HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.09.12 Work Session MinutesLicense Center Discussion
Council Workshop
Minutes
January 9, 2012
Mayor Larson called the workshop to order at 7:04 p.m.
Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Donnelly, Fogarty, May
Absent: None
Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
The purpose of the workshop was to obtain direction from the City Council on whether to
continue working with the Department of Public Safety to allow the City to have a license center.
Mayor Larson would like to discontinue the process. Councilmember Fogarty wants to take this
issue to the next level at the Department of Public Safety. Councilmember Donnelly felt the
process should be discontinued. Councilmember Fogarty felt it was up to the elected officials to
pursue this. She would like to receive background information on what staff has done so far and
how other cities have accomplished having a license center unless other Councilmembers object.
Councilmember May objected. Mayor Larson has tried to talk to personnel at the Department of
Public Safety, but they will not respond. Councilmember Donnelly noted it would not be a full
service license center. City Administrator McKnight stated the State wants the license center to
be run by a City employee, not Quick -Serv. Councilmember Donnelly stated if it can be full
service and carry its own weight, then we should hire someone to run it. Until then, let it go.
Councilmember May felt the City has bigger issues to deal with right now. Mayor Larson
suggested waiting until the State officials re -write the legislation to allow full service and then
look at it. Councilmember Bartholomay agreed we are done until there is new legislation.
Council consensus was to stop the process at this time.
City Administrator Update
City Administrator McKnight has received a request from ThisWeek newspaper asking if they
could rent space in City Hall to allow them to establish an office in Farmington.
Councilmembers felt there are less expensive places to rent in Farmington.
Council has received an e-mail from a resident regarding train quiet zones. This will be brought
to Council at a future work session.
Purchase of property for a downtown liquor store will be on the January 17, 2012 Council
agenda. There will be an article in the newspaper. Councilmember May stated, at the meeting it
will be open for comment and then brought back to the February 6, 2012 Council meeting. She
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Council Workshop
January 9, 2012
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would like a meeting before they vote. Councilmember Bartholomay has spoken with staff and
feels the Vermillion River Crossing area would be better. City Administrator McKnight noted it
sounds like the City will need to extend their lease at the current location. Staff will meet with
the landlord to re- negotiate the lease extension.
MOTION by Fogarty, second by May to adjourn at 7:25 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant
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