Becker City Council conducted business Tuesday just under a half hour. They conferred over a conditional use permit, year-end transfers and plans a nd specs for a seal-coating project.

City Administrator Greg Pruszinske and councilmember Todd Hanrahan were absent.

 

Community Development Director Marie Pflipsen presented a resolution for approval of a CUP for a home occupation business.

 

Keith and Jennifer Studer of Becker applied for a conditional use permit to allow for a home occupation at their residence, 13402 Johnson Street SE. Currently, the home’s address is zoned R-l. Pflipsen noted a home occupation is allowed with a CUP.

 

With the CUP, the Studers would be allowed to open a hair salon within their home. The hair salon in their home allows them to provide services at a closer location to a portion of Jennifer's client base.

Pflipsen said staff reviewed the request and found that the application meets all the requirements for a home occupation.

 

Pflipsen said the planning commission held a public hearing during their Feb. 27 meeting. The planning commission recommend granting the CUP via resolution 17-02.

 

Treasurer Connie Robinson brought forth information on the annual year-end transfers. Three items were noted needing such transfers and Robinson went over each one for clarification.

• For the BCC dehumidifier project, Robinson shifted $380,000 in the revolving capital fund reserves for future improvements to the reserves for the Becker Community Center.

 

Robinson said within the 2016 budget, the community center fund capital improvement plan included a pool dehumidifier replacement.

 

• Robinson said the Pebble Creek Golf enterprise fund has a preliminary deficit cash balance of $89,416. The budget and finance committee proposed to eliminate the cash deficit by transferring funds from the revolving capital fund to the golf enterprise fund.

 

The revolving capital fund has a preliminary balance of $89,825 assigned for golf capital improvements, including $75,000 levied for golf for 2016.

 

After the transfer, the golf enterprise fund cash balance would amount to a positive $409.

 

• For the city’s fund balance policy, it states the city will maintain an unrestricted fund balance in the general fund of an amount not less than 40% of the next year's budgeted expenditures of the general fund.

 

The 2017 general fund budgeted expenditures equals $3,232,073.

 

Forty percent of 2017 general fund budgeted expenditures equals $1,292,829.

 

Robinson says the general fund balance as of 12/31/16 equals approximately $2 million (not final; subject to year-end accounting and auditing adjustments).

 

Thus, a general fund balance in excess of policy goal equals approximately $700,000.

 

Robinson suggests a  transfer made in 2016 from the general fund to the revolving capital fund, assigned for future improvements. Conservatively, she said, a $500,000 transfer is suggested.

Council approved all actions.

 

Joe Danielson of Public Works brought forth a resolution for approval to allow for plans and specs and bidding to commence for the 2017 seal coat project.

 

Danielson says the projects consist of Evergreen Forest and River's Edge subdivisions and parking lots at the Becker fire station, city hall, Pebble Creek Golf Course and Pleasant Ave SE.

 

The estimated fee for plans and specs is not to exceed the amount of $27,550, including reimbursements and expenses.

 

Danielson says the public works committee has approved going out for plans and specs for the seal coating project.

 

The 2016 budget for the project was $457,500 and the engineer’s estimate was nearly $456,900 with approximately $35,000 being paid by other departments, the fire department, and city hall.

SEH has been authorized to provide the plans and specs, describing the scope, schedule and payment conditions for the project.

 

Lori Keller gave reports from meetings for budget and finance and golf management. Mike Doering gave reports on park and rec and the planning commission. Rick updated everyone on goings on with Xcel Energy and Mayor Tracy Bertram gave a report on the joint planning board and a recent impromptu meeting with Northern Metals Recycling (NMR) regarding their move to Becker following inspections by Minnesota pollution control experts. See story on NMR in this week’s Citizen-Tribune.

Marie Pflipsen was honored for her one-year anniversary with the city.

 

The next council meeting is March 21 at 6 p.m.