HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.21.15 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR
December 21, 2015
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Troop 119 led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Larson,Bartholomay, Bonar,Donnelly, Pitcher
Members Absent: None
Also Present: Joel Jamnik, 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; Justin Elvestad, Assistant Fire Chief;
Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant
Audience: Josh Larson, Parker Sorenson, Calvin Ramthun, Eric Heddinger,
Thomas Goeber, Brian Goeber, Phil Ramthun, Jamie Larson
4. APPROVE AGENDA
City Administrator McKnight added item 71) Approve Waste Delivery Agreement with
Ramsey/Washington Energy Board.
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Donnelly to approve the Agenda. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
6. CITIZEN COMMENTS
7. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to approve the Consent Agenda as
follows:
a) Approved Council Minutes (12/7/2015 Regular)(12/14/2015 Work Session) -
Administration
b) Approved Temporary On-Sale Liquor License Knights of Columbus -
Administration
c) Adopted RESOLUTION R73-15 Approving Gambling Event Permit for
Farmington Volleyball Club—Administration
d) Adopted RESOLUTION R74-15 Accepting Donations to the Rambling River
Center—Parks and Recreation
e) Adopted ORDINANCE 015-711 Amending Section 10-5-21 (Industrial Park)of
the Zoning Code Allowing Food Processing Facilities as a Conditional Use—
Community Development
f) Adopted ORDINANCE 015-712 Amending Sections 10-5-17 (Spruce Street
Commercial), 10-5-18 (Business/Commercial Flex) and 10-5-20 (Mixed-Use
Commercial/Residential) of the Zoning Code Reclassifying Restaurants Class III
as a Conditional Use—Community Development
Council Minutes(Regular)
December 21,2015
Page 2
g) Approved Administrative Policies and Procedures—Review and Changes—
Human Resources
h) Approved Fire Equipment Purchase—Fire
i) Amended 2016 Fee Schedule—Fire
j) Adopted RESOLUTION R75-15 Authorizing 195th Street Reconstruction Project
Internal Loan from the Storm Water Trunk Fund to the Maintenance Fund—
Finance
k) Approved Bills
I) Adopted RESOLUTION R76-15 Approving Waste Delivery Agreement with
Ramsey/Washington County Energy Board—Municipal Services
APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Adopt Resolution Approving 2016 Budget and Tax Levy-Finance
At the December 7,2015, Council meeting the City Council reviewed the 2016
budget which included elimination of a part-time administrative position at the
Rambling River Center. The Rambling River Center Board offered a cost sharing
proposal to enable the city to retain that position. Council held a workshop on
December 14,2015,to discuss the proposal. During the workshop, City
Administrator McKnight offered a couple options to retain the position. Council
reached a consensus to use existing staff to fill the position by eliminating some
work that is currently being done,which will be determined by the city
administrator.
The fmal tax levy numbers are the general fund at$8,747,170 plus a debt levy of
$2,970,848 for a gross levy of$11,718,018. After taking into consideration the
fiscal disparities of$2,104,764,there is a net tax levy of$9,613,254 or a 4.9%
increase over the 2015 levy.
Staff recommended approval of the 2016 tax levy and budget with the
modification that the part-time administrative position at the Rambling River
Center will not be eliminated and those services will be reallocated through
existing staff and the elimination of work elsewhere in the city by the city
administrator.
Councilmembers appreciated staff's work on this budget,but had concerns for the
2017 budget. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to adopt
RESOLUTION R77-15 approving the tax levy for the year 2016 tax collection
and the 2016 budget with the modification that the part-time administrative
position at the Rambling River Center will not be eliminated and the position will
be filled with existing staff and the elimination of work elsewhere in the city by
the city administrator. Voting for: Larson,Bartholomay,Bonar,Donnelly.
Voting against: Pitcher. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Minutes(Regular)
December 21,2015
Page 3
12. NEW BUSINESS
a) Approve Final Pay Request and Final Change Order—Henderson's Addition
Project—Engineering
Part A of the change order reduced the original contract amount by$6,600. Part
B is the additional items not included in the original contract and added$18,000
for a net total in the change order of$11,400,which is over the original bid price,
but within the project budget. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to
approve the change order and final pay request for the Henderson's Addition
Rehabilitation project. APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
b) 2015/2016 Strategic Plan Update-Administration
City Administrator McKnight presented five highlights of 2015 that fit the
strategic plan. There are four areas of emphasis including organizational
development, community development, communication/engagement and
finance/operations. There are a number of projects under each of these areas.
The most important items accomplished in 2015 are:
1. Progress on the citywide financial plan. A 30-year financial plan was
developed and there will be an update early next year. Council and staff has
looked at larger projects and how they impact current and future budgets and
tax levies. All funds are moving towards a positive fund balance and we are
almost there.
2. The community survey was completed with positive results. The survey
showed 87%of residents felt we are moving in the right direction. The small
town feel and the housing and neighborhoods were the most liked attributes of
Farmington. The number one desire is economic development.
3. Continued collaborations such as the 195th Street project with a number of
government units. The school board will be using the council chambers for
their meetings beginning in January. There is the broadband project with ten
other cities and the county which will continue into 2016. The partnership
with ALF has been in place for many years. We work with Lakeville for fire
marshal services. There is a long standing street maintenance agreement with
dozens of other cities for seal coating, etc. A new contract was developed
with Allina Health so they can store an ambulance in one of our fire stations.
4. The city received a bond rating upgrade from AA-to AA,which had an
immediate savings for the 195th Street bonds of$200,000.
5. Completion of the 195th Street project was in the strategic plan. This was a
two-year project completed in one year. We had a partnership with the
county, school district and bus company. We now have an east-west corridor
through Farmington.
Council thanked staff for their work on these projects.
13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Councilineember Donnelly: Wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
No snow has been a big plus for the city.
Council Minutes(Regular)
December 21,2015
Page 4
Councilmember Bartholomay: Council has the easy job of bringing our visions to
staff and staff does the hard work to put them into a working plan. Thanked the fire
department for attending the council meetings and their outreach efforts. Wished
everyone a happy holiday.
Councilmember Pitcher: Wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
City Administrator McKnight: Thanked the police department for a successful
Toys for Town event last Saturday. Many other departments helped and served 73
families which included 209 children.
Community Development
Director Kienberger: We have a new business downtown, TOWN Sports,where
a ribbon cutting was held last week. Thanked everyone who attended the Downtown
Redevelopment Plan Open House. Updates, future open houses, and documents can be
found on the city website.
Parks and Recreation
Director Distad: With the warm weather we do not have outdoor ice. Once the
temperatures drop flooding of outdoor rinks will be done.
Human Resources Director
Wendlandt: Wished everyone a happy holiday.
Mayor Larson: City offices will be closed December 24 and 25,2015. The
garbage and recycling schedule is on the website. If your normal day is Thursday, it will
be picked up on Wednesday; if your normal day is Friday, it will be picked up Monday.
The Rambling River Center steak fry fundraiser will be held January 16,2016,at the
VFW. He thanked council and staff for a great year. He encouraged residents to shop
local as the money spent here stays here. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
14. ADJOURN
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Donnelly to adjourn at 7:28 p.m. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant