MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020
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, December 1, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, John T. Buckley, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, and Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet were present via electronic means. Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering was absent.
Council Member Sandgren requested Council move the consent agenda item 6A – Approve Business License Renewal Applications to the regular agenda.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda with the amendment to move the consent agenda item 6A – Approve Business License Renewal Applications to the regular agenda, item 9C. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the November 17, 2020, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Letter of Intent to Purchase/Redevelop Hospital Site.
David Schooff, President/Broker/Owner of Fisher Group of Mankato, was present via electronic means.
Mr. Muetzel stated the current hospital site located at 100 Fallwood Road will be vacated by Carris Health in the spring. In September 2019, Council approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be distributed to entities that could be interested in repurposing the building. Staff received one response to the RFP and the respondent was interviewed by the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee determined the response was not a viable option. City Staff contacted the Fisher Group to discuss marketing the property for sale. Mr. Schooff and a partner toured the property and started the conversation about redeveloping the property. Since the initial walk-through, Mr. Schooff and his team have toured the property on several occasions with architects and engineers in order to determine the feasibility of the project.
Mr. Muetzel stated David Schooff, on behalf of Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group and Alliance Contracting, presented a Letter of Intent for Northwest Development Group, LLC to acquire and redevelop the existing hospital building. The intended redevelopment is proposed to be utilized for market-rate multi-family housing and mixed-use office space.
Mr. Schooff stated after touring the property and reviewing the condition, the Fisher Group felt this would be a good property to reposition into the community. There is a known need for housing in the community and the Fisher Group wants to provide what is best for the community and work with Council and staff to provide that.
Mr. Muetzel stated the significant terms of the Letter of Intent include: City to transfer ownership of the building to Northwest Development Group, LLC for $1.00; City to approve a Tax Increment Financing District to assist with redevelopment costs; Transfer of ownership is to occur on or before June 30, 2021; City agrees to exclusive negotiations with Northwest Development Group, LLC for a thirty (30) day period.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Letter of Intent to Purchase/Redevelop Hospital Site. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins introduced Resolution No. 60 of 2020 – Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rates.
Mr. Heins stated the City has partnered with Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) to install an electric vehicle charging station located at the Redwood Area Community Center (RACC) on the north side of the main parking lot. All of the infrastructure is installed and the chargers are nearly operational, but the usage rate needs to be established before customers can use the chargers.
Mr. Heins stated SMMPA and the equipment provider, Zeb Energy, have given some guidance on what they feel the standard rate should be. Staff has taken their suggestion and are asking to set the rates as follows, the Fast Charger rate should be a $5.00 connection fee plus $0.30 per minute; the Level 2 Charger should be set at $2.00 per hour. The Fast Charger will charge a vehicle to 80% in about one hour. The Level 2 Charger can take nine hours to fully charge. There are four Level 2 Chargers and one Fast Charger installed at the RACC. Once the rates are approved, the chargers can be activated for use.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 60 of 2020 – Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rates. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 60 of 2020 – Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rates. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush introduced the 2021 Business License Renewals for approval.
Council Member Sandgren stated due to COVID-19 closures, Council should consider giving 2021 license holders a refund on the 2021 liquor license fees. The current 2021 license holders were also license holders in 2020 and affected by the closures.
Council Members agreed, due to the forced bar and restaurant closures because of COVID-19, the on-sale liquor license holders were not able to utilize the liquor license and should be refunded a portion of the 2021 fee as compensation for the closures occurring in 2020. If more closures are required for bars and restaurants, Council will evaluate the liquor license fee again.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the 2021 business license renewals and a refund of 25% of the 2021 license fees for all on-sale license holders. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ON SALE 3.2 MALT LIQUOR:
• Redwood County Ag Society
• Bridge Street Cuisine, Inc. d.b.a. Country Kitchen
ON SALE LIQUOR:
• Las Lomas, Inc. d.b.a. Plaza Garibaldi
• American Legion Post #38
• Redwood Falls Golf Club, Inc.
• Redwood Co VFW Post 2553
• Duffy’s South Inc. d.b.a Duffy’s Riverside Saloon
• Barnes Enterprises d.b.a. Barney’s Burger & Brew
ON SALE SUNDAY LIQUOR:
• Las Lomas, Inc. d.b.a. Plaza Garibaldi
• American Legion Post #38
• Redwood Falls Golf Club, Inc.
• Redwood Co VFW Post 2553
• Duffy’s South Inc. d.b.a Duffy’s Riverside Saloon
• Barnes Enterprises d.b.a. Barney’s Burger & Brew
WINE:
• Bridge Street Cuisine, Inc. d.b.a. Country Kitchen
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the 2021 business license renewals. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
CIGARETTE AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS:
• Tersteeg’s Inc.
• Wal-Mart #1865
• Farmers Coop Company of Renville d.b.a Cenex
• Redwood Falls Municipal Liquor Store d.b.a Liquor Lodge
• Casey’s Retail Company #2184
• Casey’s Retail Company #3277
• Redwood Co VFW Post 2553
OFF SALE 3.2 MALT LIQUOR:
• Wal-Mart #1865
SOLID WASTE HAULING – COMMERICAL:
• Southwest Sanitation, Inc.
• West Central Sanitation, Inc.
• R&E Sanitation, Inc.
• Waste Management of MN, Inc.
SOLID WASTE HAULING – RESIDENTIAL:
• West Central Sanitation, Inc.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE:
• Mind Body Spirit Wellness Center – Shawn Dixon
• Riverbend Therapeutic Massage – Tammy Tordsen
• Bridge Street Massage – Dakotah Harmoning
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 Smith to adjourn the meeting at 5:49 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.