Mayor Beyer called the Regular Meeting of the Rockford City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall 6031 Main Street, Rockford, MN.

ROLL CALL

Roll call was taken, the following members were present: Beyer, Altringer, Graner, Nichols, and Seymour. Also in attendance was: Attorney Couri, Administrator Carswell and Public Works Supervisor D. Peterson.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given.

*Consent Agenda

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to approve all items on the consent agenda with the exception of 2-C Resolution/Charitable Gambling Premise Permit for CLIMB at the Red Vest 8210 Bridge Street.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

*Approve minutes/February 12, 2008

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2008 council meeting.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

*Payment of Claims

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to approve the payment of claims #014463 - #014528 in the amount of $165,080.79.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Resolution 08-13 Support WeCan/CDBG

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to adopt resolution 08-13 Support WeCan/CDBG Funding for programs that are utilized by city residents in Hennepin County.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Resolution 08-12 Approve Charitable Gambling permit/8210 Bridge Street

Laurie Gluesing, Gambling Manager of Climb was present and informed the city council that one-third of the costs of providing the Climb programs at school are paid for by charitable gambling proceeds. Climb has provided their programs at the Rockford Elementary School and Middle School. Climb provides plays and classes that deal with issues such as friendship, respect, self-control, bully prevention and the environment.

Council member Nichols wondered if any of the gambling proceeds would be available to other city organizations such as the Rockford adult men’s baseball team. Laurie stated that organizations can apply for funding and applications will be available at the city.

Administrator Carswell stated that the ordinance requires 10% of the net proceeds be donated to the Historical Society and an additional 25% of the net proceeds be spent in the fire department service district area.

Council member Altringer expressed concern about the training provided regarding the environment through this program.

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to approve resolution 08-12 approve charitable gambling permit/8210 Bridge Street.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, GRANER, AND SEYMOUR.

OPPOSED – ALTRINGER AND NICHOLS.

*Resolution 08-16 Releasing Bonds for Transportation Funding In Minnesota

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to adopt Resolution 08-16 Transportation Funding to request that the state support a capital investment bill that spends at least 50% of its total on roads and bridges in Minnesota.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Open Forum

No one was present for Open Forum.

Resolution 08-14 Approve preliminary and final plat for Mill Block 2^nd Addition

Administrator Carswell reviewed the preliminary plat for the Mill Block located on Main and Bridge Street. The city acquired this property through a Department of Trade and Economic Development Grant and city HRA funds. Once the blighted buildings were removed from the property the city sold the property to a developer with certain terms. Terms of the developer’s agreement included the development would increase the tax base and provide jobs at a livable wage. The city in turn would plat the property.

The process for this plat was delayed due to the fact that the legal descriptions were incorrect and had gaps and overlaps. Therefore, the city hired an attorney to proceed with quiet title action to clear up the legal discrepancies which has been completed.

The planning commission held a public hearing as required and recommends approval of the plat.

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Seymour to approve Resolution 08-14 Approve Preliminary and Final Plat for Mill Block 2^nd Addition.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Review Base Rate Riverview Estates Attorney Letter

The city is in receipt of a letter from John Bonner attorney representing Riverview Estates Manufactured Home Park. The attorney states that the city sewer ordinance language does provide for a base charge and therefore it does not appear that the city can legally charge a base rate for sanitary sewer. Riverview Estates is not willing to pay the base rate for the first month of the year.

Staff contacted the League of Minnesota Cities and they said there is nothing in the statutes that does not allow the city to charge a base rate to mobile home parks.

The city attorney reviewed this letter also and the city ordinance. The city ordinance does state that the city shall have the ability to recover from the users the share of the costs attributable to users to provide funds for the operation, maintenance, debt service, replacement and improvements of the city. However, since a base rate is not specifically listed in the ordinance staff has drafted a revision to include that language.

The city council stated that all of the users should be credited one months base fee for sanitary sewer in the next billing. Staff was also directed to make a note on the next sewer/water bill that one month sewer base rate has been credited to all users.

Resolution 08-15 Approve Ordinance 08-02 Sewer Base Rate

MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by Seymour to approve resolution 08-15 Sewer Base Rate and to credit one month base rate to all users based upon the lack of clarification in the city ordinance.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Charitable Donations

Administrator Carswell noted that the city is in receipt of a request for additional funding from the Delano Senior Center for 2008. Carswell noted that our Rockford Seniors are utilizing the Delano Senior Center more than in the past. In recent conversations with Delano Finance Director and Senior Coordinator it was noted that the transportation funding is no longer available. The city in the past has contributed to the Delano Senior Center since they provide a service to our senior population through the Meals on Wheels Program, transportation and use of their facility.

Therefore, staff recommends that the city council approve the additional funding.

MOTION was made by Seymour, seconded by Nichols to approve a donation for the Delano Senior Center in the amount of $3,452.

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, NICHOLS, AND SEYMOUR.

Ongoing Directives

Council reviewed the ongoing directives.

Administrator’s Report

Council reviewed the Administrator’s Report including the following items: flood control funding, budget revenue shortfalls, Kettenacker Park renovation, Rockford Township, Hennepin County boundary updated, and meeting with School representatives regarding Safe Routes to School.

Fire Chief’s Report

Kevin Reed informed the city council that the fire department has applied to the PCA for permission to burn the motel structures at 8740 State Highway 55 as training for the department. However, the state had questions about the potential for hazardous materials in the structures. The fire department has received a report from an environmental agency that completed an inspection of the structures in regards to hazardous materials. The fire department is pursuing the permit. The city council and fire department received an anonymous letter about the dilapidated motels on February 25, 2008.

The city council requested that staff should follow up once the structures are burned to make sure that the site is cleaned up and all of the debris from the structures removed by the property owners within two weeks.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Altringer, seconded by Seymour.

Mayor Beyer adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.

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Michael Beyer, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Nancy Carswell, Administrator