CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, Brian Blesi and Arnie Carlson were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Jeff Nussbaum of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Minutes of the June 11, 2007 Council Meeting, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Mayor Foss: as part of the Boundary Agreement process, the DOT has made recommendations for streets and setbacks along Hwy 8, the Town of St Croix Falls is reviewing those recommendations.

Brian Blesi: Park and Recreation met last week and reviewed landscaping plan for Overlook Deck. The Historic Preservation Board met and officers were elected, reviewed recommendations from State.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $39,349.80, Park & Rec $7,389.92, Water $3,700.76, Sewer $10,735.39

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

Council reviewed a report on status of City Funds.

OLD BUSINESS

St Croix Tavern has requested that State St between Washington and Adams be closed down following the Wannigan Days Parade for a street dance as has been done in the past. Police Chief Rydeen has reviewed the request and given his ok.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Police Dept Plan to Eliminate Some 2 Hour Parking Restrictions on Thompson Pkwy

The Senior Center has requested some parking spaces without 2 hour restrictions. The Police Dept has reviewed the request and recommends the 2 hour restriction on the 7 spaces on Thompson Pkwy behind the Senior Center be eliminated.

Lori Erickson moved to remove the 2 hour parking restriction on the 7 parking spaces on Thompson Pkwy behind the Senior Center, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Lion’s Club Request for a Tug of War Across the St Croix River

Steve Jensen of the St Croix Falls Lions Club: the St Croix Falls and Taylors Falls Lions Clubs are planning a Tug of War across the St Croix River on Saturday, July 21^st in conjunction with Wannigan Days. The Lions Club has obtained insurance for the event and in July the NPS will be issuing a permit for the event. There are three pulls planned this year to evaluate the event. The insurance carrier will not allow participants to be pulled into the river as there is a 5 ft drop on the MN side. Boaters and Marina have been notified of the event and of that section of river being closed off to boat traffic during the event.

Darrell Anderson moved to allow the Tug of War event, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.

Presentation of River Stewardship Award

Mayor Foss presented Steve Jensen and Jeff Krueger with the 2007 River Stewardship Award.

Consider Committee Appointments

Lori Erickson moved to confirm the appointment of Donald Puffer to the Water Group, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approving Alcohol & Cigarette Licenses

Lori Erickson moved to adopt Resolution #07-19, Approving additional 2007 Alcohol and Cigarette Licenses, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Lori Erickson moved to approve Temporary Class B Beer Licenses for Rolling Rock Rescue & Retirement for June 29^th to July 1^st, and for the St Croix Falls Chamber of Commerce for July 19^th to July 22, for Wannigan Days, and to approve Operators Permits for Ann Perszyk and Geoffrey Fletcher, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Louisiana St Update and Amendments: Project Schedule, Crosswalks, Retaining Wall, and Day Rd Resrvoir

The curb was installed along Louisiana St, from Washington St to Jefferson St last Friday and the first layer of asphalt will be down this week. Curb should be installed from Jefferson St to Madison St this week and get the first layer of asphalt next week. Duct bank is being installed from Madison to Day Rd. The storm sewer trench at the top of the hill is 25’ deep. It was discussed whether crosswalks on Louisiana St should be the regular painted variety or imprinted like main street’s. Painted crosswalks cost about $700 each, imprinted crosswalks cost about $6200 each. The Council determined that painted crosswalks would suffice.

The owner of the house on the northwest corner of Louisiana and Madison St requests that a retaining wall be installed along his property on Louisiana St, there is no wall there currently and the existing slope will be restored and reseeded and will not change due to the street project. The estimated cost of an 8ft retaining wall at that location is $23,300. A construction easement would be needed to remove the existing retaining wall located on the north side of the driveway on Madison St. It was the consensus of the Council to leave the existing bank and retaining wall as they were.

The DNR has requested review and evaluation of the Day Rd Reservoir, they are concerned that the fiberglass cover may leak and could break if a tree were to fall on it, they recommend a concrete cover.

Arnie Carlson moved to authorize Cedar Corp to proceed with Task Order to evaluate the Day Rd Reservoir for a cost not to exceed $2,500, second by Brian Blesi, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Pember Pay Requests

It was noted that the punch list for Overlook Park was not completed yet and that the extra erosion control for Louisiana St would be half Xcel Energies cost.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve a $93,501.07 payment request for Overlook Park and $520,705.95, less half the extra erosion control cost, to Pembers, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Overlook Deck Issues: Kiosk, Under Look Fencing, and Costs for Park Unveiling Event

Existing Kiosk at Overlook Park is in poor condition, the City Crew could construct a new Kiosk similar to the one at Zilmer Park over the winter months for a material cost up to $500.

Lori Erickson moved to approve expenditure of up to $500 for construction of a new kiosk for Overlook Park, second by Brian Blesi, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

The Native Dancers will perform at the Sculpture unveiling for a fee of $200, advertising of the event is anticipated to cost an additional $200.

Arnie Carlson moved to authorize $400 in expenditures for the Unveiling Event at Overlook Park, second by Brian Blesi, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

The Park & Recreation Committee looked into fencing for the underside of the Overlook Deck, would be expensive, landscaping could provide shielding at a more reasonable cost. Eileen Jordahl presented a planting plan for the park, recommending 3 white pines to be planted at SE corner of deck, rose bushes, shrubs, vines, and other low maintenance plants, noting that this is not a good time of year to be planting as would need to be watering constantly. Could plan and budget for planting next year.

Consider Library Design Team Recommendation to Hire Architect for Design Schemes

At the last Council meeting a Resolution was adopted to hire an architect to create 3 options for the Holiday building as a Library by the end of July.

Lori Erickson moved to accept the recommendation of the Library Design Team to hire Brent Norseman as the Architect to create 3 options for the Holiday building as a Library, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed, Arnie Carlson voted nay.

Consider Closed Session Pursuant to State Statute 19.85(e) To Discuss Forming a Partnership to Purchase the Holiday Building for a City Library to Reduce Overall City Costs

Darrell Anderson moved to enter Closed Session Pursuant to State Statute 19.85(e) to Discuss Forming a Partnership to Purchase the Holiday Building for a City Library, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Return to Open Session

Arnie Carlson moved to convene in Open Session, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Any Action from Closed Session

Lori Erickson moved to authorized the City Administrator to execute an Offer to Purchase for the Holiday building for a purchase price of $400,000 contingent upon the City entering into a Public/Private Development Arrangement with a third party satisfactory to the city and architectural schematics satisfactory to the City, and all other contingencies set forth in the original option with Holiday Co, with said contingencies to be satisfied no later than 60 days after acceptance of the Offer to Purchase or said Offer to Purchase shall be null and void, additionally authorize the City Administrator and the City Attorney to negotiate a Development Agreement with a private party of the City’s choosing for the purchase and development of the Holiday building to be considered by the Common Council for approval, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed, Brian Blesi voted nay.

ADJOURNMENT

Darrell Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk