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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.02.14 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR September 2, 2014 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OFALLEGLANCE Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Larson,Bartholomay, Bonar,Fogarty Members Absent: Donnelly Also Present: Andrea Poehler, City Attorney; David McKnight, City Administrator;Robin Hanson,Finance Director;Brian Lindquist, Police Chief;Adam Kienberger, Community Development Director; Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer;Brenda Wendlandt, Human Resources Director; Tony Wippler,Planning Manager; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Audience: Annette Kuyper, Tim Pitcher 4. APPROVEAGENDA MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to approve the agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Farmington Area Veteran's Memorial Dedication Information Mr. Leon On gave an update on the program for the Veteran's Memorial Dedication on September 7, 2014. The only item left is a life-size bronze statue of a soldier. Fundraising will begin for this item. All other items are paid for or will be paid for. A donation of$10,000 was recently received from Farmington Thrivent Financial. Some of this will be put towards the bronze statue. This memorial has been made possible by volunteers and the generosity of the community. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS Ms. Annette Kuyper, Farmington Yellow Ribbon Network, gave an update on their upcoming activities. The monthly veteran dinners will begin next Monday. Farmington Patriotic Day will be held November 6, 2014. Mayor Larson and Superintendent Haugen will be speaking on Minnesota Military Radio Hour regarding Patriotic Day. This was requested by the State of Minnesota. The enlistment recognition dinner will be held May 4,2015, for high school graduates going into the armed forces. A cookie walk will be held December 7, 2014. Council Minutes(Regular) September 2,2014 Page 2 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes (8/18/14 Regular) b) Adopted RESOLUTION R46-14 Accepting Donation to the Rambling River Center c) Approved Park Names in Executive Estates and New Sunrise Developments d) Adopted RESOLUTION R47-14 Approving Gambling Event Permit Ducks Unlimited MN 184 e) Adopted RESOLUTION R48-14 Approving Gambling Event Permit St. Michael's Church f) Approved Temporary On-Sale Liquor License St.Michael's Church g) Approved Tobacco License,Farmington Tobacco Inc. j) Approved Policies and Procedures—Cell Phone Policies k) Approved Summary of City Administrator Annual Performance Review 1) Acknowledged Resignation Liquor Operations m) Approved Bills APIF,MOTION CARRIED. i) Approve Repainting of Fire Station 1 Bay Area Councilmember Bonar asked when we have quotes with large differences in the amount do we have an assurance from the contractor that they are able to perform the work requested. Fire Chief Pietsch will have to check with the Fire Marshal on the bid process. Mayor Larson was also concerned with the difference in amounts. Fire Chief Pietsch stated it could be two of the companies bid high because they do not need the work. Fire Chief Pietsch was comfortable with the bid chosen. Staff will double check the numbers with the vendor. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to approve the repainting of Fire Station 1 bay area. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. h) Approve Recoating of the Floor at Fire Station 1 Councilmember Bonar wanted to make sure the contract is a full representation of what we will receive. It is highly irregular to request payment upfront from a government entity. He hoped the contactor will reconsider his terms and conditions. Fire Chief Pietsch will work with the contractor on the terms. Councilmember Bonar noted there are 19 things the contractor will not cover in their warranty. Fire Chief Pietsch will talk with the contractor regarding the 50% pre-payment. Councilmember Bonar wanted to make sure staff sees a sample of the product they will be installing. This was the second lowest bid so we need to quantify why. Fire Chief Pietsch stated that came down to the 20 year warranty. The repainting and recoating of the floor are part of the capital improvement plan. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to approve the recoating of the floor at Fire Station 1. City Administrator McKnight asked if Council wanted to include any contingencies mentioned by Councilmember Bonar regarding no down payment and the mil thickness samples. Councilmember Fogarty amended her Council Minutes(Regular) September 2,2014 Page 3 motion to include no down payment and to see mil thickness samples. Councilmember Bonar seconded the amendment. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Adopt Limited Commercial Ventures Ordinance The Heritage Preservation Commission has requested an ordinance to regulate limited commercial ventures in historic properties. There are three sections to the ordinance. The first defines what a limited commercial venture is which is a commercial establishment conducted in a residential structure located on a residentially zoned parcel of land and in which the structure has been designated or determined eligible as a Farmington Heritage Landmark and/or is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Section two amends the various residential zoning districts to conditionally allow limited commercial ventures. Section three outlines various performance standards that would have to be met to establish a commercial use in a heritage landmark property. It also outlines the type of use approved. A conditional use permit application would be required, and would be reviewed by the Heritage Preservation Commission. They would make a recommendation to the Planning Commission where a public hearing would be held. Section three also allows for the Heritage Preservation Commission or the Planning Commission to modify the standards or require additional standards specific to the use in order to ensure compatibility of the activities with the neighborhood in which it is located. Councilmember Fogarty stated this is a tough balance between historic preservation and property rights. Regarding the Akin House, she asked what the owners want to do with it. Planning Manager Wippler stated a potential buyer had asked about using it for commercial purposes. So the HPC directed this ordinance be prepared. There are no current plans. A bed and breakfast is a conditional use and there is a specific code for that. That is still allowed in an R-1 district. Councilmember Fogarty was concerned about some vague comments in the ordinance such as noise levels. Staff will remove the line regarding level of noise, air and other pollutants. MOTION by Fogarty, second Bartholomay to adopt ORDINANCE 014-669 approving limited commercial ventures,removing line 13. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. b) Adopt Resolution Approve 2015 Preliminary Budget and Tax Levy Finance Director Hanson presented the 2015 preliminary budget and tax levy. The levy can be lowered, but it cannot be increased. The final budget and tax Council Minutes(Regular) September 2,2014 Page 4 levy will be adopted on December 1,2014. The 2015 budget was developed with three guidelines: 1. The City will continue to provide core general fund services. 2. The budget will continue to fund Council's long term financial planning strategies. 3. The budget will support Council's 2014 strategic plan. The building permit revenue has been modestly increased. Staff will continue to monitor building permit revenue and provide an update this fall. The budget includes$276,607 in local government aid(LGA). This budget continues to reduce the general fund's reliance on investment income to pay for operations and a 3%increase in transfers in from the enterprise funds to cover personnel related costs and administrative services. Property taxes make up 73%of the general fund. Transfers in from enterprise funds make up 10%with intergovernmental receipts, charges for services, licenses and permits, fines and forfeitures, investment income and miscellaneous revenues making up the remaining 17%. The combined 2015 general fund revenues are budgeted at$11,412,204. Expenditures fund human resource costs, increased retirement costs, estimates for health insurance benefits and anticipated workers compensation insurance premiums. There is an increase in investment and technology to increase customer service and delay increases in staffing. The budget creates a dedicated capital equipment fund and provides for its funding. It recognizes the city's permanent reduction in the tax levy based on county valuation appeals,and it spends the LGA on one-time expenditures. The budget continues the long term funding of the fire capital improvement plan,the Farmington Fire Relief Association contributions, seal coating, trail maintenance and building maintenance. Expenditures total$11,412,204. The Police Department represents 36%of the overall total, engineering,parks and recreation and municipal services each represent 11%of the total. Fire, administration,transfers out to other funds, finance, risk management and human resources comprise the remaining expenditures. LGA money will be spent on one-time expenditures including a customer survey, strategic planning efforts, special assessments related to the purchase of a parcel in Vermillion River Crossings for a new hotel, a portion of the fire capital improvement plan, funds dedicated to the replacement of capital equipment,and new technology. The new software will enhance the city's website,provide for the same operating system and office suite software throughout the city,provide a new point of sale software system for the pool,new accounts payable automation software, online employment application software,and purchase of new lights at the Rambling River Center. Council Minutes(Regular) September 2,2014 Page 5 The city receives funds for the general fund in June and December from property taxes. These funds are used to pay the bills during that time. For the past seven years the general fund balance went below zero in May and November. In May 2014, for the first time in seven years,the fund balance stayed above zero. The fund balance is getting stronger. There are two components to the levy. One helps pay for general fund expenditures,the other which is the debt levy, helps pay for the scheduled principal and interest payments on the city's debt. Efforts are continuing to strengthen the city's cash flows to achieve full compliance with the 105%funding requirement and provide the initial fund for the city's 195th Street reconstruction project which is scheduled for 2015. The total debt levy for 2015 is$3,059,728. The net tax levy for 2015 is $9,164,526,which is a 4.97%increase over the 2014 levy. Increased human resource costs and scheduled principal and interest payments amount to 4.02%of the increase. The 2015 fiscal disparity amount will be$15,000 less than received in 2014. The 4.97%increase would amount to an increase of$45.55 on the average residential home. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adopt RESOLUTION R49-14 approving the 2014 proposed preliminary tax levy collectible in 2015. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Bartholomay: He attended the DCC quarterly meeting and gave some highlights from that meeting. The DCC received a no deficiency rating from FEMA. The DCC has received an award from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The DCC was one of three centers to receive this award. There was a tragedy in Mendota Heights recently with the loss of a police officer. During this event the DCC received 577 calls within the first two hours. The Farmington Police Department provided assistance to Mendota Heights during this difficult time. Councilmember Fogarty: Reminded everyone school has started so watch for school buses and children. She encouraged residents to attend the Veteran's Memorial Dedication on September 7,2014. City Engineer Schorzman: The trail fog sealing will start tomorrow. It is important to not drive over the trails during this time. A test run was performed for track crack sealing Council Minutes(Regular) September 2,2014 Page 6 today. That project will begin in two weeks. The Akin Park Estates project is close to being done. Mayor Larson: Encouraged residents to attend the Veteran's Memorial Dedication on September 7, 2014. The city is looking for election judges for the November election. He encouraged everyone to shop local. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to adjourn at 8:08 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant •