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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.03.14 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR November 3,2014 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vince Donahue 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: Andrea Poehler, City Attorney;David McKnight, City Administrator;Robin Hanson,Finance Director;Adam Kienberger, Community Development Director;Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer; Brenda Wendlandt,Human Resources Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Audience: Rob Junker,Jason Conway,Mike Cassaro,Pennie Page,David McMillen,Kim Donohue,Vince Donohue,Chris Hinrichs,Brad Jacobson 4. APPROVE AGENDA Mayor Larson moved 11a)Approve 2015 Rambling River Center and Schmitz-Maki Arena Fees and Charges to the first item under Petitions,Requests and Communications. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Vince Donahue—Eagle Scout Project Mr.Donahue explained his Eagle Scout project which consisted of building a prairie garden at Riverview Elementary School. He raised funds for his project and gave some to the school. There were 30 volunteers and a total of 210 hours. b) Leon Orr—Request to Expand Farmington Area Veteran's Memorial Mr. Orr explained the expansion includes an additional 92 pavers,two more park benches, landscaping and a large pledge of allegiance boulder. He estimated the expansion will take three to four years. Expansion work would start in the spring and be completed by Memorial Day. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the request. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS Council Minutes(Regular) November 3,2014 Page 2 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes (10/20/14 Regular) b) Approved Temporary On-Sale Liquor License Knights of Columbus c) Approved Tamarack Park Additional Street and Park Lighting d) Approved Seasonal Hiring e) Approved Antenna Lease Amendment—Verizon Wireless(Daisy Knoll) f) Adopted RESOLUTION R57-14 Accepting Rambling River Center Donations g) Approved Bills APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) Approve 2015 Rambling River Center and Schmitz-Maki Arena Fees and Charges Ice arena fees-Staff proposed increasing the arena prime time rental rate by $10/hour. The recommended fee is $210 or$220/hour. Each year 1,150 hours of ice time is rented by youth hockey,the school district,miscellaneous groups and senior men's hockey. The$5 increase in revenue is$2,278 for three months. The $10 increase in revenue is$5,755 for three months. In 2005,the cost recovery shows 80.5%of expenses were recovered through fees for ice rentals. In 2013 there was enough revenue to cover expenses. In the years where expenses were not covered,transfers were made from liquor operations, general fund, and youth hockey provided$5,000 annually towards operating costs. In 2012 operations generated$15,500. In addition, $320,000 was transferred to eliminate the negative fund balance in the arena. In 2013,revenues exceeded expenses by$8,400. The 2014 budget had a projected loss of$13,350. Staff is analyzing the outcome for 2014. The draft budget had a projected deficit of $38,334. Staff has revised that to a deficit of$9,334. This is due to a projected revenue increase of$17,000; $5,500 is from the proposed$10/hour rate increase and$11,500 is projected summer ice rental. With adjustments to expenses,the projected deficit is$9,334. One time expenditures include$5,000 to install a point of sale system to allow debit and credit cards at the arena. The other expense is $5,500 in video surveillance cameras at the arena. Removing these expenses,the projected deficit would be$1,100 for 2015 with the proposed $10/hour rate increase. Once the significant transfer was made in 2012,the budgets were designed to stand on their own. However,the$20,000 transfer would be budgeted to continue to shore up the fund balance in the arena so we would not go backwards. Council Minutes(Regular) November 3,2014 Page 3 Mr.Mike Sanow,Director of Player Development Farmington Youth Hockey, stated the hockey association has grown a great deal due to keeping rates low compared to neighboring communities. They have over 400 players and are continuing to grow. FYHA donates$10,000($5,000 for operations and$5,000 for capital improvements)to the arena and they would like to increase that donation over time. The proposed increase of$10/hour will cost the association an additional $30-$35/player. There are unexplored opportunities to increase revenue at the arena which they are willing to work with staff on. Examples are morning skating, additional summer hockey,additional men's league, etc. FYHA would like to meet with Council regarding the proposal and to find creative ways to increase additional revenue and table approval of the increase. If a rate increase is not approved for the 2015 fee schedule,the 2014 rate would stay through June 30,2015. Any new rates would take effect July 1,2015. However, a budget for the arena will be approved on December 1,2014. Two employees are assigned to the arena. Expenses include$10,000 for benefits for two employees. Councilmember Fogarty noted she is a big supporter of hockey,but Council cannot expect the taxpayers to cover the cost. Councilmember Bartholomay asked about the impact if we did not have summer ice. Finance Director Hanson stated based on this season we were slightly below breaking even. However, each year that can vary depending on temperatures. Councilmember Bartholomay noted the Parks and Recreation Commission did not recommend this. Parks and Recreation Director Distad stated when staff reviewed the budget in September it was noted an increase is required. In October the commission did not make a motion,but there was no opposition to the$10 increase,only a discussion. Councilmember Bonar stated Council has worked hard to make sure enterprise funds are self-sustaining. Middle ground could be increasing to $215/hour or allow 90 days to discuss creative ideas for additional revenue. Mayor Larson agreed with meeting with FYHA to find ways for additional revenue rather than increasing the rate if possible. This should be done within 90 days. Mayor Larson stated this summer several hours of ice were dropped by youth hockey. So if FYHA makes a commitment,he would like them to keep it. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to table the arena fees for 90 days. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Rambling River Center Fees—Compared to other cities,Farmington has the lowest amount of members. The subsidy per member is$260.89,which is in the middle of the comparison. As recommended in the work session,the cleaning fee is included in the rental rate for the banquet room. There is a$50 increase for a four hour rental which comes to$300 for four hours. Any additional hours would be$75/hour. Farmington rental fees are in the middle of the comparison to other cities. Council Minutes(Regular) November 3,2014 Page 4 Councilmember Bartholomay asked about any feedback from the seniors. Staff noted the rental fee has not been an issue with the seniors. Rentals are from community groups. The advisory board recommended keeping the membership rate the same as 2014. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the proposed fees. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Appoint Malloy,Montague,Karnowski,Radosevick(MIVLKR)and Co.,PA as Auditor for 2014,2015 and 2016 An RFP was issued for auditing services for 2014—2016. Six proposals were received and three firms were interviewed. Staff is recommending MMKR. The cost for 2015 would be$33,450, cost for 2016 is$33,900,and for 2017 the cost is $34,350. The Fire Relief Association will also hire MMKR for their audit work. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to approve MMKR as auditors for fiscal years 2014, 2015 and 2016. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. b) 2015—2019 Dakota County Capital Improvement Plan City Engineer Schorzman gave an update on the 195th Street project open house and some adjustments to the plan were made based on those comments. The two projects included in the CIP are signal reconstruction on TI-13 at Elm and Ash Streets in 2016 and the 195th Street project from Flagstaff Avenue to Diamond Path in 2015. The cost to the city for the Elm Street signal reconstruction will be$25,000. There is no city cost for the Ash Street signal reconstruction. The city portion of the 195th Street project is$4.1 million. The 195th Street project consists of roundabouts at Flagstaff,Pilot Knob and Akin Road, a pedestrian underpass at Meadowview,trails on both sides, and an expansion to three lanes. Intersections not controlled will see additional turn lanes. Staff had considered adding an acceleration lane from Meadowview along 195th Street,and discussed this with the Council. It was determined an acceleration lane would not be feasible. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to adopt RESOLUTION R58-14 approving inclusion of the construction projects in the Dakota County 2015 to 2019 Transportation CIP without the acceleration lane in the 195th Street project. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. c) Revocation of Municipal State Aid Status and concurrence with County State Aid Highway Status—195th Street This refers to a change in the state aid status of a portion of 195th Street from Pilot Knob Road to highway 3. Currently this is a county road,but not a county state aid highway. The county is proposing to make it a county state aid highway from Pilot Knob Road to Flagstaff Avenue. There is currently a municipal state aid on this portion. The city needs to revoke the MSA status from Pilot Knob Road to highway 3. The City will maintain MSA status from Pilot Knob Road to Flagstaff Avenue. Whether it is a county state aid road or a municipal state aid road,the city can still access state aid funds to pay for any work done on 195th Street. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to adopt RESOLUTION R59-14 Council Minutes(Regular) November 3,2014 Page 5 revoking the MSA status of 195th Street from Pilot Knob Road to TH3 and concurring with the county's desire to designate this portion of 195th Street a CSAH. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. d) Approve Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for 195th Street Project The county will be the lead agency for design, right-of-way acquisition and inspection and contractor payment. The city will do the storm sewer design, roundabout lighting design, pedestrian underpass lighting design and storm sewer inspection. The agreement provides for the standard cost share of 55%county and 45%city. The county will bill the city after October 15,2015, due to the bond market. The city will be responsible for the lights and routine maintenance. The city's estimated cost is$4.1 million. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Donnelly to adopt RESOLUTION R60-14 authorizing execution of the Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for the 195th Street project. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. e) New Sunrise Addition Development Contract Amendment This amendment moves the completion date for the existing road and alley from November 30,2014,to November 30, 2015. The completion of phase two is changed from November 30,2014,to November 30,2016. The fmal wear course should be placed in 2017. All other terms of the original development contract remain in place including the developer being responsible for snow plowing. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the amendment to the New Sunrise Addition development contract. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Bartholomay: Reminded residents to vote tomorrow. Councilmember Fogarty: Reminded residents to vote tomorrow. Councilmember Donnelly: Reminded residents to vote tomorrow. Councilmember Bonar: Was looking forward to the Fire Department's turkey bingo this weekend. City Administrator McKnight: There is a special Council meeting on Friday at 8:30 a.m.to canvass the election. A 2015 City Council photo is scheduled for November 12, 2014. Overnight parking restrictions have taken effect with no parking on city streets from 2:30—5:30 a.m. or after we have 2 inches of snow or more and it is removed. Council Minutes(Regular) November 3,2014 Page 6 Community Development Director Kienberger: The library is finishing the roof on their building and the remodeling project should be finished in two weeks. Parks and Recreation Director Distad: The Rambling River Center waffle breakfast made$3,500 for future capital projects at the Rambling River Center. Human Resources Director Wendlandt: With the recent digital transition made by Charter,the city has received a lot of questions as to why we do not allow other cable companies to come into the city. The city legally cannot prevent any other cable company from coming into the city. It is driven by market share and right now cable companies deem we do not have enough market share to support a second cable company. The city also had no authority over the digital transition by Charter. Mayor Larson: The 64th annual Fire Department turkey bingo will be held November 8,2014. He encouraged residents to vote tomorrow and to shop local. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant