Page 14 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Crosby City Hall Council Chambers. The Pledge of Allegiance was given. Mayor Rick Ferrari presided with Member Debra Shankle, Member Ed Vukelich, Member Liz Hofmann and Member Dusty Paul. Also present were Police Chief Kim Coughlin, Attorney Pearson, City Engineer Mike Rude and Tim Houle, Fire Chief Alan Woods, Public Work s Working City Foreman Steve Perpich, Librarian Peggi Beseres, Administrator Joel Peck and Recording Secretary, Sandy Langley. Absent: City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Nelson. The approval of minutes will be continued until February 28 th regular meeting. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS VISIT CLERK S OFFICE ON TUESDAY AND CLAIMS WILL BE MAILED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Planning and Zoning recommendation for Council to discuss the Lakeland property request for rezoning. This will be placed under New Business item e. PUBLIC FORUM Gary Sjoquist, Mountain Bike representative, discussed the Mountain Bike Festival slated June 10 12 here in the City of Crosby to introduce the trail. He encouraged City Council participation for accessibility for events to be held in the City Park. This item is placed on the Work Session for Feb. 24 th to come up with a game plan for promoting the event and what costs are needed. Joanne Blanchar, 312 2 nd St. SW voiced her concern of where people would stay during the Bike Festival? Howard Blanchar, 312 2 nd Street SW, addressed the Council regarding the property being purchased by the City regarding a partial release of lien from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Attorney Pearson reviewed the agreement and stated a check for the property should be issued to the property owners and they work with the Mortgage Company for the lien release. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER HOFMANN TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THE TITLE WORK AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF $4800 TO HOWARD AND JOANNE BLANCHAR. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. PUBLIC FORUM Debbie Jensen, 24 West Main Street, Business owner voiced concern with not filling the full-time police position and what happens to the money in the budget if it was budgeted? Will there be reduction in Officers patrolling the City? Chief Coughlin stated that coverage will be handled adequately to our businesses and City. Mayor Ferrari stated if there is a need to add
Page 15 more Officers that they would put more on. Due to cuts in our Local Government Aid the Council stated that if an employee would resign the Council would look to see if the job needs to be refilled at this time. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - MOTION BY MEMBER PAUL AND SECONDED BY MEMBER HOFMANN TO HOLD REGULAR WORKSHOP MEETINGS FOUR (4) DAYS PRIOR TO THE SECOND COUNCIL MEETING AT 2:00 PM EACH MONTH AND POTENTION WORKSHOPS MAY BE HELD THROUGHTOUT THE COMMUNITY. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES MOTION CARRIED. a. Setting of City fees for 2011 - This item will be discussed at the Feb. 24 th workshop. b. Acquisition of Cuyuna Heritage Network Land - Mayor Ferrari executed the documents with the Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network to lease the land from the City of Crosby for an initial term of fifty (50) years, with renewal options at the term for three successive periods of ten (10) years each. c. Purchase of Howard & Joanne Blanchar property This was handled under the Public Forum. NEW BUSINESS a. Accept donation of $4,000 by Resolution #2011-01-24 from the Crosby Fire Relief Association towards future fire equipment. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2011-01-24 ACCEPTING A DONATION OF $4,000 FROM THE CROSBY FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION TOWARDS FUTURE FIRE EQUIPMENT. A b. Adopt Resolution #2011-02-14 Approving Fire Department Officers MOTION BY MEMBER HOFMANN AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2011-02-14 APPROVING FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS. A c. Running Bear advertising sign agreement. Mike Williams (one of the partners) reviewed items in the Agreement from 2005 that need amending. He referred to No. 3 and 6 of the Agreement and would like to discuss something more clearcut. Council took no action and asked for this item to be placed on the Feb. 24 th workshop. d. Authorize Rice Lake Construction Payment. MOTION BY MEMBER HOFMANN AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT OF $149,435.20 TO RICE LAKE CONSTRUCTION. A
Page 16 e. Lakeland property zoning request. Jim Traylor, Crosby Planning and Zoning Representative stated they met to hold a public hearing on Jan. 31 st. There was not being a quorum and due to the publication notice stating the public hearing was to be held on Feb. 7 th the meeting was continued to Feb. 7 th. Again a quorum was not achieved. There were people present and they stated they were not for the rezoning request. Administrator Peck reviewed the surveyors certificate of survey showing the six acre parcel and Tract A is being requested to rezone to industrial or B1 or B2 uses. These include machine shops, auto repair etc. Neighbors would like to see the property kept at the use it is now which is used for testing of property which is also an existing non-conforming use today. The issue before the Council is the lot split and what can be done on the property for resale. The request was brought into the City on December 31 st and action needs to be taken by February 21 st and if nothing is done the request is automatically given. The City was advised by the City Attorney to get a form 1599 signed by the property owner which extends the request for an additional 60 days. There was no representative here from Lakeland tonight but they have agreed to sign the 1599 to allow this extension. This item will be taken up at a later Council meeting. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY HOFMANN TO ACCEPT THE FORM 1599 TO EXTEND THE ADDITIONAL SIXTY DAYS REQUEST TO REVIEW THE LAKELAND PROPERTY ZONING REQUEST. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. REPORTS FIRE CHIEF S REPORT Fire Chief Woods reported on the following: 1. One fire call since the Council last met. 2. The Annual Firemen Retirement Dinner was held on February 4 th honoring four Retirees. 3. The award of Firemen of the Year went to Glen Knutson. 4. Just a reminder to everyone that they should keep their secondary exits clear of snow. LIBRARY Librarian Peggi Beseres reported on the following: 1. Included in the packets were the January 2011 statistics. 2. The first organization meeting for the JFHML Friends Foundation is slated for Monday, February 28 th at 1:00 at the library. 3. The Library is going to be trained on the AED and CPR hands on. 4. There is a need to replace the carpet in front of the entryway to the library due to the removal of snow. Council members are encouraged to stop by and view. 5. The library was just notified that they have been awarded the HopStart Grant in the amount of $12,000. POLICE CHIEF S REPORT Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following: 1. Bids for garage offices. Three bids have been received. Council stated they would discuss this at the workshop on the 24 th. 2. The Statistical Overview for 2010 was submitted for review. It is approximately 160 calls down from 2009. As of today we are 35 calls up from 2010. 3. It was noted that Captain Koop has 15 years of continuous service and should have been given a longevity bump. This should be a 5% increase. Bump increases coincide with our Union Agreement. Council would like to review this further.
Page 17 ATTORNEY S REPORT No Report PUBLIC WORK S DEPARTMENT Steve Perpich reported on the following: 1. A bid has been received to cut back the 58 light fixtures in City Hall to 30 fixtures so that less expensive light bulbs can be used. The fixtures are now obsolete that we have installed today. The cost would be $3,665. It was discussed that they could possibly be re-lamped with a new ballast and then cheaper light blubs could be used. Council felt a cost study needed to be done and look at this replacement down the road 10 or 15 years if remodeling needs to be done. 2. It was noted that the Street light that is broken on Main Street will be replaced when the snow is gone and warmer weather. It was noted that this should be covered by the person s insurance who hit the pole. ENGINEER S REPORT City Engineer Mike Rude no activity since last month. Phil Martin of Bolton & Menk gave a short update on the treatment plant and water tower. The tower will be started late in February with an August completion date. There will be a monthly progress meeting on February 22 nd. There should be a water meter preconstruction meeting as well on that day. CLERK S REPORT No report CITY ADMINISTRATOR City Administrator Joel Peck reported on the following: 1. How to promote the mountain bike trail? A brochure is needed and a budget to produce it. We are in need of a game plan for the brochure, a possible face book page, and information will need to be placed on our City website. There is a need to talk to Steve Webber about getting information and maps electronically etc. This will be discussed further on the workshop on the 24 th. 2. Will be attending a Transportation Meeting in Staples on Wednesday, Feb. 16 th. 3. Will be attending a meeting at the Little Falls Initiative Foundation on Thursday, Feb. 17 th. 4. Would like some clarification at what are the expectations of his role in the City. MAYOR/COMMITTEE REPORTS Mayor Ferrari presented a presentation regarding Special Assessments. A copy of the report is on file at City Hall. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION WITH REGRET OF CHARLES SELLERS FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. CITY ENGINEER AND CITY ATTORNEY APPOINTMENTS Paper ballot votes were taken before the Council meeting and given to Administrator Peck to tabulate. The top scoring firm for Engineers went to Bolton & Menk, Inc.
Page 18 MOTION BY MEMBER PAUL, SECONDED BY MEMBER HOFMANN TO APPOINT BOLTON & MENK, INC. TO BE THE CITY ENGINEER. UPON ROLL CALL VOICE VOTE. PAUL, HOFMANN, SHANKLE, FERRARI VOTED AYE. VUKELICH VOTED NAY. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The top scoring firm for Attorneys went to Borden, Steinbauer, Krueger & Knudson, P.A. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER HOFMANN TO APPOINT BORDEN, STEINBAUER, KRUEGER & KNUDSON, P.A. TO BE THE CITY ATTORNEY. UPON ROLL CALL VOICE VOTE. PAUL, HOFMANN, SHANKLE, FERRARI VOTED AYE. VUKELICH VOTED NAY. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. There being no future business, Mayor Ferrari entertained a motion to adjourn. MOTION BY HOFMANN AND SECONDED BY VUKELICH TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Time was 8:00 p.m. Rich Ferrari, Mayor Sandy Langley, Recording Secretary