CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, March 12, 2007 at 7:02 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson and Arnie Carlson were present, and Jon Cermin via telephone. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Police Chief Jack Rydeen, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Minutes of the February 26, 2006 Council Meeting with correction of Duck Bank to Duct Bank, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Police Chief Jack Rydeen presented the February Police Report.

The February Fire Dept Report was presented for Council’s information.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Lori Erickson: Road Committee met March 5^th, discussed Washington St intersection safety, propose a four-way stop at Kentucky St.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General $39,081.34, Library Fund $3,266.85, TIF Fund $1,851.04, Water $16,546.22, Sewer $7,795.94, Park & Rec $7,568.00

Jon Cermin moved to approve claims, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, passed.

OLD BUSINESS

Ed Emerson: Fire Chief has inspected Butterfly House, noted need for additional exit. The Judge has entered the final decision on Kennedy Lawsuit, the funds in held in Court escrow have been distributed and Kennedy’s get Lot 2.

Mayor Foss: have contacted Senator Kohl’s office, he will see if he can get our Post Office on list of Post Offices to be moved. Have discussed using locally grown produce with the Hospital, and have received interest in re-establishing a Farmers Market.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Mutual Aid Agreement with the Village of Osceola

Neil Soltice, Administrator for the Village of Osceola, has put together a mutual aid agreement for Water and Wastewater Utilities.

Jon Cermin inquired if we are within the “FEMA” equipment rate guidelines, are the rates in writing. It is important to have agreement in place for handling costs of material; agreement would protect us in case we are called in for help.

Darrell Anderson discussed the proposed agreement with Street Superintendent Scott Brust, he noted that it would make more sense to enter such an agreement with Taylors Falls; willing to help if needed but not familiar with Osceola’s system and didn’t see need for agreement.

Mayor Foss: cost is in having staff from each municipality visit each others facility to learn about the other system. This agreement is a step forward in good neighbor policy.

Jon Cermin moved to approve Mutual Aid Agreement with the Village of Osceola with addition of a fee schedule, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, Darrell Anderson voted nay, motion passed.

Consider Presentation of Jim Rochford for St Croix River Bandits Baseball Team, and Start-up Donation

Jim Rochford: we are starting a baseball team and have been accepted in local conference and have 35 games scheduled for the 2007 season, we will be utilizing the school ball field for now. Goal is to get our own ball field facility within the St Croix Falls area in 5 to 10 years. This need to raise about $5,300 to cover first year expense, we are $500 short of meeting that goal and are requesting that the City contribute $100.

Darrell Anderson suggested looking at the old City Dump site as a potential ball field.

Jon Cermin noted that ball game events would promote the entire City.

Lori Erickson moved to donate $100 to the River Bandits Base Ball Team, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing Cedar Corporation to Conduct Design Study and Planning for State Street Improvements

Chris Strom: the purpose of the project is to improve entry into the City in conjunction with Hospital expansion, project would include adding parking along one side of street. Recommend televising utility lines to see if they need replacing.

Council questioned if could go with imprinted color crosswalks and requested that electric, phone, and cable utilities be buried. It was also noted that if done this summer it could make it difficult for drivers to get up the hill with Louisiana St improvements underway at same time, and that it would be better to look at re-constructing State St next year.

Jon Cermin moved to authorize Cedar Corp to Conduct Design Study and Planning for State St Improvements for a cost not to exceed $69,390 with construction planned for next year, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider 1^st Reading of Ordinance Creating a Downtown Arts, Culture, and Historic District

Ed Emerson: idea behind creating a downtown Arts and Culture District is to market, brand, and promote our downtown by providing live/work options; proposed Ordinance outlines, clarifies, and encourages various art related uses within the B1 General Commercial District with a Conditional Use Permit to allow for main floor residential use in conjunction with compatible uses, and it would restrict tattoo parlors and adult entertainment businesses. The proposed Ordinance will be reviewed at the next Plan Commission meeting and a Public Hearing will be held in April.

Consider Tech Committee Recommendation Approving a Request for Information for City Web Site Design Assistance

Arnie Carlson: Tech Committee met and decided that if we separate the tech support from the Website Design the proposals would make more sense. We request that new Requests for Interest be sent out for Website Design. The next Tech Committee meeting will be at City Hall at 3pm on April 1st.

Lori Erickson moved to authorize Requests for Interest for City Website Design, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Discuss Strategy/Approach for Future Use of Non-Tax Dollar Collections

Significant non tax dollars are expected to come in to the City in the future. In the past with the Sculpture Project it was brought up that the project should have been put out for Requests for Proposal. It has been suggested that the Development Group be restructured to handle dispersement of non-tax funds and to serve as liaison between the City Council and the sub-committees sponsoring the Requests for Proposals.

Jon Cermin: shouldn’t this be under the authority of the Plan Commission and City Council.

Darrell Anderson: we keep making more committees, concerned that city government is getting to big.

Mayor Foss: will come back in April with appointments to Development Group.

Arnie Carlson moved to take a break, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Lori Erickson moved to reconvene, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Polk County Strategic Planning Community Survey Questions, Keith Rediske, Polk County Board of Supervisors

Keith Rediske: Polk County is trying to come up with 3 to 5 points on where the County should be going, to that end surveys were sent out to various entities and people. Answers will be collated and presented to the Polk County Board.

The first question is: “Where have we Been”

Responses offered included: end of lumber industry, introduction of State Park, demise of Railroad, and decline of family farming.

The second question is: “Where are we Now?”

Responses offered included: naturally beautiful area, bedroom community, transitioning from Ag to Eco/Tourism, target of expansion from Twin Cities, small town community, and expanding recreational activities.

The third question is: “Where do we want to go?”

Responses offered included: maintaining of unique identity, preservation of natural resources, destination designation, preservation of character, maintenance of “soft” visual character, low impact development, balance mix of land uses, high tech jobs, preservation of farm lands, universal health care, and lower taxes.

The forth question is: “How do we get there?”

Responses included: purchase of development rights, high tech business incentives, comprehensive marketing of County, local land use planning, preservation of natural resources, generation of solar power, educating and keeping youth here, high development standards, and reduction of County Board to five members.

ADJOURNMENT

Lori Erickson moved to adjourn, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed. 9:50 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk