September 11, 2006
SURREY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2006
Mayor Fennewald called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m. Present were Mayor Steve Fennewald, Council Members Terry Johnson, Dana Larsen, Jarvis Sasse, and Laura Volk. Also present were Jason Strand of Ackerman-Estvold and City Auditor Elaine Christianson.
The agenda was reviewed. Christianson requested Conrad Koble be added to the agenda and to pull item 5a) Set fees to turn on/turn off water – 2nd reading from the Consent Agenda.
Council member Kevin Nelsen entered the meeting.
Christianson explained the procedures for the consent agenda. Mayor Fennewald read the consent agenda: Review and approve the 08/07/06 and 08/28/06 minutes; Approve financial reports and payments of payroll in the amount of $11,873.28 and bills to be paid in the amount of $18,815.68; Approve the Municipal Court, Police and Public Works Reports; Approve the 2nd reading of the amendment to front yard setbacks. Larsen moved to approve the consent agenda items. Sasse seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye, Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Council member Blaine Klein entered the meeting.
Christianson introduced Jason Strand of Ackerman-Estvold Engineering to the council. Strand informed council on the status of the Jung Construction water and sewer improvement, that the curb and gutter in District 21 has been installed and paving should start later in the week, and that District 22 will be placed on hold until next spring because if the bidding process were started, any bidders would bid extremely high due to the fluctuation in the oil prices.
Discussion was held regarding the current curb stop ordinance. Under the current ordinance, the financial responsibility falls to the homeowner to maintain and repair the water line from the water main into their home. Ownership, maintenance, and costs of replacing a curb stop were discussed further. Sasse made a motion to require all homeowners with non-functioning and non-accessible curb stops to repair, replace and/or make accessible their curb stops by September 11, 2007. If the homeowner does not repair, replace and/or make accessible their curb stop by September 11, 2007, the City of Surrey will cause the curb stop to be repaired, replaced, and/or made accessible and the cost, if not paid by the property owner, will be added to the property’s taxes. Further, the City of Surrey will cover $300 of the cost and after all curb stops in the City are in repair, the City of Surrey will amend Ordinance 9.0116 to become financially responsible for any repairs to the water line from the main line up to and including the curb stop. The financial responsibility of the line from the curb stop but not including the curb stop to the home will remain the homeowners. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-nay; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-nay; Johnson-aye. Four ayes, two nays, motion carried.
Resident Randy Severson spoke with Council regarding his concerns about vehicles speeding on 5th Street Southwest. Discussion held about speed bumps, speed humps, stop signs, and speed dips. Council members Larsen and Johnson will have a meeting with Police Chief Seideman to look at the issue.
PWS Arlen Patterson entered the meeting.
Resident Conrad Koble spoke with Council regarding the train whistles being excessive. Discussion was held about train whistles and Quiet Zone issues. Koble also inquired into the possibility of the railroad crossing south of the lagoon being abandoned. Council advised Koble and any other resident that is unhappy with the train whistles to keep a log of the date, time and on which track the excessive noise occurred so that the City can contact BNSF Railroad with the complaint logs.
Ralph Packulak from North Prairie Rural Water District updated Council regarding NPRWD expansion. NPRWD has been in contact with the City of Minot regarding hooking up an additional line to run out to the City of Surrey. Packulak assured Council that the water line going to Granville is a separate line and will not affect Surrey’s supply. Packulak discussed NPRWD is looking at 3 to 4 options that would relieve the line to Surrey to give Surrey more water as demanded on hot days in the summer. Sasse discussed NPRWD’s responsibility as our water supplier to be able to meet our demands. Packulak requested the City of Surrey have a population versus water storage report conducted.
Christianson discussed a quote from Northern Water Works for support of the Neptune software and handheld for the radio read meters. This item tabled until the next meeting.
Christianson spoke with Council about a request for streetlights on 4th Avenue SW from Derek Undhjem and Josh Myers. Johnson moved to approve the request. Sasse seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson presented a plat for approval separating the cemetery from the land for the Church of the Breathern. This plat has been approved by planning and zoning subject to the engineer’s final approval. Klein moved to approve the plat, also subject to the engineer’s final approval. Nelsen seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Discussion held on recommendation from the City of Surrey Planning and Zoning Commission. They recommend City Council amend Chapter 7, Section 7-200 - Building Permits – When Required, of the General Ordinances of the City of Surrey, to read: “B. Outbuilding: permits are required for any building that is 120 square feet (10x12) or larger. Any building 120 square feet (10x12) or more must have a concrete slab or if the building has a treated wood floor then concrete footings 8” wide by 12” deep can be used instead of a concrete slab. Pole Buildings, new and existing, require pressure treated skirt boards to extend 12 inches below grade on the outside perimeter of the building.” Sasse moved to amend Chapter 7, Section 7-200 as recommended and accept this as a first reading of the change to the ordinance. Larsen seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Discussion about Council receiving pay to attend meetings was tabled until the next meeting.
Larsen informed Council that 111th Street NE (aka 5th Ave NE) was not included in District 19 and therefore, any funds from District 19 can not be used to help improve the dust problem. Other possible solutions will have to be discussed later.
Christianson requested permission for her and Deputy Auditor Rosemary McNamara to attend a Meeting Management Workshop in Minot October 18, 2006. Volk moved to approve the request. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson discussed some final budget and fund issues. Larsen moved to change the name on the Urban Renewal Fund to Public Buildings Fund. Second made by Johnson. Discussion held what monies have been received for the Urban Renewal Fund. Larsen and Johnson rescinded motion. Christianson will verify by next meeting if all monies in this fund have come from real estate taxes or if federal funds are involved.
Larsen moved to change the name on the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund to Insurance Reserve Fund and to expense the workforce safety insurance premium from this fund. Only the NDIRF insurance premium has been paid out of this fund in the past. After researching this fund, Christianson learned that the workforce safety insurance premium could be paid from this fund. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Police Chief Brad Seideman presented the two bids he received for the new police office. A significant difference existed between the two bids. A police department committee consisting Johnson, Klein and Seideman was created to research the bids further.
Discussion was held regarding the second reading of the amendment of turn on fees to 9.0102 Billing Procedure. Christianson explained the whole ordinance, not just the turn on fees, needed to be rewritten. Council advised Christianson to rewrite the Billing Procedure ordinance to the current policy and present it as a first reading at the next meeting.
Tom Serie of F&L Development discussed with Council the importance of a housing authority. Serie gave a presentation about developing market rate multi-family housing that would be purchased by the housing authority with revenue bonds. Council advised Christianson to research Housing Authorities for the next meeting.
Christianson presented plats for Outlot A, B, & C for Derek Undhjem and Josh Myers. These plats have been approved by planning and zoning subject to the engineer’s final approval. Sasse moved to approve the plat, also subject to the engineer’s final approval. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.