HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-09 Council MinutesCITY OF CORCORAN
City Council Meeting Minutes
March 99 2023 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran City Council met on March 9, 2023, in Corcoran, Minnesota. The City Council meeting was held
in person and the public was present in person and remotely through electronic means using the audio and
video conferencing platform Zoom.
Mayor McKee, Councilor Bottema, Councilor Nichols, Councilor Schultz, and Councilor Vehrenkamp were
present.
City Administrator Beise, City Clerk Friedrich, Finance Manager Ung, Public Works Director Mattson, and
Director of Public Safety Gottschalk were present.
1. 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
City Administrator Beise noted tabling item 7b to the March 23 Council meeting to allow for final review, the
addition of item 10c City of Hanover Letter of Support for Project Funding, and 10d Request by Staff to
Move Forward with Community Funding Project Request, and 10d Update on House File 2235. Council
requested 9b be moved to 7f under the Consent Agenda.
MOTION: by Bottema, seconded by Nichols, to move item 9b Approving Job Description and Appointment
of Planning Technician to Consent Agenda item 7f.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to approve the agenda as amended.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
4. Commission Representatives
Mayor McKee noted Planning Commissioner Brummond was present, and Parks and Trails
Commissioner Wyffels was attending virtually.
5. Open Forum (Public CommentOnnortunitv)
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person or telephonically during Open Forum for items
not included on the agenda. City Administrator 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.
6. Presentations/Recognitions
a. Recognizing Brandon Heinz — 20 Years of Service
Council recognized and thanked Brandon Heinz for his 20 years of service to the City of Corcoran.
b. Resolution 2023-16 Honoring Parks and Trails Commissioner Sharon Meister
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to approve Resolution 2023-16 Honoring Sharon
Meister for her service on the Parks and Trails Commission.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
c. Resolution 2023-17 Honoring Planning Commissioner Jim Shoulak
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to approve Resolution 2023-17 Honoring Jim Shoulak
for his service on the Planning Commission.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 500)
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7. Consent Agenda
a. 2023-02-09 Draft Council Work Session Minutes
b. 2023-02-09 Draft Council Minutes (Tabled to March 23, 2023)
c. Financial Claims
d. MS4 Ordinance Update - Salt Storage
e. Resolution 2023-18 and Agreement for State Transportation Fund Local Bridge
f. ADDED: Approving Job Description and Appointment of Planning Technician (Moved from item 9b)
Council requested item 7d be pulled for further discussion.
MOTION: by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to approve agenda items 7a-c, and 7e4, as presented.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
Council and staff discussed salt used on roads and finding a balance between being environmentally
friendly while maintaining safe roads for travel.
MOTION: by Schultz, seconded by Vehrenkamp to approve agenda item 7d as presented.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
8. Planning Business
9. Unfinished Business - (Public Comment Opportunity)
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person or telephonically during the public comment
opportunity for Unfinished Business. City Administrator 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.
Planning Commissioner Corrine Brummond, 8985 Bechtold Road, opined on item 9d 2023 Goals and
Measurables, and noted concern of a core strategy under measurable item 2, to create a financial and
deployment plan for automatic license plate readers. Ms. Brummond questioned the legality on whether
automatic license plate readers are an infringement on the Fourth Amendment right to have expectation of
privacy while driving your vehicle, but expressed greater concern over data that is being collected about
private residents who are not under suspicion, and why this goal is such a high priority for the City.
Council and staff discussed the storage of data and accessibility, and the State of Minnesota data retention
period for non -criminal activity regarding automatic license plate readers. Staff noted scenarios where
automatic license plate readers would be beneficial and implementing more checks and balances for
individual privacy for residents regarding automatic license plate readers.
a. Hackamore Road Improvements - Approve Plans / Authorize Bids
Jim Stremel, WSB, reviewed the status of the Hackamore Road Project. Mr. Stremel noted future development
access points with future turn lanes, stormwater areas with adjacent developments, noted the future water main
location, and trail extensions on the north side and extending through the whole corridor of the project. Mr.
Stremel noted the next steps include advertising for bids as noted in the Council packet. Council and staff
discussed infrastructure and preservation of water main location to efficiently install and minimize future impacts
when the infrastructure is developed.
