May
27, 2008 page
CITY OF ST CROIX FALLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 27, 2008, 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH
Mayor Darrell Anderson called a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council to order on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Debra Kravig, Arnie Carlson, Brian Blesi, and Paul Kuhlmann were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Water Operator Mike Bryant, Librarian Sarah Adams, Jeff Nussbaum of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All joined in the salute to the flag.
Arnie Carlson moved to approve the Minutes of the May 12, 2008 Council Meeting with correction of Melody being Melanie, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Mike Bryant: #9 well has passed bacti testing and is back on line, it was down 22 days for maintenance, #7 well took 14 days and was run all Memorial Weekend, during test pumping of these two wells we were able to determine the amount of drawdown of the aquifer was not great enough to be a concern.
Sarah Adams: we have raised $31,500 towards this year’s $50,000 matching grant from Bremer. We are planning more fund raising events including a Farmer’s Garden Tour during Wannigan Days.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Paul Kuhlmann: Park & Rec Committee voted to Fund $200 for Geo-cache event being held in conjunction with National Trails Day. Chris Keezer: there are 5 permanent caches in the Wert Family Preserve, are adding about 30 temporary caches for event. The $200 would be used for advertising and door prizes. Anticipate 50 to 100 people to participate in the event this first year.
Brian Blesi: Community Garden Group met with Fair Board, have ok to go ahead with garden but not with fence, fence would require approval of Polk County Board.
Arnie Carlson: the Joint Planning Committee meets next on June 5th at 5pm at the Town Hall to review ordinance for adopting mapped roads.
General Fund $94,521.23, Water Fund $15,813.86, Sewer Fund $5,138.75
Brian Blesi moved to approve claims, second by Paul Kuhlmann, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Amendment to Waste Water Treatment Facility Plan and Setting the Date for Public Hearings
In March of 2006 a Facility Plan was created that looked at 3 potential sites: north side of town, east side of town, and next to the existing facility. In December 2006 the engineering firm of MSA reviewed the plans and proposed another option for re-using the existing facility. Re-using the existing facility is estimated to save $3 to $4 million over constructing a totally new facility. The existing site is on a perpetual easement from the DNR, it has been surveyed and test borings are completed. Test borings found shale on top of bedrock, but deep enough not to require blasting. The existing structures would be used and an additional structure constructed on east side of site, this plan would use all the available space in the site and there would not be room for additional expansions on the existing site. A variance for the 500’ residential setback requirement will be needed.
Arnie Carlson moved to adopt the Facility Plan Amendment proposed by MSA and to proceed with setting the Public Hearing, second by Paul Kuhlmann, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
MSA will return to the next Council Meeting with project costs and a Public Hearing for the Plan Amendment will be scheduled.
Consider Revised Plans/Bids for the Library Parking Lot and Public Plaza and Awarding of State Street Contract, and City Attorney Development Agreement Overview
The City received one Bid for reconstruction of State Street and the Library Public Improvements from A1 Excavating, the bid for the Library Public Improvements came in higher than anticipated. Representative of the City and Cedar Corp met with A1 Excavating to discuss the project and look at options, at this time it is recommended that the Library Parking Lot be added to the State St project as a Change Order and that the plaza area be seeded at this time. There are two options for the parking lot, it can be paved with asphalt or with cement. The costs for the retaining wall at State and Adams St did not change and can be excluded from this project and dealt with separately.
Brian Blesi moved to award Schedule A for State Street excluding Adams St retaining wall, to A1 Excavating, and to approve Change Order #1 for the parking lot to be done with concrete, for a total project cost of $795,747.55 contingent upon Contractors Insurance, Bond, DNR NOI Storm Water Discharge Permit, with notice to proceed for parking lot to be issued after Geo-thermal conductivity test results are in, second by Debra Kravig, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Jeff Nussbaum: refining the Plaza Plan to reduce the amount of varying finishes, concrete colors, permeable surfaces, and quantity of retaining walls in the Public Plaza will save costs; the project could then be re-bid as a concrete job. It was noted that the geo-thermal test result were needed before deciding what to do.
Attorney Brian Nodolf: there are a couple items to work out with the Condo Agreement: First, we have to do a roof inspection and maintenance plan: Second, agreement says utility services are not shared without joint approval, Dr Uddin’s architect is looking at utility work and asked if we might be interested in sharing. Parking lot improvements need to be completed by August, other issues will need to be addressed as they come up. It was suggested that Cedar Corp prepare a Task Order to Review Utilities for next Council Meeting.
Consider an Ordinance Change Allowing for Raising of Hens as a Conditional Use
Denise Wojciechowski came before the Plan Commission to request permission to keep hens in back yard, proposal was forwarded on to Council, proposed ordinance would allow up to 5 hens, no roosters, require a covered enclosure, 25’ side and back yard setbacks, and annual renewal of permit, with a clause for unsanitary conditions or complaints resulting in revocation or non-renewal. Councilman Arnie Carlson was concerned about setting a precedence and that other residents would then want to keep other animals also.
Paul Kuhlmann moved to adopt Ordinance #02-08, Amending Municipal Code 9.11 for Keeping of Animals, second by Debra Kravig, voice vote, motion passed with Arnie Carlson voting nay.
Brian Blesi moved to take a break, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.
Brian Blesi moved to reconvene, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.
Arnie Carlson moved to take Agenda Item 7h, Consider Festival Theatre Building Report Recommendations next, second by Debra Kravig, voice vote, motion passed.
Consider Festival Theatre Building Report Recommendations
George Sutton was contracted to do a study on the Auditorium Building, it is a historic building that houses the Library and Festival Theatre. The building has 6 HAVC systems, a mechanical engineer is needed to write biddable specs for replacement of HAVC system. The shell of the building needs work, stucco surface needs cleaning and repairing, scraping and caulking of old window coverings, the parapet repaired, ramp planking replaced, remove swamp pump, replace fire exit doors, and paint exterior. Also need to establish expectations of leaser and lessee and update lease agreement.
It was questioned if this was a viable enterprise that the community could afford to support, would the occupant be able to afford the costs of repairs over term of lease; Festival Theatre currently leases the building at no cost from the City and shares in the utility costs, what would the payback be for the investment? Arnie Carlson noted that it is a City owned building and that some maintenance needs to be done, should proceed with getting biddable specifications for HAVC system. George Sutton recommended separation between role of owner and role of leaser.
Consider Mayoral Committee Appointments
Brian Blesi moved to confirm the appointment of Paul Kuhlmann to the Park & Rec Committee and Library Board, of Brian Blesi as Council Rep to the Fire Department, and of Donald Anderson as Plan Commission Rep to the Joint Planning Committee, second by Paul Kuhlmann, voice vote, passed.
Consider Resolution Establishing River Spirit Sculpture Sale Prices
Debra Kravig moved to table Establishment of River Spirit Sculpture Sales Prices, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Consider Update on City Health Insurance Options
City employees are in the process of completing Health Surveys that will be used to get quotes for Health Insurance, one option being considered is a Health Savings Account Plan, it is a high deductible plan that has potential to reduce insurance costs to the point where the City could make a contribution towards the deductible and still save money.
Consider Park Funds of $200 for Geo-Cache Prizes and Publicity
Paul Kuhlmann: Park & Rec has approved contributing $200 towards geo-cache event, request that Room Tax match amount.
Paul Kuhlmann moved to authorize $400 for Geo-Cache Event, $200 of Park & Rec Funds and $200 from Room Tax Funds, utilizing city themed items to extent possible, second by Brian Blesi, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Consider St Croix Tavern Request to Close State St on Saturday, May 31 from 5pm to 1am to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
St Croix Tavern has requested that State Street between Washington St and Thompson Parkway be closed on Saturday, May 31st from 5 pm to 1 am to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
It was noted that streets were not closed for other businesses’ anniversaries.
Arnie Carlson moved to deny request, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Darrell Anderson, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk