CITY OF RIVER FALLS: 2/28/12 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

February 28, 2012

Mayor Don Richards called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall.

City Council Members Present: Tom Caflisch, David Cronk, Randy Kusilek, Scott Morrissette, Jim Nordgren, David Reese

City Council Members Absent: Bob Hughes

Staff Present: Bill Thiel, City Attorney; Scot Simpson, City Administrator; Carl Gaulke, Utility General Manager; Roger Leque, Police Chief; Reid Wronski, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Roger Leque, Police Chief; Tom Schwalen, Building Maintenance Supervisor; Kristy Treichel, Civil Engineer; Tony Steiner, City Planner

Others Present: Sean Lentz, Michael Stifter, Keith Chavey, Anne McAlpine, others

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

February 14, 2012, Regular Meeting Minutes

MSC Cronk/Morrissette move to approve minutes as submitted. Unanimous.

January 26, 2012, Workshop Minutes

MSC Morrissette/ Cronk move to approve minutes as submitted. Unanimous.

APPROVAL OF BILLS:

City Bills $5,931,874.58

MSC Nordgren/Morrissette move to approve the bills subject to the comptroller. Unanimous.

PUBLIC COMMENT, PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:

Recognition of Keith Chavey – The Mayor recognized Keith Chavey for his service on the River Falls Housing Authority Board from April 2009-December 2011. The Mayor presented Chavey with a plaque.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Storm Water Permit – 2011 Annual report - Resolution No. 5560 - Authorizing Content of 2011 Annual Report to Discharge Storm Water

Mayor Richards recessed Council at 6:34 p.m. and went into a public hearing. Kristy Treichel gave a brief overview of the report. She said the City has inspected about 20 percent of its infrastructure this year. Treichel said information has been provided to public through the City newsletter and website. She noted that both she and Reid Wronski have had the opportunity to speak to various groups. The Mayor liked the students working on reports. Treichel answered questions from Kusilek and Morrissette regarding estimating debris and illicit discharge.

At 6:39 p.m. with no one else wishing to speak for or against this issue, Council reconvened into Open Session for disposition. MSC Caflisch/ Nordgren move to approve resolution. Unanimous.

Ordinance 2012-03– An Ordinance Amending and Renumbering Section 12.16 of the Municipal Code (Stormwater) – Second Reading and Disposition

Mayor Richards recessed Council at 6:40 p.m. and went into a public hearing. Treichel said the ordinance had not been updated since 2007. She said the DNR updated its code so the City updated the ordinance to be compatible. Treichel said the biggest change was updated the financial guarantee section.

At 6:42 p.m. with no one else wishing to speak for or against this issue, Council reconvened into Open Session for disposition. MS Cronk/ Nordgren move to approve ordinance. Reese asked if this would apply to projects already in progress. Treichel said no. It would apply to projects which began after the ordinance went into effect. With no other questions or comments, the ordinance passed unanimously.

The Mayor announced that he was changing the order of the agenda and moved to item 11.

Resolution No. 5561 - Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $4,560,000 Taxable General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2012a

Sean Lentz from Ehlers and Associates said this was for the refinancing of seven loans. He said the interest rates are significantly lower than when the loans were taken out. Lentz discussed the City’s rating. He said in the areas the City could control, it is doing very well. He explained the areas the City cannot control such as population, wealth indices, limits the City’s rating ability.

With no questions from Council, Lentz reviewed results of the bond sale. The winning bidder was BOSC, Inc. The savings would be just under $600,000. He recommended approval of the resolution.

City Administrator Simpson clarified the resolution in the packet reflected the previous estimated amount for the bond prior to that morning’s sale. Assistant City Administrator/Finance Director Bergstrom said a revised resolution with the correct number has been forwarded for approval.

With no further discussion Nordgren moved and Kusilek seconded the approval of the resolution. The roll call vote passed unanimously with all voting to approve the resolution. The Mayor returned to the original numbering of the agenda.

