MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 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 5, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren and John T. Buckley 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 Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member ¬¬¬Sandgren to approve the January 15, 2019, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member ¬¬¬Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
1. 2019 Commission Appointments
HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Appoint Stephen Plaetz to 1st full term.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Appoint David Klabunde to 1st full term.
2. Declare Administrative Vehicle Surplus Property
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Zoning Administrator Tim Hanna was present to discuss Ordinance No. 62 – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Hanna stated the City received a request from Carris Health, LLC and Eldo & Elizabeth Schoer to Re-zone a 61 acre parcel owned by the Schoer family directly east of St. Johns School on County Highway 24 from an R-R (Rural Residential) district to an R-B (Residential Business) district.
Mr. Hanna stated the request to re-zone the property was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 8, 2019. The proposed Ordinance was introduced at the January 15, 2019 City Council meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission, along with City staff, recommend approval of the re-zone and consequently the amendment of the zoning Ordinance.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Ordinance No. 62, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Arentson, Sandgren, Smith, and Buckley
NO: None
Mayor Quackenbush discussed the First Ward City Council Appointment.
Mayor Quackenbush stated the City received nine applications for the position. The Personnel Committee interviewed three applicants and recommends the appointment of Denise Kerkhoff to the position of First Ward City Council Member. The appointment will fill the vacancy of the First Ward Council Member until the next regular election scheduled for November of 2020.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to appoint Denise Kerkhoff as First Ward Council Member effective February 5, 2019. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush administered the oath of office to First Ward Council Member, Denise Kerkhoff.
Zoning Administrator Hanna introduced a conditional use permit application from Carris Health, LLC and Eldo & Elizabeth Schoer.
Mr. Hanna stated the City received an application from Carris Health, LLC and Eldo & Elizabeth Schoer for a conditional use permit on the west +/- 35 acres for the construction of a hospital in the newly rezoned R-B district. The request for a conditional use permit was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 8, 2019.
Mr. Hanna stated the Planning Commission recommends approval of this request with the following conditions:
1. The applicant maintains two (2) separate entrances for emergency access.
2. The applicant complies with all applicable County regulations in regards to the ditch that borders the property.
3. The applicant complies with all applicable County regulations in regards to the County Highway that serves the property.
4. The applicant complies with City Ordinance for all signage.
5. The applicant complies with City Ordinance for all applicable performance standards, such as, but not limited to, Lighting, Glare, Vibration, Noise, Odor, Dust, and Hazardous Materials.
6. All heliports and helicopter flyways conform to all applicable Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
7. All helicopter landing pads are covered with a dust free surface.
8. Security measures, including fencing and screening, shall be provided where necessary to protect non-authorized persons from entering area.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Carris Health LLC’s conditional use permit with the recommended conditions stated above. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Fire Chief Jeff Bommersbach was present to introduce Resolution No. 3 of 2019 – Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor/Dryer Grant Acceptance.
The Redwood Falls Fire Department requests acceptance of the Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor/Dryer Grant through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in the amount of $4,556.70. There is a $506.30 local match requirement. The 2019 budget includes $7,000 for the upgrade of this equipment. If accepted, the funding will be used to update antiquated equipment to improve the safety and life of the turnout gear. The purchase and installation of a gear washer/extractor/dryer, as proposed, needs to be completed by June 30, 2019 and a report filed by August 1, 2019.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 3 of 2019 – Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor/Dryer Grant Acceptance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 3 of 2019 – Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor/Dryer Grant Acceptance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel presented the recommendation to establish a housing study committee.
Mr. Muetzel stated at the January 29th work session, Council had a lengthy discussion about a variety of housing topics. Items discussed include the lack of specific housing types, the limited availability and significant cost of public infrastructure improvements, and the impact of recent residential construction cost and interest rate increases on the housing construction market. The discussion closed with a consensus that the City of Redwood Falls should consider undertaking a housing study to evaluate our community’s housing needs and barriers to new construction.
Mr. Muetzel suggested the Mayor and two Council Members formulate a Housing Study Committee that will work with staff and community members to determine the scope of a housing study. Therefore, staff is requesting designation of the Council Members that will serve on the Housing Study Committee.
Council Member Smith and Council Member Kerkhoff offered to participate in the committee.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the appointment of Council Member Smith and Council Member Kerkhoff to the Housing Study Committee. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush thanked all the City Departments for their work during the extreme weather this winter.
City Administrator Muetzel invited the Council Members to attend the Brown-Lyon-Lincoln-Redwood-Renville Drug Task Force annual meeting on May 9.
Mayor Quackenbush expressed his appreciation for the Redwood County Commissioners that attended the Council Work Session on January 29th.
County Commissioner Bob Van Hee thanked the Redwood Falls Fire Department for their quick response time when responding to the River Ridge Apartment fire.
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 Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to adjourn the meeting at ¬¬¬¬5:23 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.