CITY OF HUDSON COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES OF MONDAY, MARCH 6, 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 Randy
Morrissette, Dennis O’Connell, Paul Radermacher, Scot O’Malley and Carah
Koch.
ABSENT: Alderperson Roger Riedel.
OTHERS
PRESENT: Devin
Willi, Catherine Munkittrick, Denny Darnold, Dick Trende, Paul Larson, Pat
Larson, Carol and Dave Hardin, Angela Popenhagen, James Mayer, Vicki Mayer,
Sean Pettee, Jeff Knopps, Randy Hanson, Jim Eulberg, Rob Knefelkamp, Pam
Brokaw, Rhonda Benjamin, Kelsie Benjamin, Kallie Benjamin, Brooke Brokaw,
Nicole Foster, and others.
Mayor
Breault invited the members of Brownie Troop 103 and Junior Girl Scout Troop
1910 to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
He also read the Proclamation regarding Girl Scout Week, March 12
through 18, 2006.
Mayor
Breault and Police Chief Trende presented commendation awards to Lt. Paul
Larson, and Detectives Jeff Knopps and Sean Pettee for outstanding performance
above and beyond the call of duty on the O’Connell/Ellison case.
COMMENTS
AND SUGGESTIONS FROM CITIZENS PRESENT: Rob Knefelkamp,
1140 Helen Street North, indicated that he and members of the Chamber’s
Downtown Parking Committee had reviewed the results of the recent Parking
Survey. He stated that they strongly
recommended raising the parking meter rates.
Carol Hardin requested that
consideration be given to following the law for proposed regulations within the
Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway District.
CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION by Koch, second by O’Malley, to
approve the following Consent Agenda items:
MINUTES: Approve the Public Hearing, Regular Meeting
minutes of 2/20/06, and the Special Meeting minutes of 2/23/06.
Claims: Approve the following claims for payment:
|
Fund |
Description |
payables |
payroll |
Totals |
|
100 |
General |
197,266.30 |
129,896.20 |
327,162.50 |
|
610 |
Sewer |
20,322.46 |
9,668.52 |
29,990.98 |
|
620 |
Parking Utility |
9.79 |
797.27 |
807.06 |
|
630 |
Ambulance |
10,177.00 |
16,086.94 |
26,263.94 |
|
|
Totals |
$227,775.55 |
$156,448.93 |
$384,224.48 |
Request
for stop sign at 8th and River Street: To deny the request for a stop sign at 8th
and River Street.
REPORTS
OF CITY OFFICIALS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Place on file the quarterly reports of the
Police Chief and Public Works Director, the Community Access Board minutes of
2/28/06, and the Department Head meeting minutes of 2/28/06.
Roll call vote, all ayes (5) – MOTION CARRIED.
Review bids and award
contract for Street Light Replacement Project: O’Malley announced that the Finance Committee
recommended accepting the $37,026 bid from LPD Electric. Attorney Munkittrick agreed to confirm that
the law regarding prevailing wages would not apply in this case. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to
approve the bid and award the Street Light Installation contract to LPD
Electric, Lakeland, MN in the amount of $37,026, with the contingency that the
law regarding prevailing wages is not in effect. Discussion included information from Jim Eulberg that money was
saved because some of the products were already purchased by the City. It was also noted that LPD only performs
street light installations, which resulted in a bid that was lower than that of
multiple-trade vendors. All ayes (5),
MOTION CARRIED.
Update
job description for Chief of Police position, and establish salary range to be
used in advertising for the position: administrator Willi stated
that the Finance Committee recommended changes to the percentages for basic
tasks indicated in the Police Chief’s position description. He stated that special qualifications would
also include the requirement for a Bachelor’s Degree. Mr. Willi stated that the Finance Committee authorized Chief Trende
and him to review the final updated job description to verify its accuracy. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to
approve the updated Police Chief job description with the inclusion of a
requirement for a Bachelor’s Degree, and to change the percentages of the job
duties to 20% for Administrative, 40% for Supervision, 20% for Budget, 15% for
Citizen Complaints/Public Communication/Investigative, and 5% for Patrol, with
final review by Administrator Willi and Chief Trende. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Willi stated that the Finance Committee also recommended
establishing a starting salary range from $60,000 to $70,000 to be used in
advertising for the position, and to be used by the Police and Fire Commission
as a salary guideline. MOTION by
O’Malley, second by Radermacher, to approve a starting salary range of $60,000
to $70,000 to be used in advertising for the Chief of Police position. All ayes(5), MOTION CARRIED.
