Becker City Council met Tuesday to discuss the 2018 budget, ROW ordinance for small cell wireless, SAC/WAC calculation amendments, a CUP for property on Hancock Street, the city fee schedule and ratification to the public works union contract.

 

Treasurer Connie Robinson gave a presentation on the 2018 budget, discussing the general fund levy, capital levies, debt service levies and the EDA levy.

 

Robinson summarized the budget under general government, special revenue fund expenditures, capital improvement plan levies, debt service levies and enterprise fund expenses.

 

Under general government, she identified a $1.09 million budget for city council, administrator, city clerk, professional services and planning. Public safety sees a budget of $1.1 million, public works sees a budget of $1.12 million and parks & recreation sees a budget of $250,961 for a total of $3.56 million — which is an increase of 10% from last year.

 

For special revenue fund expenditures, the budget is set at $1.2 million for the community center, $488,900 for fire and $147,484 for EDA.

 

The capital improvement plan levy is set at $1.9 million and the debt service levy at $1.08 million.

 

For the enterprise fund expenses, the water/wastewater (domestic and industrial) budget is set at $2.7 million and golf operations (and food/beverage) is set at $1.7 million.

 

Robinson pointed out that 90% of the city’s revenue comes through property taxes.

 

City Planner Jacob Sanders said during the 2017 Minnesota State Legislative session, the legislature amended the current Minnesota Right-of-Way User Statutes to address small cell wireless technologies (facilities) and the supporting structures that said facilities are placed upon. These statute amendments became effective May 31. Multiple other states have seen similar amendments due to the push by wireless telecommunications companies for allowance of small cell wireless facilities. 

 

Sanders said since the law is in effect, cities and local governments that have ROW ordinances in place cannot place moratoriums on permits to allow them to get ordinances in place. If a telecommunications company comes in and wants to place a small cell wireless facility, the municipality must grant it. 

 

However, Sanders said cities and local government units that did not have a ROW ordinance in place prior to May 18, may place a moratorium on small cell wireless permits until Jan. 1, 2018 to allow them to get said ordinances in place. 

 

Sanders says staff has utilized the League of Minnesota Cities model ordinance as a base and made appropriate edits to fit with the municipality's needs and statute. 

 

Sanders said with recent projects and renewed interest in possible developments within Becker, staff started  reviewing the sewer and water availability charges and the calculations as they relate to  commercial and industrial users.

 

He said after a review of area communities, it was found that most communities around Becker utilize the calculations determined by the Met Council. 

 

Sanders said staff has  recommended slight changes to the uses that were listed and listing additional uses. Since the  calculations are standard for many communities, Becker will remain competitive with their relatively low SAC/WAC fees. 

 

The changes  include additional land uses, updating the 250 gallons of daily flow that equals one SAC/WAC unit to 274 gallons and updating the plumbing waste fixture unit table. 

 

The owners of the property at 12180 Hancock Street SE (JTD Enterprises LLC) applied for a second floor residence. 

 

Sanders said the second floor residences are listed as a conditional use in the T-Town zoning code. Historically, a second floor residence was a use on this site, but the use was discontinued for more than one year. 

 

He presented Resolution 17-54, listing the findings and proposed conditions for the allowance of a second floor residence. 

 

Clerk Julie Blesi asked Mayor Tracy Bertram and council to call for  a public hearing Dec. 19 to consider changes to the city’s fee schedule.

 

At the end of each year, staff brings forth changes to the city's fee schedule for consideration by council. According to Minnesota Statute 462.353, the city's fee schedules must be updated by ordinance and a public hearing held to consider action on or approval of changes to the fee schedule. 

 

CA Greg Pruszinske presented a tentative agreement for the three-year public works bargaining unit.

 

The major substantive changes to the prior contract  include duration, wages, boots, snowplow operator response premium and new language on withdrawal from the union.

 

The purpose of the agreement is to establish certain hours, wages and other conditions of employment, establish procedures for the resolution of disputes concerning this agreement’s interpretation and/or application, specify the full and complete understanding of the parties and  place in written form the parties' agreement upon the terms and conditions of employment for the duration of this agreement.

 

The council retired to private chambers to discuss the asking price for real or personal property to be sold by the government entity, to review confidential or protected nonpublic appraisal data and to develop or consider offers or counteroffers for the purchase or sale of real or personal property of city-owned lots located along Hancock Street and Central Avenue.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.