##VIDEO ID:BjhdmeI9Pdg## good evening and welcome to the regular city council meeting for the city of St Peter Minnesota it is Monday November 12th 2024 at 7:04 p.m. we are called to order would all please rise for the pledge I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all everybody's received a copy of the agenda for tonight are there any revisions or corrections to the agenda hearing none is there a motion to approve the agenda as distributed second we have a mo oh all those in favor say I I all any opposed the agenda is approved uh next up approval of the minutes the minutes are printed on pages six through nine of the packet are there any revisions or corrections to the minutes hearing none is there a motion to approve the minutes so second all those in favor of approval say I I any opposed the minutes are approved next up we have have a public hearing first public hearing tonight uh on proposed assessments for non-ri of-way projects and miscellaneous charges we'll call the public hearing uh to order at 7:05 pm. and Sally's here to talk to us about that mayor and city council we are here tonight asking um for approval of or have a public hearing at the October 28th meeting the city council approved the public hearing to be held tonight no November 12th for the assessment of miscellaneous projects and charges the memo is on pages 25 through 26 um the city staff has prepared and sent letters to property owners and also published the public hearing notice in the St Peter heral on October 31st and November 7th of this year the assessments are for non-ri of-way worked for sidewalks private sewer lines driveway aprons um all of these have had signed waivers for the work to be completed the charges are in addition to the curb gutter sidewalk road construction and utility improvements that were done on Pine Street there are miscellaneous charges for lawn mowing to be assessed to property owners that are incurred and unpaid the amount of the non- rightaway waivers signed is a total of 28,1 147 and 45 lawn mowing is $1,350 for a total of 29,00 , 49745 there are two property owners who have paid the waiver amount for the work on Pine Street and full since we had our meeting so the total amount of Assessments is 23,35 um after this meeting and we will be sending final notices to Property Owners with the cost of the miscellaneous charges and the P Street improvements approved on March 11th 2024 property will have until December 27th to pay the finance office without interest a final list will be taken to the county auditor or to the county on December 30th 2024 to be assessed any questions all right thanks Sally um as a part of our public hearing there is opportunity for public comment is there any member of the public who would like to address the Council on this matter hearing then we will close this public hearing at 7:07 p.m. and we will open our next public hearing at 7:07 p.m. and this next public hearing is on appros proposed assessments for unpaid utility accounts and Sally's back for that mayor and city council at the October 28th you meeting you approved the um Finance team a public hearing to be held tonight November 12th for the assessment of delinquent utility accounts as of May 31st 2024 the memo is on pages 29 to 30 the finance staff again prepared and sent letters to property owners and published notices in the herald on October 31st and November 7th the total amount of P due utilities as of May 31st 2024 is $1,315 18 of which 4,193 $1 19372 is a is accessible to Property Owners it is $176.7 lower than the October 28th due to some payments by our customers that came in when they received their letters the non-accessible is for electricity for tenants and balances below $10 bankruptcies or death which is $612 46 final letters will be sent to property owners for the unpaid accessible utilities and owners again will have till December 27th 2024 to pay at the finance office City Hall without any interest final list will be taken to this uh nicholet County on December 30th 2024 questions all right hearing no questions there is once again time for public comment if there's any member of the public who' like to address the Council on this matter hearing none we will close this public hearing at 7:09 p.m. we will take both of these matters up under uh new business later on the agenda um next up on our agenda we do have time for visitor comments both for visitors who'd like to address us on agenda items and visitors who'd like to address us on other matters are there any visitors in the audience who'd like to address the council at this time hearing then we will move on to the approval of the consent agenda the consent agenda agenda begins on page uh 11 and concludes with a resolution printed on page 24 of the packet the consent agenda tonight includes the following uh the schedule of dispersements for October 24th 2024 through November 6th 2024 uh is are there any questions on any item in the consent agenda hearing none is there a motion to approve move we have a motion and a second to call the rooll please council member DeVos I mayor Noel I council member Pettis hi council member Wiis I the resolution is approved we have no uh items of unfinished business before us tonight we will move on to new business the first item is a resolution adopting the assessment of unpaid miscellaneous charges anything new since you were just up here Sally nothing has changed so um as I said I'm here to ask you to approve the resolution for um unpaid miscellaneous charges and assessments on page 27 and 28 of the packet questions for Sally or Todd anything to add no ma'am all right uh hearing nothing further is there a motion to approve the resolution so moved we have a motion in a second all right uh call the rooll please mayor Noel I council member Pettis I council member weisenfeld hi council member Devas I the resolution is approved next up adoption of a resolution adopting assessment of unpaid charges for Municipal Utilities and writing off bad utility charges again we've went through that at the through the public hearing so we are here asking you to approve the resolution to assess for unpaid utility charges that appears on pages 31 through 33 of the packet questions for Sally or for Todd hearing none is there a motion to approve second we have a motion and a second call the RO please council member Pettis I council member weisenfeld I council member DeVos I mayor Noel I the resolution is approved uh next up adoption of a resolution adopting the 2526 Environmental Services fund and budget rate increases those are two separate resolutions on page 38 and on 39 through 40 mayor Noel and city council I'm here presenting the Environmental Services budget for 25 and 26 it is a 2-year budget re um proposal and a rate setting resolution the memo and supporting information starts on page 34 of the packet and ends with resolutions on pages 38 and 39 and 40 um Services included in the budget for our refuse and recycling collection throughout the community operation of the yard waste drop off site operation of a compost site curbside waste um leaf pickup Christmas tree pickup um maintenance of the city Urban Forest tree removal planting and replacement programs on boulevards in parks and other public areas emerald ashb tree removal and Replacements um that's getting more and more of our budget maintenance of the downtown medians and urns and the downtown flower baskets this has not changed this has been the same other than emerald dashboard is getting to be more and more of our budget as that disease is impacting our city unfortunately costs and expenditures for service for 2025 budget is 1,50 52,2 and for 26 is 1, 6148723313 received 278,000 in Grants um We are continuing to look for other grants that are offered through federal and state but right now and they are applying for them but right now in this budget we aren't seeing any um new grants available at this point or that we've been approved from uh the last rate increase was in 2024 and the cost for garbage Recycling and operating costs wages Insurance continue to increase um garbage and recycling account for 50.2% % of the operating cost for the Environmental Services in budget 2025 and 48.9 in 2026 um this budget aligns revenues collected for garbage and recycling to offset charges um from West Central um their new contracts start in July of 2023 and goes through June of 2028 and Minnesota waste processing that is where we actually dispose of the garbage so those are the two contracts disposal rates again have continued to increase the CPI for 2023 was 5.1% so the rate increase per ton for Minnesota waste processing from $106 per ton to $11.50 per ton we have factored increases in for 25 and 26 um we are proposing increases for garbage and recycling January 1st of 2025 and January 1st of 2026 those can be found on page 35 of the packet or in the resolution on page 39 um again wages and benefits recorded in areas where the work is actually um performed and it is common for parks and streets and environmental staff to cross over and assist depending upon their work schedules and what's going on um Emerald ashor again is a management plan and is being followed by the public works team and we're trying to get as many grants as we can to offset that Capital plan for 2025 there's a need for 21,000 and in 2026 it's 81,000 of capital of which 70,000 for a toota hno replacement is um going to be on an equipment C certificate for $770,000 uh tree and Bush site is very important as if you went through the went by the last couple weekends it's pretty full on Monday mornings um people do use that uh and then we do collections with West Central and sort of waste processing um as usual the approval of the budget does not allow for purchases of large items without additional City approval budgeted items over 25,000 will be will be pre presented to the city council before the final purchases total increases proposed for residential customers are on page 39 of the packet um we do have um empty homes or vacationers or snowbirds that can remove their garbage and recycling if they're gone for more than two months at a time and we or over one month and then we but environmental services are not removed the fund balance after the rate increase that is proposed is projected to be a negative a deficit of 177,50 at the end of 2025 and 23,5 se1 at the end of 2026 this is below our Reserve balance um of four months of operating expenses which is $497,500 60 um this will mean that there will be more rate increases coming but we are slowly but surely working towards that goal for 27 28 and 29 in 2027 um at the end of 2028 right now the balance would will become 19883 we con we continue to review the services offered and um looking at possible Bill more food waste composting um Emerald ashbo as that becom more and more I'm asking you to approve the resolution on page 38 for um 20 for the budget for 2025 in the amount of 1, 52324 for 2025 and for 2026 $1,614 79 questions questions for Sally um i' just like to make a comment thank you Sally for the presentation um and for people who are watching while it doesn't seem like we have much discussion we have gone through two workshops with these figures and revisions have been made um and I think you did a great job presenting this tonight Sally so thank you thank you additional questions or comments hearing nothing our first resolution adopting the 2526 Environmental Services budget uh service fund budgets is on page 38 of the packet is there a motion to approve so move we have a motion and a second to call the role please council member wiesenfeld I council member DeVos I mayor Noel I council member pass the resolution is approved our next resolution unless you have additional comments uh the resolution adopting updated Environmental Services rate schedule appears on pages 39 through 40 of the packet is there a motion to approve so moved we have a motion and second call the RO please council member DeVos I mayor Noel I council member Pettis I council member weisenfeld I the resolution is approved thank you Sally um moving on our next item of new business is the adoption of a resolution authorizing the purchase of a six tonon asphalt patching trailer and Pete is here to talk to us about that mam mayor city council uh as you know for the last couple of years we have been looking for a pan patch trailer or a trailer that we can use to patch uh asphalt on streets uh the crew has found one and based on how we've determined our maintenance programs moving forward our goal would be to purchase this have it delivered by spring so that we may participate in some patching of potholes and other minor deficiencies uh as they appear this unit was uh Pur is looking at being purchased off of the state bid so it's something that we've uh done in the past uh we do have money in the equipment certificate the 2022 equipment certificate in amount of $60,000 and we would asking for 7,374 through the 2025 budget when the trailer is delivered we would pay the remaining balance in cash one uh we have been renting and borrowing from different contractors and menot got additional questions we like having the picture and the packet piece so thanks for that thank you that would be great if I have an invite I would take you up on that we have some OSHA things and safety issues you have to make sure that we're covering always offer always offer we have sidewalk supervisors shoving any additional questions or comments hearing nothing the resolution authorizing the purchase of a 610 asphalt patching trailer is on page 44 of the packet is there a motion to approve so move second all right right we have a motion on the second call the rooll please mayor I council member Pettis hi council member weisenfeld hi council member deos hi the resolution is approved thanks Pete Next Step adoption of a resolution accepting bids for Parkview Manor roof and air exchange project may members this is a project that's been on the docket for a while and this passes through the city even though the HRA operates in many ways autonomously um this is passing through the city because funding was provided to the city and you have two primary sources of funding um one is provided through the federal government um through a congressional earmark and the other is through the state of Minnesota and um so those are the primary funding sources additional money would come from the h um the housing Redevelopment Authority or what we commonly call Parkview Manor um you'll see as a part of the information provided that there were six biders five of which met the requirements for the bidding process which is outlined within your packet you'll also see a recommendation from the HRA recommending what is then the appearent L bidder um which is Go sheet metal um you'll also see a recommendation from the engineering Consultants on this project inspect who have done lots of work for you related to roofs and air exchangers on large buildings and so you'll see that they have reviewed the documentation provided for the specifications and providing provided for the bidding process happy to answer any questions that you might have but the resolution is included on page 50 you'll see um the resolution anticipates an approval of gag goag sheet metal for $1,192 again with HUD funding State funding and any additional resources through the H again I'm happy to answer any questions that the council might have uh questions for Todd Brad um have you worked with gag metal before yeah they've actually done some projects and in fact um just recently they did your Library project for um um for you um we have worked with them we have no concerns neither does your engineering consultant on this project going to say the other thing with go they had their subcontractors listed and it was all subcontractors that we had worked with as a city before y so it was top to bottom people that we were familiar with good to know this is the project that we talked about when we tour this about two years ago correct this is this has taken a long time to move forward really receiving approval from the feds in the state for some of the um making sure that we're meeting all the requirements relating to the grant dollars that are provided um this is a very important project for this facility great needed yeah great greatly needed and so we'll be stretching those dollars as far as we can on this project for sure wonderful glad to see you coming together any additional questions or comments it's going to be starting in the spring start starting in the spring would be the plan done by think I think the end of July I think was the that's the goal y yeah all righty there's no further questions or comments the resolution accepting bids for Park View Manor roof and air exchange product appear project appears on pages 50 through 51 of the packet is there a motion to approve so move second motion and second call the role please council member Pettis I council member weisenfeld I council member doas I mayor Noel I the resolution is approved moving on our next item of new business adoption of a resolution establishing the position of sustainability Communications coordinator and pay Equity points mayor members this is an item that you've discussed on multiple occasions over a couple of budget cycles and have asked that the staff move forward to provide for this position part of the process for that includes having an appropriate job description so if the council should choose to approve this job description or something substantially similar to this we would Mo move forward with the recruitment process and start this position sometime in 2025 likely within the first quarter the information starts in page 52 within your packet and it's the goal of this position to do a couple of things one of which is um to make sure that we can continue to move sustainability projects and programs forward within the community of St Peter um as we've talked about on many occasions to make this move forward at the speed and that the amount that the council has desired we need additional horsepower to make this go and I believe this provides that hor horsepower and provides at least from a job description standpoint the necessary requirements both minimum and desired qualifications to be able to do that in addition the council has talked about ensuring that additional communication is provided not just in the area of sustainability but in other areas in reaching out to your community and so this also does that we've talked on numerous occasions and I think I've um explained my thinking related to why these two are connected um buying a half a can of pop or not what abilities we have currently what we don't have how this might change in the future as we recognize or see additional opportunities within either of these two um really important job functions um but the request tonight is to prove the job descriptions that's included within your packet starting on page 54 the resolution is on page 57 all right questions or discussion we have discussed in in Workshop this and next to um position description