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, April 17, 2018, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Corey Theis and Council Members Paul DeBlieck, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren and John T. Buckley were present constituting a quorum. Council Member Matt Smith was absent.
Also present were Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, City Attorney Amy Busse and Council Secretary Amy Kerkhoff. Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering was absent.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley approving the agenda as presented. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member DeBlieck and seconded by Council Member Arentson approving the April 3, 2018, minutes as presented. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving the April 10, 2018, Board of Equalization and Review minutes as presented. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Zoning Administrator Tim Hanna discussed a request from Steven and Angela Schroeder for a variance to reduce their rear yard setback in order to construct an addition to the home with an attached garage.
Angela Schroeder was present to discuss the request.
Mr. Hanna stated staff feels the Schroeder’s have a hardship with no driveway or access from the front of the property leaving the rear of the property as the only suitable space. The landowners did not create the current circumstances and the proposed variance does put the property to reasonable use. This use is within the essential character and harmony with the neighborhood. Due to these circumstances and meeting the required criteria, the Planning Commission recommends approval of the variance request.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and Council Member Arentson approving the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve Steven and Angela Schroeder’s variance request to reduce the rear yard setback from 30’ to 17’ to construct an addition at 309 North Drury Street, Ramsey Park Addition, Lot 2, Block 6, and parcel 88-721-0520. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Zoning Administrator Tim Hanna discussed a request from Jim Heidecker on behalf of Southside Storage to rezone the property located at 211 North Patten Street from an R-4 to a B-2 to construct commercial storage buildings.
Jim and Richard Heidecker were present to discuss the request.
Mr. Hanna stated the Planning Commission felt the rezoning request of the property was the best use since the property borders several commercial properties with similar uses. The Planning Commission felt it would be difficult to deny the request due to the fact that the property has several properties in the area similar to the requested use.
City Attorney Amy Busse stated the proposed Ordinance will be discussed at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, and approved by roll call vote in accordance with Chapter 4 of the City Charter.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 61, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel discussed the potential affiliation of the Redwood Area Hospital with CentraCare Health and Carris Health.
The affiliation group members present were Legal Counsel Mary Foarde with Stinson Leonard Street, Redwood Area Hospital CEO Bryan Lydick, Carris Health Co-CEO Dr. Cindy Firkins-Smith, Carris Health Co-CEO Mike Schramm and CentraCare Health Vice President of Strategy Joe Hellie.
Redwood Area Hospital CEO Bryan Lydick stated the strategic plan intent is to work in collaboration with medical staff to ensure the community has the primary care and specialty physicians it needs today and in the future. Another strategic intent is to pursue partnerships to enhance business and clinical outcomes and complement the scope of services the Hospital can provide on its own. Benefits of the proposed affiliation include improved service expansion, access to support and expertise, stability and risk mitigation, physician recruitment and retention, access to capital and improved quality.
Mr. Lydick stated CentraCare, Carris Health, the City of Redwood Falls and the Redwood Area Hospital mutually have determined that a transfer of ownership is in the best interest of local healthcare delivery. Common missions, visions and passion for rural healthcare makes CentraCare Health and Carris Health strong partners for the delivery of safe, affordable and patient-centered health care in the City, in the greater area served by the Hospital, and in the region. CentraCare Health and Carris Health are committed to a vision of health care that is regional, community-based, integrated, collaborative, focused on improved health, better value, excellent patient experience, with engaged leadership, workforce, and communities. The City has determined that an affiliation with CentraCare Health and Carris Health can bring a needed comprehensive health campus, expertise and reduce the financial risk to the City operating significant healthcare business.
Mr. Lydick stated the Letter of Intent summarizes the potential transfer of ownership to CentraCare Health and Carris Health which will do the following:
· CentraCare/Carris Health acquires Redwood Area Hospital operations.
· Continue the payment in lieu of taxes for 10-years.
· CentraCare Health will invest $60 million over 10-years that will include a new medical campus.
· The City of Redwood Falls retains $5 million from the current Hospital Enterprise Fund.
· A short-term lease of the current Hospital for a minimum of two-years after closing.
· Local governance of the Hospital through a local Operation Committee consisting of five community members representing the Hospital’s service area.
· One seat on the Carris Health Board by the local Operation Committee.
Redwood Area Hospital Commissioner Eldon Fluck, Hospital Commissioner Calvin Jensen, Dr. Cindy Gronau, Dr. Michelle Cilek, Dr. Alan Olson and Dr. David Danielson were present to express their support of the affiliation with CentraCare and Carris Health.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving the consideration of the Letter of Intent for the affiliation of the Redwood Area Hospital with CentraCare Health and Carris Health. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution No. 25 of 2018 – Resolution Establishing combined Polling Places for Multiple Precincts for the City of Redwood Falls Primary, Presidential Nomination Primary and General Elections was presented by City Administrator Keith Muetzel.
Mr. Muetzel stated City staff has been working with the County to implement electronic registration and an electronic roster. By establishing a combined polling place for Wards 1, 2 & 3, all City residents will vote at the same polling location.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 25 of 2018 – Resolution Establishing combined Polling Places for Multiple Precincts for the City of Redwood Falls Primary, Presidential Nomination Primary and General Elections. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving Resolution No. 25 of 2018 – Resolution Establishing combined Polling Places for Multiple Precincts for the City of Redwood Falls Primary, Presidential Nomination Primary and General Elections. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution No. 26 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute the Small Wireless Facility Collocation Agreement with Verizon Wireless was presented by Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins.
Mr. Heins stated the resolution will allow Verizon to install small wireless facilities on three of the City’s street light poles. The proposed agreement is for ten years with three automatic extensions of five-year terms unless terminated by either party with proper notice per the contract. Rent will be paid annually at a rate of $300 per structure, with an increase of 2% each year. Verizon will also be responsible for all electrical usage on a monthly basis. Verizon will also be responsible for all expenses associated with the replacement of the existing structures to support the new equipment installed on each pole.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading Resolution No. 26 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute the Small Wireless Facility Collocation Agreement with Verizon Wireless. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member DeBlieck approving Resolution No. 26 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute the Small Wireless Facility Collocation Agreement with Verizon Wireless. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Keith Muetzel discussed a request from the Redwood Falls Committee requesting assistance with the upcoming NightFalls event to be held on May 4 and May 5, 2018, at Ramsey Park.
Mr. Muetzel stated the committee is requesting the following for the NightFalls event:
1. Use of the Lower Shelter and surrounding area, waiving the rental fees for both evenings.
2. Use of the Falls Shelter, surrounding area and the Falls overlook and surrounding area. The use would include closing the areas for each event and waive the rental fees.
3. Use of City equipment such as barricades, cones, picnic tables, etc.
4. Closure of the park road from Grove Street through the Swayback Bridge at 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on both evenings. The event hours will run from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
5. Redwood Falls Police Department assistance throughout the event.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson approving the Celebrate Redwood Falls Committee’s request for the NightFalls event. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Bills and Claims were presented to the 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 Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 6:22 p.m. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.