MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order at the Redwood Falls Public Library on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren, John T. Buckley, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, City Attorney Amy Busse and Council Secretary 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 Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve
the February 5, 2019, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
1. 2019 Commission Appointments
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Appoint Denise Kerkhoff to partial term as Council Liaison.
Library Commission
Appoint Denise Kerkhoff to partial term as Council Liaison.
Port Authority
Appoint Denise Kerkhoff to partial term as Council Representative.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced the Final Pay Reimbursement No. 5 for the 2018 Bridge Street Watermain Replacement.
Mr. Doering stated staff recommends approval of the Final Pay Reimbursement No. 5 to GM Contracting Inc. for the 2018 Bridge Street Watermain Replacement for $23,764. The final contract price totals $475,291. The final contract price is significantly less than the bid amount of $563,057. Much of the cost savings were realized in concrete removal and replacement areas that overlapped with MnDOT’s ADA project. Both MnDOT and the City experienced cost savings by sharing the concrete removal and replacement costs within the project area. This action will also set the two year maintenance period and set a final acceptance date of February 19, 2021.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Final Pay Reimbursement No. 5 for the 2018 Bridge Street Watermain Replacement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Fire Chief Jeff Bommersbach was present to introduce the request for the Fire Department Purchase of Motorola APX1000 Radios.
Mr. Bommersbach stated the Redwood Falls Fire Department requests approval to purchase four Motorola APX1000 (800 MHz) radios in the amount of $11,115. The department is short radios when they are on scene. The addition of four radios will put the department in a better position with regards to the communication system.
Mr. Bommersbach stated the 2019 budget supports this purchase. The Fire Department received a grant to purchase other equipment that was in the 2019 budget; allowing for funds to be available for this purchase.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the purchase of four Motorola APX1000 Radios. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the 2019 Joint City-School Projects request.
Mr. Muetzel stated the Community Center Board met on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 to review a list of project requests. The Board recommends approval of the 2019 Joint City-School Projects and request to disperse 2019 Joint City-School funds to Independent School District #2897.
Mr. Muetzel stated the money that is not spent each year will carry over to the next year allowing for larger purchases to align with the Community Center Board’s Capital Improvement Plan. The School District holds the funds and is responsible for the purchases.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Community Center Board’s project requests and the disbursement of the 2019 Joint City-School Funds in the amount of $10,000. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel presented Ordinance No. 63, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls.
Mr. Muetzel stated as part of the Supplement Service Plan with American Legal Publishing Corporation for the City’s Codification Services Agreement, staff received the Ninth Supplement to the Code of Ordinances. The Ordinances that were passed by the City Council in 2018 along with amendments are now incorporated into the code and ready for Council adoption.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 63, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel presented a recommendation to implement Winter Parking Restrictions.
Mr. Muetzel stated this winter’s high snow accumulations reached a point where several city streets are narrow and hard to navigate, which could make it difficult for fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles to reach their destinations. To minimize this public safety concern, staff recommends implementing Winter Parking Restriction to ensure that public safety vehicles can quickly respond to calls for help.
Mr. Muetzel stated the Winter Parking Restriction allows for parking only on the odd numbered side of the streets designated as non-Snow Emergency Routes until April 1st, or until conditions warrant lifting the restriction. Vehicles parked in violation of this restriction are subject to being ticketed and towed. If a snow emergency is declared, there is no parking on all city streets until the snowfall has ended and the street is completely plowed from curb to curb.
Mr. Muetzel further discussed and explained why the Winter Parking Restriction does not apply to certain locations.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Winter Parking Restriction. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush expressed his appreciation for the public works employees that have been working long hours dealing with the extremely cold temperatures and significant snow accumulation.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the City Council Chambers renovation should be completed before the next Council meeting on March 5, 2019.
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 Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:39 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.