Request of Final Stretch, Inc.
for August 12th foot race and for triathlon September 2 and 3: motion by Radermacher, second
by O’Malley, to approve the Gopher to Badger foot race in the Lakefront Park on
Saturday, August 12th, and the St. Croix Valley Triathlon on
September 2nd and 3rd.
It was noted that the sponsor, Final Stretch, Inc., has held these
events in the past without any problems; they provide their own insurance and
pay for Police Department Officers’ overtime.
All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
Approval for annual Booster
Days Event – June 30 to July 2, 2006: motion by Radermacher, second by O’Connell,
to approve the annual Booster Days event to be held June 30 to July 2, 2006 in
Lakefront Park. Radermacher noted that
the Public Safety Committee recommended approval. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation
for changes to Chapter 235 regarding increased parking meter rates, increased
penalties, increased Parking Permit fees, and changing Parking Permit zones: Radermacher reported that the
Public Safety Committee further reviewed the results of the Downtown Parking
Survey and discussed proposed changes to parking meter and ticket rates, as
well as changing the spaces where Permit Parking would be allowed. He noted that they recommended increasing
the meter rates to 25 cents per hour and 10 cents per 20 minutes, and
increasing penalties to $5 for the first violation, $15.00 for second and
subsequent violations, and $5.00 for overparking. The Safety Committee also recommended changing the Permit Parking
fee to $10 a month or $100 a year for an annual permit. It was also proposed that five digital
hand-held parking monitoring devices be purchased for approximately $39,000 and
that 250 new digital parking meters be purchased and installed in non-metered
spaces.
MOTION by Radermacher to
approve the foregoing changes to Chapter 235 and direct the City Attorney to
draft the appropriate ordinance. MOTION
FAILED for lack of a second. O’Malley
stated that the purchase of new meters and hand-held devices were not on the
agenda and Council action could not be taken.
MOTION AMENDED by Radermacher, second by O’Malley, to approve increasing
the meter rates to 25 cents per hour and 10 cents per 20 minutes, and
increasing penalties to $5 for the first violation, $15.00 for second and
subsequent violations, $5.00 for overparking, and increasing the Parking Permit
fees to $10 per month and $100 per years, and creating different Parking Permit
zones.
In discussion, it was
indicated that the hand-held devices would likely pay for themselves over a
short period of time and that a server for the computer network would be
needed. Use of the hand-held devices
would allow the Meter Monitors to be on the streets more instead of completing
paperwork in the office. Attorney
Munkittrick would address the changes to Municipal Code that were necessary. Discussion also included information
regarding how the changes would be of benefit to the community. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
Proposed City of Hudson land use and
development regulations within the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
District, amend Ch. 255-18 of Hudson
Municipal Code, - Ordinance No. 3-06: Community Development
Director Dennis Darnold called attention to the proposed changes to Chapter
255-18. He provided the Council members
with a written summary and reviewed the changes. Discussion was held regarding NR118 and DNR review of the
proposed regulations. Attorney
Munkittrick stated she would like to have the DNR’s comments before publication
of the summary ordinance. MOTION by
O’Malley, second by Radermacher, to conduct a first reading of Ordinance No.
3-06. MOTION WITHDRAWN, as first
reading was held February 6, 2006.
Mr. Darnold’s written summary of the proposed changes included
the areas of Purpose & Applicability, setback, permitted uses, permitted
structures, conditional uses, prohibited uses, dimensional and other standards,
deletiopn of the words “mid-line of the” in two place, non-conforming uses,
structures and sub-standard lots. He
did not change the requirement for home occupations, since the City has more specific
standards. O’Malley questioned
conditional use standards regarding planned developments. He stated that he believed both houses and
outbuildings should follow the same guidelines for earthtone color. Further discussion included the use of less
reflective glass in both houses and outbuildings. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell to refer the proposed
changes to Chapter 255-18 back to the Community Development Director for
additional wording changes. Vote taken,
all ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED. Mr.
Darnold agreed to review and make the changes.
Large Assemblies Code, Chapter 150 of Hudson
Municipal Code, on file for public inspection– Summary Ordinance No. 4-06: MOTION by
O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to approve the following:
ORDINANCE NO. 4-06
SUMMARY ORDINANCE RE: AMENDING CHAPTER 150
OF HUDSON MUNICIPAL CODE - LARGE ASSEMBLIES
motion AMENDED by O’Malley, second by
O’Connell, to direct the Clerk’s office to create a Special Event Permit to be
used for large assemblies, and to be reviewed by Attorney Munkittrick. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
2006
Engineering rates with Bonestroo & Associates: Engineer
Angela Popenhagen addressed the Council concerning the 2006 engineering rates
for Bonestroo & Associates. She
stated that they agreed to hold their increase to 2%. O’Malley thanked her for her efforts on behalf of the City. MOTION by O’Malley, second by Radermacher,
to approve the 2006 municipal engineering rates from Bonestroo & Associates
(attached). It was noted that the
rates for developers did not change with the City portion of the 2% rate. All ayes, (5) MOTION CARRIED.
Consider changing date for first Council meeting in
April, due to April 4th Spring Election: Mayor Breault explained the request to consider changing
the date for the first Council meeting in April due to the April 4th
Spring Election. MOTION by O’Connell,
second by O’Malley, to change the April 3rd Council meeting to
Wednesday, April 5, 2006. All ayes (5),
MOTION CARRIED.
Proposal regarding Scenic Byways – Mark
Kinders: Mayor Breault noted that Mr. Kinders
was not present; this item was removed from the agenda.
Stormwater
Improvement Feasibility Study for Nye Street and Aldrich Street area: Angela Popenhagen reviewed the stormwater feasibility study
and the different options were discussed.
MOTION by Radermacher, second by O’Malley, to investigate Option 3
(attached), upgrading the pipe along Aldrich and connecting to the 17th
Street system, at an approximate cost of $182,000. Discussion included the cost estimates for each option. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
Stormwater Improvement Feasibility Study for the
Fourth Street and Fifth
Street and Vine Street/Elm Street area:
Discussion
was also held regarding the various options for stormwater improvements at 4th
and 5th Streets and Vine and Elm.
Option 1 included installing a Flap Gate at a cost of $10,000, and Ms.
Popenhagen noted that the flap gate would only be a temporary solution and
would not eliminate the problem. Option
2 involved installing a 24-inch parallel pipe to Oak Street. Another
possibility was to investigate the pipe-burst method that was used on Coulee
Road. Mayor Breault requested this item
be referred to the Finance Committee to determine a source of funds for the
project.
Appointments to Standing Committees and Park Board: Mayor Breault called attention
to his appointments of Alderpersons to the Public Safety Committee, Finance
Committee, Public Utility Commission, and Board of Review. MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to
confirm Mayor Breault’s appointments of Alderperson Randy Morrissette as a
member of the Public Safety Committee and as liaison to the Public Utility
Commission, and Alderperson Carah Koch to the Finance Committee and Board of
Review. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
COMMUNICATIONS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS: Dennis Darnold reported that 900 responses
to the City’s Comprehensive Plan Survey have been received so far. He thanked the members of the community for
their input and interest.
Reconvene
into Open Session for possible action re: union contract with Hudson Police
Sergeants Association and for possible action re: request of Police Chief
Trende to increase the amount of accumulated sick leave hours to be applied
toward health insurance premiums upon retirement: MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to
reconvene into Open Session for possible action re: union contract with Hudson
Police Sergeants Association and for possible action re: request of Police
Chief Trende to increase the amount of accumulated sick leave hours to be
applied toward health insurance premiums upon retirement. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED – 8:03 p.m.
MOTION by O’Malley, second by O’Connell, to
direct Attorney Munkittrick to draft an Agreement concerning the request of
Police Chief Trende to use an additional 300 hours of accumulated sick leave
toward health insurance premiums upon retirement (for a total of 900), in
exchange for up to 300 hours of service as a consultant to the Police
Department. All ayes (5), MOTION
CARRIED.
MOTION by Radermacher, second by Morrissette to accept the bargaining Agreement with the Hudson Police Sergeants Association through 12/31/2008, as presented. All ayes (5), MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by O’Malley, second by
O’Connell to adjourn the meeting. All
ayes (5). 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
Date approved
by Council: