The last council meeting of the year, century, decade and millennium was conducted in a speedy fashion, getting everyone out in time to watch the Vikings defeat Green Bay Monday night.

Tuesday, December 21, 1999

The last council meeting of the year, century, decade and millennium was conducted in a speedy fashion, getting everyone out in time to watch the Vikings defeat Green Bay Monday night.

Most of the business was routine, from setting meeting times for the next year’s council meetings to approving Mayor Bonnie Rietz’s appointments to several boards.

Hot on the agenda, however, were several topics.

The city of Austin got the ball rolling for the proposed TIF District No. 11 by calling a public hearing on the issue for March 6. The proposed district would encompass an area north of 18th Avenue NW, on land currently owned by Burt Plehal and the Joseph Co. A sale is in the works by the Joseph Co. of that land to the Austin Port Authority. The Port Authority hopes to see that land developed for use, at least in part, by Cooperative Response Center. The city also purchased a parcel of land in that area from Plehal.

The council also approved the transfer of control of Bresnan Telecommunications to Charter Communications. City Administrator Pat McGarvey said, "It’s important to note that this system of telecommunications is turning out to be very important."

Sherry Dostal, a representative of Charter Communications, addressed the council to assure officials progress is continuing to bring Austin into a fiberoptic network and bring high-speed communications to the area.

"That is absolutely our intent," Dostal said. "We have put $1 million into the cable system here in Austin in the past year. Our goal is to make sure this is a tier-one system."

Dostal noted that line checks are being performed now and she believed that within the first quarter of 2000, the company would see the results of its upgrades with expanded service here in Austin that would include the availability of high-speed cable Internet access.

The city also approved the purchase of the Silver Bullet Bar from Ric Berg for $70,000. The building will be purchased as part of TIF District No. 10, an effort to renew the business area of downtown Austin. The bar’s liquor license will revert to the city, and can be applied for by interested parties.

However, any interested parties will need to have a sizable investment in place before the city will grant the license.

"The place which gets it has to have a market assessment – by the county assessor – of $250,000," McGarvey said. The owners of any interested business also will need to pass state and city background checks.

McGarvey said he had received one interested call already.

In other business the council:

Extended a vote of appreciation to former Second Ward Councilman Todd Penske.

Approved mayoral appointments to varies boards, committees and commissions.

Set the dates and times of city council meetings for 2000.

Renewed year 2000 liquor licenses for sale of on-sale hard liquor, 3.2 beer and off-sale, Sunday hard liquor on-sale and Sunday wine on-sale.

Approved keeping sewer rates the same for 2000 in both Austin and Mapleview.

Approved the final resolution and confirmation of report of commissioners appointed in the matter of the vacation of the Sterling Place Fourth Addition right-of-way.

Approved an agreement for a matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources to link the Todd Park bike trail to the Nature Center trail.

Approved an agreement with the Development Corp. of Austin to pay $85,000 for agreed-upon services.

Set a hearing for Jan. 18 on disputed proposed street improvement assessments.

Set mileage reimbursement for city employees at 32.5 cents per mile.

Set health insurance monthly rates for city employees.

Approved orderly annexations of land north of 18th Avenue NW.

Agreed to raise the salary of City Administrator Pat McGarvey 5.4 percent.