Public Meeting—2017 Citizen of the Year Program
SAUK RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL
SAUK RAPIDS GOVERNMENT CENTER,
250 Summit Ave. N.
Monday, April 24, 2017
5:15PM
REGULAR MEETING
SAUK RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL
SAUK RAPIDS GOVERNMENT CENTER, 250 Summit Ave N.
Monday, April24, 2017
6:00PM
MINUTES
6:00 P.M.
- Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
Acting MayorSteve Heinencalled the meeting to order at 6:00p.m. Members present:Ellen Thronson, Nick Sauer, and Jason Ellering. Members absent: Kurt Hunstiger.Others present: Ross Olson, City Administrator, Todd Schultz, Community Development Director,Terry Wotzka, City Engineer,Chad Staul,City Attorney,Perry Beise, Police Chief, Jack Kahlhamer, Finance Director,and Dana Furman, Administrative Services Coordinator
2. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
Ross Olson requested to add Farmers Market Request for Potential Location as agenda item 11-B.
3. Approve the Agenda
Motion: Moved by CouncilpersonSauerand seconded by CouncilpersonElleringto approve the Agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Approve Minutes
A. 4-10-17 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion: Moved by CouncilpersonThronsonand seconded by CouncilpersonSauerto approve the
4-10-17 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Receive and File
NONE
6. Mayor’s Communication
- 2017 Citizen of the Year, Jodi Speicher—Acting Mayor Heinen recognized Jodi Speicher as the 2017 Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year. He presented Ms. Speicher with a framed Mayoral Proclamation proclaiming today Jodi Speicher day in the City of Sauk Rapids. Acting Mayor Heinen also read one of the nomination letters that highlighted the many reasons why Jodi Speicher was deserving of the Citizen of the Year title.
7. Audience Items/VisitorsTotal Time Limit 2 Minutes for Items NOT on the Agenda
NONE
8. Public Hearings
NONE
9. Consent Agenda
A. Approve and Authorize Addendum to Annual On-Sale Liquor License for Old Capital Tavern’s 5 Year Anniversary Party
B. Approve Mayor’s Appointment to the Planning Commission
C. Approve Appointment to Open Utility Position
D. Approve Finance Director’s Continuing Professional Education Request
E. Approve Fee Reduction for Habitat for Humanity House
F. Consider City Administrator and Council Member Attendance to the Annual League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Conference
G. Approve 2017 Plumbing and Mechanical Contractor Licenses
H. Approved Revised Offer for Easement on the 2017 2nd Avenue South Improvement Project
Motion: Moved by CouncilpersonElleringand seconded by Councilperson Thronsonto approve agenda items 9A-9H.Motion carried unanimously.
10. Regular Agenda
A. Fire Department Air Boat Purchase Update
Jason Adamski, Sauk Rapids Fire Department, discussed how his daughter Madelyn was able to raise $58,584 to purchase a fire boat for the Sauk Rapids Fire Department. Adamski stated that he has talked to another donor who is willing to donate the remaining balance of $13,345. He noted that the Air Boat Committee received two quotes on air boats from American Airboat Corp. and the other quote was from Alumitech Inc. Adamski said that the Air Boat Committee is pushing for American Airboat due to their response time and customer service. Adamski stated that American Airboat has talked to their supplier and with the donations that they are willing to make it makes their price come more in line with the price quoted by Alumitech. American Airboat has also agreed to include the required air boat training for the Fire Department personnel who are going to be trained in for free. Adamski noted that the Fire Fighters who will be trained in to operate the air boat will need an additional 1-2 hours of training each month strictly related to operating the air boat.
Councilperson Ellering asked if there are any local air boat dealers or if it is always a representative from Texas that would have to fly here if there are major issues with the air boat. Adamski said that there isn’t local air boat dealers, but that the City Mechanic who is also a Fire Fighter is also getting trained in, so he should be able to handle a lot of the maintenance issues on the air boat. Councilperson Ellering congratulated Madelyn for her fund raising efforts and a job well done.
Councilperson Sauer asked about the additional training and what the extra cost would be. Adamski said that the training for the air boat would be handled the same way as any other Fire Department training that deals with a particular piece of equipment or fire fighting tools. Counciperson Sauer thanked Madelyn for all that she has done to raise funds for the Sauk Rapids Fire Department.
