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MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL– REGULAR MEETING –
APRIL 22, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 22nd day of April,
2008, 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, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Webster was absent. Also present was City Manager Hill, Finance
Director Krosschell, Public Works Director Dittbenner and City Attorney
Glasrud.
ADDITION
TO AGENDA: Mayor Giese added
an Application for Exempt Permit from the David F. Day AmVets Post 290 to the
agenda.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 4/8/08
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 4/8/08
regular city council meeting minutes with this change. Motion carried.
4/8/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 4/8/08 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
4/10/08
Board of Review: Mayor Giese
moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to approve the 4/10/08 Board of
Review minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member
Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to authorize payment of the City bills
dated April 22, 2008. Upon a roll
call vote taken and three voting in favor and Council member Storck abstaining,
motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: SCMC
Administrative Report: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to accept the March
administrative report from SCMC.
Motion carried.
Gambling
Report: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Miller, to accept the gambling report from the Morris
Eagles. Motion carried.
Application
for Exempt Permit – Morris Eagles Baseball: Council member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to approve
the application for exempt permit from the Morris Eagles Baseball. Upon a roll call vote taken and three
voting in favor and Council member Carrington abstaining, motion carried.
City
Council Meeting at the High School:
Council member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to hold the meeting on
May 13, 2008, at the Morris Area High School, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Motion carried.
Application
for Exempt Permit: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the application for
exempt permit from the David F. Day AmVets Post 290. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Accepting and Approving the 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the
City of Morris: The city’s auditor,
Brian Stavenger of Eide Bailly, appeared before the council and reviewed the
city’s 2007 Financial Report.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2794-4-08,
Resolution Accepting and Approving the 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report for the City of Morris.
Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion
carried.
Resolution
Approving an Agreement for Transfer of Entitlement for Federal Airport Funding: This resolution would transfer funds
from the city of Morris to the city of Two Harbors and approve an agreement for
the return of those funds in the future.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to adopt Resolution #2795-4-08,
Resolution Approving an Agreement for Transfer of Entitlement for Federal
Airport Funding to the City of Two Harbors, Minnesota. Upon a roll call vote taken, and all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
Ordinance
No. 80, An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map for the City of Morris: With regard to the old UBC property,
City Manager Hill recommended the Council follow the recommendation from the
Planning Commission and rezone the property. According to the proposed ordinance, the property between
Pacific Avenue and Burlington Northern Railroad Right of Way from West 5th
Street North to West 7th Street would be rezoned to Central Business
District. Hill noted churches are
allowed as a conditional use in a CBD zone. Once the ordinance has been adopted, published, and the 30
day waiting period has passed the Morris Community Church could then apply for
a conditional use permit.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept this as the first reading of
Ordinance No. 80, An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map for the City of Morris,
and set the second reading and public hearing for 8:45 a.m. on May 13,
2008. Upon a roll call vote taken
and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Calling for Hearing Prior to Entering Into a Business Subsidy Agreement: Council member Carrington moved,
seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2796-4-08, Resolution Calling for
Hearing Prior to Entering Into a Business Subsidy Agreement for Bonanza Bean,
LLC. Upon a roll call vote taken
and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Spring Cleanup:
Hill noted the local garbage hauler will pick items up for people if
they call them directly and make arrangements. Hill stated the method to dispose of items is getting very
complicated, with limitations on what the city can or cannot pick up. Also, the number of people that have
participated in the program in the past has continued to decline. Hill pointed out the city would work
with elderly people to help get the items out of their homes for Engebretson’s
to pick up. The council suggested
a notice be put in the paper to summarize how residents can dispose of
items. It was the consensus of the
council to discontinue the clean up spruce up program.
Request
for Proposals: Hill explained
part of the MPCA grant for the redevelopment of the old elementary school
property is an allocation to pay for architectural/design services. These services will help to design the
new neighborhood and develop plans for the new demonstration houses. Hill stated proposals would be due by
the end of May.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize the request for proposals
for the design of the new neighborhood for the old elementary school property and
the design for the demonstration houses.
Motion carried.
Flood
Zone A: Hill explained there
is a flood zone in Morris which has started to affect property owners. Hill noted the flood zone is not very
accurate and needs to be updated.
Hill recommended the council authorize WSN to do a limited amount of
survey work to get a better idea of what the 100 year flood mark is.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to authorize WSN to conduct a flood
zone study with a cost not to exceed $2,000. Motion carried.
Downtown
Lighting: City Manager Hill
stated he met with Otter Tail Power regarding the downtown lighting project. Otter Tail estimated it would cost
$5,000 per light and they could draw up specifications to go to bid. Hill noted he looked at the downtown
area and figured the city could get by with 20 lights.
Miller
stated he felt there were better places in the city to spend $100,000 to
$200,000. Miller indicated he
talked to business owners around the proposed lighting area and not many of
them are open past 4:30 or 5:00 p.m.
Hill
indicated there had been a question with regard to maintenance of the lights
and Otter Tail believes the newer ones are easier to maintain.
Carrington
stated he would like to at least see the lights on the block where the theater
and Met Lounge are, noting there is a lot of night life there.
Storck
stated he agreed with Miller and would rather see $100,000-$200,000 in the bank
that could eventually be used to tear down the school or invested in redeveloping
the area to expand the tax base.
Storck indicated he felt it was a good idea, but bad timing.
Giese
stated he felt now is the time if the city is going to do it. Giese pointed out the bids on the
project came in way under and the city is trying to make the area look
better. Giese stated it adds a
little something and looks nice during the daytime as well.
Stock
pointed out the city is going to need a new street sweeper soon and he would
rather have clean streets. Storck
indicated he thinks the city should hold off on the lights.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to table this item until
the next meeting. With Giese and
Carrington voting in favor and Storck voting against, motion carried.
2/19/08
Planning Commission Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to accept the
2/19/08 planning commission minutes.
3/18/08
Planning Commission Minutes: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the 3/18/08 planning commission
minutes. Motion carried.
4/9/08
Planning Commission Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to accept the
4/9/08 planning commission minutes.
Motion carried.
City
Manager Report: Hill explained
he sent a number of letters to properties that need to be cleaned up. He also required the Ransone property
be secured. Hill noted the city is
also starting to see more additions and variances. Hill indicated he would be talking with Jay when he gets
back about surveying and locating property pins.
NEW
BUSINESS: Hill informed the
council the League Conference is June 11-13. Anyone interested in going should let City Hall know.
At this
point, Council member Carrington left the meeting.
Billboard: Mayor Giese asked about the lighting of
the billboards on the bypass.
Giese had gotten a call from a tenant saying that the light on the
billboard shines into his apartment building. Hill indicated he would ask Terry Timmerman about this
matter.
OLD
BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue &
Expenditure Report: This was
informational for the council.
Building
Permit List: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.m.
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