Albert Lea, MN June 9, 2003

 

Captain Matthew Hundley, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 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 Warren Amundson, Randy Erdman, George Marin, Jeff Fjelstad, Mary Kron, Al Brooks and Mayor Jean Eaton. 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 MAY 27, 2003.

b) APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING LICENSES:

ANNUAL LICENSES

FIREWORKS

B.J. Alan Company, 555 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Youngstown, OH (at Snyder Drug

TAXICAB

E & H Taxi Services, 532 East Main Street

TEMPORARY LICENSES

FOOD/BEVERAGE

Fountain Warehouse Liquor, 160 Bridge Avenue, for July 3

PUBLIC DANCE

Brandi Sartain & Jeffrey Draayer, 605 East Hawthorne, for wedding dance at the City Arena on June 28

(c) RESOLUTION 03-114 ADOPTED – APPROVING LAWFUL GAMBLING APPLICATION: Resolution 03-114 approves a Minnesota Lawful Gambling LG220 Application for Exempt Permit to conduct a raffle on September 26, 2003 at 75507 240th Street.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution

03-114 included with these minutes.)

(d) RESOLUTION 03-115 ADOPTED - CLAIMS: Resolution 03-115 presents the financial claims of the City.

(See Secretary's Original Resolution 03-115 included with these minutes.)

Councilor Amundson moved, Councilor Marin 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 LOADING ZONE APPROVED

City Manager Sparks told the Council that the Americana National Bank has submitted a request for a loading zone parking space on College Street at Washington Avenue. The bank owns the building and uses it for processing which requires daily deliveries by couriers at that location between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.

After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that the request of Americana National Bank for a loading zone space as outlined above be approved. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the request approved.

BOARD OF REVIEW REPORT ACCEPTED

City Manager Sparks explained that the Board of Review report was received and is before the City Council for final action.

Councilor Amundson moved, Councilor Brooks seconded, that the Board of Review report be accepted. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the report accepted.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

City Manager Sparks informed the Council that it is necessary to make council appointments to two boards as follows:

Councilor Warren Amundson to the Blazing Star Trail Joint Powers Board

Mayor Jean Eaton to the Freeborn County Family Services Collaborative

Councilor Marin moved, Councilor Kron seconded, that the proposed board appointments be approved. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried.

DEMOLITION OF 1520 HAWTHORNE STREET DISCUSSED

Councilor Fjelstad, the Council representative for the property, asked that this item be carried over to the next Council meeting. No action was taken on this item.

RESOLUTION 03-116 ADOPTED – APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR MOSQUITO SPRAYING

City Manager Sparks told the Council that the City staff has received several calls about mosquito spraying. He noted that no money has been appropriated but that if the Council wishes to proceed with the abatement program, the staff would arrange for the contractor. He also noted that the City has received approval from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to proceed with spraying whenever we are ready. He estimated the cost for spraying would be somewhere in the $30,000 to $35,000 range.

Council discussion centered around a need to budget this item annually, the possibility of charging for spraying on the water/sewer bill and a reminder to residents to keep standing water out of yards.

After Council discussion, Councilor Marin moved, Councilor Amundson seconded, that Resolution 03-116, appropriating funds for a mosquito abatement program 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 03-116 included with these minutes.)

RESOLUTION 03-117 ADOPTED - AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR JOB 0233

City Manager Sparks reported that the Wastewater Treatment Plant is experiencing maintenance problems with the roofs and TKDA has inspected the roofs and recommends replacement of four roofs with replacements scheduled for 2003 for the control/filter building and pump/blower building and replacements scheduled for 2004 for the sludge thickening building and the digester control building. Zenk Read Trygstad & Associates has completed the plans and specifications for the reroofing of the Wastewater Treatment Plant control/filter building and pump/blower building (Job 0233) and has estimated the cost for both at $120,000 and is prepared to advertise the project.

After Council discussion, Councilor Brooks moved, Councilor Erdman seconded, that Resolution 03-117, authorizing the City Engineering staff to proceed with advertisements for bids for Job 0233, reroofing of the WWTP control/filter building and pump/blower building, 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 03-117 included with these minutes.)

 

RESOLUTION 03-118 ADOPTED – ACCEPTING BID FOR JOB 0221

City Manager Sparks noted that the City has accepted bids for 2003 Sewer Repair, Sliplining and Concrete Roadway Reconstruction #1, Marshall Street from Johnson Street to Bridge Avenue (Job 0221) and the low bidder was Sorensen Bros., Inc., Albert Lea, at a total cost of $86,304.45.

Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Marin seconded, that the bid of Sorensen Bros., Inc. for Job 0221 at a total cost of $86,304.45, 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 03-118 included with these minutes.)

