City of St. Mary’s Point
City Council Meeting – September 1, 2009
St. Mary’s Point Web address:  http://stmaryspoint.org

PRESENT:  Mayor Williams, Councilmember Russell, Councilmember Freesmeier, Councilmember Jacobson, Councilmember Theede
ABSENT:     None

CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  The City Clerk took roll call.  

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
The Pledge was recited by everyone in attendance.  

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA.
Motion by Councilmember Russell, seconded by Councilmember Jacobson, to approve the consent agenda, including the August meeting minutes and the September agenda.
    
Motion passes unanimously.

CITY TREASURER’S REPORT.
Tom Niezwicki, City Treasurer, gave the financial report for the month of August.  

Motion by Councilmember Theede, seconded by Councilmember Jacobson, to pay the bills and the 5 electronic payments.  

Motion passes unanimously.

PRELIMINARY 2010 BUDGET AND LEVY.
Tom Niezwicki, City Treasurer, outlined the proposed budget.

The proposed budget was reviewed in detail and discussed by Council.  The Art in the Park program was discussed in more detail.

Motion by Councilmember Russell, Seconded by Councilmember Jacobson, to adopt Resolution 2009-09-01, adopting the proposed budgets and proposed tax levies for the year 2010.

Motion passes 4-1; opposed by Councilmember Freesmeier .  Councilmember Freesmeier stated he would like to see the money contributed to the Art in the Park program used in a different way.

PUBLIC CONCERNS.
A member of the public was present at the meeting to discuss a trespassing complaint on the City beach.  The person recommended that the SMP City Attorney work with the Sheriff’s Office to address the trespassing situation and to clarify the boundaries of public property.

SHERIFF’S REPORT.
A Sheriff’s deputy was present prior to the SMP City Council meeting and a report was distributed.

Mayor Williams highlighted on the report that coyotes have been spotted in SMP. The Mayor informed Council that he had received reports of these sightings.


STANDING COMMITTEES – UPDATES.
Fire District
Councilmember Theede reported he attended the meeting.  He reported the Fire District is in need of an ordinance from SMP that will also be distributed to Washington County.  The City Attorney stated she will come to the next meeting with recommendations for the ordinance.

Cable Commission
Councilmember Freesemeir reported he gave the City Clerk a list of addresses to review for the Cable Commission.

Middle St. Croix WMO
Councilmember Jacobson reported she attended the meeting and a grant was awarded for $1,500 dollars to contribute to the rain garden project.  

LSCV Alliance
It isn’t known if a meeting was held.

E.)    Planning Commission  
        Nothing to report.

CITY STAFF REPORTS.
Building Inspector
Duane Stensland, Building Inspector, distributed a list of ongoing projects within the City.  

City Engineer
John Parotti, City Engineer, reviewed the Engineering report that was distributed and reported on ongoing projects within the City.

Itasca Avenue drainage issues were reviewed by John as well as an e-mail dated August 27th, with the bids that were received for the Itasca Avenue flooding project.  John presented Council with the options of awarding the project to a contractor, to include or not include creating a ditching and plant rain garden.  Amy Caroline from the WMO was present at the meeting to discuss potential for grant funding.  

John outlined the assumed cost of doing the projects separately, as opposed to together.  The projects were presented to the contractors together; John explained the cost may vary slightly. Councilmember Theede stated the 22nd Street issue is an ongoing safety concern and he felt that the project should be completed if the cost is reasonable.  Councilmember Theede stated he feels the Itasca project is not as immanent as the 22nd street project.

Nancy Jacobson reported that she has a list of residents of SMP who are willing to commit to volunteering to help plant the rain garden.   

Motion by Councilmember Russell, Seconded by Councilmember Jacobson, to award the bid to Zappa Brother’s for completion of both the 22nd Street project and the Itasca Avenue project with the rain garden, if the residents directly affected are agreeable.
        
Motion passes 3-2; opposed by Councilmember Theede and Councilmember Freesmeier.  Councilmemer Freesemeir stated that he would like to complete the projects, but as two separate projects, completed at different times.

    
 

City Attorney
Amy Schmidt reported she will now be representing SMP.  


E.)    City Clerk
The City Clerk clarified the information to be sent to the residents that are going to be directly effected by the planting of the rain garden.  Councilmember Jacobson volunteered to assist the clerk with drafting a letter to send to the residents.

COUNCIL REPORTS.
Mayor
Gary Williams, Mayor, reported on receiving a trespassing complaint.  This trespassing complaint is directly related to the public concern that was addressed earlier.

Councilmembers
Councilmember Freesmeier
He reported STS will be coming two weekends in September to clear underbrush at the City Park.  

2.    Councilmember Jacobson
She reported she will attend the MN Landscape, clean water and conservation workshop the 24th and 25th of September.  

Councilmember Russell
Nothing additional to report.

Councilmember Theede
He inquired who painted the SMP City sign last, and what kind of paint was used.  He stated he and/or his wife will be re-painting the sign in the future.



ADJOURNMENT.
Motion to adjourn the Council meeting at 9:23 p.m. Motion passed.



Respectfully submitted,


                                
    Gary Williams, Mayor                    Megan R. Rucker, City Clerk



St. Mary’s Point web address:  http://stmaryspoint.org