CONSENT AGENDA:

The Council acknowledged the receipt of the following minutes:

Fire Department – 01/09/12;

River Falls Main Street BID Board – 11/21/11; 8/5/11;

River Falls Housing Authority – 12/13/11;

Library Board – 1/2/12; Plan Commission – 1/17/12;

Historic Preservation Commission – 1/11/12;

Police, Fire and Ambulance Commission – 1/9/12;

Utility Commission – 1/16/12 regular meeting and workshop; Powerful Choices – 1/12/12

Resolution No. 5562 - Approving Request for City Assistance for Chamber 2012 Events

Resolution No. 5563 - Approving Request for City Assistance with Border Battle Mountain Bike Event

Resolution No. 5564 - Approving Municipal Water, Sewer and Public Works Service Mutual Aid Agreement

Resolution Awarding Bid for Public Works Roof Replacement -- Pulled by Kusilek

MSC Cronk/Morrissette move to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Unanimous.

Resolution No. 5565 - Awarding Bid for Public Works Roof Replacement

Kusilek asked Tom Schwalen, Building Maintenance Supervisor, asked if there was a guarantee with the company who built the building as the roof had shown signs of shrinkage seven years after construction. Schwalen said there was a ten year warranty and there was substantial repair done to the roof parameter at that time. He said since then more repairs have been done. Kusilek felt the roof should last longer than it did. Schwalen felt that the materials used at the time were a problem.

Nordgren asked if there was a slope. Schwalen said yes there was a slope which allowed for water drainage.

With no further questions, Kusilek moved for approval of the resolution and Cronk seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Ordinance 2012-04 – Rezoning of Land in Whitetail Ridge Corporate Park from I, Industrial to C, Conservancy – First Reading

No comment

Resolution No. 5566 - Awarding Final Bid for Cascade Avenue Project

MSC Nordgren/Morrissette move to approve the resolution. Unanimous.

Resolution No.5567 - Regarding Office Alterations

MS Caflisch/Cronk move to approve the resolution.

Nordgren asked Schwalen for an explanation about the alterations. Schwalen explained the alterations in the Utility Department/front desk/Lewis Room areas. Simpson explained the changes were to group services and improves the customer service area.

With no further discussion, Mayor Richards called for a vote. The motion was approved unanimously.

Alderperson Reese thanked Reid Wronski and staff for all the work done on the Cascade project from bidding to engineering work. The Council applauded and agreed.

REPORTS:

Administrator’s Report

Simpson thanked Council for their help in recognizing Wronski. He also wanted to publicly thank the other partners with the Cascade project – SEH, UWRF and the State of Wisconsin. Simpson also thanked Julie Bergstrom and Sean Lentz for their work on refinancing. He said the savings will help the City with its five year fiscal plan. He re-emphasized the excellent rate the City received for the bond and reflects positively on the City’s financial management.

Comptroller’s Report for January 2012

Alderperson Reese read the following report: General Fund revenues through the end of January were $407,830 and include the January property tax settlement and first quarter transportation aids. Expenditures for the same period were $527,270 or six percent of budgeted for a net of expenditures over revenues of $119,441.

He noted the City was eating into its snow removal funds as he spoke. He said approximately $12,000 has been spent in defensive efforts.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mayor’s Appointment to the River Falls Housing Authority

New appointment of Nicholas Carow through February 2017

MSC Caflisch/Cronk move to approve the Mayor’s appointment. Unanimous.

Mayor’s Report

The Mayor provided a slideshow and report about the St. Croix Valley becoming a National Heritage Area. There is a group leading this effort. The Mayor said a National Heritage Area celebrates places with important connections to the country’s culture and history. These areas are designated by Congress. The slideshow featured several pictures of local sites. The Mayor detailed the process. He said there is a public meeting at the library this upcoming Saturday. He invited the public to attend.

CLOSED SESSION:

MS Morrissette/Cronk move to recess into Closed Session at 7:21 p.m. per Wisconsin State Statutes § 19.85 (1)(e) for the purpose of:

“Deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session; to-wit: TID 7 development agreement and acquisition of property.”

The roll call vote to recess into Closed Session was unanimous.

Council had discussion on items for Closed Session consideration.

RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION:

MSC Caflisch/Morrissette move to adjourn into open session. Unanimous.

There was discussion by Mayor with Mr. Frisbie regarding delegation of authority to Scot Simpson and Mayor to meet with him regarding subject of closed session.

Motion by Reese to adjourn meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristi McKahan, Deputy City Clerk

(Pub. 03/22/12) WNAXLP

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