February
25, 2008 page
CITY OF ST CROIX FALLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2008, 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH
Mayor Brad Foss called a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council to order on Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Brian Blesi, and Arnie Carlson were present. Lori Erickson was absent. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Jeff Nussbaum of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All joined in the salute to the flag.
Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Minutes of the February 11, 2008 Regular Council Meeting, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.
Mike Bryant: there was a water main break on Connecticut St on Feb 21st. WWTP is running well.
Sarah Adams, Librarian: we just received a $100,000 donation for the Library Building Fund from Curtis and Margaret Swanson, bringing the current fund balance to $198,429, Ivan Bowen will be donating the aggregate for the public improvements at the new Library site.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Brian Blesi: Park & Rec met on Feb 20, discussed management of Wert Family Preserve, community garden, Sate Park, Overlook Park and River clean up.
Arnie Carlson: Joint Planning Committee will meet March 4th to continue working on planning for frontage and backage roads and will be scheduling meetings with affected property owners. Will be meeting with Festival Theatre to review and update building lease, discuss utilities, special assessment, and re-think issues from Master Planning.
General Fund $63,540.88, Wilberg Blvd G-Bonds $345,000.00, TIF District $5,521.06, Water Fund $2,840.59, Sewer Fund $5,555.43
Arnie Carlson moved to approve claims including Claybough Invoice, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Grease Trap letters were sent out in 2007, answers coming in mostly good, one problem spot is a business that has undersized grease trap, may have to require more frequent cleaning.
NEW BUSINESS
Consider a Resolution Appointing Members to the City Room Tax Committee in Accord with State Statute and Defining Works Goals
The City collects about $40,000/year in room tax, have committed $4,100 to Bus Tour project.
Arnie Carlson moved to adopt Resolution #08-05, Appointing Members to the City Tourism Committee, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Consider Fire Department By-Laws
Arnie Carlson moved to table Consideration of Fire Department By-Laws to such time as the Fire Chief can be present, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Consider BIDs for Maintenance to Wells #7 & 9
Mike Bryant: the last time maintenance was conducted on Well # 7 was in 1989, Well #9 was in 1993. Each well would be down for two to three weeks for maintenance, we won’t pull screens so there will be less risk involved. Amp draw of pumps is a good indicator of when maintenance is needed.
Arnie moved to approve Bid by Mineral Plus to perform maintenance on Wells 7 and 9 for a cost not to exceed $45,000, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.
Consider City Projects and Timeline
Council discussed coordinating design of Library Facility and linking to Ladder Trail in State Park and need to cooperate with Park & Rec on Trail. It is not known where Xcel’s connecting conduit will run, along or through, Overlook Park to Louisiana St. As route is worked out we will be better able to plan. Public Plaza, State St improvements, coordination with Xcel, and landscaping at Overlook Park are scheduled for 2008. A cost estimate is needed for a suggested parking deck over Indianhead Glass’s parking lot that would provide additional parking off main street by the Deck.
Consider Cedar Task Order: Storm Water Management Planning Grant
The DNR offers 70/30 cost sharing Planning Grants for Storm Water Management. Grant covers planning, mapping of outfalls, creation of ordinances, hydrology planning, and evaluation of holding ponds. If awarded the City would have option of accepting or declining the Grant. Councilmen Anderson and Blesi questioned the benefit to the City as DNR already regulates storm water runoff.
Arnie Carlson moved to approve Task Order authorizing Cedar Corp to apply for Storm Water Management Planning Grant for a cost not to exceed $2,250. Motion died for lack of a second.
Brian Blesi moved to table the Task Order for a Storm Water Management Planning Grant, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.
Brian Blesi moved to take a break, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.
Darrell Anderson moved to reconvene, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed,
Consider Condominium Declaration, Condominium Plat, Association Articles of Incorporation, and Condominium Association By-Laws for the Former Holiday Foods Building; Consider Formal Transfer and Sale of Two Condominium Units as Described in Plat to Dr. Udin; Consider Amendment to Developers Agreement with Dr. Udin
Attorney Brian Nodolf: Condo Plat, “Trial Side Condo”, is for 3 units plus common elements; public plaza and parking lot are separate. 16 parking spaces are dedicated to the two private units during business hours, rest of spaces are public, if City doesn’t do duel side parking on Washington St, then the two units will need 4 additional spaces. All utilities will be separate unless partners agree otherwise. The City will be responsible for roof maintenance for the first 5 years, but is not responsible for any leaks from sky lights. The City will have right of first refusal. The City needs to provide guidance on window and door style to Dr Uddin, and to have parking and lighting component of public improvements completed by 8-1-08, Dr Uddin will be having two sky lights installed that the City will pay for at a cost up to $15,000.
Brian Blesi moved to approve the First Amended Developers Agreement with the following changes: parking and lighting component to be completed by 8-1-08, 16 to 20 parking spaces dedicated to Dr Uddin, City responsible for roof maintenance for 5 years, Dr Uddin making a Payment in Lieu of Taxes for 2008, submission by Dr Uddin of final specifications for windows and doors by 7-1-08, and Sec 5 of the Agreement being amended to the City will pay for installation of 2 sky lights in Dr Uddin’s unit for a cost not to exceed $15,000, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.
Darrell Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #08-06, Authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to Convey Real Estate, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Foss: the Chamber of Commerce presented the City with the Community Partner of the Year Award and the New Promotion of the Year Award for the River Spirit Sculpture.
Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk