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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.16.12 Council Minutes 7cz, COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR July 16, 2012 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OFALLEGL4NCE Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Donnelly, Fogarty, May Members Absent: None Also Present: Andrea Poehler, City Attorney;David McKnight, City Administrator;Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director;Tony Wippler, Assistant City Planner;Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Audience: David Hartnett, Kirk Zeaman, Dawn Johnson 4. APPROVE AGENDA Mayor Larson requested Councilmembers press the lights when wanting to speak and not talk over each other. At the last meeting some residents wanted to speak on an item that was not a public hearing. He asked that residents notify him during citizen comments if they want to speak on an item. During the meeting, if residents have a comment,they should raise their hand. At some point Council does need to keep the discussion at the Council table to make a decision. City Administrator McKnight noted Council was given revised minutes for approval. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Recognition Dawn Johnson—Parks and Recreation Commission At the July 2, 2012, Council meeting, Council accepted the resignation of Dawn Johnson from the Parks and Recreation Commission after 18 years of service. Her input has been valued tremendously. Mayor Larson presented her with a plaque in recognition of her service. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes(7/2/12 Regular)(7/2/12 Workshop) 4 Council Minutes(Regular) July 16,2012 Page 2 b) Received Second Quarter 2012 New Construction and Population Estimate— Building Inspections c) Approved PERA Phased Retirement—Human Resources d) Approved Bills APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Adopt Resolution—Approve Forwarding 2030 Comprehensive Plan 2011 Amendment to Met Council—Planning The majority of the changes are text changes based on the 2010 census such as household numbers and population. A number of properties re-enrolled in the ag preserve program. Staff also included language from the 2009 transportation study in response to the new high school and construction of 195th Street. A chapter was added regarding the Green Steps Program. The Economic Development chapter was revised to include the Economic Development Strategic Plan. There are eight parcels around the fringe of the downtown area that have been changed to low-medium density residential from commercial. Councilmember May noted when the Green Steps Program was approved it was with the understanding that we would try to follow those steps, but it would not be a work priority. Assistant City Planner Wippler, stated it does not change our approach to the program. It is a voluntary program where we will try to achieve a number of the best practices. This states that we are participating in the program and will try to achieve some of the best practices. MOTION by Fogarty, second by May to adopt RESOLUTION R29-12 approving submittal of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan 2011 Amendment to the Metropolitan Council. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. b) June 2011 Financial Report-Administration General fund revenues are at 48.44%through June which represents 50%of the year. First half property taxes have been received. All the remaining revenues except for franchise fees and licenses are below the 50%mark, including permits which are at 43.85%and building permits are at 41.9%. General fund expenditures are at 44.36%of the budget through June. There are a few budgets over the 50%mark. The Rambling River Center is at 48.79%for expenditures, and 44.64%for revenues. The pool had $29,000 in expenditures in June compared to just over $30,000 in revenues. Staff did have an unexpected purchase of a new hot water heater for$6,000. The EDA fund balance went from a negative$92,000 to negative $74,000 due to a transfer to eliminate the debt. The arena had $8,200 in expenditures with the fund balance still being negative. The downtown liquor 5 Council Minutes(Regular) July 16,2012 Page 3 store had a gross profit of just over$43,000 and the Pilot Knob store had a gross profit of just over$49,000. Councilmember May asked what percent of the taxes is uncollected. City Administrator McKnight will check with the county. Councilmember May noted the building permit revenue percentage may not give the whole picture if you collect the bulk of the permit income in the beginning of the year. City Administrator McKnight stated we may catch up by September, but it may slow down the last quarter. Councilmember May felt we wanted to be further ahead than 43%. She asked if there was a year-to-date budget compared to last year-to- date. Councilmember May noted regarding general fund expenditures, she wanted staff to look at ways to reduce the ordinary costs. Regarding the Rambling River Center, we had talked about memberships and that came in at the beginning of the year and now we are at 48.79%. City Administrator McKnight stated we will not have consistent membership throughout the year. Councilmember May asked if the numbers included the summer program revenue. Parks and Recreation Director Distad stated programs go on all year long, so the revenue for programs should be consistent every month. Membership revenue has been exceeded and is 181%of the budget. The membership rate went up from$20 to $25 and we no longer have the non-resident fee. Currently we have 401 members and last year we had 430 members. While the fee increased, it offset the loss in membership. Councilmember May noted with the pool, it looks good to break even. The arena costs are primarily related to staff. She asked if we can just close the door. Parks and Recreation Director Distad stated staff does have to clean the arena and prepare it for fall. Currently we are painting the interior of the building. We are still$11,655 in profit for the year. The rate increases July 1, 2012, from$200 to$205. In the fall, revenue will be received to cover the summer expenses. Councilmember May wanted staff to keep in mind we are still in a deficit situation with the arena and continue to make it bigger. Parks and Recreation Director Distad noted we have reduced the deficit by$11,000. Councilmember May asked for last year-to-date numbers for the liquor stores. Mayor Larson asked for the number of available lots for building. Member Donnelly noted for building permits you cannot put a lot of weight on month-to- month numbers because it will vary. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) Downtown Liquor Store Lease Amendment-Administration City Administrator McKnight presented an amendment to the lease for the downtown liquor store which allows the City to get out of the lease if the City decides to get out of the liquor business. The current lease expires July 31, 2012. This amendment extends the lease by five years to July 31, 2017 and reduces the rent. In addition,two five-year options are included. 6 Council Minutes(Regular) July 16,2012 Page 4 Councilmember May asked about the lease terms for Tamarack. City Administrator McKnight stated two things have changed. One was the date and there was a second portion that if we get out of the liquor business, it turns the business over to that location. The City Attorney had concerns with this because we would need to license businesses for off-sale liquor. We could not assume the owner would automatically get an off-sale liquor license. The term for the Tamarack lease was for a shorter period of time. Councilmember Bartholomay asked why we had to negotiate with Mr. Wartman on language that Tamarack had in their opt out clause. Staff stated we presented that language to Mr. Wartman and then to the City Attorney. We tried to make it as simple as possible because Council saw that language at the last meeting. Councilmember Donnelly stated it was more our request to simplify the language as we could not guarantee we would give a new owner a liquor license. Councilmember May stated we are in the liquor business for the next three years then. City Administrator McKnight stated it is the same as the Pilot Knob store. Councilmember May asked if we have the opt out language in the Pilot Knob lease. Staff stated the only language in the Pilot Knob lease pertains to subleasing the building. It is not specific to getting out of the liquor business. Councilmember Bartholomay thought Council discussed having that language in the lease. Parks and Recreation Director Distad stated we did a Third Amendment to the original lease which did not address getting out of the lease early. Councilmember May asked staff to review the minutes from when that lease was approved. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Donnelly to approve the second amendment to shopping center lease for the downtown liquor store at City Center for the time period of August 1, 2012,through July 31, 2017. Voting for: Larson,Donnelly, Fogarty. Voting against: Bartholomay, May. MOTION CARRIED. 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Fogarty: On July 26, 2012,there will be a candidate forum for District 1 County Commissioner candidates. Councilmember Bartholomay: He attended the ribbon cutting for Trinity's new memory care building. City Administrator McKnight: There are three ribbon cuttings this week for Park Dental Farmington, Pizza Man, and the Veterans Memorial groundbreaking. Mayor Larson: July 25, 2012, is graduation for the Citizens Police Academy which he has been attending. As part of the graduation ceremony, he will get tased. Donations are being accepted for the Mayor getting tased and will be given to the Farmington Food Shelf. He encouraged residents to shop local. 7 Council Minutes(Regular) July 16,2012 Page 5 14. EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adjourn into Executive Session at 7:41 p.m. to discuss labor negotiations for contracts starting January 1,2013. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Present in the executive session were Mayor Larson, Councilmembers Bartholomay, Donnelly, Fogarty, May, City Administrator David McKnight and City Attorney Joel Jamnik. 15. ADJOURN Mayor Larson moved the meeting into open session at 9:00 p.m. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by May to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant 8