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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.22.13 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR January 22, 2013 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Bonar, Donnelly, Fogarty Members Absent: None Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator;Robin Hanson, Finance Director;Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer; Cynthia Muller,Executive Assistant Audience: Mary Scheide 4. APPROVE AGENDA Councilmember Donnelly asked to comment on 7e)Accept Donation Farmington Fire Relief Association. Councilmember Bartholomay pulled item 7k)Proposal to Complete Master Plan for Jim Bell Park and Preserve, for discussion. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Donnelly to approve the Agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms.Mary Scheide, representing the Dakota County Farmington Library,highlighted their upcoming programs. The library is partnering with the City's Park and Rec department for youth programs. January—May they will be offering Story Time in the Park and the event will be held at the Trinity Care Center in the cottages area. There are also children's programs at the library. Teen programs are offered at the library and they are also partnering with Parks and Recreation to offer Wii games at the Rambling River Center. There is a program for adults on smart money management. On April27, 2013, the library is offering a shred fest where residents can bring papers for shredding. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve Council Minutes(1/7/13 Regular)(1/14/13 Special) b) Approved Appointments to Boards and Commissions-Administration c) Received Information Fourth Quarter 2012 and End of Year New Construction Report and Population Estimate—Building Inspections d) Approved School and Licensing—Building Inspections 4 Council Minutes(Regular) (DATE) Page 2 e) Adopted RESOLUTION R2-13 Accepting Donation Farmington Fire Relief Association-Finance Councilmember Donnelly noted the City received a donation of$14,000 from the Farmington Fire Relief Association to be used for fire safety equipment. He thanked them for this donation. It shows a commitment to our fire department and to the safety of our residents. Mayor Larson noted as of last year they have been running pull tabs in various locations in town which takes a lot of work and their efforts have paid off. f) Approved Rambling River Center Payoff of the Storm Water Fund Loan- Finance g) Approved School and Conference-Finance h) Approved School and Conference-Municipal Services i) Approved School and Conference—Fire Department j) Received 2012 Fire Department Annual Report—Fire Department 1) Approved 2013 Sentence to Service Contract—Natural Resources m) Approved Request to Waive Rambling River Center Rental Fees—Parks and Recreation n) Adopted RESOLUTION R3-13 Approving Wetland Health Evaluation Program Joint Powers Agreement—Natural Resources o) Approved Appointment Recommendation Police Department—Human Resources p) Approved Bills APIF,MOTION CARRIED. k) Approve Proposal to Complete Master Plan for Jim Bell Park and Preserve— Parks and Recreation Councilmember Bartholomay asked if this can wait a few years. Parks and Recreation Director Distad noted we can wait,but we can get good pricing today rather than waiting three years and paying more. We have already completed two out of the three parcels. As we have a new park area, staff wanted to update the Master Plan so the documents are up to date and reflect what is out in the field. The$2,800 is a fair price and something staff wants to do so we have accurate documents on the website and in the comp plan. Councilmember Bartholomay asked if it was possible the plans could change in three to five years. Staff did not envision any changes. This is the direction the community wanted. Councilmember Bonar agreed with Councilmember Bartholomay. While it is important we do planning and staff and the commissions do an excellent job in planning for facilities, it is his understanding we are going through an RFP process which will be decided next month when it comes to an ag lease for a portion of this land. He asked to consider deferring any action for three years assuming the ag lease is approved. Staff explained the master plan is a long range plan that lasts longer than three to five years; it will be there forever until staff needs to make any adjustments. The ag lease agreement contains a provision to get out of the lease if the park acreage were to be developed. Councilmember Bonar stated his experience has been with planning within a five year window, 5 Council Minutes(Regular) (DATE) Page 3 you will need to refresh it after five years. It is uncommon that a plan will be able to remain a constant after five years. It will require some updating. Mayor Larson asked about two master plans that are completed. Parks and Recreation Director Distad stated it is the Meadow Creek Park and the Fairhill Community Park. The Meadow Creek Park area has been built out,however the master plan does not reflect what is actually there. As part of the master plan update,we would revise that plan to reflect what is currently in the park. Some changes were made to that plan due to drainage issues. Mayor Larson asked when the park would be developed. Staff stated the estimated cost in 2007 was $6.5 million. Councilmember Bartholomay asked about the difference in pricing if we wait. Staff noted it should not be a large amount,but it will increase. Mayor Larson asked what we will receive for$2,800. Staff replied we will have an overall master plan that reflects current completed park improvements, it will incorporate the ponds and wooded area in Autumn Glen into the master plan for the Fairhill Park and the Meadow Creek Park. It will reflect the boundary of the Jim Bell Park and Preserve. The main purpose is to revise the master plan to reflect the boundary for the new park. Councilmember Fogarty was not a big fan of paying contractors to do this work. As it will not be immediately put into place and we are not short on time, she felt it could be done inhouse and take a couple years to do it. Redoing schematics on the Meadow Creek Park could be done inhouse because we know where the amenities are located. This could be a backburner project to work on when staff has time. We have a community center in the plan and she does not see that as a reality in the next 20 years. She has never been a big fan of master plans. Councilmember Donnelly agreed there is no urgency. He could understand wanting to get the plan in place, but we don't know when it will be executed. Mayor Larson asked if this could be done inhouse. Staff stated we could look at it, but in the past Hoisington Koegler has done the fmal rendering of the master plans and they convert it to electronic format for the City's website and to respond to requests for it. MOTION by Bonar, second by Bartholomay to deny the proposal submitted by HKGI for services related to the rendering of a master plan for Jim Bell Park and Preserve. Voting for: Bartholomay, Bonar, Donnelly, Fogarty. Voting against: Larson. MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 6 Council Minutes(Regular) (DATE) Page 4 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) November 2012 Financial Report-Finance The general fund at this point should be at 92%of budget. The general fund is at 57%as second half property taxes are not received until December. Once taxes are received,that number will be in line with the budget. Expenses totaled 86% of budget. Numbers for the Rambling River Center have changed, as donations received above the$90,000 were moved to a separate Rambling River Center Improvement Fund. Regarding the EDA, at the beginning of the year there was a negative fund balance. The budget adopted identified money to be transferred in to eliminate the negative balance. The EDA has enough to pay off their loan which was approved tonight. The only inter-fund loan outstanding will be for the fire truck. The arena has a$40,000 deficit. Once November and December revenues are received,the arena should break even. Liquor stores revenue exceeded expenses by$200,000 for the year compared to $70,000 a year ago. The general fund has dipped below zero in November and will be restored in December with the second half taxes. Finance Director Hanson suggested moving this review to quarterly rather than monthly. Council agreed with this change. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Donnelly: Urged residents to be careful as it is cold and icy in spots. Councilmember Fogarty: Encouraged resident to come to the Community Expo this Saturday at the Farmington High School. There will be performances and vendors. Applications are being accepted for the Farmington Royalty until February 18,2013, and can be done online. Councilmember Bonar: Thanked the Fire Relief Association for the invitation to their Annual Banquet. Mayor Larson: Reminded residents to shop local and thanked residents for supporting the Farmington liquor stores as the proceeds do help with taxes. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adjourn at 7:27 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant 7