MINUTES –MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL– REGULAR MEETING – JANUARY 13, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 13th day
of January, 2009, 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 Webster,
Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Also present was City Manager Hill, Finance
Director Krosschell, Public Works Director Dittbenner, Police Chief Beauregard
and City Attorney Glasrud. Council member Carrington arrived at 5:17 p.m.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
Jim Storck was present at the meeting to compliment the city on the great job
of snow removal and to keep up the good work.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Public
Hearing and 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 82, An Ordinance Amending
the Morris City Code to Enact a Lodging Tax Ordinance in the City of Morris:
Hill suggested the time
period for reporting be changed from monthly to quarterly. This tax is a
recommendation the city received from the Chamber to generate funds to promote
the city of Morris. This ordinance was modeled after the ordinance from the City
of Benson. Hill noted lodging taxes are seen in most communities due to a law
put in place by the state legislature.
Hill received no comments
on this ordinance.
Council member Webster
asked if there should be some language in the ordinance as to the intent of the
monies; that it is for the Chamber to use, not the Tourism Board. Hill stated
the Chamber Manager will be a member of the Tourism Board. Hill indicated he
did not see that as a big issue and the key would be who is put on the board.
Hill noted the city won’t know how much this is going to generate until the
first quarter ends and the city starts getting some of that data.
Storck asked if a limit
should be set as to the amount of money that would be given to the Chamber.
Hill noted that is something that could be looked at.
Webster asked if the
language should be in there so people understand that the chamber is the city’s
promotional arm. Giese stated it might not be black and white but the intent
of the monies is in the ordinance.
Glasrud pointed out 14.17,
Subd. 3 which states the Tourism Board shall make recommendations to the
Council on the promotion of the Morris area as a tourist destination and/or
convention site and for the allocation and utilization of the lodging tax
proceeds.
Hill noted for 2009 the
city needs to equalize what the Chamber was going to get.
Carrington asked if a date
should be put in as to when to start collecting the money. Hill suggested the
second quarter would be a reasonable time frame.
Hill stated even though
the hotel owners were not present at the meeting, they are not in favor of
this.
Mayor Giese closed the
public hearing at 5:28 p.m. and brought the matter back to the council for
action.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Miller, to accept this as the second reading and adopt
Ordinance No. 82, An Ordinance Amending the Morris City Code to Enact a Lodging
Tax Ordinance in the City of Morris, with the amendments to change the
collection of the tax from monthly to quarterly and to set the date to start
collecting the tax for April 1, 2009. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Public Hearing and 2nd
Reading of Ordinance No. 83, An Ordinance Amending the Morris City Code of 1976
Regulating Water and Sewer Rates: Hill stated instead of setting the rates
by ordinance this allows the city to come before the council and set the rates
by resolution. Hill noted the city has an agreement with the City of Alberta
and those rates have to be raised when other customer rates are raised. Giese
pointed out this ordinance does not increase the water and sewer rates, it
simply allows them to be done by resolution.
Mayor Giese opened the
public hearing at 5:30 p.m. There being no comments from the public, Mayor
Giese closed the public hearing at 5:31 p.m. and brought the matter back to the
council for action.
Council member Carrington
moved, seconded by Webster, to accept this as the second reading and adopt
Ordinance No. 83, An Ordinance Amending the Morris City Code of 1976 Regulating
Water and Sewer Rates. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor,
motion carried.
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 1/6/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 1/6/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
1/6/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to
approve the 1/6/09 condensed version minutes. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mayor Giese asked that the gambling report from the American Legion be removed
from the consent agenda.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the gambling report from the American
Legion. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor and Mayor Giese
abstaining, motion carried.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the consent agenda, which included
the following items:
A.
Approval of the city bills
dated January 13, 2009.
B.
Approval of the gambling report
from the Morris Eagles.
C.
Approval of the Application for
Exempt Permit from Stevens County Pheasants Forever.
D.
Acceptance of the December
transit report.
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: None
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: Resolution Renewing Engineering Agreement:
Hill recommended the
agreement with WSN be renewed for 2009. Miller asked about the rates compared
to last year. Hill stated they were comparable, with some staying the same and
some increasing by 1-2%.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2851-1-09, Resolution Renewing
Engineering Agreement with WSN. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in
favor, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: Schedule Worksession for 1/27/09: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to schedule a worksession for
6:00 p.m. on January 27, 2009 to discuss the general design for the old
elementary school property with the architects and the elementary reuse
committee. Motion carried.
City Manager Report:
Hill stated the biggest thing the city has been dealing with is snow removal.
Hill stated during the last snow alert there were only five cars towed so
people are getting the message. Hill noted he would much rather cancel an
alert than not have one at all. Police Chief Beauregard stated he has an
article going in the University paper to remind all students about the snow
alerts.
The council meeting is
being taped tonight for the first time.
Schedule Board of
Review 4/9/09: Hill indicated this is the opportunity for the public to
challenge the valuation of their property. Council member Miller requested
that the time be changed until after work hours so people have a more
convenient time to come before the board. The council suggested conducting the
board of review after the council meeting on the 14th, or on the
evening of April 9th.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to schedule the board of review for Tuesday, April
14th at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS:
Storck asked about sidewalk letters that were sent out. Hill indicated staff
will be checking on them to make sure the shoveling has gotten done.
Downtown Trailers:
Webster asked about the status of the parking lot by Pizza Ranch. Hill noted
he would check on this matter.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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