City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2024 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Regular meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Bruce Stabenow, Patricia Wessel, Bob Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present were Scott Williamson, Gordon O’Brien, Leslie LaRose, Kasandra Thompson, and Cynthia Anderegg. Pledge of Allegiance ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROPER POSTING A notice of the meeting and an agenda was posted at the three public places and the local newspaper was notified. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve the minutes for the following meetings: February 13th Regular City Council and February 21st City Improvement Committee meetings. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Corey Bauch asked the Council to consider using a product such as ZOOM to broadcast the City Council meetings again. This can help keep the public informed. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Wessel seconded by Leslin to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to approve the Police Department Annual Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to approve the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Stabenow seconded by Wessel to approve the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Leslin seconded by Chaffee to approve the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to receive the Fire Department Report (Reports submitted: 12/13/23, no January meeting due to lack of quorum). Motion carried. AUGUSTA SENIOR & COMMUNITY CENTER STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS • RETIREMENT OF OFFICE MANAGER – ELAINE WELIN Elaine Welin expressed her great pleasure in working at the Augusta Senior Center for the past 4 years. She enjoyed helping and working with community members. She plans stay involved with the Center in her retirement. • HIRING OF OFFICE MANAGER – KIM SHULT Kim Shult introduced herself to the Council. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF 2024 PARADE PERMITS-CAROL PEUSE Motioned by Stabenow seconded by Wessel to approve the 2024 parade permits-Memorial Day-May 27, 2024, Bean and Bacon Days July 7, 2024, Augusta Homecoming-date to be determined and Christmas-date to be determined. Motioned Carried. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REQUEST FOR THE 1ST BLOCK OF S. SPRING STREET TO BE CLOSED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE BEAN AND BACON DAYS PARADE. Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve closing the 1st block of S. Spring Street during the Bean and Bacon Days Parade and for activities before and after the parade. Motioned Carried. APPROVE LICENSE FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY – LION’S CLUB – BEAN AND BACON DAYS. Motion by Stabenow second by Leslin to approve the fireworks display license application for the Augusta Lion’s Club for Bean and Bacon Days. Motion carried. The fireworks display is scheduled for July 6th. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO CITY PARKS IMPROVEMENT PLAN Joint City Improvement and Recreation Committee’s Recommendation (2/21/24 meeting): Motioned by Tugger Francel and seconded by Max Tepaske to recommend to the city council a pledge of $6,000 for a supplies budget to maintenance and repair all city parks and $8,000 to resurface the Senior Center basketball court. Motion by Stabenow second by Leslin to approve the Joint City Improvement and Recreation Committees’ recommendation and contribute $6,000 for supplies to maintain and repair all city parks, and $8,000 to resurface the Senior Center basketball court as part of the City Parks Improvement Plan. The funds will come out of the ARPA Fund. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. APPROVE CITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF PARKS PROJECTS Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve the City Improvement Committee and Recreation Committee to begin construction of the City Parks Projects. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER SENIOR & COMMUNITY CENTER EAST SIDE WINDOW REPLACEMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to approve the Balts Construction quote of $11,709.00 for the window replacement for the east side of the Senior & Community Center. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. The Center received quotes from Shop Howard’s Flooring in Osseo and Big River’s Flooring in Eau Claire for carpeting on the east side of the Center. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to Table until the next Council meeting. Motion carried. CONSIDER REQUESTING PROPOSAL FOR PREPARING FUNDING STRATEGY PLAN Motion by Stabenow second by Chaffee to Table until the next Council meeting. Motion carried. APPOINT MEMBER TO AUGUSTA HOUSING AUTHORITY TO FILL VACANCY Motion by Stabenow second by Chaffee to Table until the next Council meeting to get clarification on criteria for board members. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON WITTE ROAD (PARCEL SPLIT) – SCOTT MAYER Motion by Chaffee seconded by Wessel to approve the Certified Survey Map for property located on Witte Rd, requested by Scott Mayer. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Chaffee seconded by Stabenow to approve the bartender license application for Mark Skinner, The Bearded Panther Bar. Motion carried. • Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the bartender license applications for Cenex. Briana Bartely, Jennifer Halverson, Samantha Pettis, Curtis Eisberner Motion carried. • Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the bartender license application for Express Mart. Jonathan Zammora. Motion carried. • Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to approve the bartender license application for Mulligan’s. Jayna Jackson. Motion carried. No motion was made for Tanya Burt’s application. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Joint City Improvement Committee and Recreation Committee meeting March 27th b. Regular City Council meeting– April 9th c. Reorganizational City Council meeting– April 16th ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Stabenow to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk