City Council sets Preliminary Budget

by Ruby White
The Wabasha City Council unanimously approved setting the Preliminary City Budget, the Preliminary Tax Levy for 2016 and the dates for the required Truth-in-Taxation Hearing at their monthly meeting on September 1,
All Councilpersons were present, along with City Administrator Chad Springer, City Attorney Peter Ekstrand and City Clerk/Treasurer Sue Schamaun.
The total Levy for 2016 was set at $1,596,781, reflecting a 3% increase from 2015. Before the final budget is due at the end of the year, this figure can be lowered, but not raised. Springer said they are considering further cuts.
The General Fund was set at $1,070,077; the 2013A Debt Service at $352,724; Library Fund at $134,173; and the Port Authority at $39,806. The Truth-in-Taxation Hearing is set for December 1, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Springer said, “We will continue to work on the Budget up until the time the final one is due to the State at the end of the year. The Council met for a Budget Workshop earlier and went over it line by line.” He felt felt they had done creative things with the money they have.
Before they got into the General Business segment of the meeting, the Council had an opportunity to rearrange placement of items on the regular Agenda and the Consent Agenda and to take items off those Agendas. It was at this point that it was decided to move two items off the Consent Agenda for separate discussion later in the meeting: the first reading of the Zoning Ordinance to add Solar Energy; and the Major Traffic Generator Waiver. Taken off the General Business Agenda was the item pertaining to Police Chief Warren.
Major Traffic Generators
A waiver for Major Traffic Generators sparked the most vigorous discussion. The major Traffic Generator clause in the zoning ordinane is a clause that is triggered when a new business (or expansion of an existing business) generates 500 vehicles a day (cars, trucks, motorcycles, but not bicycles); OR 60 heavy commercial trucks a day. This was the First Reading for a modification to the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Major Taffic Generators and the inclusion of a waiver. It could be for a day or so, maybe even a week, but it would mean heavy traffic in the city for that time.
If a business has plans for such a venture and meets these standards, they must have a Traffic Impact Study done to look at potential damage to streets, a need for additional traffic signals, etc,. during the duration of the extra use of the streets.
The Planning Commission has been discussing a request for a waiver to these requirements for a one-time event. The required traffic impact study can be expensive. The Planning Commission decided that with the review of the City Engineer and approval from the Street Commission based on specific criteria outlined in the waiver process, that would suffice.
Councilwoman Lynn Schoen said, “The waiver would be a one-time issue so we don’t impede business but still protect the community.”
This was a first reading that is the normal process for any ordinance amendment per the City Charter. Councilperson Wharton wished to discuss this and requested it get moved to the general business section of the agenda. The topic of the waiver and who should issue it was vigorously discussed. The question was who should issue the waiver: the Street Commission or the City Council. The street commission could only issue the waiver based on the specific criteria in the ordinance and review of the City Engineer. Councilpersons Schoen and Wharton disagreed and still wanted the council to grant these waivers.
Councilman John Friedmeyer felt the City Engineer and the Street Commission should be able to issue a waiver for a one-time event, since the specific criteria is black and white and must be satisfied for the Street Commission to grant the approval.
Mayor Rollin Hall felt there are many competent people on the Boards and Commissions that could make such a decisions as outlined by ordinance.
Schoen pointed out, “A Councilperson is an elected official. The Commissions are not.” She felt that a request for a waiver should come before the Council, pointing out that the public could be affected by the extra traffic and are often not knowledgeable about what goes on at Council or Commission meetings. She called for “full disclosure to the public.”
“Do it at a Council meeting,” she added.
Wharton said, “This is an ordinance, a law. A waiver request should come to the City Council.”
The issue before the Council was whether or not they want to change the language in the Traffic Generator portion of the Ordinance. Friedmeyer moved for approval, which passed 6-1. He, Schoen, Dave Kruger, Dean Meurer, Steve Schmidt and Mayor Hall voted yes. Wharton voted no.
Zoning Amendment
The second item taken from the Consent Agenda for further discussion was the First Reading of the Zoning Ordinance Amendment to add “Solar Energy.” After discussion, suggestions related to a performance bond or some other guarantee would be forwarded back to the Planning Commission. The first reading based unanimously.
Solar energy is a hot topic these days. Several local and statewide business owners have requested adding personal use panels to existing buildings and properties and solar gardens or farms as potential uses within the City Zoning Ordinance. Following a Hearing, the Planning & Zoning Commission will provide the city with a full report. The minimum lot size for a solar garden is five acres; solar gardens are to be screened from view and any solar garden not operable for 12 months is to be removed at the owner’s expense.
Gerneral Business
In the rest of the General Business items, the Council unanimously approved:
•the 2013 Street Project pay estimate at $78,574.01. Still holding a 25% retainage for the project amounting to $9,072.82 for certain items remaining on the punchlist. “We did not go over Budget on this project.” Schoen and Wharton moved.
•the second reading of the Breweries & Distilleries Zoning Ordinance Amendment to allow brewpub breweries and distilleries as allowable uses within the City. A public hearing had been held on July 14 but no residents attended.
