format and reviewed
instructions for participation in the meeting through telephone or computer. No residents participated in
the public comment opportunity.
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz closed the Public Hearing,
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
2
(Motion carried 5:01
b. 2022 Full -Time, PartJime Seasonal Wage Schedule
c. 2022 General Fund Budget and Property Tax Levy
d . 2022 Fee Schedule
e. 2022 Water and Sanity Sewer Budget
Council noted prior review and thorough discussion of items 9b-e. Interim City Administrator Beise
noted one change to item 9b., included a pay scale change to the wage schedule for part-time police
officers. Staff noted a fee change to the solid waste hauler license application fee of $75 to item 9d.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Vehrenkamp approving items 9b-e as amended.
Council discussed rink attendant at $12.00 starting wage salary. Interim City Administrator Beise
noted interest has remained consistent, and there have been enough applicants to fill the positions.
Council inquired on the fee structure schedule review and analysis study update. Interim City
Administrator Beise noted the fee analysis is being finalized with proposed changes brought forth to
Council in the first quarter of 2022 with recommendations.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
10. New Business (Public C�
omment Opportunity)
Mayor McKee invited residents to participate in person and telephonically to comment on New
Business. Administrative Services Director Beise explained the instructions to participate in the meeting
via the Zoom video format and reviewed instructions for participation in the meeting through telephone
Or computer. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity.
a. 2022 Council Calendar
Council and staff noted revisions to calendar as necessary to accommodate future work sessions, with
special attention to the November 14 Special Meeting to canvas the election results and require 3
council quorum to approve the results. Council noted review of the Goal Setting Work Sessions and
requested a Survey Monkey to secure a date.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Nichols approve the 2022 City Calendar.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
b. Executive Search Firm Selection
Council discussed placement results of executive search firm companies, noting positive comments
with Mark Drown at Drown & Associates. Council discussed the 2-year guarantee with Drown &
Associates, costs of each firm, and video pool with Drown & Associates. Council noted majority of
placements in Minnesota with GOVHR and Drown & Associates.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Vehrenkamp authorizing staff to draft and enter into
agreement with the preferred firm.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
c. Early Grading — Early Site Grading Work Agreement — Bellwether/Newman
Public Works Director Mattson summarized areas of Bellwether/Amberley and Newman early grading
request to balance dirt between Newman West and VanBlaricom as end of gradable upland area.
Public Works Director Mattson reviewed past requests for early grading to take advantage of
seasonality and efficiencies. Public Works Mattson reviewed collaboration process with the City
Attorney to create a substantial early grading agreement that includes the same conditions within the
development contract with an assurance of permit compliance meeting all the preliminary plat
obligations. Public Works Director Mattson noted Pulte Homes has requested consideration for early
site grading agreement contingent upon the specified conditions for the future Bellwether development.
Council and staff discussed stockpile grading, on -site trunk sewer work creating intermittent pile sites,
with no temporary stockpile planned. Public Works Director Mattson noted all access would be through
the VanBlancom property, with no construction traffic access on Hunter Ridge. Council and staff
discussed time saved with an early grading request versus the normal preliminary plat process.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Bottema to authorize staff to execute a final version of the
3
Early Site Gradin
development.
g Work Agreement contingent upon the specified conditions for the future Bellwether
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nicho
(Motion carried 5:0)
Is, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
d. Chamber of Commerce Representative
Council discussed the I-94 Chamber of Commerce representation,
participate in I-94 Chamber of Commerce. Council discussed State of Cities eve
attributes of event. Interim City Adm
inistrator Beise noted options for attendance
Council discussed creation of sub -committee to participate in the (-
selected the Mayor McKee as the
11. Staff Reports
12. 2021 City Council Schedule
Interim City Administrator Beise n
2021 year, noted planning items on the agenda, and th
13. Adjournment
MOTION
opportunity for staff and Council to
nt and n
oted positive
in representation.
94 Chamber of Commerce. Council
oted Wednesday, December 22 is the final Council meeting of the
e year in review
.
A by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to adjourn.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
Meeting adjourned at 8:14 pm.
Michelle Friedrich — Deputy Clerk