HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-12 Council Minutes,
CITY OF CORCORAN
City Council Meeting Minutes
September 12, 2019 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran City Council met on September 12, 2019 at City Hall in Corcoran, Minnesota.
Present were Mayor Thomas, Councilor Bottema, Councilor Dejewski, Councilor Keefe, and
Councilor Schultz.
Also present were City Administrator Martens, Administrative Services Director Beise, City Attorney
Thames, Public Works Director Mattson, and Director of Public Safety Gottschalk.
1. Call to Order/ Roll Call
Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Thomas invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Agenda Approval
City Administrator asked for the item Waiver Request for Amplified Sound at 20415 Duffney Circle
be added as 7h. under Consent Agenda, or as 1 Of. under New Business.
MOTION: made by Dejewski, seconded by Bottema to approve the agenda with the addition of Item
7h. to the consent agenda.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
4. Commission Representatives
Mayor Thomas noted Planning Commissioner Vehrenkamp and Parks and Trails Commissioner
Strehler were present. The Commissioners were invited to speak on items related to their
respective commissions.
5. Open Forum
Mayor Thomas invited residents to speak. No residents came forward.
6. Presentations /Recognitions
No presentations or recognitions were heard.
7. Consent Agenda
a. Draft Minutes of August 22, 2019 Council Meeting
b. Draft Minutes of August 22, 2019 Council Work Session Meeting
c. Financial Claims
d. Waiver Request for Amplified Sound at 22802 County Road 50
e. Bridge Inspection Agreement
f. Temporary Liquor License — Oktoberfest
g. Precinct Boundary Changes
h. Waiver Request for Amplified Sound at 20415 Duffney Circle
Council noted clerical changes on the Council Meeting Draft Minutes of August 22, 2019. Staff
noted the changes were received.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Schultz to approve consent agenda with the addition of
Item 7h.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
8. Planning Business
No planning business agenda items.
9. Unfinished Business
a. Code Enforcement Appeal
Administrative Services Director Beise reviewed the City actions and timeline to date for a nuisance
complaint received on property located at 10440 Trail Haven Road. Administrative Services Director
Beise noted a recent site visit completed by staff confirmed removal of automobile parts, verified
disassembled scaffolding was present, and confirmed existing CUP violations for outside storage.
Council and staff discussed code violation items, CUP amendment options, and potentially a
variance to accommodate the storage needs. Council inquired about a list of removed items to date
from the property and Administrative Services Director Beise indicated the City had a list of cited
nuisance violation items on the property. City Attorney Thames explained the disassembled
scaffolding in question was not attached to a building permit or actively being used in construction,
and per City Code 1060.010, disassembled scaffolding stored outside is not allowed, and City
Attorney Thames also reiterated the no outside storage requirement from the original CUP issued.
Council discussed outside storage standards and working with the Appellant to understand their
storage needs and what is allowed under current City Code.
Jason Koch, son-in-law of the Appellant, addressed the Council on behalf of the Appellant
regarding the scaffolding storage, usage, size of the scaffolding, and if a solution could be adding
fencing to prevent the disassembled scaffolding from being seen from other properties. Mr. Koch
indicated difficulty in storing the scaffolding as neighbors borrow the scaffolding for projects, the
property owners routinely use the scaffolding for tree trimming, etc., and the scaffolding is hard to
store in the accessory building due to its size.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Dejewski for staff to abandon the current nuisance
ordinance violation and proceed to work with the Appellant on a resolution for the CUP violation.
Council questioned staff regarding fencing as a solution to screen the disassembled scaffolding.
Staff responded the code does not allow fencing to screen for outside storage in the rural residential
district where the property is located. Council thanked the resident for their time and cooperation in
addressing the code enforcement violation.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz Abstaining: Bottema
(Motion carried 4:0:0)
b. Rules of Decorum
City Administrator Martens outlined the staff report on Rules of Decorum for public meetings.
Council discussed a roll call vote for removal of a disorderly person, and a request to vote prior to
removal would allow each Councilmember to hear the person's comments before the
commencement of the removal process. Council addressed different levels of urgency in out-of-
hand situations, and how a vote would impede the process of removing the disorderly person. City
Administrator Martens indicated Council could reinstate the disorderly person following the Council
recess, after the discussion has subsided. Council and staff discussed setting a City response
timeline for items or concerns brought to the Council, and the advantages and disadvantages of
setting a timeline for a City response. Council discussed strongly encouraging submission of ,
presentation and written material in advance of Council meeting, so Council may review materials
prior to meeting, and can be prepared to ask questions during the public meeting allowing for
documentation within the recorded minutes.
MOTION: made by Bottema, for staff to require presentations by outside sources be submitted with
Council packets the week before the scheduled Council meeting.
(Motion failed; Lack of second.)
City Administrator Martens noted a final draft would be presented for adoption at a future date.
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c. Urban Land Institute Meeting
City Administrator Martens reviewed the purpose of a meeting with the Urban Land Institute.
Council discussed dates and noted a preference for hosting the meeting prior to a scheduled
Council meeting, with the preferred date of December 12, 2019 at 4:30 pm. City Administrator
Martens asked if Council had preferences regarding the panel representatives from the Urban Land
Institute. Per consensus, staff was directed to schedule the Urban Land Institute meeting.
New Business
a. 2020 Preliminary Levy
City Administrator Martens discussed the 2020 preliminary levy and the process of Council approval
regarding the preliminary levy and reiterated once the levy amount is approved it cannot be
increased. Council noted for the record there have been numerous discussions regarding the 2020
preliminary levy prior to this meeting. Council discussed the City Planner hire date in June 2020.
Council thanked staff for working to decrease the tax rate from the draft budget presented in
August. Council inquired about fiscal disparities and asked for clarification. City Administrator
Martens discussed the fiscal disparities program noting as of 1971, cities are required to participate
in the shared program to balance out the impact of commercial and industrial development. Usually
the City of Corcoran breaks even in what it receives from and what it pays into the fiscal disparities
program; in 2020, the City will receive funds back slightly higher than what the City paid into the
program. Council inquired about workers comp insurance reimbursements for premiums paid for
2019; staff responded no information has been received yet. Council discussed the recreation
coordinator position being a full-time position effective February 1, 2020. Council and staff
discussed cost reductions to date impacting the 2020 preliminary levy. City Administrator Martens
recapped how staff reevaluated the preliminary levy numbers to lower the tax rate while addressing
staffing needs and maintaining resident services. Council discussed the value of the Recreation
Coordinator position and how the position not only oversees recreation programs, but also supports
the City Administrator and Parks and Trails Commission. City Administrator Martens expanded on
the need for and benefits of the Recreation Coordinator position and indicated a need for increased
hours over the last several years; and one of the benefits of city-managed parks and recreation
programming is the revenue produced from the program supports the Recreation Coordinator
position. Council discussed briefly the 2025 staff plan, upcoming infrastructure, forecasting future
revenues, and when the report would available to Council for review.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Keefe to approve Resolution 2019-64 Adopting 2020
Preliminary Proposed Tax Levy Collectable in 2020 with the amount collected $4,663,290 and
schedule the Truth in Taxation Budget Meeting on December 12, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
Council thanked staff for the work completed on the 2020 preliminary levy budget.
b. 2020 Proposed Levies and Taxes Insert
City Administrator Martens outlined the information on the insert. Council mentioned including the
tax capacity amount and a static tax amount, where applicable, within the tax effects table on the
tax insert to better clarify to residents the City tax change amount.
MOTION: made by Dejewski, seconded by Bottema to approve the City of Corcoran tax insert for
the Hennepin County annual property tax statement with the addition of a tax capacity amount and
static tax amount, within the tax effects table on the tax insert.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
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c. Night to Unite Recap and Resolution Accepting Donations
Police Officer Ekenberg and Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck presented information on
attendance for the City event at the Public Works facility as well as the individual neighborhood
parties. Police Officer Ekenberg and Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck shared positive
feedback from residents on Council attendance at the neighborhood parties and city event. Night to
Unite for 2020 is scheduled for August 4, 2020. Council expressed a concern regarding
neighborhood parties competing with City event at the Public Works facility. Council discussed the
positive reaction and expectation of neighborhoods receiving visits from the Council. Council
thanked staff for all their work on the Night to Unite event.
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Dejewski to approve Resolution 2019 -63 Recognizing
the 2019 Night to Unite Events and Donations.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
d. Street Name and Address Policy Amendment
Director of Public Safety Gottschalk discussed the street naming policy amendment which refines
the current street naming policies and specifically addresses new street names beginning or ending
at intersections, rather than between two existing named roads that are connected. Council asked if
there was a way to implement the new street naming policy amendment with the current streets that
have multiple street names. City Administrator Martens relayed staff can review what the costs
would be to rename the roads and report back to Council. Administrative Services Director Beise
mentioned renaming roads could be costly as the roads have been recorded and platted. Council
and Director of Public Safety Gottschalk discussed road naming practices with existing roads that
connect Corcoran to other bordering city streets and roads.
MOTION: made by Dejewski, seconded by Bottema to authorize staff to adopt street naming
address policy amendments as proposed.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5 :0)
e. December City Council Meeting Schedule
City Administrator Martens reviewed the upcoming December Council meetings and when Council
preferred to meet. Council discussed options for meeting dates and whether a meeting was
needed. Per consensus, staff was directed to tentatively move the December 26 meeting to
December 19, 2019.
11. Staff Reports
No staff reports to present.
12. 2019 Council Schedule
City Administrator Martens reviewed upcoming Council meetings.
13. Adjournment
MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Keefe to adjourn.
Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz
(Motion carried 5:0)
Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm.
Michelle Friedrich — Deputy Clerk
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