Albert Lea, MN May 12, 2003

Captain Bob Miles, Salvation Army, offered a prayer.

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 Jean Eaton.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ROLL CALL

Present were Councilors Randy Erdman, George Marin, Jeff Fjelstad, Mary Kron, Al Brooks and Mayor Jean Eaton. Absent was Councilor Warren Amundson. Also present were City Manager Paul T. Sparks, City Attorney Steven Schwab, Public Works Direction David R. Olson, 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 APRIL 28, 2003.

b) APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING LICENSES:

     ANNUAL LICENSES

     FIREWORKS

     Twin Cities Avanti Stores d/b/a Budget Mart, 2611 Bridge Avenue

     SIGN HANGER

     Art-N-Sign Inc., 1801 West First Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN

     TEMPORARY LICENSES

     PUBLIC DANCE

     Lallie Gerrero, 602 10th Street SW, Willmar, for a dance at the Knights of Columbus on May 17, 2003 from
     9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

c) RESOLUTION 03-89 ADOPTED – GRANTING A CONSOLIDATION OF LOTS 12, 13, 14 AND 15,
     BLOCK 38, AUDITOR’S PLAT NO. 3.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution 03-100 included with these minutes.)

d) RESOLUTION 03-91 ADOPTED - CLAIMS: Resolution 03-101 presents the financial claims of the City.

(See Secretary's Original Resolution 03-101 included with these minutes.)

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

REQUEST FOR JULY 4 DANCE APPROVED

City Manager Sparks told the Council that Philly’s Bar & Grill has submitted a request to hold a parking lot dance with liquor sales on July 4 in a fenced off area with personnel monitoring the entrants assuring legal drinking age is maintained. He noted that the event will begin at 8 p.m., pause for fireworks and resume following fireworks until closing time.

Council discussion centered around parking, a desire to permit the dance until midnight and a requirement that the owners provide the City with a certificate of liquor liability insurance for the event.

After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Marin seconded, that the request of Philly’s Bar & Grill for a parking lot dance as outlined above with a provision that the music end at midnight and that an appropriate liquor liability certificate be presented to the City specifically for the event, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the request approved.

CROSSROADS COMMUNITY HOSPICE WALK/RUN APPROVED

City Manager Sparks explained that the City had received a request from Crossroads Community Hospice to conduct its 3rd annual Friends of Hospice Walk/Run around Fountain Lake on Saturday, June 14, 2003 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in conjunction with the Eddie Cochran Weekend.

Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Kron seconded, that the request of Crossroads Community Hospice for a walk/run on June 14, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the event authorized.

COUNCIL MEETING DATE CHANGE

City Manager Sparks informed the Council that the next regular meeting falls on Memorial Day and that it is necessary to change the date for that meeting to Tuesday, May 27.

Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Marin seconded, that the next regular meeting of the City Council be set for Tuesday, May 27, 2003. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the date changed.

RESOLUTION 03-102 ADOPTED – APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH PALMER ENGINEERING

City Manager Sparks told City staff is recommending an agreement for professional services with palmer Engineering for Job 0302, including investigation, study and plan preparation, specifications, bid review, construction observation and construction supervision associated with the water plant and well security systems.

Councilor Erdman moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that an agreement for professional services with Palmer Engineering, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary's Original Resolution 03-102 included with these minutes.)

RESOLUTION 03-103 ADOPTED – ACCEPTING BID FOR JOB 0125

City Manager Sparks noted that the City had accepted bids for Job 0125, the bituminous overlay of Kevin Drive, Eunice Drive and Kenneth Drive in Dawn Acres Subdivision (2003 Bituminous Contract No. 2), and the low bidder was Ulland Bros. at a total cost of $95,451.25.

Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Kron seconded, that the bid of Ulland Bros. for Job 0125 at a total cost of $95,451.25, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary's Original Resolution 03-103 included with these minutes.)

RESOLUTION 03-104 ADOPTED – APPROVING SELCO SERVICE AGREEMENT

City Manager Sparks explained that this resolution approves a contract with SELCO for library services for the coming year. He noted that staff is in discussions with SELCO about the basis of circulation for allocation of costs.

After Council discussion, Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Kron seconded, that Resolution 03-104, approving the SELCO service agreement with the condition that the staff continue to negotiate the method of charging for usage, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution 03-104 included with these minutes.)

RESOLUTION 03-105 ADOPTED – ORDERLY ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY ASTRUP/SCOTT/ACKLAND AND PRO TRUCKING

City Manager Sparks reported that this resolution provides for orderly annexation of the area east of Trails Truck Stop that encompasses the development property for the Astrup/Scott/Ackland development as well as the Pro Trucking property. Once the annexation has been accepted by the State, the City can begin the process for a tax increment district for the utility improvements that will be necessary to serve the area.