so I appreciate that staff um took some of our comments and um made the revisions that we requested so mamir if I could it might be important to note that new job descriptions come to the council or job descriptions where pay Equity or comparable worth points change other job descriptions can be Pro approved administratively based on your policy um again happy to answer any questions that folks might have questions for Todd hearing no questions the resolution establishing the position of sustainability Communications coordinator and pay Equity points appears on page 57 of the packet is there a motion to approve s moved second we have a motion and a second to call the rooll please council member weisenfeld I council member Nas I mayor Noel I council member Pettis I resolution is approved uh next up we have a memo on page Pages 58 through 59 of the packet that addresses the next two uh positions that we're going to discuss the first of which is the accounting technician and the second is the office coordinator in public works Madame mayor um Pete is here if you have any other technical questions since this is is within his Department you talked about this previously at Workshop this is more than just modifications to job descriptions this is an organizational change to help streamline activities within the Public Works office area this really presents itself through a couple of opportunities that we have which include a designation for a new job at a different location and um a retirement coming up and so this is a great opportunity for us to rethink how the information and documentation flows through that department and um the job requirements for this um as we've talked about there are number of different ways that we could certainly slice and dice this um but I think from my perspective and I know from Pete's perspective this is an appropriate way to provide for some efficiencies that we would like to see and providing support to some of the additional positions namely superintendent and others within the public works department um again this is included within one memo but there are two job descriptions here one is an accounting technician and the second is an office coordinator um we think that these can work in tandem with the third office support position that we have there and um we think this is a wise and smart plan we do not see any additional or anticipated additional fiscal impact we believe it can be handled within the budget that you have currently in place um I'm happy to answer any questions or if you have something more technical um like where's everybody going to sit and all those kind of things um Pete can answer that again this is not new FTE this is providing for the same number of FTE that are currently in place supporting Public Works questions for Todd or for Pete on either of the two positions hearing nothing we'll move to the resolution the first resolution establishing the position of accounting techn and pay Equity points that's on page 63 of the packet second we have a motion and a second call the rooll please council member BOS I mayor Noel I council member Pettis I council member wi I the resolution is approved uh next up our next resolution establishing the position of office coordinator and pay Equity points appears on page 67 of the packet is there a motion to approve uh we have a motion and a second call the rooll please mayor no I council member Pettis I council member weisenfeld I council member toos I the resolution is approved uh next up adoption of a resolution establishing the position of Community Development specialist and pay Equity points mayor members this is a position that you've talked about at a workshop and as you know when we have pending retirements or separation of employment we review job descriptions this is the case for this position as well um this would not be an additional FTE this is using the same FTE within this department this is really moving a position that we have currently up a little bit um to expect other requirements from them and really providing for additional hierarchy within the department and as that relates to job description and job tasks again I know you had lots of discussion about this and there's some comparison data with other communities which I think is important to note but um our request tonight is for you to approve the attached job description which we would put into place when a vacancy occurs within this department um the resolution is included in your packet I believe that resolution is on page 74 if I remember properly y thank you ma'am all right any questions for Todd hearing nothing the resolution establishing the position of Community Development specialist and pay Equity points is on page 70 three of the packet you were really close I was really close you were really close is there a motion to approve so moved yes it is second all right both we have a motion and a second call the rooll please council member weisenfeld hi council member DeVos hi mayor Noel hi council member Pettis hi the resolution is approved uh we're going to move on to reports I have nothing to report tonight are there any council members who'd like to make a report hearing nothing City administrator do you have a report for us tonight interest of time for the mayor and councel um I don't have anything else to report tonight but I do have a request which is where we get to page 74 which is the request for a Clos session um you'll see that request is to discuss Union negotiations with ls um and is provided for under Minnesota statute 13d um I would anticipate that we would only come back into regular session to adjourn so no additional action in regular session other than to come into Open session for adjournment Madame mayor I'm happy to answer any questions and I would anticipate that as you go into close session we would go to the Traverse to Su room which is our practice and then again uh only coming back into regular session for adjournment all right any questions for Todd about that all right hearing nothing the resolution calling for a closed session is on page 74 of the packet is there a motion to approve move second all those in oh all the roll please council member DeVos hi mayor Noel hi council member ptis hi council member weisenfeld hi all right right the resolution is approved and at 7:33 p.m. we will uh adjourn into close session