city of hudson common council meeting
minutes of monday, december 21, 2009
Meeting called to order by
Mayor Dean Knudson in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 7:03 p.m. Mayor Knudson led those present in the Pledge
of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Mayor Knudson and Alderpersons Randy
Morrissette, Pam Brokaw, Lori Bernard, Lee Wyland, Scot O’Malley and Alan
Burchill.
OTHERS
PRESENT: Devin Willi, Catherine Munkittrick, Betty Caruso, Denny Darnold,
Tom Zeuli, Gordon Conard, Randy Hanson, Mary Yacoub, Dustin Rassbach, Nick
Hackworthy, Mike Darrow, Charlie Ellefsen, Glen Van Wormer, Ryan Rugg, Jay
Andrews, Jay Andrews Jr., Dolly Qualls, Lauren Einberger and others.
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
FROM CITIZENS PRESENT: Mayor Knudson called for
comments and suggestions from citizens present; none were given.
CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION by Morrissette, second by O’Malley to
approve the following Consent Agenda items:
MINUTES: Approve the Public Hearing and Regular meeting minutes
of 12/07/09.
Claims: Approve the following claims for payment:
|
FUND |
DESCRIPTION |
PAYABLES |
PAYROLL |
TOTALS |
|
100 |
General |
123,919.85 |
121,849.18 |
245,769.03 |
|
225 |
Impact
Collection |
530.58 |
0.00 |
530.58 |
|
450 |
Capital
Projects |
117,558.30 |
0.00 |
117,558.30 |
|
610 |
Sewer |
12,076.44 |
10,424.23 |
22,500.67 |
|
620 |
Parking |
441.67 |
1,095.25 |
1,536.92 |
|
630 |
Ambulance |
6,312.13 |
7,999.88 |
14,312.01 |
|
|
Totals |
260,838.97 |
141,368.54 |
402,207.51 |
Application
of Jasha Dickmann-Smith for renewal of Secondhand Jewelry Dealer’s
License and Secondhand Article Dealer’s License d/b/a LaCroix Consignment at
1801 Ward Avenue #256 (Plaza 94):
Approve the renewal and issuance of a Secondhand Jewelry Dealer’s
License and Secondhand Article Dealer’s License to Jasha Dickmann-Smith d/b/a
Lacroix Consignment at 1801 Ward Avenue #256 in Plaza 94.
Application of Huu Van Nguyen for
Secondhand Article Dealer’s license d/b/a Hudson Thrift Store, 1801 Ward Avenue
#250 (Plaza 94): Approve the issuance of a
Secondhand Article Dealer’s License to Huu Van Nguyen d/b/a Hudson Thrift Store
at 1801 Ward Avenue, #250 in Plaza 94.
Consider
changes to SHE contract for City’s Comprehensive Plan and Outdoor Recreation
Plan: Approve amending the contract with Short Elliot
Hendrickson to increase the contract amount from $7,500 to $8,400 to facilitate
the format and word processing of the Park Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Consider changing some permit parking spaces to 4 hour
spaces at the Williams Lot (Public Safety Building): Approve designating 4-hour parking for the 11
permit parking spaces in the southerly center section of the Williams Lot,
behind the Public Safety Building.
Request for 2010 MS Walk on Sunday, May 2nd
from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Approve the MS Walk on to be held Sunday,
May 2, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning and ending at the Hudson
Middle School.
Request for One Block Fun Run on Saturday, January 23,
2010 from 11:55 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.,
and temporary closure of one block of Walnut Street: Approve the 22nd annual One Block
Fun Run on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 11:55 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., as
presented, with temporary closure of one block of Walnut Street.
Approve
the appointment of Election Inspectors for the period 1/1/2010 through 12/31/2011,
and also authorization to serve as Special Registration Deputies or Special Voting Deputies, as needed, at Pine
Ridge and the Christian Community Home: Approve the
appointment of Election Inspectors for the period 1/1/2010 through 12/31/2011,
as submitted by the City Clerk, and to authorize all inspectors to serve as
Special Registration Deputies or Special Voting Deputies, as needed, at Pine
Ridge and the Christian Community Home.
REPORTS
OF CITY OFFICIALS, BOARDS, and COMMISSIONS: Place on file the
Quarterly Reports of the Wastewater Director and St. Croix E.M.S. Chief.
Roll call vote: Ayes (6), MOTION CARRIED.
