August 7, 2006

SURREY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2006

 

Present were Mayor Steve Fennewald, Council Members Terry Johnson, Blaine Klein, Kevin Nelsen, and Laura Volk.  Also present were Chief of Police Brad Seideman, City Engineer Alan Estvold, and City Auditor Elaine Christianson.

 

Mayor Fennewald called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m.  The agenda was reviewed.  Christianson requested additions of setting meeting dates for the September Regular Meeting and the Preliminary Budget Meeting and discussing the North Dakota League of Cities Annual Conference.  Volk requested adding discussion about 5th Ave NE aka 111th St NE.

 

The minutes from the July 10, 2006 Regular Meeting and the July 10, 2006 Public Hearing were reviewed.  Volk moved to approve the minutes.  Klein seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Council member Jarvis Sasse entered the meeting.

 

The Financial Reports were reviewed.  Motion made by Johnson to pay bills in the amount of $35,121.92.  Klein seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Estvold presented the preliminary engineer’s report for Street Improvement District 22.  Klein introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2006-14 to approve the engineer’s preliminary report as to the general nature, purpose and feasibility of the proposed improvement and estimate of the probable cost of the improvement.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Sasse introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2006-15, Directing the Engineer for the City of Surrey to Prepare Detailed Plans and Specifications for Street Improvement District No. 22.  Volk seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Council member Dana Larsen entered the meeting.

 

Resident Brian Peterson requested access to his property from111th St NE.  He wants to build a garage and would like to access it from the east.  Discussion held including possible culvert needed.  Estvold left the meeting with Mr. Peterson to check drainage.  Discussion tabled until Estvold returned with recommendation.

 

Seideman presented potential police office plans to council.  Christianson will look into money from budget and check into police grants.

 

PWS Arlen Patterson entered the meeting.

 

Estvold returned with Mr. Peterson.  Estvold recommends a 12” metal culvert be installed at area where access is requested.  Volk made a motion to allow Resident Brian Peterson access across the City right-of-way including installation of a 12” metal culvert under the driveway.  Larsen seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-nay; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye except Sasse, motion carried.  Peterson discussed possibility of purchasing land.  Discussion held.  This property is actually 75’ wide farm-to-market-road-right-of-way.  City cannot sell land since it is right-of-way.

 

Seideman requested permission to look into grants for a new police vehicle.  He would like to see police vehicle replaced every 4 years so that vehicle would have a trade-in value.  Discussion held regarding the current police vehicle’s condition, previously owned police vehicles, budget, and cost of gas.  Consensus of Council was for Seideman to check into grants.  Council is not in support of the purchase of a new police vehicle without a substantial grant or a budget plan.  

 

Larsen made a motion to approve the Municipal Court Report, the Police Report and the Public Works Report.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Larsen discussed several North Prairie Rural Water District (NPRWD) meetings he had attended since the last council meeting.  Klein and Larsen both attended the monthly NPRWD Board Meeting.  Discussion held about concerns of water supply shortage from NPRWD, NPRWD contract, and potential cost to City of Surrey of new NPRWD line from City of Minot.  Discussion also held regarding water restriction procedures. Christianson will contact NPRWD for a map of the current line.  More discussion held.  Sasse made a motion to authorize City Engineer Estvold to contact City Attorney Deb Hoffarth to discuss current NPRWD contract.  Larsen seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Estvold exited meeting.

 

Discussion of employee policies including overtime, time off, lunch requirements, on-call status and schedules was held.  Sasse made a motion that any employee with 4 or more hours of overtime needs written documentation justifying overtime.  Larsen seconded.  More discussion held.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-nay; Johnson-aye.  All ayes except Nelsen, motion carried.

 

Klein and Fennewald discussed Council members attending meetings out of town, time off from regular employment, and possible payment for the meetings attended.  More discussion held.  Item will be tabled until next meeting.

 

Resident Bryon Kraft reported on the condition of his curb stops at the greenhouse.  Discussion held.  Council advised Christianson to research ownership and repair procedures for curb stops.  Item tabled until next meeting.

 

Patterson and Seideman exited meeting.

 

Christianson reported on two recommended ordinance changes from the Planning and Zoning Commission.  First recommendation: allowing an open, uncovered porch or paved terrace to project into a required front yard set back of a distance of not more than 10 feet.  Discussion held.  Larsen made a motion to amend Chapter 12, Section 12.0601 for front yard setbacks to allow for “an open, uncovered porch or paved terrace may project into a required front yard for a distance of not more than 10 feet, but this shall not be interpreted to include or permit fixed canopies.”  Nelsen seconded.   Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.  Second recommendation was any building 120 square feet (10x12) or more must have a concrete slab or treated wood foundation with concrete footings.  Discussion held.  This item tabled until next meeting so Christianson can get clarification of Planning and Zoning Commission’s intentions.

 

Christianson presented renewal of lab contract from ND Department of Health.  Larsen made a motion to accept renewal.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Discussion held regarding setting fees for turning water off and on voluntarily and for non-payment.  Larsen made a motion to amend Ordinance 9.0102 to charge $50.00 to turn on curb stop after being shut off for non-payment and to charge $20.00 to turn on curb stop that has been turned off at the request of the homeowner.  Klein seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Sasse made a motion to approve the second reading of the amendment to Ordinance 11-430 setting hours allowed for fireworks on July 4th and fire index condition clause.  Volk seconded.   Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Klein made a motion to approve the second reading of the amendment to Ordinance 7-250 regarding an increase in building permit fees.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Christianson reported on the NDLC Conference held in Bismarck.  She discussed the use of a Consent Agenda, setting up short-term and long-term goals, conducting a resident survey, and issuing quarterly resident newsletters.

 

Discussion was held about Elections-At-Large.  Item dropped for lack of motion.

 

The Preliminary Budget meeting has been set as August 28, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.  The September meeting date has been set as September 11, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. since September 4, 2006 is a holiday.  Discussion held regarding the NDLC Annual Conference.

 

Volk discussed a resident’s complaint regarding the dust from 5th Avenue NE aka 111th Street NE.  Larsen will check into possible solutions and report to Christianson.

 

Discussion held regarding upcoming wedding of Police Chief Seideman.  Sasse moved to purchase $50.00 Dakota Square Mall gift certificate.  Larsen seconded.  Roll call vote:  Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye.  All aye, motion carried.

 

Motion to adjourn by Volk.  Sasse seconded.  All aye, meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.