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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200420 - CC Minutes Hastings,Minnesota City Council Meeting Minutes April 20,2020 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a regular meeting on Monday,April 20,2020 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom video conference. Mayor Fasbender explained why and referenced various city,state and federal declarations and guidelines that an in-person meeting was not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Members Present: Mayor Fasbender,Councilmembers Balsanek, Braucks, Folch,Leifeld,Lund and Vaughan Staff Present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha Administrative Services Director Julie Flaten City Attorney Dan Fluegel Community Development Director John Hinzman Parks&Recreation Director Chris Jenkins Public Works Director Nick Egger Approval of Minutes Mayor Fasbender asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council on April 6,2020. Minutes were approved as presented. Comments from the Audience . Mayor Fasbender stated comments received about items not on the agenda have been distributed to all Councilmembers and are acknowledged. Consent Agenda I. Pay Bills as Audited 2. Resolution No.04-10-20: Acceptance and Appreciation of a Donation to the Hasting Police Department from the K—9 Defender Fund 3. Resolution No. 04-11-20: Designation of Official Newspaper 4. Tennis Sanitation Green Team Proceeds for 1"Quarter 5. Schedule New Date for Public Hearing: Highway 316 Municipal Consent Process 6. Approve 2020 Umpires Inc. Service Agreement 7. Council Candidacy Filing Dates and Fees 8. Approve Supplemental Agreement to Rebecca Park Lease No.DACW22-1-83-5106 for Parks& Recreation Department 9. Approve the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Emergency Fund Grant for the Fire& EMS Department Councilmember Braucks motioned to approve as presented,seconded by Councilmember Vaughan. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. Special Use Permit-Neighborhood Commercial Use-Kisby Ventures(201 East 7'Street) Hinzman explained the Special Use Permit request from Kisby Ventures and various business aspects including the type of work, working hours,traffic and parking.He discussed the reasons for staff's recommendation to deny this request and provided a list of appropriate sites within the City this business may relocate to. He detailed the Planning Commission's discussion and that they voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the request. Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 City Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City's website at http://www.hastinp-smn. ov/city-govemment/eity-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes Council discussed the number of people on site when the building was used as a funeral home, agreement with St. Luke's Church to use their parking lot, history of the property ownership, use of parking spaces in the alley and possibly locating off site parking,minimal neighborhood opposition, staff's reasons for denial recommendation, parking restrictions and conditions, options for property and Special Use Permit if business relocates. Lonny Thomas, attorney for the applicant,addressed Council's parking concerns and clarified the number of employees and business hours. Dave Kisby,applicant, provided additional details to the current number of employees and that there were sufficient spaces for all employees. He discussed the total number of employees employed by Kisby and the number of employees working at specific times. Also,all deliveries would be made to the back of the building;a delivery truck would not be parked on the street. Councilmember Folch motioned to approve the Special Use Permit request with the conditions outlined in the staff report,seconded by Councilmember Balsanek. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. Approval of the resolution will be on the May 4, 2020 City Council Agenda. Resolution No.04-12-20: Interim Use Permit-United Heroes League(2800 Ravenna Tr) Hinzman discussed the Interim Use Permit request from United Heroes League; detailing the parking lot and obstacle course. The permit would expire in 18 months. The Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval. Council discussed the future concepts for site, removal of the shooting range and appreciation for work done by United Heroes League. Councilmember Leifeld motioned to approve as presented,seconded by Councilmember Folch. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. Resolution No.04-13-20: Final Plat-Wallin 18'Addition Hinzman described the Final Plat of Wallin 18`''Addition request and history of the plat.The Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval. Council recognized that the plat is consistent with original plat from 2002, the driveway locations for lots on General Sieben Drive,clarification of what Council is approving and if any further approvals were needed. Councilmember Leifeld motioned to approve as presented, seconded by Councilmember Lund. Roll Call:Ayes 7;Nays 0. Resolution No.04-14-20: Denial of Variance- Sideyard Setback-Ian Martin(1770 Greystone Rd) Hinzman explained staff's recommendation for denial of the variance for a sideyard setback. The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend denial. Council discussed ownership of the pond,location of drainage easements on both sides of the home, possible future needs of the easement, received public comments,neighborhood notification,the purpose of having the easement, any buried infrastructure on easement,role of a contractor versus the City,whether the easement was noted on the plan/survey, homeowner created predicament, construction without a permit, lack of contractor and inspections,approval may set precedent, hardship/practical difficulty was not demonstrated, Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 City Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City's website at http//w%vw hastinesmiieov/city-government/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes little change in deck specifications from first being submitted for a permit to now for the variance request, penalty for not obtaining building permit, other options for homeowner,what happens to the partially constructed deck if the variance was denied,not all practical difficulty tests listed in the ordinance were met and satisfied to allow for approval and similar variances which may have been denied. Ian Martin, homeowner, acknowledged he did not follow process correctly, indicated that the easement was not brought to his attention,clarified that the contractor pulled the permit for the home and he attempted to pull a permit for the deck, explained reasons for constructing the deck without a permit, explained the practical difficulties and provided a chronology of events. Councilmember Vaughan motioned to approve as presented, seconded by Councilmember Balsanek. Roll Call:Ayes 7;Nays 0. Allocation of Business Park Land Sales to COVID-19 Economic Assistance Hinzman discussed sale proceeds from Business Park land be allocated for COVID-19 economic recovery. HEDRA unanimously voted in favor of this proposal. Councilmember Braucks motioned to approve as presented,seconded by Councilmember Lund. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. City Revenue Projections—Impact of COVID-19 Wietecha discussed revenue projections,cash flow and implications on City finances due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Council discussed possible additional funding with the new legislation,provide City Council members talking points on the Hastings story, identify shelf ready projects,status of spending on 2020 budgeted items, trail and street construction projects for 2020, bid openings,workable delays in timetable of projects and contingency planning. Inclusion of Emergency Responders in FFCRA Benefits Flaten explained the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act(FFCRA)benefits detailing the Paid Sick Leave and the Expanded Family and Medical Leave. The City is recommending all emergency responders be eligible for both benefits. Councilmember Leifeld motioned to approve as presented, seconded by Councilmember Braucks. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. Consideration and Possible Emergency Ordinance Action on Options for Refund, Reduction or Deferral of Certain Municipal License Fees Flaten discussed the various options for certain license fee relief for Liquor,Tobacco, Massage, and Pawn shops which the City Council may consider providing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Council discussed if hair salons are licensed by City, re-visit options as conditions change,challenges restaurants in the downtown area are facing, how the revenue loss associated with the options may affect future City projects, other payment plan options,recognition that there are more businesses affected than license holders,extending the date of Option 1, implementing the Options incrementally and that the Economic Task Force was created to assist all businesses in the City. Councilmember Lund motioned to approve Option 1 and Option 3 as presented,seconded by Councilmember Vaughan. Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 City Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City's website at http://www.hastingsmn. oe v/city-govemment/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes Councilmember Folch amended the motion so that Option 1 would provide a pro-rated refund for license holders through June 30, seconded by Councilmember Leifeld. Roll Call:Ayes 7;Nays 0. Roll Call vote on original motion as amended: Ayes 7;Nays 0. 2021 Budget Process and Timeline Wietecha discussed the upcoming budget process and proposed timeline. Council,discussed scheduling a Finance Committee meeting prior to May 18 to examine current projections, contingency planning and senior staff planning efforts in progress. Mayor Fasbender and Councilmembers made the following announcements: • Mayor Fasbender noted: o Street patching will begin to ramp up with sustained warmer weather—pothole patch requests call Public Works at(651)480-6185 or use City website tool under Residents"I Want To..."section. o Hastings businesses are asked to complete the online COVID-19 Business Survey posted on City of Hastings Website.The City of Hastings and HEDRA have allocated funding to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Completion of the survey will assist in how to best target funding. o The City's Economic Development Task Force will meet again on Wednesday to discuss survey results to date as well as options for assistance. • Heritage Preservation Commission will meet on Tuesday,April 21 at 7:00 p.m. • Planning Committee of the City Council will meet on Wednesday,April 22 at 7:00 p.m. • Planning Commission will meet on Monday,April 27 at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Vaughan motioned to adjourn,seconded by Councilmember Braucks. Roll Call: Ayes 7;Nays 0. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Mary Faybender,Mayor to F ten,City Clerk Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 City Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City's website at http:/hvww,hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-counci Ucity-council-agendas-and-minutes