Councilperson Thronson thanked Madelyn for doing an amazing job in raising these funds that will benefit the community. Councilperson Thronson asked what other communities have an airboat in the State of Minnesota. Adamski said that Wright County, Alexandria, Elk River, and the Duluth area all have an airboat, but there is nothing close enough in which to help out in Sauk Rapids. Adamski said that the air boat will be a huge benefit to the Sauk Rapids community.
Ross Olson thanked the Air Boat Committee and Madelyn for all of the time and work that they have put into this venture. Olson said that staff will work with the Committee to organize all of the information that has been presented and bring it back to the Council for appropriate approvals in the near future.
Acting Mayor Heinen thanked Adamski and his daughter for all of their work.
B. Community Solar Subscription
Todd Schultz informed the Council that staff has been working with representatives from US Solar on a City subscription to solar gardens that US Solar is constructing.
Schultz noted that this program was created based on a recent law passed by the State Legislature. He explained that how this program works is that a solar company builds out a solar site and then puts that electricity on Xcel’s grid. In return, Xcel would reduce the City’s bill. Schultz said that of that savings, the City keeps a portion and the rest of the savings is sent to US Solar by the City.
Schultz pointed out that the City subscribed to the Geronimo site last May, which the City is expected to save $474,605.31 over 25 years with the Geronimo project. He noted that the Geronimo project is a little different than the US Solar subscription being considered tonight. Schultz said that with the US Solar subscription, the savings are tied to the cost of the electricity. He explained that in theory there is the risk that the City’s cost for electricity could actually be more with this subscription if the cost of energy goes down over the next 25 years, but nobody expects that to happen. Because the City is taking on a little risk with the US Solar subscription, the savings are expected to be about twice as great as that of the Geronimo subscription.
Schultz stated that the State law requires that subscribers be an Xcel customer and the gardens that the City would subscribe to must be in the Same County that the City is in or an adjacent County. He explained that the two gardens that the City would be subscribing to will both be in Stearns County. The City Council has already said that it will not subscribe to any gardens that are in City limits or the annexation areas. Schultz noted that the maximum amount that the City can subscribe to is 120% of the City’s average annual electric consumption.
Schultz said that staff and Legal have reviewed the terms and are recommending approval.
Motion: Moved by Councilperson Sauer and seconded by Councilperson Thronsonto authorize the execution of the US Solar conracts on the condition that none of the sites that Sauk Rapids subscribes to are in the City or the annexation area. Motion carried unanimously.
11. Other Staff Items
- Flushing Water Lines Notice
Dana Furman noted that starting today the Public Works Department will be flushing water lines. Furman said that residents may experience low pressure from time to time during the flushing procedure, but residents shouldn’t be alarmed as it will only be for a short duration lasting less than one hour. The flushing project should be completed in two to three weeks.
- Farmers Market Potential Location
Ross Olson stated that staff was contacted earlier today by the person who organized last year’s Farmers Market in Sauk Rapids. Olson noted that the organizers of the Farmers Market were inquiring about the possibility of holding the Farmers Market at the Sauk Rapids Government Center. Olson said that because this question was just posed to staff today, staff has not had time to fully discuss and investigate whether or not the Government Center would be a viable option. Olson said that if the Council is okay with it, staff will look into this request further and possibly come back to the Council with a recommendation if the Farmers Market group decides that they want to pursue the Government Center parking lot option.
Councilperson Sauer asked what day of the week that the Farmers Market group is currently proposing. Olson said that he wasn’t sure that a day of the week has been determined. Olson explained that the day of the week may make a difference as it pertains to the Government Center. Olson said that with the Community Room rentals it is always hard to know what the parking needs are, so this is something that will need to be further discussed with the Farmers Market group.
Councilperson Sauer said that he would be in support of staff looking further into this request as he feels that the Farmers Market provides a great community activity.
The Council agreed by consensus for staff to further examine the request.
12. Other Council Items and Communications
NONE
13. Approve List of Bills and Claims
Motion: Moved by CouncilpersonThronsonand seconded by Councilperson Sauerto approve the List of Bills and Claims. Motion carried unanimously.
14. Adjournment
Motion: Moved by CouncilpersonSauerand seconded by CouncilpersonThronsonto adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Acting Mayor Heinen adjourned the meeting at6:41p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dana Furman, Administrative Services Coordinator
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