Albert Lea, MN                                                                                 November 13, 2000

 

 

The regular meeting of the Albert Lea City Council was called to order at 7:30 P.M. in the City Center Council Chambers by Mayor Marvin Wangen.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Present were Councilors Warren Amundson, David McPherson, Donald Mathison, Ron Sorenson, Mary Kron, Al Brooks and Mayor Marvin Wangen. Also present were City Manager Paul Sparks, Public Works Director David Olson, City Attorney Steven Schwab, Council Secretary Sandi Behrens and representatives from KATE Radio and the Albert Lea Tribune.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

(a) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 23, 2000.

 

(b) LICENSES AND BONDS APPROVED:

 

ANNUAL LICENSE

 

SIGN HANGER

 

Thomas Leland d/b/a I-35 Development Co., R.R.2, Box 110A

 

FOOD/BEVERAGE

 

Sameer Ali d/b/a Alladin Shish-Ka-Bob, 2510 N. Bridge Avenue

Shirley Hegwood d/b/a Zoo of Albert Lea, 134 W. William

 

FOOD VEHICLE

 

Sameer Ali d/b/a Alladin Shish-Ka-Bob, 2510 N. Bridge Avenue

 

CIGARETTE

 

Shirley Hegwood d/b/a Zoo of Albert Lea, 134 W. William

 

(c) CALLS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN ON-SALE INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSE TO A TOUCH OF CLASS, 137 E. CLARK STREET, FOR NOVEMBER 27, 2000.

 

(d) RESOLUTION 00-206 ADOPTED - CLAIMS: Resolution 00-206 presents the

financial claims of the City.

 

(See Secretary's Original Resolution

00-206 included with these minutes.)

 

Councilor Mathison moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that the consent agenda items be adopted. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the consent agenda items adopted.

 

LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFERS APPROVED – PUBLIC HEARING

 

Mayor Wangen opened a public hearing for the transfer of the On-Sale and Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor Licenses currently held by the Palace of Albert Lea. The applicant is Shirley Hegwood d/b/a the Zoo of Albert Lea, Inc. The necessary notice for this hearing was published on October 29, 2000. There was no public discussion. Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that the application for transfer of the Palace Bar liquor licenses from the Palace of Albert Lea, Inc. to the Zoo of Albert Lea, Inc., be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the liquor license transfers approved.

 

EAGLES REQUEST TO USE ALLEY AND PARKING STALLS APPROVED

 

Mayor Wangen stated that the City had received a request from the Eagles Cancer Committee to use the alley adjacent to the Eagles building and four to six parking stalls in the adjacent parking lot near the Eagles handicap entrance on Saturday, January 6, 2001, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This is a special Eagles cancer fundraiser project encouraging individuals to drive by and make a donation to fight cancer. The group is also requesting that the alley be named "Eagles Lane" for the day.

 

Councilor McPherson moved, Councilor Mathison seconded, that the request of the Eagles Cancer Committee for the fundraiser on January 6th, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the request granted.

 

REQUEST FOR PARKING RESTRICTION CHANGES DENIED

 

Mayor Wangen stated that the City has received a request from Arrow Printing for consideration of removing parking restrictions along West College Street if the business decides to relocate to the former Utopia Teen Club at 310 First Avenue South. The company is requesting that the two "No Parking this Side of Street" signs be removed from the north side of West College between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue.

 

The City Engineer provided extensive background materials and an explanation for these restrictions and is recommending that if no other changes are made that the no parking restrictions remain in place.

 

Council discussion centered around the fact that the street has been used by semi traffic to loading docks in the area and that with winter weather the street becomes even more narrow making it difficult to travel along that street with parking allowed. After Council discussion, Councilor Mathison moved, Councilor Amundson seconded, that the request of Arrow Printing for the removal of no parking, be denied. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the request denied.

 

RESOLUTION 00-207 ADOPTED – APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR LATTER DAY SAINTS CHURCH

 

Mayor Wangen stated that the Albert Lea Advisory Planning Commission held a special meeting on November 9 to discuss the conditional use permit for the Latter Day Saints Church in Block 2 of Bay Oaks Estates. The permit was previously denied and several changes in federal law limit the City’s ability to be as restrictive as previously required.

 

After Council discussion, Councilor McPherson moved, Councilor Sorenson seconded, that Resolution 00-207, approving the conditional use permit for the Latter Day Saints Church in Block 2 of Bay Oaks Estates as recommended by the Albert Lea Advisory Planning Commission, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary's Original Resolution

00-207 included with these minutes.)

 

RESOLUTION 00-208 ADOPTED – APPROVING BIDS FOR JOB 2027

 

City Manager Sparks explained that this resolution approves bids for the Chapeau Shores Sixth Addition, the area being developed into residential lots by Hugh O’Byrne. The low bidder is Crane Creek Construction in the amount of $356,179.76 including utilities, curb, gutter, paving and storm sewer. He also noted that there are 19 lots in the subdivision and the development costs are approximately $19,000.00 each before land value, engineering and soft costs are included.

 

Council discussion centered around the fact that the project would begin in approximately three weeks and should be complete in August of 2001. Mr. O’Byrne would like the assessment certified in October, 2001. After additional Council discussion, Councilor Mathison moved, Councilor Amundson seconded, that Resolution 00-208, accepting the bid of Crane Creek Construction, Owatonna, in the amount of $356,179.76, be accepted for 2000 Grading, Sewer, Water, Curb and Gutter Bituminous Contract No. 9 (Job 2027). On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary's Original Resolution

00-208 included with these minutes.)

 

RESOLUTION 00-209 ADOPTED – ACCEPTING SLOVBERG SECOND ADDITION SITE WORK

 

City Manager Sparks explained that this resolution accepts the dedication of Quisley Street and the site work for Slovberg Second Addition. He noted that the work has been completed and that the City Engineer feels it is appropriate for the City to accept the work and future maintenance of the public streets and utilities.

 

After Council discussion, Councilor Amundson moved, Councilor Mathison seconded, that Resolution 00-209, accepting the Slovberg Second Addition Site Work, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution

00-209 included with these minutes.)

 

RESOLUTION 00-210 ADOPTED – ACCEPTING SUMMERDALE SECOND ADDITION SITE WORK

 

City Manager Sparks explained that this resolution accepts the as built streets and utilities for Summerdale Second Addition. He noted that the work has been completed and the City Engineer feels that it is acceptable to City standards.

After Council discussion, Councilor Amundson moved, Councilor Sorenson seconded, that Resolution 00-210, accepting the Summerdale Second Addition Site Work and future maintenance of the public streets and utilities, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution

00-210 included with these minutes.)

 

REQUEST FOR ALLEY VACATION IN RAILROAD ADDITION DENIED

 

City Manager Sparks explained that the City Engineer’s Report regarding the request to vacate an alley in Block 14 of Railroad Addition between Lots 8 and 9 was complete and that the department is recommending that the area not be vacated because it is a dead end alley and the City plows snow in the area. If the City vacates the alley we would not be able to shove the snow to the end of the current existing alley and the snow accumulation would block garage entrances.

 

Councilor Brooks noted that he looked at this site and stated that the resident at 926 Jefferson would have problems negotiating access to his property if the alley were vacated.

 

After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that the request for vacation of the alley in Block 14 of Railroad Addition between Lots 8 and 9, be denied. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the request denied.

 

RESOLUTION 00-211 ADOPTED – AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF BLOCK GRANT FUNDS

 

Mayor Wangen stated that the City had received a request from the Police Department for Council authorization of a multi-jurisdictional partnership with the County Attorney’s Office to permit the expenditure of the City’s share of the JAIBG Funds for fiscal year 2000-2001. He noted that the funds for 2000 are $6,560.00 and for 2001 in the amount of $5,681.00 with no cost to the City. Matching funds would be provided by Freeborn County.

 

After Council discussion, Councilor Mathison moved, Councilor McPherson seconded, that Resolution 00-211, authorizing a multi-jurisdictional partnership with the County Attorney’s Office to allow for the expenditure of the City’s share of the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) funds, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution

00-211 included with these minutes.)

 

RESOLUTION 00-212 ADOPTED – AUTHORIZING A PERMANENT FOUR-WAY STOP AND REMOVAL OF PARKING

 

City Manager Sparks explained that the City Engineer has requested Council authorization for a permanent four-way stop at the intersection of Newton Avenue and Front Street. He noted that the Engineer has observed this intersection and feels that a permanent four-way stop would not create undue hardship for motor vehicle drivers and would create a much safer intersection. The Engineer is also requesting that the two parking stalls along the west side of Newton in the southwest corner of the intersection be marked permanently for no parking. This removal has significantly opened up the sight distance and created a safer intersection.

 

After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Sorenson seconded, that Resolution 00-212, authorizing a permanent four-way stop at Newton Avenue and Front Street and a two-stall length of curb designated permanently as no parking, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

 

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution

00-212 included with these minutes.)

 

UNLISTED ITEMS

 

WARD ITEMS

 

Fourth Ward, Councilor Sorenson:

 

a) Stated that he had received a request for cleanup of the property at 1212 Johnson. He noted that there has been new construction at this location and that the property is in some disarray.

 

Sixth Ward, Councilor Brooks:

 

a) Stated that there are trees overhanging the roadway on Ninth Street near Electric Motor Bearing.

 

ADJOURNMENT – 7:50 P.M.

 

Councilor Amundson moved, Councilor Mathison seconded, that there being no further business, the Council meeting be adjourned until the next regular meeting of the Albert Lea City Council on Monday, November 27, 2000. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Wangen declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.

 

Filed and attested November 14, 2000.

 

 

 

________________________                                                     _____________________________   

Secretary of the Council                                                                 Mayor