Adoption
of City of Hudson Comprehensive Plan – Ordinance No. 13-09, and Outdoor Recreation Plan, Resolution No. 20-09: Mayor Knudson announced the
adoption of Resolution 20-09 regarding the Park Outdoor Recreation Plan would
be considered first. MOTION by O’Malley,
second by Burchill to suspend the rules toward adoption of Resolution No. 20-09. Roll call vote taken, all Ayes (6) MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Morrissette, second by O’Malley to
adopt the following:
RESOLUTION NO. 20-09
CITY OF HUDSON PARKS AND
OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN
2010-2014
(Copy on file in Clerk’s office)
Denny Darnold provided information
about the plan and noted some minor changes were still needed. MOTION AMENDED to include the changes
recommended by Mr. Darnold. All ayes (6)
MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by O’Malley, second
by Bernard to suspend the rules toward adoption of Ordinance number 13-09
regarding adoption of the City of Hudson Comprehensive Plan. Roll call vote taken. All ayes (6)
MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by O’Malley, second
by Burchill to adopt the following:
ORDINANCE NO. 13-09
AMEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER
250- COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
(Copy on file in Clerk’s
office)
Denny Darnold offered an
explanation about the remnant piece of land that was discussed during the Public
Hearing. He noted the future land use
designation has been industrial since 1993, and it was not recently changed as
previously expressed by Mr. Hackworthy. He
stated he was not opposed to it being designated as commercial or industrial.
Mayor Knudson noted the
Comprehensive Plan deals with zoning and future land use, and they need to come
into alignment. He stated the Carmichael
Road corridor land use was discussed at length during the Plan Commission
meetings regarding the Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Darnold clarified the
land use plans and noted designations of properties that may be annexed at some
point in the future. He explained the
recommended uses, and stated corridor studies had been done. Additional information was shared about the
possibility of having zoning designations changed in the future. Discussion was held regarding the request
made during the Public Hearing to change the zoning from industrial to
commercial on a total of twenty-one acres. Minor changes would also be made to various
pages in the draft plan, as noted in Mr. Darnold’s 12/14/09 memo to Council
(copy attached).
Additional discussion was
held regarding the desire to amend the motion, the ability to make zoning
changes in the future, and the Plan Commission’s thought process.
Morrissette raised a
question about parliamentary procedure. MOTION
by Morrissette to object to consideration of the question (O’Malley’s motion),
as it was improper for consideration. It
was noted no second was required. City
Attorney Catherine Munkittrick advised the motion needed to be presented
properly, and she believed it was. Ayes
(1); Noes (5) MOTION FAILED.
Mr. Darnold pointed out a minor
change would need to be made to the current version of the Comprehensive Plan
to correct the four lane roadway to Mr. Ellefsen’s property, as pointed out in
the Public Hearing. He also stated
adoption of the plan does not hamper development.
Mayor Knudson pointed out a two-thirds vote was
needed in order to pass the motion. Vote
taken, ayes (4); Noes (2) (Morrissette and Bernard) – MOTION CARRIED.
Certificate of compliance for automotive
service center (Tire Proz) at 1800 Crest View Drive – Derrick Commercial
Contracting, LLC. Denny Darnold stated the
certificate of compliance was needed for an automotive service center. He explained the current use of the property
and the requested use. Discussion was
held regarding traffic concerns and the location of the driveway. Dustin Rassbach provided information that an
engineering service was asked to examine the situation and provide
recommendations. He noted they
determined the driveway was already in the best place. Additional information was shared regarding
the services the business expects to offer.
It was noted that the Plan Commission recommended approval.
MOTION by Burchill, second by O’Malley to approve the
Certificate of Compliance for an automotive service center (Tire Proz) at 1800
Crest View Drive. Discussion was held
regarding possibly posting signs indicating “Do not block the driveway” and
re-timing the signal light. The number
of potential employees was also noted.
Morrissette stated his concerns about the possible traffic hazards, and
that he was not in favor of the Certificate of Compliance. Ayes (5); Noes (1) Morrissette – MOTION
CARRIED.
Applications for Operator’s Licenses: Morrissette recused himself. Mayor Knudson stated the Finance Committee
recommended approving the Operator’s License for Sarah Clark. He noted they held discussion regarding the
applicant’s violation for underage consumption.
Discussion was held concerning the Police Chief’s
recommendation, whether one violation constituted a pattern, and if the offense
was substantially related to alcohol service.