After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that Resolution 03-105, providing for the orderly annexation of the property outlined above, be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution 03-105 included with these minutes.)

RESOLUTION 03-106 ADOPTED – DEDICATING TWO STRIPS OF LAND IN SHERBURNE SUBDIVISION

City Manager Sparks explained that the City of Albert Lea owns two ten-foot strips of land identified as Outlots A and B in Sherburne’s Subdivision which have caused title problems for the adjacent properties and noted that the attorney for one of the property owners has requested that the City permit access either by dedicating the street or in some other manner.

After Council discussion, Councilor Fjelstad moved, Councilor Erdman seconded, that the property described as Outlots A and B in Sherburne’s Subdivision be declared a public street. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution 03-106 included with these minutes.)

UNLISTED ITEMS

MAYOR’S ITEMS

a) Thanked Rich Sydnes and his group for applying for a Minnesota Cities Achievement Award.

b) Thanked Paul Jerdee, Joe Grossman, Jay Hutchison and Rich Sydnes for offering City projects
     to the United Way Week of Caring which starts next week.

c) We are going to hold Hometown Pride City Clean-up Days on May 17 and May 24 with
   extended hours at the transfer station from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. This Saturday, Waste
   Systems will donate a dumpster to be manned by members of the City Council at 9 a.m. in the
   parking lot behind the Civic Theatre. We are requesting that only clean household garbage, no
   tires, hazardous waste, etc. be brought to this dumpster.

d) The City will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the platted and recorded City in 2006. We
     should begin planning for this event.

e) Please listen to the "Meet the Mayor" radio show the day after Council meetings at 3:30 p.m.
   The guest tomorrow will be Mike Woitas of the CVB Board and the topic will be National
   Tourism Week and the economic impact of tourism in the State and City.

f) Thanked Jill Slette for the Hometown Pride Bus Tour of Freeborn County.

WARD ITEMS

Second Ward, Councilor Erdman:

a) Thanked Dan Dorman for his courage, commitment and efforts on behalf of Albert Lea
    with regard to proposed cuts to Local Government Aid.

b) Commended Mayor Eaton on her organization of the Hometown Pride City-wide Clean-
   up days and hopes everyone takes part to make our City more attractive and more
   appealing to visitors.

Third Ward, Councilor Marin:

a) Thanked Representative Dorman and also the City Manager in having a strong voice and
     trying their best to hold on to the money we usually get.

b) Thanked the Mayor for her work on the clean-up days and commented that if each person
     took responsibility for his area of the City

c) Asked about garbage cans being left at the curbside. City Manager Sparks responded
   that the City has no ordinance against it, that the ordinance was introduced but didn’t
   pass. Marin encouraged listeners to put their garbage cans away.

d) Thanked the Lake Committee for stickers on the sewer inlets.

e) Asked who is responsible for mowing the grass strips along the lake. City Manager
    Sparks responded that the City mows along Lakeview Boulevard and the residents along
    Lake Shore Drive are responsible for cutting.

f) Asked about charge for permanent steps. City Manager responded that the City charges
  an additional fee to assure compliance with City requirements and to help pay for
  additional maintenance and inspection required by these dock sites.

g) Commended the Fire Department for efforts to clean-up cars across from his church.

Fourth Ward, Councilor Fjelstad:

a) Asked that residents not bring tires and hazardous materials to the dumpster site on
    Saturday.

Fifth Ward, Councilor Kron:

a) Noted that First Lutheran Church has requested additional handicap stalls on the south
   side of Clark Street adjacent to the church and moved to authorize additional handicap
   stalls at this site, seconded by Councilor Erdman. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in
   favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the additional stalls
   authorized.

PUBLIC ITEMS

Patrick Corrigan, 814 Frank Hall Drive, thanked the City for having the trailer parked on the street on Frank Avenue moved and the Fire Department for having the burned-out house boarded up. Mr. Corrigan also commented that with the construction around the Courthouse that it is difficult to park in the area. He asked that College Street between Broadway and Newton be posted for 30-minute parking.

Councilor Marin questioned the Mayor on her announcement that anyone wishing to speak under public items be a voting resident of the City.

Karen Trow, 522 Park Avenue, commented that with all of the rain the City has received that Katherine Island is having a rough time with the high water level and requested that the lake be designated for no-wake until the water has receded to normal levels.

ADJOURNMENT – 8:07 P.M.

Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Marin seconded, that there being no further business, the council meeting be adjourned until the next regular meeting of the Albert Lea City Council on Tuesday, May 27, 2003. On roll call vote, all councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.

Filed and attested May 13, 2003.

 

_______________________________ ________________________________

Secretary of the Council Mayor

Old City Council Minutes

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