CITY OF HUDSON COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2006

Meeting called to order by Mayor Jack Breault in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 7:00 p.m.

PRESENT: Mayor Breault and Alderpersons Dennis O’Connell, Paul Radermacher, Roger Riedel, Scot O’Malley and Carah Koch. (Vacancy of Alderperson for District 1).

OTHERS PRESENT: Catherine Munkittrick, Linda Donaldson, Gordon Conard, Mike Wallace, Dennis Darnold, Jim Eulberg, Angela Popenhagen, Randy Morrissette II, Randy Hanson, Dennis Kroll, Kim Burns, Cathy McDonald, Heidi Young, Tim Miner, and others.

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM CITIZENS PRESENT: Mayor Breault called for comments from citizens three times; none were given.

CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION by Radermacher, second by Riedel, to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

MINUTES: Approve the Public Hearing, Regular Meeting minutes, and Closed Session minutes of 2/6/06.

Claims: Approve the following claims for payment:

Fund	Description	payables	payroll	Totals
100	General	190,684.09	111,623.60	302,307.69
225	Impact Collection	217.50	0.00	217.50
410	Tax Increment Financing	14,764.00	0.00	14,764.00
450	Capital Projects	12,098.98	0.00	12,098.98
610	Sewer	27,665.96	9,779.16	37,445.12
620	Parking Utility	10,035.27	755.76	10,791.03
630	Ambulance	8,516.27	6,734.72	15,250.99
860	Tax Agency	8,628,215.52	0.00	8,628,215.52
	Total	$8,892,197.59	$128,893.24	$9,021,090.83

Application for Operator’s License: Approve the issuance of an Operator’s License for the period 2/21/06 to 6/30/07 to the following:

Lacy Jean Butler W108 1^st Street, Apt. #3 Spring Valley, WI

Illegal tax claim – Northside Liquor/SSG Corporation, 1801 Ward Avenue, Suite 260: Approve the payment of $283.85 to SSG Corporation as repayment of a double assessment for 2005 Personal Property held by Northside Liquor, 1801 Ward Avenue.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Place on file the quarterly reports of the Water Utility Director, Director of Parks and Public Works, Assessor/Building Inspector, and the Public Utility Commission minutes of 2/14/06.

Roll call vote, all ayes (5) – MOTION CARRIED.

Final Development Plans for office/APARTMENT facility at 727 SECOND STREET, STS PROPERTIES/TOM SPRINGER: dennis Darnold shared details of the final development plans for the office/apartment facility at 717 Second Street. He stated that the Plan Commission recommended approval. He noted that Tom Springer/STS Properties has obtained a signed easement from Nor-Lake. Mr. Darnold also reported that during the Building Permit process, the City Engineer would recommend an amount of security deposit needed for restoration. Architect Dennis Kroll explained the building size and shared diagrams and pictures.

MOTION by Koch, second by O’Malley, to approve the final development plans proposed by STS Properties/Tom Springer for an office/apartment facility at 717 Second Street, with the City Engineer’s recommendations and the storm water utility easement from Nor-Lake. Discussion included information that 14 off-street parking spaces would be made available. Ayes (5) – MOTION CARRIED.

Hudson Community Built Playground proposal and funding: Kim Burns, representing the Hudson Community Built Playground group, gave a Power Point presentation of the proposal to build a playground at Grandview Park. Details about the play structures, accessibility, and fundraising were addressed. Ms. Burns stated that the group was requesting permission to construct the facility at Grandview Park and was seeking a $10,000 donation from the City. Mayor Breault reported that the Park Board recommended approval and noted that insurance coverage would be added through the City’s policy with the Local Government Property Insurance Fund by following their criteria. He also requested that the group provide updates on the progress of the project.

MOTION by Radermacher, second by O’Malley, to approve Grandview Park as the site for the Hudson Community Built Playground, and to approve a $10,000 donation from the Contingency Fund to the $150,000 project. O’Malley requested that the MOTION be AMENDED to included that the City’s $10,000 donation be paid when the project donations totaling $140,000 are received. The amended motion was approved by Radermacher, and second by O’Malley. Discussion included encouraging the public to assist with the project. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Amend 2006 Budget re: Capital Outlay: finance Officer Betty Caruso provided a summary of the 2006 Budget amendment concerning Capital Outlay. She explained that during the 2006 budget process, the 2005 expenditure accounts were not yet finalized. She stated that areas of change included the $150,000 Coulee Road Storm Sewer Project and the $100,000 Street Light Project. Ms. Caruso also noted that a plow truck and a boom truck were eliminated from the 2005 Public Works budget in order to cover the other projects. She requested authorization from Council to redistribute the bond funds and to adopt the 2006 amended budget. Mayor Breault pointed out that no additional bonding would be necessary.

MOTION by Koch, second by O’Connell, to approve the 2006 amended budget, as presented (attached). All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Treasurer’s report – final 2005 figures: Ms. Caruso provided documents showing the final figures for 2005. She noted that investments earned approximately $200,000 more in interest than 2004, and revenues came in higher than expected. She stated that the final figure should not be in deficit. Ms. Caruso suggested that after Council had a chance to review it, the subject could be placed on a future agenda. She invited Council members to contact her if they had any questions.

Request to install street lighting on Webster Street: O’Malley reported on the request to install street lights at Webster Street. He stated that Xcel Energy has estimated the cost to install two light poles would be approximately $1,100. Mr. Eulberg noted that the work could be completed this spring and the project would be the responsibility of the City, with funding from the Street Light account.

MOTION by Riedel, second by Radermacher, to approve the installation of two street lights on wood poles at east and west sides of Webster Street, at a cost of $1,100 to be funded from the Street Light account. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Dump/plow truck specifications and authorization to proceed with purchase: o’malley reviewed the recommendation from the Public Works Committee regarding the purchase of two dump/plow trucks. He reported that there was $300,000 in the budget for trucks. One truck would be a single axle dump truck with a heavy-duty box, sander, plow and wing plow, and the second truck would be a tandem axle dump truck with the same features.

MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to approve the purchase of two Mack dump/plow trucks through the State of Wisconsin contract, to be funded by $300,000 in the Public Works budget. In discussion, it was noted that the trucks would be replacing trucks in the current fleet. It was also noted that the trucks would be advertised for bids and the State contract would be used. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Sidewalk/Curb & Gutter Replacement Program – Inspection Policy: o’malley introduced a Sidewalk Policy, as recommended by the Wausau Insurance Company. He stated it was recommended that the City establish criteria for inspections and adopt the policy. Three changes to the wording were suggested: 1) the Sidewalk Inspector would determine what repairs are to be made; 2) include the Sidewalk Inspector shall be designated by the Director of Public Works and will use discretion to determine if a sidewalk is defective; and 3) the last line of the policy should be “The owner may complete repairs or have it repaired by the City with costs being charged to the owner in accordance with the City Assessment Policy.”

MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to approve the Sidewalk Policy, with the foregoing changes (attached). Mayor Breault questioned whether an employee was receiving additional pay for serving as Sidewalk Inspector. O’Malley recommended adopting the Sidewalk Policy to help monitor the condition of the sidewalks and to promote public safety. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Hudson Booster Days event, June 30^th to July 2, 2006: Jim Eulberg explained the request of the Hudson Booster Club for their annual Booster Days event. O’Malley questioned whether they needed to fill out a form to comply with the Large Assemblies ordinance. Attorney Munkittrick stated that the new ordinance was not effective yet and the form was not needed.

MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to authorize the Hudson Boosters to use Lakefront Park from June 30 to July 2, 2006 for the Booster Days event. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Request of St. Croix Rowing Club for additional storage, and annual review of their lease: mayor Breault announced that the St. Croix Rowing Club was interested in leasing additional space currently leased by the Hudson Boosters in another City building. Mr. Eulberg explained that if the Booster Club finds space elsewhere, the St. Croix Rowing Club would be notified that space is available.

Policy re: use of alcoholic beverages in City parks: attorney Munkittrick reviewed the Park policy and City ordinances regarding the consumption of alcohol in City parks. She noted that the Park Board reviewed the use of alcohol in each City Park and made a recommendation to Council. She stated that the Birkmose Park covenants do not allow alcohol to be consumed at any time in that park. It was noted that the Park Board recommended proper signage indicating that alcohol consumption was prohibited in Anderson Park, Birkmose Park, Burton Park, Coons Hill Park, the Vine Street sledding hill, Webster Park, Williams Park, and including the Lakefront Bathhouse beach area and parking lot, and the Buckeye Street and Lake Mallalieu boat launches. The Park Board also recommended allowing alcohol beverages in non-breakable containers of 6 liters or less during designated park hours, with appropriate signage, in Lakefront Park south of the Bathhouse parking lot, excluding the boat launch parking lot, Prospect Park, and Weitkamp Park. In Grandview Park, alcohol must be purchased on site and consumed on site only.

Attorney Munkittrick stated that the current ordinance allows the Council to change the rules so Police can enforce them. MOTION by Radermacher, second by Riedel, to approve the alcohol policy for City Parks, as submitted by the Park Board. Discussion included information that the policy was needed in order for staff to be able to give information accurately when asked by the public. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Large Assemblies Code, Chapter 150 of Hudson Municipal Code, on file for public inspection– Summary Ordinance No. 4-06: attorney Munkittrick reported that the summary ordinance indicated that Chapter 150 of the Municipal Code could be open for public inspection in the Clerk’s office for two weeks commencing February 20, 2006. She stated that adoption of the summary ordinance would save on publication charges. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to conduct a first reading on summary Ordinance No. 4-06. All ayes, MOTION CARRIED.

Determine date to interview Alderperson candidates for District 1: Mayor Breault asked the Council members to consider scheduling a Special Council meeting on February 23^rd to fill the Alderperson vacancy in District 1. It was determined that February 23^rd was acceptable, with a secondary option of February 27^th, if necessary. The City Clerk was asked to invite the candidates to attend the Special Meeting. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to schedule a Special Council meeting for February 23, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. to conduct a roundtable interview of the candidates for Alderperson in District 1. Riedel questioned the procedures to be followed. Mayor Breault stated that the same procedures would be used as in the past. He noted that a list of possible interview questions would be sent to the candidates, and paper ballots would be used by Council members to indicate their choice. It was also stated that this would be an open meeting and the public would be welcome. If Council members had any additional questions to be included, they were asked to submit them to Mayor Breault, the City Clerk or City Administrator, and they would be reviewed by Attorney Munkittrick before adding them to the list. Ayes (4) - MOTION CARRIED.

Proclamation re: Valley Reads Week: Mayor Breault read the proclamation declaring April 17 to April 30^th as Valley Reads Weeks. Library Director Linda Donaldson provided information about the recommended books to be read in the shared reading program.

MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell to adjourn the meeting. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

Nancy Norvold, City Clerk

I hereby certify that the City Clerk has submitted the foregoing minutes to me, and I hereby by my signature approve said minutes and all acts of the Common Council as sent forth therein.

Jack D. Breault, Mayor