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MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – JANUARY 22, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 22nd day of January, 2008, by Mayor Giese in the Council
Chambers of the Morris Senior Citizens/Community Center.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
ROLL
CALL: Roll call was taken with
the following members present:
Council member Carrington, Webster, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Also present was City Manager Hill,
Fleet Manager Searle, City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier and City Attorney
Glasrud.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1/8/08
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 1/8/08
regular meeting minutes. Motion
carried.
1/8/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 1/8/08 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member
Webster moved, seconded by Storck, to authorize payment of the City bills dated
January 22, 2008. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: Request for Disc
Golf at PDT Park: Eagan Heath
and Adam Olson were present at the council meeting to discuss the formation of
a disc golf course at PDT Park.
Health explained this is a joint effort from the senior class of 2008
and the student government at UMM.
Heath stated the course would cost between $6,000 and $10,000 and they
are in the process of fundraising.
Heath indicated they are looking for a tentative yes from the council that
it is okay to put the golf course in.
Heath noted they may have the course professionally planned or do it
themselves, depending on how much money they raise.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to give the go ahead to plan a
disc golf course at PDT Park and continue fundraising. Motion carried.
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: SCMC
Administrative Report: Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to accept the December
administrative report from SCMC.
Motion carried.
Gambling
Reports: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Miller, to accept the gambling reports from the West
Central Trailblazers and Morris Eagles.
Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: PUBLIC
HEARING and Resolution Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans: Mayor Giese opened the public hearing
at 5:30 p.m. There were
approximately 30 people present for the hearing. City Manager Hill explained this project includes the
downtown area and College Avenue.
Hill noted one unique thing about this project is that there is storm
sewer work, which goes out beyond the normal project area. Hill explained if the council moves
forward with this project there would be a final assessment hearing in the
fall. Hill noted the fed reduced
rates so the city could see a reduction in bond rates.
City
Engineer Fier passed around a drawing which showed the water shed drainage
areas. Jeff Kuhn of WSN, who was
present at the meeting, stated in the Circle Pines/College Avenue portion of the
project all utilities would be replaced, along with new sidewalk on the east
side of College Avenue. Kuhn
indicated the project would be phased so the whole area would not be torn up
all at once. Fier stated they plan
to start the project on May 19th and have it completed by the time
UMM starts again on August 24th.
Fier
reviewed the steps that would be taken during this phase of the project. Webster asked about the small sidewalks
in Circle Pines and Fier indicated those would be abandoned. Fier noted that people should be able
to drive on the road at the end of each day, weather permitting. Jason Mueller asked why the city was
doing these projects. Fier indicated
the project is needed both to repair streets and to replace sewer and water
pipes that have served their useful life.
Also, College Avenue is not a good situation because the current sewer
pipes in some areas run directly under houses, which could eventually lead to
problems with sewer gases or a collapse.
Robert
Thompson, speaking of behalf of UMM, asked where the idea of the sidewalk along
College Avenue came from. Fier
stated it was determined it would be a benefit for the University and the
public to have a safe place to walk because there is often solid cars along
that road. Storck asked who would
maintain the sidewalk. City
Attorney Glasrud indicated UMM would if it was on their property.
Fier
explained the underground work would take about six weeks to complete and they
are hoping for one contractor for both portions of the project. Thompson asked if the sidewalk was
still an open issue and suggested there be some dialogue with the University
real estate office. Thompson
indicated they need sidewalks in other areas of UMM worse than this one. Hill noted there are a lot of people
that walk down 7th Street and onto College Avenue to get to UMM and
with no sidewalk there it gets to be a dangerous situation.
Kuhn
stated the second phase of the project involves Oregon Avenue from East 4th
to East 7th and East 4th, 5th, 6th and
7th between Atlantic Avenue and Oregon Avenue. The work would be done in 90-degree
L-shaped sections, starting on the streets and then doing a stretch of the
avenue. Kuhn indicated they don’t
anticipate getting into Atlantic Avenue.
There would also be a narrowing of the street on Oregon Avenue to bring
some utility poles back into the sidewalk. Trees would be planted to enhance the aesthetics of the
downtown area. Kuhn stated the
infrastructure on this project has served its useful life, which would be 50
years, and it is well over that.
Fier noted there have also been several water breaks in front of the Met
Lounge and any time it rains the water backs up in front of the library. Fier also indicated the existing pipe
no longer meets fire code standards.
Fier stated eventually Oregon Avenue would be done all the way to South
Street.
Hill noted
this project is a City Manager’s nightmare because it is downtown work that
affects businesses and it has to be done right so people can get in and out of
those businesses.
Fier
explained this project would begin after the underground work is done on the
other part, which should be around July 1st. Fier noted starting in May the city
will be redoing the alleys by the Met Lounge and from the Dental Depot to the
Qwest building.
Greg Buss,
owner of Don’s Café, expressed his concern about how people were going to
access his business and asked how long it would take. Fier estimated it would take about eight days for each
section they would be tearing up. Fier stated they would try and make sure there was a place
for people to walk through. Buss
stated last year he had to replace his sewer at a cost of $7,000 and asked if
he would have to pay again. Fier
indicated he couldn’t answer that right now.
Kuhn
informed those present that the angle parking would remain along Oregon Avenue
and it would still be a one way street.
Fier suggested meeting on a regular basis with property owners, similar
to what was done with the Atlantic Avenue project. Kuhn stated currently there are 4” water lines and they
would be predominantly replaced with 8” lines. The sewer lines on Oregon Avenue would go to 10” lines. Fier noted the big difference is that
the lines would be plastic, not concrete or clay.
Scott
Heinrich asked why state aid money wouldn’t apply. Kuhn stated except for a small part of East 7th
it is not a state aid road. For
the portion that is state aid eligible, there are no state aid funds
available. Heinrich asked how much
of the franchise fees apply to this project. Fier noted those monies are used for smaller maintenance
projects, such as catching up on seal coating and overlays. Heinrich asked when these projects were
put on the capital improvement plan.
Fier noted College Avenue has been on the plan forever and Oregon Avenue
has had water breaks, drainage problems and overlays and seal coats couldn’t be
justified anymore.
Nick Wolff
asked if any grants were discussed as part of this project like they were when
Atlantic Avenue was done. Hill
noted he wasn’t sure what program was used then but there is no money available
from the state for any type of project like this.
Heinrich
also asked who picks up the expenses for the city buildings along the project
like city hall, the senior center, library and liquor store. Fier noted that part is picked up by
the city. Hill explained franchise
fees go into a fund for maintenance of the roads. and the life of the road is extended if they are
maintained. Hill stated the city
has the ability to assess and issue bonds to pay for these projects. Heinrich questioned why work on the
infrastructure wouldn’t be considered maintenance, because that was the
original intent of the franchise fees.
Council members Storck and Miller disagreed, noting that work on the
city’s infrastructure was not the original intent of the franchise fees.
Fier
reviewed some preliminary cost estimates:
Curb
& gutter: $12.54/foot
(100% assessable)
Sidewalk: $
2.59/sq. foot (50% assessable)
Storm
sewer district: $ .10/sq. foot (Downtown)
$ .45/sq. foot (College Avenue)
This
is based on the square footage of the whole terrain,
with
the city picking up 50% of the cost.
If a property
does
not contribute, there is no assessment.
Sanitary
sewer: $2,900
Water: $3,700
Fier
estimated the sewer and water costs based on averages from the last five
assessments for street work which were Columbia Avenue, West 4th
Street, East 10th, West 4th & 8th and West
6th.
Fier
stated this is a big project, between $2.5 and $3 million, and contractors are
interested. Fier indicated they
will try and keep the project phased in as much as possible. Hill stated the city is very lucky to
have Fier on the job because he will make sure the contractor takes care of
people. Hill noted it is a very
good market to be bidding a job right now because the contractors are
hungry. Hill also stressed to
people to ask if they have any questions because it is very important to keep
the lines of communication open.
Mayor
Giese closed the public hearing at 6:43 p.m.
Storck
asked who would be picking up the extra 3’ of sidewalk. Storck stated he is worried about the
extra cost for the sidewalk and the narrowing the streets. Fier noted the street would still be
50’ wide and does not think it will be a problem. Giese noted that no one complained about the sidewalks
during the hearing. Webster
expressed that the city needs to build some aesthetics into the projects and
continue to look at the big picture.
Carrington asked about the status of the parking lots by Don’s and Pizza
Ranch. Hill indicated he is
waiting to hear back from Hometown Solutions.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2779-1-08,
Resolution Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Authorizing Entering Into a Grant Agreement with the MPCA: Sue Dieter stated the elementary reuse
committee is focusing on what potential the old elementary school property has
without the building on it. Dieter
indicated they would like the council’s approval to apply for a grant under the
MPCA. The grant objectives would
be for planning and coordination, development of a site plan for the 17 acres,
a technical design of model houses, investigation into incentives to encourage
green construction, education & outreach and administration and
evaluation. Dieter explained the
grant includes a matching in-kind contribution of approximately $10,000. Dieter stated they should know by the
end of March if the grant has been approved.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2780-1-08,
Resolution Authorizing Entering Into a Grant Agreement with the MPCA. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
to Renew Building Lease: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to adopt Resolution
#2781-1-08, Resolution to Renew Building Lease with Morris Senior Citizens
Club, Inc. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Authorizing the Submission of a Pay Equity Compliance Report: Hill indicated he has prepared the
reports and it appears the city is in compliance. The city does not have any female job classifications that
are underpaid according to the Pay Equity standards.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2782-1-08,
Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Pay Equity Compliance Report to the
State of MN. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Capital Improvement Plan: Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve
the five year capital improvement plan.
Upon a roll call vote taken, motion carried.
Assignment
of Contract – InfoLink: Andy
Lopez, representing InfoLink, was present at the meeting. Lopez stated because of increasing
costs they have decided to partner with a business they have worked with for
two years called CloudNet.
Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to consent to the assignment of
contract between InfoLink Wireless, Inc. and Cloudnet, Inc. Motion carried.
Appointments
to Boards & Commissions:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the slate of names for
reappointment to the various boards and commissions and to approve the new
appointment of Ardath Larson to the Library Board.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Miller, to continue with the same ex-officio
appointments for the council but to add Storck to the Rental Housing
Commission. Motion carried.
City
Manager Report: This was
informational for the council.
11/20/07
Planning Commission Minutes:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to accept the
11/20/07 planning commission minutes.
Motion carried.
NEW
BUSINESS: Election of Mayor
Pro Tem: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Webster, to elect Council member Storck as Mayor Pro
Tem for 2008. Motion carried.
OLD
BUSINESS: Mayor Giese reminded
the council of the Board of Appeal and Equalization training on January 30th.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue &
Expenditure Report: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
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