MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
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, September 7, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Jim Sandgren, John T. Buckley, and Larry Arentson were present constituting a quorum. Council Members Matt Smith and Denise Kerkhoff were absent.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the August 17, 2021, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
1. City Assistance with Redwood Area Chamber and Tourism Fall Festival
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism Executive Director Anne Johnson was present to thank Council
for approving the request for City Assistance.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances §6.25 Relating to Taxicabs.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was first introduced at the August 17, 2021 Council meeting. City Staff recently received an inquiry from a private citizen about starting a licensed Taxicab service within the City. Upon receiving this request, Staff met and discussed the current taxicab ordinance, §6.25. City Staff have reviewed the taxicab licensing ordinance §6.25 and have identified and made several changes to the licensing requirements and process, including the removal of a public hearing requirement, in order to make the taxicab vehicle licensing process more efficient and enhance overall service delivery and public safety. Staff recommends adoption of these proposed changes.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances §6.25 Relating to Taxicabs. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Buckley, Arentson, and Sandgren,
NO: None
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 44 of 2021 – Resolution Setting Fee Schedule for 2022.
Mr. Muetzel stated City Staff reviewed the proposed fee schedule. Proposed changes to the 2022 Fee Schedule are indicated in red, fees in purple are set by City Resolution or City Ordinance, and the fees in blue are set or limited by State Statute. Staff is recommending approval of the proposed 2022 Fee Schedule.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 44 of 2021 – Resolution Setting Fee Schedule for 2022. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 44 of 2021 – Resolution Setting Fee Schedule for 2022. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel gave an overview of the preliminary levy and budgets for 2022 as addressed in Resolution No. 45 of 2021 – Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2022 and Resolution No. 46 of 2021 – Approving 2022 Preliminary Budgets.
Mr. Muetzel stated state law requires local units of government to establish the preliminary levy for the coming tax year and certify the levy to the County Auditor by September 30, 2021 as well as set the dates for the discussion and adoption of the final levy and budgets.
Mr. Muetzel stated additional budget development will occur until December to enable the Budget Committee to make a recommendation to the City Council for the final levy and budgets. The final levy and budget will be presented at the Council Meeting on December 21, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building City Council Chambers.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 45 of 2021 – Resolution Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2022. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 45 of 2021 – Resolution Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2022. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 46 of 2021 – Resolution Approving 2022 Preliminary Budgets. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 46 of 2021 – Resolution Approving 2022 Preliminary Budgets. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 47 of 2021 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances § 6.25 Relating To Taxicabs.
Mr. Dammann stated state law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective, and as Council is aware, Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series is lengthy. 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. 47 of 2021 and Exhibit A which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 72 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 47 of 2021 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances § 6.25 Relating To Taxicabs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 47 of 2021 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 72, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances § 6.25 Relating To Taxicabs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Chief of Police Jason Cotner was present to introduce the Police Administrative Assistant Position.
Chief Cotner stated on July 17, 2021, Redwood Falls Police Department had a vacancy for an Administrative Assistant position after the former employee accepted a position with Blue Earth County. A hiring process was initiated and on August 11, 2021, the top three applicants were interviewed by City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Police Chief Jason Cotner, HR Coordinator Sheila Stage, and Asst. Police Chief Steve Schroeder. At the conclusion of the interviews Kelly Scheffler was found to be the most qualified candidate. A conditional job offer was presented to Ms. Scheffler which stated full employment would be offered if no disqualifying information was found during an RFPD background check and City Council approved her hiring. At this time, RFPD has concluded the background check of Ms. Scheffler and did not locate any disqualifying information. Staff recommends approval of Ms. Scheffler for the vacant RFPD Administrative Assistant position. If approved by City Council Ms. Scheffler will be provided a full offer of employment and, after she accepts it, a starting date will be established.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the employment offer for Police Administrative Assistant Position to Kelly Scheffler. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Personnel Committee discussed the roles and responsibilities of the two Police Administrative Positions and is proposing to designate Abby Larson as a Lead Police Administrative Assistant effective July 19, 2021. The Lead Administrative Assistant is responsible for providing training and work direction to other staff members. The reclassification of this position to a lead will result in changing the pay grade for the position from a grade 3 to a grade 4. The Personnel Committee recommends approval of designating Abby Larson as the Lead Police Administrative Assistant with a change in pay grade from grade 3 to grade 4.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the designation of Abby Larson to Lead Administrative Assistant Position and reclassify the position of the Lead Administrative Assistant Position to a pay grade 4, effective July 19, 2021. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering gave an update regarding the current seal coat project. Mr. Doering stated the project is almost complete and everything has gone well so far. The seal coating portion is complete and sweeping of the excess chips started on September 7. Following the removal of the excess chips, line painting on the streets and parking lots will begin.
Mayor Quackenbush requested an update on grass seeding needs for City property, including parks, because of the drought conditions this summer.
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 Buckley to adjourn the meeting at 5:34 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.