Nowthen City Council meeting, April 6, 2017
City CouncilThursday, April 6, 2017
Agenda
Not on file
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not on file
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
One-line summary
The council workshop reviewed the 2016 audit, discussed park and road projects, code-enforcement questions (including Tommy Guyer), and walked through consent-agenda items including the 2016 audited financial statement, recycling agreement, and a $500 fork lift purchase offer.
What was on the agenda
24 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
- Discussion only
1Audit Report - 2016 Audited Financial Statements
Audited Financial statement presented by Michael Pofahl
Michael Pofahl, C.P.A., presented the 2016 audited financial statements and reviewed the report with the council, and the consent agenda also listed approval of the 2016 audited financial statement, though these workshop minutes do not record a vote adopting it.
Workshop discussion; minutes do not record a vote here.
- 2016 audit report
p. 1City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1). Audit Report - Audited Financial statement presented by Michael Pofahl - Michael Pofahl C.P.A. presented the 2016 Audited Financial Statements to the City Council. He went through the report with the Council. (A copy of the report is available for review at the City Offices). He will provide a Basalt St. analysis t… - Discussion only
2RCA - Elk River Youth Softball Association field use request
Use Nowthen Memorial Park and Twin Lakes Park softball fields; maintain fields in lieu of payment
Workshop discussion; no motion recorded in these minutes.
- Elk River Youth Softball Association field use
p. 1City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)2). RCA - Elk River Youth Softball Association (formally Northwest Diamonds) - Nick Larson Nick Larson, with the Elk River Youth Softball Association is asking to use the Nowthen Memorial Park and Twin Lakes Park softball fields on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from May 1' 2017 to July 31, 2017. In lieu of paym… - Discussion only
3aCity Hall HVAC System quotes
Input from Air Comfort Heating & Cooling regarding replacement of furnace and air conditioner
Workshop discussion of quotes; no award/approval recorded.
- City Hall HVAC replacement
p. 1City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)3). Building Department a). City Hall HVAC System - Jim Hazeman from Air Comfort Heating & Cooling spoke to the Council and gave some input on what products he quoted for the replacement of the furnace and air conditioner and why. The Council briefly discussed the different quotes that were received. - Discussion only
3bBuilding Services Billing Report (March 2017)
Building official discussed billing report for permits and time
Informational report; no action recorded.
- building services billing
p. 1City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)b). Building Services Billing Report - Bldg. Official Schreder discussed the report he provided for billing purposes for the month of March 2017. He explained what information he put on it to show the City which permits he is billing for and what other pre-issued permits and the time he is billing for those. - Discussion only
4aZoning Ordinance Amendment (Ordinance 2017-01) - agricultural exemption definition
Remove reference to Green Acres Tax Status as requirement; align with intent of Ordinance 2013-04
Discussed; no adoption vote recorded in these workshop minutes.
- Ordinance 2017-01 zoning amendment
p. 2City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)a). Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Remove reference to Green Acres Tax Status as a requirement to be considered for agricultural exemption, as was the intent with the adoption of Ordinance 2013-04 on April 9, 2013. Ordinance 2017-01 makes a change to the definition section of the Zoning Ordinance to be consistent with th… - Discussion only
4bLot Line Reconfiguration - Kukowski and Gustafson (Engen Blvd)
Realign shared property line to resolve setbacks; notes on combining lots/taxes
Council had no comments/questions; no formal approval recorded in these minutes.
- Kukowski/Gustafson lot line reconfiguration
p. 2City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)b). James Kukowski (20560 Engen Blvd/PID 17-33-25-43-0004) and Jill and Dan Gustafson (20840 Engen Blvd/PID 17-33-25-43-0006) - Request for a Lot Line Reconfiguration. The two parties wish to realign a shared property line and trade property to resolve setback issues associated with the Kukowski home and septic system.… - Discussion only
4c-iCode Enforcement - Tommy Guyer (regulated animals/petting zoo; IUP)
Council direction request on ordinance compliance, licensing, and potential legal nonconforming status
Planner Stockman summarized a complaint-driven review of Tommy Guyer’s regulated animals and petting zoo/history, noting possible legal nonconforming status depending on what animals were present before the ordinance, that he was over the number of allowable animals under the city ordinance, and that he may also need an IUP for a home business; Guyer disputed the city’s role regarding USDA licensing and asked to be left alone, while councilmembers debated whether the city should be involved when the complaint centered on licensing by other governmental agencies.
Discussed; no formal decision recorded.
- Tommy Guyer code enforcement
- regulated animals ordinance
- IUP home business
p. 2City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)c). Code Enforcement - Request for Council Direction i). Tommy Guyer - Stockman did meet with Guyer and he has been cooperative. She put together a summary of the issues that she sees. He started the petting zoo in 2004. It was in 2005 when the state started requiring licensing of regulated animals. In 2007 the Townshi…p. 3City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Guyer said that he is not currently USDA licensed, but he was previously licensed with them last summer. The USDA should have his previous license information on record.p. 3City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Rainville thinks we should just close this and not get involved. If the complaint was about licenses, it should be under the authority of different governmental agencies, not a requirement of Nowthen. We should have not had any action on this and should have required the complainant to deal with the agencies.p. 4City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Rainville suggested removing this from the City Council Workshop. Stockman thinks it should remain on the agenda for a formal decision. - Discussion only
4c-iiCode Enforcement - Kevin Rustad (lack of response; possible attorney involvement)
No progress reports; may contact Attorney Ruppe; also contact Gary Scott re cleanup status
Direction/discussion; no motion recorded.
- Kevin Rustad code enforcement
- Gary Scott cleanup
p. 4City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)ii). Kevin Rustad - The Rustads have not responsive to emails or phone calls. We were supposed to be receiving progress reports from them, but that is not happening. We would have to contact Attorney Ruppe to address this matter and the legal requirements. Schreder will summarize this with Ruppe and get his opinion. Co… - Discussion only
5aRCA - Crack Seal Old Viking Blvd North
Discussion about frequency of crack sealing; staff to research other cities; question about bid timing
The council discussed whether to proceed with crack sealing Old Viking Blvd North and asked staff to research how other cities handle crack sealing frequency, while also discussing the process and fairness of funding a 2-inch overlay on Old Viking Blvd, including whether to assess property owners (with feasibility study and public hearings) or use a road levy approach in the future.
Discussed; no approval/tabling motion recorded.
- Old Viking Blvd crack seal
p. 4City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)a). RCA - Crack Seal Old Viking Blvd North - Bettinger thinks that they should investigate how other cities do this. The roads should not need to be crack sealed every other year. Glaze can investigate this and bring back his findings to the Council.p. 4City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Rainville would like this to be tabled until there is discussion about if it needs to be done every other year. Reighard doesn't want to just sit on it for a few months. - Discussion only
5bRCA - 2" Overlay on Old Viking Blvd
Discussion of planning and funding process; assessments vs levy; feasibility study and public hearings if assessing
The council discussed whether to proceed with crack sealing Old Viking Blvd North and asked staff to research how other cities handle crack sealing frequency, while also discussing the process and fairness of funding a 2-inch overlay on Old Viking Blvd, including whether to assess property owners (with feasibility study and public hearings) or use a road levy approach in the future.
Discussion about process; no action recorded.
- Old Viking Blvd overlay
- road assessments vs levy
p. 4City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)b). RCA - 2 "Overlay on Old Viking Blvd - Breyen said that the Road and Bridge Committee wants to know what the plan should be for such a project like this. What are the plans and the process for this?p. 5City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Bettinger said it should first be determined if there is going to be assessments or not. If you are going to assess, the process would be to get a feasibility study done. Then you decide how you're going to plan to pay for it. If you are considering assessing a portion or all, you would go to the residents to see if th…p. 5City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Rainville said that the fairest way is to levy for roads, then everyone would get a fair share of their portion of the roads. The Council will discuss this and other road improvement plans in the future. - Discussion only
5cRCA - Request for Seasonal help (parks and gravel hauling)
Hire Steve back; truck driver only when hauling gravel; a couple days a week to help in parks
Discussion; no hiring approval recorded.
- seasonal public works help
p. 5City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)c). RCA - Request for Seasonal help - Breyen asked what they have done in the past. Glaze would like to hire Steve back. He also indicated that they will be hauling more gravel this year. The truck driver he is requesting would only be working when they are hauling gravel. If it rains or they are not hauling gravel, th… - Discussion only
6aRCA - Human Foosball at Twin Lakes Park
Consider approval of location and cost not to exceed $2,276.00; donation of galvanized pipe
The council discussed a Park and Recreation Committee request to approve the location and a not-to-exceed cost of $2,276.00 for a Human Foosball setup at Twin Lakes Park (with Mork Well donating galvanized pipe), with questions raised about popularity, use, and maintenance considerations; no approval vote is recorded in these workshop minutes.
Discussed; no approval motion recorded.
- Human Foosball Twin Lakes Park
p. 5City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)a). RCA - Human Foosball at Twin Lakes Park - The Park and Rec. Committee has asked the Council to entertain approval of the location and cost of the Human Foosball at Twin Lakes Park, at a cost not to exceed $2,276.00, with Mork Well donating the galvanized pipe. - Discussion only
6bRCA - Permanent placement for hockey and pleasure skating rinks; removal of hockey boards
Committee recommends keeping hockey rink where it is, adding pleasure rink nearby, and directing staff to remove boards
The Park and Recreation Committee recommended keeping the hockey rink where it was and adding a pleasure skating rink next to it with the toilet and warming house between, and directing staff to remove the hockey boards; councilmembers discussed obtaining bids for footings and lights and raised concerns that the current location is not park land and was acquired for a future City Hall complex.
Discussed (including concerns about land use); no formal direction vote recorded.
- hockey rink placement
- pleasure skating rink
- hockey boards removal
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)b). RCA - Recommended permanent placement for Hockey Rink and Pleasure Skating Rink and removal of the Hockey Boards - The Park and Rec. Committee had a Special Mtg. to determine a permanent location. The committee recommends that the Council place the hockey rink permanently where it is right now and add a pleasure ri…p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)Bettinger questions if this is the location we really want the hockey rink to be. This is not park land. This land was acquired for a future City Hall complex. - Outcome unrecorded
7.1Consent Agenda item 1.1 - Approve March 14, 2017 City Council Meeting Minutes
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- Outcome unrecorded
7.2Consent Agenda item 1.2 - Financial Report
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.2 Financial Report - Outcome unrecorded
7.3Consent Agenda item 1.3 - Approve audited bills (Claims #149-#176) and Net Distribution reports
Net Distribution reports dated March 13, March 20 and April 3, 2017
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- claims and bills
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.3 Approve All Audited Bills Claim # 149 through Claim # 176, plus Net Distribution reports dated March 13th, March 20th and April 3rd, 2017. - Outcome unrecorded
7.4Consent Agenda item 1.4 - Approve 2016 Audited Financial Statement
Michael Pofahl, C.P.A., presented the 2016 audited financial statements and reviewed the report with the council, and the consent agenda also listed approval of the 2016 audited financial statement, though these workshop minutes do not record a vote adopting it.
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- 2016 audit
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.4 Approve 2016 Audited Financial Statement - Outcome unrecorded
7.5Consent Agenda item 1.5 - Moved to Item #2 for discussion
The minutes only note it was moved; no further detail provided in this bundle.
- consent agenda
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.5 (Moved to Item # 2 for discussion) - Outcome unrecorded
7.6Consent Agenda item 1.6 - 2017 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- residential recycling agreement
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.6 RCA - 2017 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program - Outcome unrecorded
7.7Consent Agenda item 1.7 - Approval to send Lori to 2017 Clerk's Orientation Conference
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- training travel
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.7 RCA - Approval to send Lori to 2017 Clerk's Orientation Conference - Outcome unrecorded
7.8Consent Agenda item 1.8 - Approve offer to purchase fork lift ($500)
Been for sale since June 2016
Listed under Consent Agenda; no consent motion/vote recorded in these minutes.
- consent agenda
- fork lift sale
p. 6City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)1.8 Approve offer to purchase fork lift ($500 - been for sale since June 2016) - Discussion only
8bOrdinance 2017-02 - Possible Amendment to Fee Schedule (approve for Public Hearing?)
Discussed General Wages amount and fee language
Discussion only; no public hearing set by motion in these minutes.
- Ordinance 2017-02 fee schedule
p. 7City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)b). Ordinance 2017-02 - Possible Amendment to Fee Schedule (approve for Public Hearing?) - Rainville would like to consider changing the dollar amount of General Wages. She doesn't think $20 is enough to cover staff's time. ... Bettinger suggested changing the language to "Time and Material". - No action
8cRCA - Resolution 2017-09 supporting Local Decision Making Authority
Move to Consent Agenda for the meeting
Consensus noted to move it to the consent agenda for a (future) meeting; no adoption recorded here.
- Resolution 2017-09 local decision making
p. 7City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)c). RCA - Consider Adopting Resolution 2017-09 - A Resolution supporting Local Decision Making Authority. - No issues with the Council. Move to the Consent Agenda for the meeting. - Approved
8dRCA - Pre-approve to initiate Sealed Bid process for Recycling Center Addition
The council expressed consensus to move forward with pre-approving initiation of a sealed bid process for a recycling center addition, but the minutes do not show a formal motion or vote.
Minutes reflect council consensus to move forward; no formal motion/vote recorded.
- recycling center addition sealed bids
p. 7City Council Meeting — 2017-04-06 Minutes (2017-04-06)d). RCA - Pre-approve to initiate Sealed Bid process for Recycling Center Addition - Council consensus is to move forward with this.
Sources
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?