•the second reading of the City’s Ordinance relating to possession, sale and consumption of intoxicating and 3.2 percent malt liquor within the City. Springer said the city reduced a 78-page ordinance down to 12 pages by deleting archaic language. “This ordinance had not been looked at in a long time,” he said.
•a temporary storage site lease for Xcel Energy to lease a portion of the Athletic field for storage of poles, wires, insulators, vehicles and other supplies for electrical construction at a rental cost of $7,500. It will be for five months, beginning September 1 and ending January 31, 2016, with an option to lease for one more month at $3,000. Vehicles can only enter on Bridge Street. Meurer and Schoen moved.
•a discussion item only was the recent Administrative Law Judge ruling in favor of the City vs. Teepeota Point. Residents had petitioned to be detached from the City of Wabasha. The mediation period was not successful. All final bills for the defense of this case should be received soon, Springer estimated that the City spent approximately $40K in this defense, that number will be confirmed to council in the coming weeks. The ruling stated that the petitioners failed to demonstrate that their properties are rural in character.
•accepting the bid for sale of the City property at 506 Third Street West from Dale Hartzell for $76,000. There was one other bid which was lower. Under consideration is allocating these funds toward construction of additional storage at the site of the current Public Works Garage. Kruger and Meurer moved.
•to begin planning for a new storage building next to the current Public Works building to fill the need for more room for storage of equipment and materials. Schoen and Wharton moved.
•approval to not request the state to keep the parcel at 524 Campbell Avenue in the City’s hands for public use. The parcel had been forfeited to the State for non-payment of taxes and was offered to the City for public use. Springer felt that the City wouldn’t want a public use parcel in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Meurer and Schoen moved and it passed unanimously.
•moving forward with the vacation of 9th Street as requested by Mike Stroot. A public hearing will be set. Meurer and Schoen moved.
•the remainder of the Consent Agenda, which consisted of: August 4th meeting minutes, warrants, 2016 County Maintenance Agreement,and appointment of Monica Walters to the Ambulance Commission. Friedmeyer and Schoen moved.
The council unan-imnously approved these donations to City projects: VFW Post 4086—$350 for SeptOberfest; Marlyne Schouweiler—$100 in memory of Ron Schouweiler to Wabasha Ambulance; Library donation—$20 in memory of John Hanson by Judith and Hardy Schierts; Bev and Bruce Hall—$20 to the Library in memory of Chuck Silker, Don Schurhammer, Muriel Leisen and Sally Garrigan.
Administrator’s Report
In the Administrator’s Report, Springer said that the Historic Preservation Commission had received a grant which will be used to send a member of the Commission to a statewide conference. He also wished happy birthday to his mom, who was celebrating her birthday on September 1. Springer thanked Tom and Matt Kranz for their volunteer work in painting the pilings on the city dock. Through a $3,500 Public Health Grant (SHIP) the City has received three bike racks and cement for mounting them. These will be put at the swimming pool and Rotary Beach Park, he said.
Springer will meet soon with the president of the company responsible about the quality of the pavers at Big Jo Alley. He also had a meeting recently with State Senator Steve Schmit discussing several topics important to the city, including 60/61 safety as well as keeping local businesses in town. He will meet with MnDOT on September 22. A Budget Retreat and Capital Strategies subcommittee meeting were also on his Agenda.
Council Reports
Councilpersons also reported on the various Committee meetings they had attended. Public Works Director Tony Johnson said there had been a request for more light on the bike path and a light was installed. He also will meet with the alley pavers people. In regard to the parks, the marina fee for the city dock in IKES park will be raised to $1,000 annually. In the Campground, they don’t want any campers closer than 36 inches to the electrical source. No long-term boat moorings or docks will be allowed at the campground in 2016. The city has a dock and the 2 private marinas have slips for boats. He said some geese had left town, all on their own.
Schmidt reported on the Utilities Commission, which had met earlier that day. He said the Campbell Avenue water main project had been completed, and he noted the vacation of 9th Street. As a reminder, he said that residents are responsible for water/sewer main service all the way from their residence to the street (laterals). He spoke of a user insurance policy that the commission is discussing in which people pay a monthly fee. This item was not discussed.
Friedmeyer had a Port Authority meeting with two items on the Agenda: the Riverfront Property and what could be done there, as well as how much land it would take. The National Eagle Center representatives were present with requests for land for their proposed expansion.
Schoen reported on the Parks Department, mentioning the volunteer painting work done by Tom and Matt Kranz at the riverfront.
Kruger spoke about the public hearing in regard to traffic generators.
Public Comments
During Public Comments, Dianne Schjolberg, a member of the Board of Directors for the Public Library, said that she had attended the Budget Workshop. She also spoke of many new things that are happening at the Library, including an email distribution system, longer evening hours— nights until 7 p.m.; a new book club titled “Young at Heart,” which will be lead by two volunteers; a book sale by the Friends of the Library during SeptOberfest; and Story Time for the youngsters by Becky Hetrick.
In addition, there will be a free Geneology Workshop on September 10 at 11 a.m. A new “staff member” is Maurie, the Library Dog, whom you can pet while you read a book or magazine. She said there are other new, exciting things at the Public Library and folks are invited to check them out.
Next Meeting
The next regular City Council meeting will be on October 6.