The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the Hampton City Hall for a special meeting and the regular scheduled meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter; Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick Russell. Also present was Chris Meyer, City Treasurer.
Special Meeting Called to Order – The purpose of the special meeting was to amend the current budget, if needed, and prepare the city budget for the year 2025. Mayor Knetter called the special meeting to order at 6:31 pm.
Chris Meyer, City Treasurer, provided a budget worksheet for Council discussion and explained that the General tax levy will increase $4,854, which is a 2.07% increase. The Debt Service tax levy will decrease $3,302, which is a 3.67% decrease. Therefore, the total tax levy will increase $1,552, which is a 0.48% increase from 2024. Meyer reviewed budget line item changes for 2025, which were listed in the budget memo provided to Council, and highlighted in yellow on the 2025 budget worksheet.
On the last page of Meyer’s budget memo, the 2024 budget amendments were listed. Meyer explained that the Minnesota Department of Revenue has a Small Cities Assistance Program that provides funding to cities with a population less than 5,000 to be used for the construction and maintenance of roadways. For the funding received this year, Meyer would like to amend the 2024 budget by increasing the revenue account, Other State Grants and Aids (General), in the amount of $14,958, and increase the expense account, Purchase of Investments (General), in the amount of $14,958. The second 2024 budget amendment is in regard to the 2024 pavement maintenance street project. Street maintenance funding is accounted for in the General Fund, but the funding source for this project is coming from the Sewer Fund dumping fees. The budget amendment entries for this include increasing the revenue account, Transfer from Enterprise Fund (General), in the amount of $242,578.32; increasing the expense account, Street Repairs and Maintenance (General), in the amount of $242,578.32; and increasing the expense account, Transfer to General Fund (Sewer), in the amount of $242,578.32. Mayor Knetter mentioned that he would like the Small Cities Assistance Funds to be applied to the 2024 Pavement Maintenance Project.
There were no public comments.
The budget will be again be discussed, and a resolution approving the 2024 tax levy, collectible in 2025, will be on the agenda, at the September City Council meeting.
Adjournment – Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to close the special meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0. The public hearing closed at 6:59 p.m.
Regular Meeting called to Order - Mayor Knetter called the Regular Scheduled Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor John Knetter; Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick Russell. Also present was Angie Smith with Bolton & Menk; Trisha Sieh, with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; Pete Carbonneau with Oppidan Investment Company; and Chris Meyer, City Treasurer. (Many residents from Hampton Township and a few from the City of Hampton joined the meeting after it was already in progress.)
Disclosure of Interest – None
Approval of July 9, 2024 Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes – Motion by Verch seconded by Luhring to approve the July 9, 2024 Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Approval of Disbursements and Approval of a transfer from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund to fund the expense of the payment, in the amount of $242,578.32, to Minnesota Paving & Materials - Motion by Verch seconded by Russell to approve the August disbursements and the transfer in the amount of $242,578.32 from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Public Comments - None
Petitions, Requests, and Communications:
On-Site Computers, Inc. quote for IT Services – Mayor Knetter referred to the quote included in Council member packets. He asked Councilor Huddleston to lead the discussion. Huddleston stated that the City Clerk had contacted neighboring municipalities to find out what companies they use for their IT Services, and On-Site was recommended by two of them. He continued that the city needs managed back-ups, security, and IT support. He feels that, for the services being offered, the pricing structure is fair and reasonable. Huddleston stated that he believes that using On-Site for the city’s IT services is a step in the right direction for the city to get to where they need to be with file back-up and security, and he recommends that Council accept the quote, minus the monthly expense for the Firewall/WIFI, which he thinks is not needed by the City. Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to approve the On-Site Computers, Inc. quote for IT Services, but with the change suggested by Councilor Huddleston. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Minnesota Department of Health Water Tower Plan Review Approval Letter (Informational – no action required) – Mayor Knetter referred to the letter in Council packets.
Dakota County Township and Small City Fall Meeting announcement (Informational – no action required) – Mayor Knetter stated that Council will have another meeting prior to the Fall Meeting, but that he likes to get this type of information to Council early to allow for schedule adjustments, if needed. Knetter said he plans to attend and asked Council members to reach out to him if they plan to attend the meeting as well.
AUAR Process Review and Introduction of a Project – Bolton & Menk (Cory Bienfang, City Engineer; Jenni Faulkner, Senior Planner; Angie Smith, Environmental Planning Practice Area Leader) – Angie Smith was in attendance for the discussion. She mentioned that Trisha Sieh, of Kimley-Horn and Associates, and Pete Carbonneau, of Oppidan Investment Company, were also at the meeting to participate in the discussion and answer any questions from Council. Smith explained that the Alternative Urban Area Review (AUAR) process is currently being worked on by Oppidan Development and Kimley-Horn for the future development of a site that is currently within the City of Hampton and Hampton Township. Smith continued that the AUAR is the first step in reviewing the project as a whole. Bolton & Menk’s role in the project is to do work as needed, on behalf of the city. Once the AUAR is completed, the property will be cleared for future development opportunities. Whether or not Council is interested in allowing the progression of this current development opportunity will be decided at the September Hampton City Council meeting. However, a final decision by Council on the proposed development opportunity will be made at a later date.
Smith introduced Trisha Sieh and stated that Sieh would be going through a Power Point slide show presentation that explains what an AUAR is, and its purpose. Sieh explained that an AUAR is an environmental review process that evaluates different development scenarios rather than a specific development plan. It is to be used as a planning tool to understand how different development scenarios will affect the community environment. Sieh went through the list of environmental resource topics that are assessed in the AUAR, then reviewed the two scenarios being proposed within the project footprint. The final item that was reviewed by Sieh was the schedule of the AUAR process that begins with a 30-day Public Comment Period of the Scoping Document, beginning on September 24, 2024, and ends with the City Council vote on adoption of the Final AUAR in the spring of 2025. Approving the Final AUAR completes the environmental review process and the proposed development project can move into permitting and approvals.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
Resolution 2024-11 – Approving an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow the construction of a City water tower on the property legally described as Lot 1, Block 1, Hampton Water Tower Site - Motion by Russell seconded by Luhring to approve the CUP application, and directed that all proper building and grading permits be obtained prior to construction. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Mayor Knetter mentioned that Brad Fisher, of Bolton & Menk, could not attend the meeting that evening, but that he would comment on updates to the projects listed on Fisher’s Staff Report. Knetter mentioned that the mill and overlay of the Highway 52 frontage road is complete. For the Water Tower Improvement Project, Knetter turned to the topic of the paint colors. He feels that it is important, for aesthetic purposes, that the darker tank bowl base be selected by Council.
Water / Sewer Report – Marlin Reinardy stated that he has some thoughts on what he would like to see happen with the tank of the current water tower, but will bring those up under New Business. Reinardy also mentioned that he was working on repairs to a driveway where there is a hole where the water shut-off valve is located at a residence in the Heights of Hampton.
Park Report – Council Russell reported that weed spraying has been done. The city received wood chips for the parks, but more wood chips are needed. He received a quote of $400 to have an additional load of wood chips delivered.
Street Report – Councilor Luhring thanked Mayor Knetter for the work he has done on the streets to get needed repairs done before the winter snow plowing season.
Unfinished Business:
Water tower graphic and orientation options – provide Bolton & Menk staff direction on a singular graphic orientation to move forward into construction – Discussion on Council preferences. Mayor Knetter reiterated the importance of having the bowl bottom be a dark color so that any discoloration of the paint caused by condensation will not be easily visible as it would be with a lighter color paint. Reference was made to Brad Fisher’s staff report in regard to this agenda item, that his recommendation would be that Council consider making a final decision on the general intention of the water tower color/graphic at tonight’s meeting, prior to project bidding. Councilor Huddleston commented that he felt that they could decide on the general intention of what they wanted. Motion by Knetter seconded by Verch to accept the two water tower color/graphic options included in Fisher’s staff report as the final two options to be used in moving forward with the project. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Approval of the water tower final plans and specifications/authorize project bidding to proceed – Brad Fisher’s staff report was referred to again where he states that if the water tower CUP application to build the new water tower on the Hampton Water Tower Site is approved by Council this evening, he asks that Council would consider approving final plans and specifications to authorize bidding. Motion by Knetter seconded by Verch to approve final plans and specification to authorize bidding, to move forward with the project. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
New Business:
Escrow Agreement for Municipal Review Services – Mayor Knetter stated that this agreement is for escrow funds to be paid to the City by Oppidan Investment Company, to be deposited into a City bank account. The funds are to be used for expenses related to the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) that Oppidan has requested the City process. Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to approve the Escrow Agreement for Municipal Review Services. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Re-use of existing water tower tank by the city – Mayor Knetter stated that this is a recommendation made to Council by the Planning Commission related to their wishes about what will happen to the existing water tower tank when the water tower is replaced. Knetter said this is something that will be discussed by Council in the next couple of months.
Engine brake ordinance – Mayor Knetter stated that several residents have spoken to him about the noise problem related to truck engine brakes. He would like to update the City’s Code of Ordinances to add an ordinance prohibiting the use of engine retarding brakes within city limits. Knetter referred to sample ordinances included in Council meeting packets. He plans to discuss this issue with City Engineer Cory Bienfang regarding ordinance language and street signage.
Adjournment - Motion by Verch seconded by Russell to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy O’Brien
