The Wyoming City Council approved expansion plans by Rosenbauer Motors in the city’s industrial park on July 7.
By a 5-0 vote, the council approved a variance for the company to allow a larger paved surface than maximum the city ordinances allow. The request is for 87 percent of the site (including building space), up from 50 percent normally allowed on a site. The request also included a building covering 30.5 percent of the site, when normally the requirement is 20 percent. The site includes Lots 4, 5, and 6, Block 2 in the industrial park, at 5190 260th St.
Conditions tied to the approval are adequate performance bond, approval of the development agreement, and the engineer’s approval of the maintenance agreement for the stormwater ponds.
The site plan application, to allow a 60,000 square-foot addition to Rosenbauer Motors, was also unanimously approved.
Tied to this manufacturing expansion, the council also approved the development and maintenance agreement between the city and Hallberg Inc. at the site.
This was a more contentious discussion. These documents were received shortly before the meeting. Councilwoman Linda Yeager wanted time to read them thoroughly before voting.
Attorney Mark Vierling explained that the document “follows template development agreement,” adding nothing new or unique.
The agreement was approved by a 4-0 vote. Yeager abstained because she wanted to be certain of content.
Wages
A proposal for a 2.75 percent wage increase for non-union staff and department heads was approved. The contract (2015-2017) between the city and Law Enforcement Labor Services for the police officers was approved in May with a 2.75 percent increase.
City Administrator Craig Mattson explained that city public works employees have petitioned to join the IUOE Local 49 and they are waiting for mail ballots. The vote for the pay increase was 3-2. The pay raise is effective from Jan. 1, 2015.
Iverson and Yeager voted no. Iverson said she was concerned that the percentage was negotiated by the city administrator and the police department union for the LELS staff and then became the percentage increase for other employees, including the city administrator. She was concerned about the perception of conflict of interest. She added that she would also prefer to “see these annual increases tied to employee performances.”
Yeager thought the 2.75 percent increase was too high. She had also voted against the police officers’ contract.
Bonds
Council members passed a resolution approving issuance of bonds by the city of Minneapolis on behalf of Fairview Health Services. The Fairview spokesman explained that Fairview is restructuring debt. The $135 million will be used to refinance Fairview Lakes Medical Center and complete other construction, remodeling and renovation in other affiliated health care facilities in other cities. By state law (Minnesota statues 469.152-469.165), all cities where Fairview has projects must consent to the bond sale. There is no financial obligation or risk to the city.
Special events
Council members approved a “special events” administrative policy. Discussed at the previous council meeting, the purpose is to establish a single application for any requests that involve city facility or space or that would impact a neighborhood. This might involve requests from organizations and private parties.
The policy establishes some uniformity and provides information for the city departments to determine allocation of staff and other resources because sometimes city personnel are involved in community events.
The council approved the policy by a vote of 3-2. Linda Yeager and Lisa Iverson voted no. Yeager voted no because she had second thoughts about it and was not comfortable with the staff’s answers to council questions on the matter. Iverson agreed with the need for effective communication within city departments, but she said what was “presented falls short on the standard fees and leaves many questions open in the applicants’ mind regarding the fees.”
Refund
Members also voted to correct a mistake made in billing Polaris Industries more than should have been billed for Surface Water Management Utility rate.
The city has been billing Polaris at the industrial (urban) rate of $21 per acre per quarter. This is based on a 100-acre cap, and a quarterly fee of $2,100 was charged to Polaris. The total area of the properties is 609.11 acres.
The mix-up came after the city adopted its current storm water utility fee land use designations in October 2011. At that time, the Polaris properties should have been designated as industrial (non-urban), which carries the much lower rate of $2 per unit (per property) per quarter.
New billing rates were applied during the third quarter of 2012. Since that time, Polaris has paid surface water utility fees of $23,100 based on the industrial (urban) rate. It should have paid these utility fees based on the industrial (non-urban) rate, a total of $154. Building Official Fred Weck recommended reimbursement of $22,946 to Polaris.
By unanimous vote, the council voted to refund the money, with the choice for cash refund or credit to future utility bills to remain with Polaris.
Various items
At the recommendation of Engineer Mark Erichson, the council approved a change order to A1 Excavating in the amount of $40,689.27 for the 2015 Street Improvement Project. Road soils for about 1,200 feet of Railroad Boulevard were not good enough for the road bed. Soil had to be excavated and replaced, some drain tile installed, and geotextile fabric put down to improve it. This brings the total contract price $4,117,482.62. Money for this comes from contingency portion of the project.
The council approved plans and specifications for three options for water tower design, which were initially presented at the March 17 work session. Engineer Mark Erichson summarized variables for the structures: pedestal spheroid, flute column and composite column. Three designs will help determine which is the most economical to construct. Approval constituted authorization to advertise for bids, with the anticipated bid date Aug. 11.
In other business, the council approved 2016 city of Wyoming insurance coverage. This action renews the insurance policy, which is backed League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. The premium is $79,683.