HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-21 Council MinutesCity of Corcoran
City Council Meeting Minutes
December 21, 2015 - 7:OOpm
The Corcoran City Council met on December 21, 2015, at City Hall in Corcoran, MN.
Present were Mayor Guenthner, Councilor Hank, Councilor Keefe, Councilor LaFave, and Councilor
Thomas.
Also present were City Administrator Martens, City Planner Lindahl, City Engineer Torve, Director of
Public Safety Gottschalk, and Clerk/Administrative Services Coordinator Beise.
1. Call to Order/ Roll Call
Mayor Guenthner called the meeting to order at 7:OOpm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Guenthner invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Agenda Approval
MOTION: made by LaFave, seconded by Thomas to approve the agenda as presented.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
4. Open Forum
5. Presentations
No presentations were heard.
6. Consent Agenda
a. Draft Minutes of December 10, 2015 Council Meeting
b. Abdo, Eick & Meyers Engagement Letter
MOTION: made by Hank, seconded by Thomas to approve the consent agenda.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
7. Claims as Presented
a. Escrow Claims (Fund #500)
MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded by LaFave to approve the escrow claims as presented.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
b. All Other Financial Claims
MOTION: made by Thomas, seconded by Hank to approve all other claims as presented.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
8. Staff Reports/ Memos /Commissions
a. Planning Update; report received.
b. Code Compliance Report; report received.
c. Hennepin County Youth Baseball and Softball Grant
City Administrator Martens noted that the City received the grant for the scoreboard project at
Snyder Field. Mayor Guenthner thanked staff for their work on the grant.
d. 2015 Year in Review; report received.
9. Planning Business / Landform
a. Public Hearing — Request for Vacation of Street and Drainage and Utility Easements
City Planner Lindahl presented the report, noting the vacation is for the street and associated street
and drainage and utility easements for the unimproved Commerce Street. Mayor Guenthner
opened the public hearing. David Remer, Lawn King, 7555 County Road 116, addressed the
Council and presented a copy of a certified 1998 survey completed that showed the vacation. Loren
Leuer, Westside Tire, 19925 75th Avenue, addressed the Council noting that he had been checking
with other cities on their vacation process. Mr. Leuer detailed that this issue should have been
resolved 30 years ago and Mr. Renner should not bear the cost but the City should. Mr. Leuer noted
he felt the City should correct the issue and he felt his signature was acquired under duress for the
petition as not signing would hold up Mr. Remer.
MOTION: made by Hank seconded Keefe to close the public hearing.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
Council discussed the previous direction related to the easement (splitting the costs between the
City and the Property Owners), the benefit to the property owner, and the responsibility of the
property owner and City.
MOTION: made by Thomas, seconded Hank to approve Resolution 2015 -68 approving vacation of
the remaining portion of the unimproved East Commerce Street lying north of 75th Avenue and the
adjacent drainage and utility easements with the "Countryside Plaza 2nd Addition ".
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
b. Beacon Academy Sketch Plan
City Planner Lindahl presented the report noting a comprehensive plan amendment will need to be
completed, staff is recommending a right in right out southerly entrance, and staff is exploring a joint
use of space for park dedication. City Administrator Martens noted that we received comments from
the Rockford School District. Council discussed and commented on the recommended traffic
changes by staff, impact on current school districts, and opportunity for Corcoran. Additionally the
Council discussed the possible impacts of County Road 10, the private drive on the ghost plat and
the comprehensive plan. Jacqueline May from Cushman Wakefield noted they anticipate 72
employees for the new school and bringing more traffic to Corcoran. Sean Koster, Principal of
Beacon Academy described their current enrollment from mostly larger districts, they estimated 28
students per classroom in this school and the lottery open enrollment. Principal Koster noted the
school is a public school.
10. Unfinished Business
a. Radar Speed Sign Display Purchase
Lieutenant Burns presented the report. Council discussed the mounting options and the cost
savings with this option.
Motion: made by Lafave, seconded by Keefe to purchase two Traffic Logix Radar speed signs
based on the quote with remaining 2015 funds.
Ayes: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried, 5:0)
b. Downtown Utility and Street Improvement Process
City Administrator Martens presented the report, noting that additional information recently obtained
about the location to avoid the Schendel property, costs and the option for the City bid alternates for
the lift station location. Council discussed the different options, the effect on the pro forma and
funding mechanisms. February 11'h is the anticipated timeline for a review of the funding and the
viewing of the bids.
MOTION: made by Lafave, seconded by Hank to direct staff to solicit bids based on the
specifications presented with two alternative routes, the southerly route and the previous option A
presented at the September 241h City Council meeting.
Ayes: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried, 5:0)
c. Willow Drive Pavement Improvement Project
City Administrator Martens presented the report, noting the proposed properties, amended timeline
and possible easement contribution. Council discussed assessments on indirect properties and
including an indirect assessments for properties with building rights.
Per consensus, Council directed staff to work with the appraiser to create a legal and sustainable
means to assess indirect benefiting properties.
11. New Business
a. Compensation Study
City Administrator Martens presented the report outlining noted through conversations with
Springsted, the estimated cost for out of pocket expenses was $400.
MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded LaFave to authorize staff to execute a contract with
Springsted Incorporated to complete a compensation study.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
b. 2016 Fee Schedule
City Administrator Martens presented the report.
MOTION: made by Thomas, seconded Keefe to adopt Ordinance 312- Adopting 2016 Fee
Schedule.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
c. 2016 General Fund Budget and Property Tax Levy
City Administrator Martens presented the report
MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded Thomas to approve Resolution 2015 -65 Adopting 2016
Budget and Final 2015 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2016.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
d. 2016 Wage Schedule and Benefit Package for City Employees
City Administrator Martens presented the report.
MOTION: made by Lafave, seconded by Thomas to approve Resolution 2015 -66 Approving 2016
Wage Scale and Benefits Package for City Employees.
Councilor Hank noted he would not vote for the wage scale and benefits package as the program
that pays 100% of short-term disability coverage at 100% eliminates the incentive for employees to
come back to work.
Ayes: Guenthner, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas Nay: Hank
(Motion carried 4:1)
e. 2016 Water and Sewer Budgets
City Administrator Martens presented the report.
MOTION: made by Thomas, seconded LaFave to approve Resolution 2015 -67 Adopting Budgets
for the Water and Sewer Funds.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
f. 2016 City Council Calendar
City Administrator Martens presented the report requesting that Council consider a work session
prior to the first meeting of each month.
MOTION: made by Hank, seconded LaFave to approve the 2016 City Calendar as presented with
scheduled monthly work sessions. .
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
Mayor Guenthner recessed the regular meeting at 9:10 pm with the closed session to begin at
9:15pm.
12. Closed Meeting - City Administrator Performance Evaluation
Mayor Guenther reconvened the regular meeting at 9:32 pm.
Mayor Guenthner "in the closed session the city council evaluated the performance of the City
Administrator. The city council found the City Administrator's performance to be very strong."
13. Unscheduled Items
No unscheduled were presented.
14.2016 Council Schedule
City Administrator Martens reviewed the upcoming draft Council schedule.
15. Council Liaison Calendar
The Council liaison calendar was not reviewed, but was available in the Council packet. Council
discussed getting feedback from commissioners on the Council Liaison process. Mayor Guenthner
thank the Council and staff for a good year.
16. Adjournment
MOTION: made by LaFave seconded by Thomas to adjourn.
Voting Aye: Guenthner, Hank, Keefe, LaFave, and Thomas
(Motion carried 5:0)
Meeting adjourned at 9:38pm.
ssica Beise — City Clerk /Administrative Services Coordinator