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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-08 - Council MinutesCITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 1.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Guenthner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Corcoran City Council met on April 8, 2009, at City Hall in Corcoran, Minnesota. Present were Mayor Guenthner, Councilor Thomas, Councilor Gmach, Councilor Hudok and Councilor Milbrandt. Also present were Interim City Administrator Bodem, Public Works Director Pat Meister and City Engineer Rhein. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Guenthner invited the audience to rise to say the Pledge of Allegiance 3. AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: by Thomas, seconded by Milbrandt, to approve the agenda with the following additions: • Under 8g. Closed Session for Police Union Negotiations • Under 11 c. Update of April 23, 2009 City Council Agenda Voting Aye: Gmach, Milbrandt, Thomas, Guenthner and Hudok. (Motion Carried 5:0). 4. CLAIMS AS PRESENTED 4a. Escrow Claims (Fund #500). MOTION by Hudok, seconded by Gmach, to approve Escrow Claims (Fund #500). Voting Aye: Thomas, Gmach, Milbrandt, Guenthner and Hudok (Motion Carried 5:0) 4b. Building Inspection Claims. There were no Building Inspection Claims. 4c. All Other Claims as Presented. MOTION by Gmach, seconded by Hudok, to approve All Other Claims as Presented along additional claims added: Acclaims Benefits 100-43100-131 ($539.60), Monticello Animal Control 100- 42100 -300 ($45.00) and Motorola 410- 43100 -210 ($7,871.78). Voting Aye: Thomas, Gmach, Hudok, Guenthner and Milbrandt. (Motion Carried 5:0) 5. CONSENT AGENDA 5a. 3/26/09 Minutes MOTION by Gmach, seconded by Hudok, to approve of the 3/26/09 City Council minutes. Voting Aye: "Thomas, Gmach, Hudok, Guenthner and Milbrandt. (Motion Carried 5:0) 6. OPEN FORUM Rachel Tcssmar of 23825 Tessmar Road was present extending her appreciation to Agenda 5a. Call to Order Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Agenda Approval Claims As Presented Consent Agenda Open Forum Page -1- CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 the City and the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Council thanked Ms. Tessmar for her efforts working with the Committee. Verneal Klersey of 8905 County Road 19 asked about the county project in the Birshville area and the 3 lights that were removed during construction. She asked Council if a City representative would be willing to contact Hennepin County Engineer Grube to discuss possible replacement of the lights removed. Staff will report back. 7. PRESENTATION. Presentations 1. Paul Donna, Finance Advisor of Northland Securities, provided the City Council with geothermal project funding options. He handed out information along with bits of information about the following funding sources: • General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds • Build America Bonds • Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds • Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program The City Council decided to create a Geothermal working group consisting of Councilor Members Milbrandt and Thomas. They are to work with the appropriate staff in order to develop a scope -of- services that recommend the appropriate repair, enhancement and means of financing this project. The idea is to get in line to meet funding cycles. 2. Fire Chief Jeff Leuer of the Loretto Fire Department gave his annual fire department overview. 3. Rich Engel, Hanover Fire Chief gave a brief overview pertaining to the Hanover Fire Department. With the evolution of an aging baby boom generation, a movement in fire safety is that fire departments are going to be asked to handle more medical related incidents. 'fhe increasing cost of services and trend in fire service is one or consolidation. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8a. Legal Professional Services Interviews The City Council received presentations and asked questions of the following professional legal firms: 1. Kennedy & Graven Chartered 2. Carson, Clelland & Schreder 3. Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. The City Council thanked each firm for their professional presentations A recommendation of who the City appoints as their civil and criminal professional attorney (s) will be decided at the April 23, 2009 City Council meeting. Unfinished Business Page -2- CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 8b. Sign Ordinance City Attorney Joe Langel provided Council with a draft of Sign Ordinance No. 246, with the modifications shown. It was his understanding that this ordinance was reviewed extensively by committee before review by counsel. Ile stated that sign ordinances are complex and can be drafted in numerous ways. In their review, they tried to maintain the intent of the committee while addressing potential constitutional concerns. They wanted to remove language that provided potentially unlawful preferential treatment for certain types of business or properties. They also added definitions concerning commercial speech. Other changes were primarily for clarity and consistency and are self explanatory. Council added some additional clarifying language to the ordinance for which Attorney Langel will conform Council changes in the ordinance for approval at the April 23, 2009 City Council meeting. The City Attorney will add the following: He will restore the Ag signs under Exempt Signs in section 84.03 as requested; Langel said such sign is constitutionally problematic, He will add some zone identifiers to 84,05 to clarify which zones the section applies to. Ile will correct a number of parenthetical references that were wrong. Ile will review the LED lights and determine if they are considered internally illuminated. He will leave out the section giving gas stations additional signage. He will look at a few other Cities' ordinances and see if there is any language to that affect especially as it relates to canopies. He also will add language prohibiting signs that are visually obstructive. He will restore the original definition of government sign as requested by Council. 8c. Shannon Lane Bridge Update A Shannon Lane Bridge Committee provided an update to the City Council. The alternative access easements were signed and delivered. The Public Works Department has constructed the alternative roadway. All the necessary permits have been submitted. The Elm Creek Watershed permit was approved at the April 8th meeting conditioned upon DNR approval. Mayor Guenthner is working on the right -of -entry agreements with the three affected property owners. The frequency of inspections has increased and the bridge has not moved. A concern recognized is that cars are avoiding pot holes in the middle of roadway over the bridge and riding the edges thereby creating extra weight which may exacerbate the integrity of the slope and bridge. The City stands to receive up to 5250,000 of MNDOT funding. City Engineer Rhein said the City received written confirmation that the project is in -line for funding for construction only---not for appurtenances like engineering, affiliated Page -3- CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 local road improvements and the like. 8d. Approve Professional Planning Firm MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Milbrandt, appointing Landform for professional planning services subject to acceptance of a service agreement. Voting Aye: Thomas, Guenthner and Milbrandt. Voting Nay: Hudok Abstain: Gmach (Motion Carried 3:1:1- abstanintion) 8e. Approve Professional Engineering Firm MOTION by Gmach, seconded by Hudok, appointing Bonestroo for professional engineering services for the City of Corcoran. Voting Aye: Gmach and Hudok Voting Nay: Guenthner, Thomas and Milbrandt. (Motion Denied 3:2) MOTION By Thomas, seconded by Milbrandt to appointing Wenck for professional engineering services subject to acceptance of a service agreement. Voting Aye: Guenthner, Thomas, Milbrandt and Gmach Voting Nay: Hudok (Motion Carried 4:1). 8f. City Administrator Status Report or Candidate Selection MOTION by Thomas, seconded by Iiudok, authorizing Mayor Guenthner and Councilor Gmach to negotiate an employment agreement with Heidi Nelson as City Administrator. Voting Aye: Thomas, Gmach, Iiudok, Guenthner and Milbrandt. (Motion Carried 5:0) 8f. Closed Session — Police Union Negotiations. Council recessed into closed session at 9:31 p.m. and reconvened at 9:46 p.m. No recommendations in closed session and no action in open session. 9. PLANNING BUSINESS. None. 10. NEW BUSINESS 10a Request for Proposals for the U -CGO Program Planning Business New Business Page -4- CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 By consensus, Councilor Milbrandt and Comprehensive Land Use Plan Planner Goodroad will apply for assistance from the University of Minnesota Community Options (U -CGO) program. Applications for assistance are accepted on an ongoing basis, but priority is given to applications received by April 30, July 30 and November 30. The City will be applying for all three of the application assistance program dates. Some of the suggested application topics: CGIS mapping, athletic complexes and economic analysis of future commercial target areas. Additional ideas will be discussed by the City as time goes on. 10b. Representative — Technical Advisory Committee of Elm Creek Watershed Commission The City was asked to provide a representative to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Elm Creek Management Commission. The Council can appoint anyone but that person should be someone who is technically minded. The TAC person should be familiar with Corcoran projects and understand storm water issues. The Committee meets as needed and they are a recommendation body to the Elm Creek Watershed Commission. The appointment should be made annually. The Hustad project is an example of where Corcoran should be represented. By consensus, Council asked the Interim City Administrator to contact Tom Cossette seeking his representation as a Technical Advisory Committee member. If he accepts, then his name can be brought forward to Council for approval. 11. COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS Council and Staff Reports 11a. March 31st Parks and Trails Report – Roz Milbrandt Councilor Milbrandt said Parks and Trails Chairperson Robran administered the Oath to the 3 newly appointed Parks and Trails Commission Board members. One position is left and it is certain to get filled. Milbrandt asked that Council to inform the Parks and Trails Commission of the status of the geothermal heating system and how it affects the proposed memorial garden. It is the expectation of the Commission to start construction of the Memorial Park this summer. llb. February 17, 2009 Draft Parks and Trails Minutes were recognized. Ile. April 23, 2009 Draft Agenda Items. Interim City Administrator Bodem updated Council of the following agenda items for April 23, 2009: • Dust Control Public Hearing • Brad Feist, Rogers Fire Department • Adam Kramer, Progressive Engineering Presentation • Decision to hire legal firm • Sign Ordinance • Criteria to apply to do pubic works projects Interim City Administrator Bodem informed the Council that County Commissioner JeffJohnson is scheduled to meet at the May 17, 2009 City Council meeting. Also, the Hennepin County Sheriff will be scheduling a meeting with Council within the next couple months. Page -5- CITY OF CORCORAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 2009 12. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS — None Unscheduled Items 13. ADJOURNMENT Adjournment MOTION made by Thomas, seconded by Hudok, to adjourn at 10:09 p.m. Voting Aye: Thomas, Gmach, Hudok, Guenthner and Milbrandt (Motion carried 5:0) Dan Donahue, City Administrator Page -6-