MOTION: by McKee, seconded by Nichols to approve Resolution 2023-19 Plans and Specifications for
the Hackamore Road Improvement Project and Ordering the Advertisement for Bids.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 500)
b. Approving Job Description and Appointment of Planning Technician
Moved to Consent Agenda item 7f.
c. NE Water Supply Treatment & Tower — Engineering Construction Administration
Proposals
MOTION: by Schultz, seconded by Bottema to approve the construction administration services for the NE
Water Supply projects, including the water treatment facility in the amount of $768,620 and the storage
tower in the amount of $338,940, for a project total of $1,107,560 as outlined in the proposals from
Stantec.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
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d. 2023 Goals and Measurables
Council requested an adjustment to the Public Safety area regarding automatic license plate readers and place a
pause on the deployment of automatic license plate readers from the Goals section until Council has an
opportunity to evaluate funding and cost. Council noted review of legal aspects of Fourth Amendment. Council
provided staff feedback regarding language change to both the short-term goal and change the measurable
within the 2023 Goals and Measurables under Safety and Security within the Community.
MOTION° made by Schultz, seconded by Bottema, to adopt 2023 Goals and Measurables as amended.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
e. Utility Base Rate Discussion
Council noted the high utility base rate charge and complaints received from some of the local businesses
within the commerce district area of Corcoran. Council and staff discussed the evaluation method for utility
base rate setup, fee structure differences, special assessments, and SAC residential equivalent units.
Council noted eliminating the rebate credit form and issuing credits directly back to users. Council discussed
replacement of infrastructure as it is consumed and distributing cost over the lifetime of the asset and
collecting ahead to cover future cost of a 30-year lifespan of infrastructure. Council noted the
misunderstanding in how SAC residential equivalent units would impact local business utility base rates
when the fee schedule was last approved.
Tom Gleason, Pro -Tech Auto Repair, 7591 Commerce Street, opined his business has previously paid SAC
and WAC fees, as business owners did when the requirement came through for mandatory hookup by the
City for water and sewer. Mr. Gleason opined the additional fees charged by Corcoran far exceed what
Maple Grove charges the City for water.
Council provided staff direction to review other methods to calculate utilit
10. New Business - (Public Comment
Opportunity)
y base rates and bring back to
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person or telephonically during the public comment
opportunity for New Business. City Administrator 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. Financial Assistance Request
CJ Woodrow, Pitch to Pitch, thanked Council for their time, and noted comments from Council regarding options
regarding financing and construction of a shared partnership through public financing opportunities.
City Administrator Beise reviewed previous discussion of TIFF districts and tax abatement options. Council noted
historically, Corcoran has not participated in a public/private financing partnership. Council noted the concept idea
seems more of what private clubs would use rather than the public. Mr. Woodrow noted a future concept plan to
present to Council and thanked Council for their input.
b. Corcoran Locker Plant Site
City Administrator Beise noted questions from Corcoran Locker Plant owners include would the City consider
permitting on -site animal slaughtering as a permitted use and possible changes to the ordinance to allow
continuing on -site slaughtering; or would the City consider acquiring the property as part of the adjacent City Park.
Dan and Katie Goldman, 2925 Akola Avenue South, St. Louis Park, reviewed the business circumstances, and
the possibilities of selling the business to another interested butcher shop, and the challenges with how Corcoran
Locker Plant was set up as a business and the challenges to continue with the same business model regarding
County and City ordinances.
Council provided comments regarding Corcoran Locker and thanked the Goldman's for their visit.
c. Letter of Support — City of Hanover
City Administrator Beise reviewed the request by the City of Hanover regarding House of Representative funding
for projects at County Road 19 intersections at County Road 117/203, and County Road 123.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Vehrenkamp, to approve the Letter of Support to the City of Hanover
regarding the City of Hanover's application for Community Project Funding through the House of
Representatives.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
d. Community Project Funding
City Administrator Beise reviewed the recent notification from Representative Phillips regarding additional funding
for a community project, and if Council would like to proceed, staff would recommend City Park as a project to
seek additional funding for. Council and staff discussed timelines and bonds.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Bottema, to authorize staff to complete an application for Community
Project Funding through the House of Representatives for City Park.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 5:0)
e. Update on HF22345
Mayor McKee and City Administrator Beise noted the bill is related to legalizing affordable housing. Mayor
McKee noted Council submitted a resolution supporting local control and decision -making. Mayor McKee
outlined the House File 2235 has included provisions that would have implications for every city. Mayor McKee
noted the House File 2235 has specific verbiage regarding development and could change Park Dedication fees
among other fees, density changes from a minimum of four unites an acre to a minimum of eight units per acre
and includes many other provisions such as no garage sizes and numerous other aesthetic mandates. Mayor
McKee encouraged Council and residents to contact their representatives regarding House File 2235.
11. Staff Reports
a. 2022 Code Enforcement Report; Council received report.
12. 2023 City Council Schedule
Council received schedule.
13. Adjournment
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Schultz to adjourn.
Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 500)
Meeting adjourned at 9:17 pm on March 9, 2023.
Michelle Friedrich —City Clerk
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