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12-09-1985 CC MIN REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1985 Members Present: Mayor Hinkle, Councilmembers Gunkel, Schuldt, Williams, and Engstrom Members Absent: None Staff Present: Tom Bublitz, City Administrator; Phil Hals, Street Superintendent; Rick Breez.ee Building and Zoning Administrator. 1. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hinkle at 7:30 p.m. 2. Agenda COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO APPROVE. THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF ITEM #7~, CONSIDERATION OF BUILDING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR POSITION, ITEM 8E INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS, AND ITEM 8F, OFFICE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 3, 4. Minutes of the September 9, September 30, 1985 City Council Meetings Councilmember Gunkel pointed out that on Page 5 of the September 9, 1985 minutes that the references . _ Gates Avenue, south of Main Street should be clarified. She added that the reference she mdde to the short piece of Gates Avenue South of Main Street at the September 9th meeting was directed at the problem related to the access on to Railroad Drive which was essentially removed as result of the proposed Main Street project. The City requested that this be clarified in the minutes. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 9, 1985 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 30, 1985 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4- ~ 5. Request by Joe and Ellie Etetsch, East Main Street Mayor Hinkle recognized Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ktetsch, that live on East Main Street, and expressed a concern about snow being blown on their yard from City Streets. They explained that they were concerned about the salt in the snow which does damage to their grass and thought that some snow would be removed rather than dumped on their lawn. In response to the X~etsch's comments, the Street Superintendent explained that his crews did haul some snow from the curb side and that it was hauled between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m., however, traffic at this time created a problem and instead the crews took small tractors on the sidewalk and blew the snow onto the lawns. He explained that what he would like to do would be to take a small tractor and blow the snow into the street, but his manpower was stretched quite thin after the last snow fall. City Council Minutes December 9, 1985 Page Two 6. Proposal by DNR for Fishing Pier at Orono Park The City Street Superintendent explained that he had met with the DNR regarding their desire to place a fishing pier at Orono Park. He pointed out that the DNR will construct the pier and the City would be required to build a pathway to the pier including a connection to the shoreline. He explained that the DNR was at this point of time inquiring as to the City's interest in such a project. The Council discussed the proposed fishing pier and authorized the City's Street Superintendent to draft a letter to the DNR expressing the Council's favorable interest in the project. 7. Consideration of City Snow Plowing Policy and Snow Removal Ordinance Mr. Phil Hals, City Street Superintendent, reviewed the City's snow removal policy and noted that the City Staff had worked on revising the policy last year in January. Mayor Hinkle discussed the problem of people with no off- street parking and suggested that perhaps the City could issue stickers for parking. The Council discussed the snow removal policy and snow removal from City sidewalks. Councilmember Gunkel expressed concern that the hours expressed in the Resolution proposed by the City Staff would not be affective since the snow plow's plow during daytime hours, in addition to evening hours. Mr. Hals commented that the start up time for the snow plows is variable and is dependent on the time of the snow fall. He explained the 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. parking ban does give City crews a time when the streets are open to plow. Councilmember Gunkel suggested that perhaps the City could adopt an ordinance similar to Shakopee's ordinance which addressed even and odd street parking or perhaps set up two parking districts, one being a 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ban in commerial areas and another a 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ban in residential areas. The City Council continued this discussion on snow removal parking policies including a discussion of the different problems with regard to rural and urban areas and that essentially no cars park on the street in rural area. Councilmember Gunkel suggested contacting the City of Shakopee to determine how their ordinance works. She also suggested that perhaps the City could ban parking for snow removal between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. in commerial areas and restrict parking to odd and even parking in residential areas. Councilmember Schuldt suggested that perhaps a better solution would be to require odd and even parking on all streets. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO DIRECT THE STAFF TO PERPARE AN ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT PARKING FOR PURPOSES OF SNOW REMOVAL IN COMMERIAL AREAS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 2:00 A.M. AND 6:00 A.M. FROM NOVEMBER 15 TO APRIL 15, AND TO ADOPT A SYSTEM OF ODD AND EVEN PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1 OF EACH YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. City Council Minutes December 9, 1985 Page Tl:J.ree 8. Reconvene 1986 Budget Hearing - Review of Building and Zoning Department Budget The Building and Administrator reviewed the 1986 proposed Building and Zoning Department budget. The City Council discussed the possibility of 'using an economy car or the Building and Zoning Department. Mr. Breezie pointed out that the Building and Zoning Department vehicle often gets stuck in inspecting and the outlying areas of the City and suggested that the City may want to consider the purchase of a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a plow attachment which could serve a double purpose for the Building and Zoning and Public Works Departments. Mayor Hinkle suggested increasing line item #3312 to $2,000 and reducing line item #3330 by $1,100 since it is generally the policy of the Council not to send a newly appointed department head to a national convention during the first year of employment. In continuing the review of the Building and Zoning Department budget the Council ~eleted $100.00 from Item #3405. 9. Partial payment for Water Tower Project COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 85-78. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOtION~ THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 10. Discussion Item: Main Street and Orono Road and Utility Improvements Project Feasibility Study Mr. Terry Maurer was present to review this item with the Council. He briefly reviewed the Feasibility Study and entertained any questions from the Council. There were no questions on the project from the City Council Members. 11. Discussion Item: MSA Discretionary Fund City Engineer, Terry Maurer, presented a handout to the City Council which summarized several improvement projects in the City and which also outlined possible revenue short falls and the collection of assessments for these projects. He reviewed the School Street Improvement P:voject and the East Main Street Improvement Project. He explained there is no record of any assessments for the sanitary sewer or water main on the East Main Street Project. Mayor Hinkle stated that it was his understanding that the sewer fund was to pay for any repairs to the sewer on the East Main Street Project. Mr. Terry Maurer then reviewed the Gates Avenue Improvement Project including the Freport Avenue Project. He noted that with such a short fall in this project, he believed that he must be missing and unable to find some of the assessments at this point. Mr. Maurer explained that the report presented to the Council this evening is preliminary and he would come back to the Council with further information. He added that he would like to request the engineering files from CED Donahue since they may shed some light on the finances of the various improvement projects. City Council Minutes December 9, L985 Page Four 12. Resolution Expressing Recognition of an Appreciation for the Dedicated Public Service of Mr. Rick Breezie COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 85-79. THE MOTION/WAS SRCONDRDRY COlJNCTT,MEMRRR WILL TAMS. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 13 . Adminis tr a tor's Update A. Tax Reform Issues Related to Status of Municipal Bonds The City Administrator reviewed a letter drafted for the Council's signature and which would be sent to Senator's Durenberger and Boschwitz and also Senator Sikorski. He reviewed the letter which essentially expressed a concern on the part of the City Council regarding Federal Tax Reform currently proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee. B. IRS Vehicle Use Regulations The City's Finance Director reviewed the new federal requirements regarding vehicle use regulations and explained that the resolution before the Council this evening was to assure that the City would be enforcing Public Law 99-44 and IRS announcement 85-13 regarding vehicle use regulations. THERE WAS A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 85-80. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. C. Highway Jurisdictions Study TaskForce The City Administrator explained that under 1985 Legislation, the Commissioner of Transportation is required to establish and direct a series of highway jurisdiction studies at the regional and multi County level. He explained that the implications for this requirement is that the entire system of road jurisdiction will be reviewed and that changes in responsibilty for road maintenance as a result of jurisdictional changes may take place at the local County and State level as a result of the findings and the study. The City Administrator noted that he attended a meeting resently at the Wright County offices and that representatives from counties, townships, and cities in Benton, Sherburne, Sterns, and Wright Counties were present at the meeting. He explained that the Municipalities in Sherburne County would be entitled to one representative on the Task Force Committee. The Council reviewed the information on the highway jurisdiction study task force and there was a general consensus amoung Councilmembers that the City of Elk River should be represented on the committee. Mayor Hinkle stated that he would volunteer to serve on the committee but that the other municipalities in Sherburne County should be contacted regarding their interest in participating. City Council Minutes December 9, 1985 Page Five D. Rotary Membership for City Administrator THERE WAS A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL, AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS TO AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT OF A ROTARY MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 14. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER AS SUBMITTED. COUNCILMEMBERGUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 15. Reconvene 1986 Budget Hearing The Council continued its review of the 1986 proposed budget and reviewed the Street Department budget. Mr. Phil Hals explained that he has proposed $8,000 in the budget for overtime pay, and that with the changes in the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for municipalities this could be reduced to $5,000. The Council continued its review of the Street D~artmentbudget beginning with line item #2210. Mr Phil Hals noted that in the 1986 budget there is $14,000 proposed in the seal coating budget and $23,000 for overlays. He explained that these budget items could be reduced by one half. Mr. Phil Hals continued to discuss the Street Department and Parks budget and noted that the City had held a meeting with representatives of the Softball Association and that one of the items which came out of the meeting was a desire on the part of the Softball Association for increased maintenance of the fields. He also noted a desire on the part of the Softball Association members for lower fees. Mr. Hals stated that he would like to propose that if the City lowers the fees for the Softball Association then the City would not groom the fields but only provide basic services for the fields. He also added that he would like to find some mechanism for collecting the fees earlier in the year than has been done in past years. The Council continued its review of the Street Department and Park budgets up to the budget proposed for diseased shade tree sanitation. Mayor Hinkle suggested that the Council defer further review of the proposed budget and continuance of the budget hearing until the next City Council meeting. There being no further business, THERE WAS A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL, AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. The Elk River City Council adjourned at 11:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ Thomas Bublitz City Administrator /~ .sr -