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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-09 Council Minutes_ City of Corcoran ,^## City Council Minutes C O R C O R A N May 9, 2024 - 7:00 pm \ _ / The Co Counci l rcoran City Council met on May 9, 2024, in Corcoran, Minnesota. The City Meeting was held in person and the public was present in person and remotely nronic means using the audio and video conferencing platform zoom. rough elect Mayor McKee, Councilor Bottema, Councilor Nichols, and Councilor Vehrenkamp were present. The fourth councilmember seat was vacant. City Administrator Tobin, City Clerk Friedrich, Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck, 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 Tobin noted attachment updates to Presentation item 6b Hennepin County Natural Resources, and Consent Agenda items 7b-d include draft minutes from April 25, 2024, and April 27, 2023; and removal of items 7h and 71. City Administrator Tobin noted Unfinished Business item 9a indicates an update, however noted an update was not made. City Administrator Tobin noted Closed Session item 14aii has been removed and will be added to the May 21 meeting. MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Bottema to approve the agenda as modified. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries 4:0) 4. Commission Representatives Mayor McKee noted Planning Commissioner Linda and Parks and Trails Commissioner Christenson were present. 5. Open Forum (Public Comment Opportunity) Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during Open Forum for items not included on the agenda. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment opportunity. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity. 6. Presentations/Recognitions a. Proclamation — National Police Week Mayor McKee read Resolution 2024-46 Recognizing National Police Week. City Administrator Tobin noted four police officers were recognized at a recent ceremony for assisting in saving residents' lives. City Administrator Tobin noted Sergeant Dan Wilcox, Officer Jesse Olson, Officer Darren Bolson, and Reserve Officer Steve Emerson were recognized. b. Updated: Presentation — Hennepin County Natural Resources Council received presentation regarding support of natural resources. Watershed Commissioner Guenthner and Karen Gallus from Hennepin County's Department of Environment and Energy shared comments. Discussion included elevating natural resource roles and ensuring the county remains resilient, healthy, and thriving, and developing a shared vision of challenges and opportunities related to natural resource preservation and future developments. Ms. Gallus commented that the partnership is geared to help rapidly growing communities like Corcoran to preserve natural resources. Ms. Gallus outlined the natural resource partner coalition has six main areas and include 1) creating a county -wide natural resources map, 2) builds a collaborative framework that allows people to really focus on their jurisdictional role, 3) incorporating lessons that others have learned to maximize impact, 4) developing tools that can be at the fingertips of partners when opportunities and challenges arise, 5) sharing resources and expertise across different jurisdictional entities, and 6) practicing bold and courageous leadership and advocating for policies that make it easier to protect and preserve natural resources. Ms. Gallus noted Corcoran's open space and 11 preservation ordinance and referenced the Heather Meadows development. Council noted the updates to the planned unit development subdivision ordinance, PUDs within a residential development, and permanent conservation of open space. Ms. Gallus noted Hennepin County is still in the process of collecting letters of support and ideas from engagement partners, and noted the decision on the coalition will be finalized the end of June. Council and staff discussed the use of maps to identify natural resource areas and the additional benefit regarding sub watersheds, is identifying projects that may be available for water quality improvement or natural resource enhancement. Council reviewed necessary action to support the natural resources coalition. 7. Consent Agenda a. April 25, 2024 DRAFT Joint Work Session Minutes b. Updated: April 25, 2024 DRAFT Regular Council Minutes c. Updated: April 27, 2023 DRAFT Work Session Minutes d. Updated: April 27, 2023 DRAFT Regular Council Minutes e. Financial Claims May 9, 2024 f. Resolution 2024-45 Hennepin County Natural Resources Partner Coalition/LCCMR Letter of Support g. Water Treatment Plant - Pay Request 12 h. Sound Waiver Corcoran Lions 2024 i. Equipment Purchase — Skid Loaders j. Resolution 2024-46 Recognizing National Police Week MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Bottema to approve consent agenda items 7a-j as presented. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) 8. Planning Business 9. Unfinished Business (Public Comment Opportunity) Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during public comment opportunity for items Sa- c. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment opportunity. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity. a. Updated: City Park Planning Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck reviewed the next steps for city park planning and noted the schematic design phase involves architectural and civil engineering teams to include surveying and Geotech building programming study, along with a wetland delineation with an estimated cost of $175,020. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted an update was made to the item and the correct estimated cost is $113,025, and not $175,020 as referenced in the packet. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted the estimated cost is on page 5 of the packet item. Council noted previous wetland delineation costs and other associated costs with park planning studies, and to consider the cost of the current study, and Council's intent to move forward with the project once the Geotech building programming study and wetland delineation phase is completed before Council votes on this current expense. City Administrator Tobin noted the city has received $300,000 in a grant, and $500,000 from a federal fund that the City will have to expend that are related to this project. Council and staff discussed the current park design cost, phased construction of the current park design version, and future park dedication funds. City Administrator Tobin noted a recent grant application for the building could be a potential $3.5 million park grant in federal funding. MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Vehrenkamp to authorize staff to proceed with Phase 1, Schematic Design of City Park as described in scope of work, to utilize Stantec or subcontractor through HKGi, and to include a) survey and staking, b) geotechnical, c) building programming study, and d) wetland delineation. Friendly amendment made by McKee to not exceed $113,025. Friendly amendment accepted by Bottema, and Vehrenkamp. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) 2 b. Appoint/Fill Council Vacancy MOTION: made by McKee, seconded by Vehrenkamp to appoint Commissioner Mark Lanterman to the vacant Council seat through the canvassing of the General Election in November 2024. Council thanked each candidate for applying for the vacant seat. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) Council and staff discussed Planning Commission seat vacancy and filling the Chair role on the Planning Commission. Council noted sharing the commission liaison between Councilor Vehrenkamp and newly appointed Councilor Lanterman. Council directed staff to post the Planning Commission seat vacancy through June 10, 2024, with a potential appointment discussion for the remaining term for the Planning Commission scheduled for the June 13 Council meeting. City Administrator Tobin noted Mr. Lanterman could re -apply for the Planning Commission after time served on the City Council. Council requested staff to create a policy for responding to vacancies on the Council and Commissions for future reference. City Administrator Tobin noted the commissioner handbook is another item staff is reviewing. c. K-9 Program Discussion MOTIONn. made by Bottema, seconded by Vehrenkamp to authorize staff to continue the department's canine program, select a qualified police officer candidate, apply for any available grant funding, and utilize public safety aid funding for the balance of the program costs up to $20,000. Council noted the take home car with limited mileage and being a certain distance away. Director of Public Safety Gottschalk noted when we initially did the program, we looked at the ability for call outs and response, and through practice, we found that we didn't have a lot of callers because we were utilizing other on -duty canines in the county, when possible, as opposed to calling them out. Director of Public Safety Gottschalk added the absolute need for a response from home was reduced. Director of Public Safety Gottschalk noted there is a mileage restriction that that would be applicable and depends on candidate applications if that restriction would apply. Mark McDonald, canine trainer, answered Council question regarding dual -trained canine unit. Council inquired if a policy has been created when a canine unit departs. Council and staff discussed options available for retiring canine units. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) 10. New Business (Public Comment Opportunity) Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during public comment opportunity for items 10a-b. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment opportunity. No residents participated in the public comment opportunity. a. State Public Safety Funds Plan OTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Nichols to authorize staff to spend the $292,669 of public safety aid money as outlined: - $65,000= Initiate a 2-year pilot program of Flock ALPR cameras. o Council approved a contract with Flock on April 11, 2024, for $59,850 with public safety aid money as its intended funding source. Staff have included an additional $5,150 in the requested authorization if additional site improvements or unforeseen expenses arise. - $10,000- Fire service Knox boxes. o The City of Corcoran has a standard key lock box for commercial facilities for fire department access. These boxes were purchased and installed by the building owners upon construction. The previous standard was to use a box made by a local company called DAMA. DAMA boxes have become difficult to obtain and the city has now changed the standard to Knox boxes. This allocation would be for the city to purchase and provide Knox boxes for the existing businesses currently equipped with DAMA boxes to ease their expense of converting. 3 - $205000- Drone program. o The Police Department has been researching options for a drone program. The proposed $20,000 would include funding for one outdoor drone, one indoor drone along with supporting batteries, chargers, equipment, and training. Law enforcement use of drones is tightly regulated under Minnesota State Statute 626.19. This could also be utilized as a citywide resource. - $10,000- Officer wellness and workout equipment. o Due to limited space, police department staff have researched options for stowable workout equipment and racking for the police department garage. Staff have also been researching the feasibility of a workout on duty policy. - $50,000- Roadside testing equipment for drug impaired drivers. o With the legalization of marijuana in 2023 and recent drug trends, law enforcement has begun seeing polysubstance impairment and additional drug impaired driving. While law enforcement has long used PBTs (preliminary breath tests) in determining if alcohol was the source of driver impairment, tools to identify drug impairment on the roadside are an emerging technology. The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety has been pilot testing two different devices and is planning to report results and recommendations to the state in early 2025. The devices currently cost between $4,500-$6,000 each and utilize cartridges that cost approximately $30 per test. Staff are requesting the allocation Of these funds t0 outfit our patrol vehicles with roadside drug testing devices, cartridges, and training when the guidance is provided by the state. $7,000m Police department weapon storage. o With the 2023 implementation of the state's extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) the department has increased responsibilities for firearms storage in our property room. This allocation would be for additional weapons storage lockers in the property room and additional weapons lockers in the police department to support our growing agency. 450,000m Funding the existing Police Department recruitment and retention health insurance severance payment fund. In February 2023, the City Council approved a health insurance severance payment to retain police officers starting in 2025. This plan included ongoing budget allocations to support the fund. This $50,000 allocation of state aid would be used to fund the pending liability and as seed funding for that health insurance severance payment fund thereby reducing the pressure for city allocations. 420,000- Police personnel costs. Funds to facilitate early hiring of police officer candidates to avoid staffing shortages. 460,669- Long-range public safety fund. Approximately 20% of the aid funding to be allocated to a fund to address one-time unbudgeted public safety needs resulting from community growth. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) b. Police Department Staffing OTIO : made by Nichols, seconded by Bottema to authorize staff to continue the hiring process with the third candidate and authorize staff to extend conditional and final job offers to the candidate, when appropriate. Council thanked the police department for their service. Council noted the police department's dedication and investment in community relationships and noted the community's commendations for treating citizens with respect and being visible within the community. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols (Motion carries: 4:0) 11. Staff Reports City Administrator Tobin noted Council would receive the first quarterly financial report at the May 21 Council meeting. Council thanked City Administrator Tobin for his time and efforts with the annual audit. 12. Council Reports Council noted lack of programs for fire fighter or police reserve volunteer positions within the City who are hurt while volunteering at a city emergency. Council and staff reviewed possible options, policy considerations, and availability of resources for volunteer services. Council requested staff gather information and present it to Council at a future meeting. Council thanked Council for Corcoran Clean Up day. 13. Updated: 2024 City Council Schedule Council requested the Firearms Ordinance discussion be moved to June 27. Council noted the Council 11 meeting scheduled on May 23, was rescheduled to Tuesday, May 21. 14. Closed Session a. Closed Session 1: Real Estate Property 1. Stieg Road Improvements 2. Removed: City Center Improvements 3. Strategic Land Acquisition Mayor McKee stated: "C ity Council is going into closed to consider an offer for real estate. Under the authority of Minnesota Stat. § .. is p purchase or sale of real or personal property. The city council is going into closed session to consider an offer for real estate or personal property. The city council is going into closed session to consider an offer for real estate. The following properties are the sub ject of the closed meeting PID 01-119-23-31-0002 and PID 13D05 subd3(c)(3) the City ermitted to close a meeting to consider offers and counteroffers for the 23-119-23-43-0008." Mayor McKee recessed the Council meeting at 8:33 pm. Mayor McKee reconvened the Council meeting at 8:57 pm. Mayor McKee stated: 'in the closed session, the City Council discussed an offer for real estate and personal property; staff was provided direction." 8. Adjournment MOTION: made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Bottema to adjourn. Voting Aye: McKee, Bottema, Vehrenkamp, and Nichols. (Motion carries 4:0) Meeting adjourned at 8:58 pm on May 9, 2024. Michelle Friedrich —City Clerk 5