MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order in the Municipal Chambers on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and John T. Buckley were present, constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the August 16, 2022 minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
- City Assistance with Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival Event
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Trenton Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 81, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances § 5.52 Pertaining to Temporary Liquor Licenses.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the August 16, 2022 Council meeting. City Staff previously received an inquiry as to whether certain licensees (clubs, non-profits, charitable and religious organizations) need to meet City and State insurance requirements prior to the issuance of temporary on-sale liquor licenses for social events. Current City practice is to require proof of insurance coverage prior to issuing a temporary on-sale liquor license for these events and licensees. City Code § 5.52 along with State statutes regulates the issuance of temporary liquor licenses within the City. Upon examining Minn. Stat. § 340A.404, subd. 10 and contacting League of Minnesota Cities staff members, it was determined that insurance requirements for temporary liquor licenses are not mandated by statute, but rather recommended by the League of Minnesota Cities.
Mr. Dammann stated upon meeting with the City’s budget committee, it was determined that a proposed ordinance would be drafted for Council approval. The proposed ordinance would no longer require prospective licensees to meet City and State insurance requirements for temporary on-sale liquor licenses, however, those requirements would continue to apply to those licensees hosting a social event on City owned property. Since the first reading of the ordinance on August 16, 2022, City Staff made one change to Subdivision 3, Paragraph C, to allow for the insurance requirement to apply to all “publicly owned” property instead of “City owned” property as previously written. The ordinance was posted with the modifications.
Mr. Dammann further stated the State Legislature also amended State liquor laws allowing for a new seven-day temporary liquor license allowing county agricultural societies to sell alcoholic beverages at county fairs. This change in statute was also contemplated and included in Ordinance No. 81.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Ordinance No. 81, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances § 5.52 Pertaining to Temporary Liquor Licenses. Motion passed by the following roll call vote:
AYE: Council Members Buckley, Sandgren, Kerkhoff, Smith, and Arentson
NO: None
Marty Seifert with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities was present to give an update on the 2022 legislative
session.
Parks & Recreation Director Ross Nachreiner was present to introduce Resolution No. 51 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City.
Mr. Nachreiner stated Resolution No. 51 of 2022 is accepting a financial donation in the amount of $1,479.27. The donation will be used to install a bench and plaque in Memory of Gerald Patten at Towne Square Park.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 51 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 51 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Parks & Recreation Director Nachreiner introduced the Community Center Vending Proposals.
Mr. Nachreiner stated the RACC/Redwood Falls Aquatic Center vendor request for proposals resulted in two (2) vendors with Viking Coca-Cola and Bernick’s Pepsi submitting proposals. The current vendor contract is with Bernick’s Pepsi and expires on September 30th, 2022. A comparison breakdown from both vendors illustrating the commission rates, wholesale & vending prices, and cash contribution was provided. Bernick’s cash contribution is less but the commission rate is much higher and would result in more revenue than the $5,000 difference over five (5) years. Staff recommends to approve the contract with Bernick’s Pepsi for a period of five (5) years.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Community Center Vending Proposal from Bernick’s Pepsi. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce Resolution No. 52 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 52 of 2022 is accepting a financial donation in the amount of $12,000 from the Redwood Area Library Foundation (RALF). The City Council previously approved hiring Engan Associates from Willmar, MN to do a pre-design bubble drawing for potential expansion of the Redwood Falls Public Library. The donor presented a check to the Redwood Area Library Foundation to cover the full amount agreed upon. Staff is requesting approval to accept the financial donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation to fund the drawings from Engan Associates.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 52 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 52 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins requested Council discuss and vote on Regular Agenda Item 9F – Electric System Long Range Plan Update prior to discussing and voting on Regular Agenda Item 9E – Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications for 2023 Underground Electric Projects.
Public Utilities Superintendent Heins introduced the Electric System Long Range Update.
Mr. Heins stated the previous electric system long-range plan was completed by DGR Engineering in 2007. Since 2007, the City has completed significant projects and loading changes, therefore it was determined that the City review and update the long-range plan. DGR worked closely with Staff and SMMPA to determine past and future loads and trends. The long-range Plan also lays out a strategy for system improvements over the next 20 years. It presents project costs in present-day dollars, which will aid in the budgeting process.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Electric System Long Range Update. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Heins introduced the Preparation of Plans and Specifications for 2023 Underground Electric Projects.
Mr. Heins stated as the construction season seems to be wrapping up, Staff is already starting to prepare for the next one. In the long-range plan, two of the projects that were identified are the overhead line from Country Kitchen to Minnwest Bank and from the current Reede Gray School to the High School athletic parking lot. Given material lead times and the need to secure contractors, it would be best to have the plans and specs done by January 1, 2023 and go out for bids soon after that. In addition to these two projects, Staff will also be working on the new addition power and possibly tackle one of the alleys that were part of the Drew Street project.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Preparation of Plans and Specifications for 2023 Underground Electric Projects. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced the Power Plant Road Stabilization Change Order No. 2.
Mr. Doering stated Change Order No. 1 was previously presented to Council in order to repair the penstock that failed on October 18, 2021, due to unforeseen conditions. This reset the original substantial completion date to September 2, 2022. An unintended result of Change Order No. 1 and the enabled new work on the penstock/flume repair prevented other key operations from being completed. Additional circumstances caused more delays such as the listed seasonal flooding and resulting landslide material inundating the project site and most recently a need to find specialized equipment for pumping cement to maintain site safety.
Mr. Doering stated Staff supports Change Order No. 2 and the supporting letters as required by Article 4 of the contract and Article 5 under the General Conditions of the same contract. Upon approval, the substantial completion date will be moved out to November 15, 2022, and the final completion date will be July 15, 2023, for the final wear course of bituminous landscaping and final billing of the project.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Power Plant Road Stabilization Change Order No. 2. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Hwy 19/71 Bridge Project is not scheduled to have any more complete bridge closures. Therefore, the Street Department will remove the temporary traffic controls put in place for the project closures, including cones, signs, and speed bumps.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering gave a brief update on the Lake Redwood dredge progress.
Bills and Claims were presented to Council for informational purposes. No questions, comments, or concerns were raised.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to adjourn the meeting at 5:51 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.