REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday June 7, 2021
CALL TO ORDER AND DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Olivia, Minnesota, was called to order by Mayor Hawkinson at 7:03 P.M.
Council Members Present: Jon Hawkinson, Blanca Ferguson, Tom Kalahar, George Ebbers and Landon Padrnos.
Others present: Dan Coughlin, City Administrator; Christi Weidemann, City Clerk; Justin Alderman, Assistant City Attorney; Jason Murray, Financial Advisor with David Drown & Associates; Brian Stenholm, Police Officer / Emergency Manager; Kari Klages, Finance Director; Susie Lang, EDA Director; Bonnie Schwieger, City Auditor with Abdo, Eich and Meyers; Katianne Briese, Resident (via Zoom); and Scott Tedrick, Editor, Renville County Register (via Zoom).
AGENDA
Motion by Ferguson, second by Ebbers: to approve the Agenda as updated. Motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Padrnos, second by Kalahar: to approve the presented Consent Agenda items:
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- Regular Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2021
- Approve Lexipol Police Policies 204, 205 (First Reading 5/17/2021)
- Acknowledge Receipt /First Reading of Proposed Lexipol Police Policies 202, 206, 311, 425
- Resolution 2021-36, Approve Employment of Michael Kingstrom as a Probationary Firefighter
- Resolution 2021-42, Approve Employment of Elijah Walton and Ezekiel Walton as Summer Public Works Staff
- June Payables #1
Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Create TIF District 1-11
Mayor Hawkinson temporarily recessed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing at 7:04 P.M.
Financial Advisor Jason Murray reported that both the City Council and the EDA will hold public hearings on creating TIF District 1-11. Murray stated that there are two parts to the TIF plan. The first part is the restating project area and its goals. The second part is the actual TIF plan which is the creation of a 26-year redevelopment TIF district on the identified property. Murray said this is plan is allowable based on the project and financing needs. Murray provided the Council with exhibits for the TIF Plan.
No one from the public came forward for the public hearing.
Mayor Hawkinson closed the public hearing and reopened the regular meeting at 7:08 P.M.
PUBLIC HEARING – Adopt Business Subsidy Criteria
Mayor Hawkinson again recessed the regular meeting and opened a public hearing at 7:08 P.M.
Financial Advisor Jason Murray reported that both the City Council and the EDA will hold public hearings prior to adopting the Business Subsidy Policy. Murray said that the current business subsidy is an older policy that has now been redrafted and cleaned up to create a joint policy.
Kalahar asked Murray if the Council could potentially strike “abundance of wet lands” on page 2 d) ii. Kalahar stated that he didn’t want to give the idea that we are draining wetlands. Murray said they could certainly strike “abundance of wet lands” from the policy.
No one from the public come forward for the public hearing.
Mayor Hawkinson closed the public hearing and reopened the regular meeting at 7:13 P.M.
Resolution 2021-37, Modification of Development District #1, Creation of TIF District 1-11, and Adoption of Associated TIF Plan
Motion by Ferguson, second by Ebbers: to approve Resolution 2021-37, Modification of Development District #1, Creation of TIF District 1-11, and Adoption of Associated TIF Plan. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 2021-38, Adoption of Business Subsidy Criteria
Motion by Kalahar, second by Padrnos: to approve Resolution 2021-38, Adoption of Business Subsidy Criteria with an amendment on page 2 d) ii. striking the words “abundance of wet lands.” Motion passed unanimously.
Auditor’s Presentation – Abdo Eick & Meyers, Resolution 2021-39, Acceptance of 2020 Audit Report
Mayor Hawkinson welcomed City Auditor Bonnie Schwieger from Abdo, Eick and Meyers to the meeting. Schwieger provided the Council with the 2020 Audit presentation. No material audit findings were noted
Hawkinson asked Schwieger to sum up the City’s overall financial health based on her work with the City and the 2020 financials, specifically. Schwieger noted that the City’s overall financial health is good and it continues to show a positive trend. She also mentioned that she and her team very much enjoy working with Finance Director Kari Klages and the other city staff; and she commended them for their ongoing efforts to keep the City’s financial health a priority.
Motion by Kalahar, second by Padrnos: to approve Resolution 2021-39, Acceptance of 2020 Audit Report. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 2021-40, Request for MnDOT for Designated Hwy 71 Crossings
Administrator Coughlin reported that the Park Board met with some of the key MnDOT District 8 planning staff to discuss if the city had any thoughts regarding designating specific crosswalks running across Highway 71 where signage, roadway markings and other visual cues could be used to alert drivers to the possibility of pedestrians crossing the roadway.
Coughlin said that the feedback from the Park Board indicated there is a strong desire for safer crosswalk areas on Highway 71 south. After considerable discussion, the Park Board identified three intersections they recommended that the City Council designate as marked & signed pedestrian crossing areas. The first intersection noted was at Chestnut Avenue. This location has already been identified in the Active Living / Safe Routes to School Trail Plan as a trail crossing that will include a pedestrian-activated flasher system to warn oncoming vehicles of pedestrians seeking to cross the roadway.
The next intersection was Ash Avenue which is about the midway point from the south end of Highway 71 south and the Highway 212 and 71 intersection. Lastly, Fairview Avenue was named as the third recommended crossing. While some consideration was given to Depue Avenue being the northerly crossing location, the Police Chief expressed concern that a crossing so close to the Highway 212 and 71 intersection could create pedestrian safety concerns so he recommended going one block farther south and name Fairview Avenue as the designated crossing location.
Motion by Ebbers, second by Padrnos: to approve Resolution 2021-40, Request for MnDOT for Designated Hwy 71 Crossings. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 2021-41, Abandonment of Sidewalk Segment / Authorization for Removal
Hawkinson explained that the Park Board received a written request from a property owner at 401 Depue Avenue to have their sidewalk declared abandoned and for them to receive formal city permission to have it removed at the owner’s expense. Hawkinson said that the sidewalk segment in question was reviewed by city staff including public works, planning and zoning, and the city engineer and no issues were found with the request. The segment was noted as not being included in any city plans including the Safe Routes to School plan, Active Living Plan, or the City’s long-term infrastructure plan on file with the City Engineer.
Motion by Ferguson, second by Kalahar: to approve Resolution 2021-41, Abandonment of Sidewalk Segment / Authorization for Removal. Motion passed unanimously.
Continued Virtual City Tours
The Council viewed short video highlighting the Olivia EDA and Olivia Main Street.
Public Forum
No one from the public asked to speak during the public forum.
COVID-19 Update
No report at this time.
Park Board – June 1
Hawkinson shared that beyond the sidewalk and highway crossing discussions, the only other item of note from the Park Board meeting was that garbage barrels will be added along the new trail segment south of the school.
Corn Capital Days – June 7
Ebbers said the meeting was well attended and things are coming together. Ebbers said they are looking for Grand Marshal nominees and anybody who would like to submit a nomination can email him. Ebbers also reported that there has been a good response to sponsorship letters which has led to $8,000 – $10,000 in business sponsorships. Ebbers mentioned that the Lions Club has agreed to allow CCD to use their insurance again this year. Lastly, Ebbers mentioned they are looking for new coordinators for the kiddie parade.
Other Reports
Mayor Hawkinson mentioned that Olivia Main Street’s Third Thursday vendor events will be starting next week which takes place at the parking lot of the Olivia Liquor Store.
Hawkinson also mentioned there will be a Fire Department shared service discussion kickoff meeting on June 30th at 7:00 P.M. at the County Administration building.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kalahar, second by Ferguson: to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 P.M. Motion passed unanimously.
