The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About10-18-04 Hastings, Minnesota October 18, 2004 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a regular meeting on Monday, October 18,2004 at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Werner, Council Members Moratzka, Schultz, Riveness. Hazlet, Yandrasits and Hicks Members Absent: None Staff Members Present: City Attorney Shawn Moynihan, Public Works Director Tom Montgomery, HRA Director John Grossman, Planning Director John Hinzman, Parks and Recreation Director Barry Bernstein Approval of Minutes Mayor Werner asked ifthere were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the rel!ular meeting of October 4, 2004. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as presented. Recognition-2004 Treescaping Award Barry Bernstein presented to the council a 2004 Treescaping A ward for the project the city did on Arbor Day in 2004. This was a partnership project between the Parks and Recreation Department, Hastings Middle School and the Department of Transportation. Council Items to be Considered Mayor Werner asked ifthere were any additional council items to be considered. There were no additional items to be added to the agenda. Consent Agenda Council Member Yandrasits asked to have item 12 pulled trom the Consent Agenda and placed under planning. Moved by Council Member Yandrasits, seconded by Council Member Moratzka to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. 1. Pay Bills As Audited 2. Approve Extension of Unpaid leave of Absence 3. Order Public Hearing-Renewal of Currency Exchange License 4. Resolution-Requesting 35 MPH Speed Limit on Highway 316 to the South City Limits 5. Approve Facility Maintenance Agreement Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 2 ofS 6. Pay Estimate #4-Project 2004-1: Westwood Reconstruction (3 Rivers Construction) $172,605.91 7. Pay Estimate #3-Project 2004-2: 31 sl Street Reconstruction (A-I Excavating) $104,671.02 8. Pay Estimate #3-Project 2004-3: Vermillion River Trail Underpass (Mattison Contractors) $926.25 9. Pay Estimate #3-Project 2004-4: 10th Street & Highway 61 (Ace Blacktop) $230,545.17 10. Pay Estimate #IO-Project 2003-2: Riverwood South Oaks (Contractor's Edge) $16,450.49 11. Resolution-Grant Extension to Site Plan Approval #2003-77: Dakota Summit (Nick Conzemius) 12. (This was moved to City Planner as #9) 13. Declaring Excess Property for Auction 14. Waive Internal Construction Fees-Wallin Park 15. 2004 Gobble Gait Request 16. Order Public Hearing for November I, 2004-Declaring City Property Excess and Approving Exchange 17. Approve Accounts Receivable Write-Offs 18. Approve Credit Card Policy 19. Resolution-Approve Grant Submittal: Jiffy Gas Station Clean-Up Public Hearing-Modification of the Hastings Downtown Redevelopment Plan and Establishment of Tax Increment Financing District #4 Mayor Werner opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. HRA Director Grossman explained the proposed new TIF district and the reasons for creating the new district. Jessica Cook, trom Ehlers Associates discussed reasons for creating the new TIF districts and the regulations covering the proposed district. Dan Cornejo, from Short Elliott Hendrickson, explained the study his company did ofthe area proposed to be in the new district to determine the need for reinvestment and renewal. SEH also studied the eligibility of the area for TIF. SEH concluded the proposed district met state law requirements. Mayor Werner questioned assumptions made in the SEH study such as relocating the VFW, American Legion, post office, UBC and the Excel substation. Cornejo explained that even if these properties were not relocated the proposed district would still satisfy the "but for" test. HRA Grossman told the council they could remove properties from the proposed TIF district. Mayor Werner stated that he did not understand how this proposed TIF district expanded beyond what the council preliminarily approved. Councilmember Yandrasits explained that some of these properties were included for the purpose of providing TIF funds to do streetscapes. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Pag~ 3 ur 5 Councilmember Hicks stated that he would like the council to study further the need to include or not include the parcels of property the Mayor was concerned about. Councilmember Riveness wanted to know ifthe American Legion had been notified about is inclusion in the new proposed TIF district. The owner of the Gardner House building explained that the valuation on her building has gone up over the years. Diane Metcalf, First Vice Commander of the American Legion, explained that the creation of the new TIF district will have direct impact on the American Legion. The very survivability of the Legion may depend upon what action the council takes on the new TIF district. The loss of parking nearby the Legion will affect the Legion. The public hearing was stopped at 8:00 p.m. so that the council could hold an awards presentation for the Mississippi River rescue. The public hearing was reconvened at 8:05 p.m. Barb Hollenbeck, 212 Yo 2nd Street East, thanked the mayor and the council for their work and their willingness to consider TIF for the downtown. Bill Boler, 402 West 7'h Street, stated that he shared the mayor's frustrations as to how various things have happened over the course of this downtown redevelopment project. He stated that the city should have picked a plan and then sought out a developer instead of picking a developer and then a plan. Jackie Boler, 402 West 7'h Street, read to the council her recent letter to the editor. She did not want the council to extend the agreement with Sherman & Associates. Ron Craft, 216 2nd Street East, stated concerns about TIF and who will use it, where it will be used, and how it will be used. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Werner closed the public hearing at 8: 17 p.m. Public Hearing-Annexation #2004-51: South Frontage Road Extension (0.5 Acres) Mayor Werner opened the public hearing at 8: 18 p.m. Planning Director Hinzman provided a brief background on the action to be considered. There were no comments from the audience. Hearing no comments, Mayor Werner closed the public hearing at 8: 19 p.m. Adopting a Modification to the Hastings Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and Establishing Tax Increment Financing District #4 and Approval ofthe Elimination of Parcels from Downtown TIF District #1 Moved by Councilmember Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Moratzka to table both of these items until the council can get further clarifications on the boundaries of the proposed TIF District and to refer this item to the planning committee of the council to get these clarifications. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 4 of5 Approve Sherman & Associates Master Development Plan and Approve and Authorize Execution of Master Preliminary Development Agreement Moved by Councilmember Moratzka and seconded by Councilmember Yandrasits to extend the expiration of the existing agreement to January 20,2005 so that questions on TIF district #4 can be resolved first. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Second Reading/Resolution-Annexation #2004-51: South Frontage Road Extension (0.5 Acres) Moved by Councilmember Hicks; seconded by Councilmember Hazlet to approve the resolution as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Site Plan #2004-52: Plastic Printers Expansion (2750 Millard Avenue) Moved by Councilmember Schultz; seconded by Councilmember Riveness to approve resolution as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Minor Subdivision #2004-56: Subdivide Lot 1, Block 3, Hastings Industrial Park No.3 (Spiral & Enterprise) Moved by Councilmember Schultz; seconded by Councilmember Riveness to approve the resolution as presented. 7 Ayes, Nays, None. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Site Plan #2004-54: Westview Packaging (Southwest Corner of Spiral & Enterprise Boulevards) Moved by Councilmember Yandrasits; seconded by Councilmember Hicks to approve the resolution as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Approve Roof Sign #2004-60: Pizza Hut (1330 South Frontage Road) Moved by Councilmember Yandrasits; seconded by Councilmember Hazlet to approve the resolution as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Copy of resolution on file. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 5 ofS Appeal of 24-Foot Driveway with Ordinance (765 River Street) The applicant, Dwayne Curl, addressed the council on why he was appealing staff s denial of his request to widen an existing common driveway serving a twin home on River Street from 24 feet to 32 feet in width. Moved by Councilmember Yandrasits; seconded by Councilmember Schultz to uphold staff s decision. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. Adjournment Moved by Councilmember Schultz; seconded by Councilmember Riveness to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 p.m. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. ~ ATTEST ~L City Clerk Mayor