 

CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR TWO LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFERS

City Manager Sparks reported that the City Clerk had received two applications for transfer of liquor licenses. The first is a transfer of the Marilyn Osborne off-sale intoxicating liquor license from 137 East Clark Street to 101 South Newton Avenue and the second is a transfer of the on-sale intoxicating liquor license at 137 East Clark Street from Sue Miller d/b/a Your Place to Bueno Management, Inc. d/b/a Nite Move’s.

Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Amundson seconded, that a public hearing for the two above-listed liquor license transfers be set for the Council’s next regular meeting on June 23, 2003. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the public hearing set.

 

UNLISTED ITEMS

WARD ITEMS

First Ward, Councilor Amundson:

(a) Reported that on Green Lea Lane going east from Greenwood Avenue there is a collection of water which is not draining and appears to be trapped in the curb area.

Second Ward, Councilor Erdman:

(a) Noted that the Council had considered parking restrictions around the Albert Lea Medical Center at its last meeting. He explained that the Mayor had talked with ALMC management and that he is proposing the following restrictions:

Fountain Street from Vine Avenue to Broadway Avenue be posted for no parking Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Park Avenue from Fountain Street to Mariner’s Lane be posted for no parking Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Existing parking restrictions and handicap stalls shall remain the same.

Councilor Erdman moved to approve the above-listed parking restrictions. Councilor Amundson seconded the motion.

Karen Szymanowski, 608 Fountain Street, appeared in favor of the parking restrictions. She also requested yellow curb at her driveway.

Dale Johnston, 612 Fountain, appeared in favor of the parking restrictions.

After Council discussion and on roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion with the exception of Councilor Marin who voted nay. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.

(See Secretary’s Original Resolution 03-119 included with these minutes.)

(b) Asked what the schedule is for street sweeping. He has received complaints about lack of street sweeping. Public Works Director Olson reported that the City has been swept twice, that they do the downtown on Fridays and they respond to complaints. Councilor Erdman told Mr. Olson that the complaints are mostly on Clark Street.

Third Ward, Councilor Marin:

(a) Reported tall grass at Mill and Euclid.

(b) Asked that consideration be given to putting sidewalk along Morin Park along Main Street.

(c) Reminded residents to avoid mowing grass clippings into the storm sewer inlets.

(d) Moved to cleanup the old Wastewater Treatment Plant site. He requested that the site be graded and shoreline protection installed, get rid of the drying pits, the stockpiles of dirt and concrete with some other location designated for storage, seconded by Councilor Erdman.

Discussion centered around a need to dump snow at that location during the winter, a desire to get rid of the drying beds, plant grass and do a general clean-up of the area to make it more attractive. Mayor Eaton reminded the Council that this is one of the eyesores that was discussed at the Council retreat.

After Council discussion and on roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of the motion with the exception of Councilors Amundson and Brooks who voted nay. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried.

(e) Noted that he made the motion to deny the request for a Library study at the last Council meeting but that he isn’t opposed to a new library. It is a matter of timing with all of the budget concerns and a lack of information. He requested a workshop meeting with the Library Advisory Board and the Librarian and specifically requested discussion on the following items:

(1) Need

(2) All possible locations

(3) What happens to the present Library space

(4) Funding options

(5) How will a new Library positively affect our community for growth and progress

(6) Where does the Board feel this project should fit on the strategic plan timeline to be established for the City.

Mayor Eaton commented that she would like to include it in the workshop to discuss a historic downtown and Councilor Marin felt that would be appropriate.

Fourth Ward, Councilor Fjelstad:

(a) Asked when the workshop is scheduled. City Manager Sparks replied June 24.

(b) Feels that it is a good idea to discuss the Library at that workshop meeting.

(c) Requested a complete history on the property at 714 East Hawthorne.

Fifth Ward, Councilor Kron:

(a) Received a few comments about putting a casino at the Farmland site.

Mayor Eaton noted that that issue will probably come up in the strategic plan. The City, the County and the Chamber are working on the issue of what to do with the Farmland site.

Sixth Ward, Councilor Brooks:

(a) Noted the curb at 609 East 16th Street is damaged.

(b) Requested that the trailer park mow the bare lots.

(c) Requested that the Planning Commission consider a change to the zoning ordinance to permit bait shops in residential areas.

MAYOR’S ITEMS

(a) Encouraged everyone to listen to the "Meet the Mayor" radio show tomorrow.

Her guest will be Phil Bartusek and they will discuss compliance checks and the bike patrol.

ADJOURNMENT – 8:20 P.M.

Councilor Marin moved, Councilor Amundson 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, June 23, 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 June 10, 2003.

_______________________________ ________________________________

Secretary of the Council Mayor

Old City Council Minutes

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