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MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–NOVEMBER 13, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 13th day of November, 2007, by Mayor Giese in the Council
Chambers of the Morris Senior Citizens/Community Center.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
CALL OF
THE ROLL: Roll call was taken
with the following members present:
Council member Carrington, Webster, Miller and Mayor Giese. Council member Storck was absent. Also present was City Manager Hill,
Public Works Director Dittbenner, Fire Chief Storck, Police Chief Beauregard
and City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 10/23/07
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the
10/23/07 regular city council meeting minutes. Motion carried.
10/23/07
Condensed Version: Mayor Giese
moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the 10/23/07 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Carrington, to authorize payment of the City bills dated
November 13, 2007. Motion
carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: HRC
Minutes, 9/19/07: Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to accept the 9/19/07 HRC
minutes. Motion carried.
LCSC
Membership Agreement: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to enter into an agreement for
membership with Lakes Country Service Cooperative for a membership fee of $183
for 2008. Motion carried.
Variance
Request Appeal – Hammond: City
Manager Hill explained Steve Hammond is appealing the decision from the
Planning Commission to deny his variance request to add a third stall to his
garage at 327 Eleanor Avenue. Hill
indicated there were no objections by any of the neighbors.
Council
member Miller indicated it is a tough decision because it is nice to have the
open space between homes but he also understands wanting to have space for your
things. Miller indicated normally
it would be seen as a hardship if someone only had a single car garage and
wanted to make it a double car garage.
Steve
Hammond was present at the meeting and stated he has discussed his proposal
with his immediate neighbors and none of them had a problem with it. Hammond noted they like their
neighborhood and want to stay there.
Hammond stated the original single car garage is now a part of the
house.
MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–NOVEMBER 13, 2007
Variance
Request Appeal – Hammond: (continued)
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to grant the variance request since
these are looked at on a case by case basis and there were no objections from
the neighbors. Voting was as
follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck absent
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese indicated it makes sense because even though there aren’t many three car
garages on Hammond’s street, they are all over just a half block away.
Resolution
Providing for the Sale of $650,000 G.O. Bonds, Series 2007B: Hill explained there will be a cost
savings through lower interest rates.
This resolution authorizes the refinancing of the 1998A G.O. Bond and
the 1999 G.O. Bond. Hill noted the
city has enough room within the $10 million dollar limit to do this, even after
the St. Francis Health Services bonds.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2743-11-07,
Resolution Providing for the Sale of $650,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series
2007B. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Storck absent
Council
member Miller aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of Proposed Assessment: Hill stated this resolution is for the
West 6th Street and Lyndale Avenue project. The term of the assessment is proposed
to be fifteen years at an interest rate of 5.2%. City Engineer Fier stated the project came in under the
estimate.
Council
member Miller asked about meeting with Bankord and Smith’s about the formula
used on apartment buildings. Hill
explained he and City Engineer Fier would be meeting with Paul Bankord at 1:00
on Wednesday, the 15th.
Fier noted the .75 multiplier that is used is taken right out of the
city’s code book. Hill noted one
thing the city needs to do is be consistent and keep the same system. Hill stated since the city is already in
the middle of this assessment it would be better to make changes, if any, before
the next assessment. Hill reminded
the council that if changes are made, everyone assessed under the old system would
not be happy.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to adopt Resolution
#2744-11-07, Resolution Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation
of Proposed Assessment. Voting was
as follows:
MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–NOVEMBER 13, 2007
Resolution
Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of Proposed Assessment:
(continued)
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck absent
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
for Hearing on Proposed Assessment:
The hearing for the West 6th Street and Lyndale Avenue
project has been scheduled for 5:20 p.m. on November 27, 2007.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2745-11-07,
Resolution for Hearing on Proposed Assessment, setting the hearing for 5:20
p.m. on November 27, 2007. Voting
was as follows:
Council
member Storck absent
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
First
Reading of Ordinance No. 77, An Ordinance Establishing a Rental Housing
Commission: City Manager Hill
explained this ordinance would establish a rental housing commission with
representation from landlords, tenants and the general public.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to accept this as the first reading
of Ordinance No. 77, An Ordinance Establishing a Rental Housing Commission and
setting the public hearing and second reading for 5:30 p.m. on November 27,
2007. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck absent
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Letter of Support – Safe Routes to School Program Grant: Hill indicated the city is being asked
to submit a letter of support for a planning grant application to the Safe
Routes to School Program.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize the submission of a letter of
support to be included in the grant application for the Safe Routes for Schools
Program. Motion carried.
City
Manager Report: This was
informational for the council.
MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–NOVEMBER 13, 2007
NEW
BUSINESS: Council member
Webster reminded the council that the delegation from China would be in Morris
this coming weekend.
Webster
asked about parking issues on East 3rd Street. Webster indicated there is a three hour
parking limit on the block of East 3rd between College and
California and the residents who live along there are unable to find parking
spots in front of their homes and there is no alley. Beauregard indicated they are aware of the situation and one
suggestion would be to allow residents to get a permit to hang in their window
to allow them to park on the street.
Webster noted their concern isn’t getting ticketed; it’s not having any place
to park. It was noted that there
is plenty of available parking at UMM but people don’t want to pay for the
parking permit.
Webster
asked if a letter of condolence could be sent to the family of Bob Rose, who
was a long respected public servant of the community.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: October Transit
Report: This was informational
for the council.
Revenue
& Expenditure Report: This
was informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
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