MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
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 5, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and John T. Buckley were present, constituting a quorum. Council Member Matt Smith was absent.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the November 21, 2023, 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 items on the Consent Agenda.
1. 2024 Business License Renewals
2. 2023 Pay Equity Compliance Report
3. On Sale Liquor and Tobacco Licenses – Fernelius Enterprises LLC, dba Redwood Falls Golf Club
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 88, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the November 21, 2023, City Council Meeting. The City received a request from Bob LeSage on behalf of R & R Partnership, John & Tina Jenniges, and Prouty Properties to rezone the properties located at 820 E. Plum Street, 210 North Patten Street, 204 North Patten Street, and parcel #88-131-4050 (no address assigned) from R-4 to B-2; to also rezone 905 E. Plum Street from R-2 to B-2; rezone the south half of 900 E. Elm Street (#88-131-4070) currently zoned R-M to a B-2; and rezone the north half of 900 E. Elm Street (#88-131-4070) from R-M to R-2.
Mr. Dammann stated the applicant is also in the process of completing a minor subdivision to split 900 E. Elm Street into two equal parcels. 900 E. Elm Street is currently zoned R-M but the property is not being utilized as a Manufactured Home Park. The zoning request includes rezoning the north half to R-2 and the south half to B-2. These changes better suit the surrounding properties and uses. With the request to also rezone 905 E. Plum St. to B-2, the applicant intends to combine 905 E. Plum St. with the south half of 900 E. Elm St. to construct commercial storage buildings.
Mr. Dammann stated based on the current commercial use of the requested parcels and the surrounding properties, the business zoning designation fits this area better than the current residential zoning. The request to re-zone the property was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 8, 2023. The Planning and Zoning Commission, along with City staff, recommend approval of the re-zone and Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Dammann further stated state law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As Council is aware, Ordinance No. 88, Fourth Series is lengthy and authorizes a change to the zoning map referred to in Section 6.03 of the Unified Development Ordinance. However, Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.191, subd. 4, allows publication by title and summary in the case of lengthy ordinances or those containing charts or maps. Staff has prepared Resolution No. 74 of 2023 and Exhibit A which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 88 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Ordinance No. 88, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Kerkhoff, Sandgren, Buckley, and Arentson
NO: None
ABSENT: Council Member Smith
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 74 of 2023 – Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance
Mr. Dammann stated state law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As discussed, Ordinance No. 88, Fourth Series is lengthy and authorizes a change to the zoning map referred to in Section 6.03 of the Unified Development Ordinance. However, Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.191, subd. 4, allows publication by title and summary in the case of lengthy ordinances or those containing charts or maps. Staff has prepared Resolution No. 74 of 2023 and Exhibit A which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 88 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 74 of 2023 – Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 74 of 2023 – Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Bids to Furnish Electric Utility Materials.
Mr. Muetzel stated on November 22, bids were publicly opened for materials related to the 2024 Electric Distribution Improvement Project. Per the bid advertisement, bids were due at 1:15 p.m. on November 22 and bidders were required to include a bid bond in the amount of 10% of each of the six bid items. At the bid opening, bids were received by four vendors and several bid inconsistencies were noted. One of the vendors included the appropriate bid bond but did not submit a bid for each bid item. Two vendors did not include a bid bond for all bid items and one vendor failed to include a bid bond for any item. Finally, a bid from a fifth vendor was delivered by UPS and received at 10:00 a.m. on November 27. Staff has reviewed the bids and recommends rejecting all bids and rebidding the materials due to the multiple bid inconsistencies as well as remove the bid bond requirement. Bidders will still be required to provide a performance bond.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the request to reject all bids and advertise for new bids without the bid bond requirement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 75 of 2023 – Resolution Adjusting Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Storm Sewer Service Charges.
Ms. Klages stated DGR Engineering developed water rates to provide an increase of 8.7% per cubic foot sold and 8.7% per infrastructure base charge. The sanitary sewer rates have been developed to provide an increase of 9.5% per cubic foot used and 9.5% per infrastructure base charge. The storm sewer rates have been developed to provide an increase of 6% per infrastructure base charge. Staff recommends approval of the proposed 2024 rates.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 75 of 2023 – Resolution Adjusting Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Storm Sewer Service Charges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 75 of 2023 – Resolution Adjusting Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Storm Sewer Service Charges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 76 of 2023 – Resolution Establishing Rates for Municipal Electric Utilities.
Ms. Klages stated DGR Engineering compiled results from a study done of the allocated cost of serving various classes of the Public Utilities retail customers. As a result of the study, the rates have been developed to provide an overall increase in revenues of 5%. Staff recommends approval of the rate changes.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 76 of 2023 – Resolution Establishing Rates for Municipal Electric Utilities. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 76 of 2023 – Resolution Establishing Rates for Municipal Electric Utilities. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush will be unable to attend the Council Meetings scheduled for December 19, 2023 and January 2, 2024 in-person. Mayor Quackenbush will be attending the meetings remotely and notice will be provided prior to the meeting as required by State law.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the next City Council Meeting on December 19, 2023 is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and will begin with the scheduled public hearing to establish the 2024 budget.
City Administrator Muetzel stated Council members and Mayor Quackenbush received a letter from the Women’s Rural Advocacy Program, Inc. (WRAP) requesting the City consider donating to WRAP when discussing available uses for the Public Safety Aid one-time funds the City would be receiving. However, Council approved the proposed allocation of all available Public Safety Aid funds at the City Council meeting on August 1, 2023.
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 Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.