MOTION by O’Malley, second by Wyland to approve issuance of an
Operator’s License for Sarah K. Clark, 663 Mary Jo Court, Hudson, for the
period 12/22/09 through 6/30/11.
Additional discussion was held regarding the age of the applicant, and
that Council members may contact the Clerk if they have any questions about the
applications. Ayes (4), Noes (1) – Lori
Bernard. MOTION CARRIED.
Finance
Officer’s (November) monthly report: Mayor Knudson asked if there were any
questions regarding the Finance Officer’s November report; there were none.
Consider
repairs to 1990 Public Works plow truck: Mayor Knudson reported about the major
mechanical breakdown of the 1990 plow truck.
Information was shared that the truck was needed for snowplowing and
that the new truck on order (to replace this one) would not be delivered until
about March of 2010. Plowing time could
be increased by approximately fourteen hours if the truck was not repaired and
available for the anticipated snowfall this week. MOTION by Burchill, second by O’Malley to
approve the repair of the 1990 plow truck with the funding to come from the
Contingency Fund. All ayes (6) MOTION CARRIED.
Consider
ordering a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the building at 911 Fourth
Street: Mayor
Knudson announced that the Finance Committee recommended to not schedule an
environmental site assessment and to sell the building as is, since the
potential buyers could do so if they wished.
Discussion was held concerning the pros and cons of commissioning the environmental
study. MOTION by O’Malley, second by
Burchill to authorize up to $2,000 for a Phase I Environmental Study for the
building at 911 Fourth Street.
Additional discussion was held regarding the value of having the
information for the selling process. All
Ayes (6) – MOTION CARRIED.
Consider a City moratorium on electronic message display
signs – Ordinance No. 14-09: Mayor Knudson
explained the reason for making an amendment to the sign ordinance. He noted that currently every business was potentially
allowed a thirty square foot electronic message display sign. He reported that the City Attorney drafted an
ordinance for a six-month moratorium on electronic message display signs for Council
consideration. The ability for Council
to reconsider the current sign ordinance during the moratorium was noted. Discussion was held regarding the need to
review approval of a sign in the Hanley Road area; Mr. Darnold stated he and
Attorney Munkittrick would review that issue.
MOTION by
Morrissette, second by O’Malley to suspend the rules toward adoption of
Ordinance 14-09. Roll call vote taken. All ayes (6)
MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by
O’Malley, second by Bernard to adopt the following:
ORDINANCE NO. 14-09
TEMPORARY (SIX MONTH)
MORATORIUM ON CONSTRUCTION OR INSTALLATION
OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGE
DISPLAY SIGNS
(Copy on file in Clerk’s
office)
All ayes (6) MOTION CARRIED.
Consider amending Municipal Code, Chapter 202 – Signs,
(Ordinance No. 1-10) and refer to
Plan Commission: Mayor Knudson presented information regarding
the temporary moratorium on construction or installation of electronic message
display signs. A draft document
concerning sign regulation was also presented.
He requested input from Council members, staff, business people, and
sign makers for consideration by the Plan Commission. Lengthy discussion was held regarding garage
sale signs, banner signs, electronic signs, permits, and enforcement. Mayor Knudson will forward the draft document
to the Plan Commission.
Consider Resolution No. 21-09, authorization to borrow
$600,000 in GO Promissory Notes from Associated Bank (to fund purchase of property
at 700 First Street and 701 Second Street) and amend Resolution 19-09 regarding
internal financing: Mayor Knudson stated the Finance
Officer recommended the item be removed from the agenda.
COMMUNICATIONS AND ITEMS FOR
FUTURE AGENDAS: Mayor Knudson announced the purchase of the
property at 700 First Street and 701 Second Street had been completed. Requests for Proposals for the Police
Department remodeling (with a $200,000 budget), have been advertised, with
proposals due by December 30, 2009. The
topic will be an agenda item at the January 4, 2010 meeting.
City Administrator, Devin Willi
announced the City Hall hours for the upcoming holidays.
motion
by Burchill, second by O’Malley to
advertise for proposals for services for the marketing and sale of the building
at 911 Fourth Street.
ADJOURN: MOTION by O’Malley, second by Burchill to
adjourn. All ayes (6), MOTION CARRIED
at 9:10 p.m.
Nancy J. Korson, 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 set forth therein.
Dean Knudson, Mayor