HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.06.06 Special Council Minutes
COUNCIL/SCHOOL MINUTES
May 6, 2006
The Farmington City Council conducted a joint special meeting with the ISD 192 School
Board on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Dakota Electric Association Offices,
4300 200tb Street West, Farmington.
1. CALL TO ORDER.
The School Board meeting was called to order by Chair McKnight at 6:06 pm and the
City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Soderberg at 6:08 pm.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
The Board and Council led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL.
City: Soderberg, Fogarty, McKnight, Wilson, Pritzlaff
School: McKnight, Weyandt, Manthey, Davis, (Privette and Donnelly absent,
Chair McKnight noted that Mr. Donnelly would abstain if present due to his property
abutting the proposed site).
4. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS BY MEDIATOR JAMES GILBERT.
The Mayor and Chair made introductory comments regarding the meeting and agenda.
00_ .Retired t\~_~~i~!~IJ!~!ice of the Minneso!a Supreme C~grt J ~es~Qilbert _was introdu_ce<!O" .
Justice Gilbert provided information regarding his involvement in a mediation process
between the City and School regarding the pending litigation over the school site.
He discussed the complexity ofthe case and the nature and duration of the mediation
process, which comprised four full days of meetings between school and city
representatives, including in addition to legal counsel for the parties, Chair Julie
McKnight, Boardmember Weyandt, Supt. Meeks, and Engineer Kaldunski for the school,
and Mayor Soderberg, Councilmember Fogarty, and Engineer Mann for the city.
At the conclusion of his comments, Justice Gilbert introduced legal counsel for the
parties to describe the details of the proposed settlement.
5. JOINT PRESENTATION BY LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SCHOOL AND CITY.
Jeff Carpenter, the school's counsel, indicated that what is proposed is a full and
complete settlement, which will be phased in as certain steps in the process are met. It
contemplates a temporary stay oflitigation and staging the dismissal of the litigation
upon City and Met Council actions. The high school is to be constructed on the
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Christensen property, and public infrastructure to be constructed by the school as part of
the project will include sewer and water oversized for eventual growth in the area, the
paving of Flagstaff Avenue from County 50 to the Lakeville border, the phasedlstajed
construction of20Sth Street delayed along the northern border of the site until202n is
constructed in Lakeville, and noted that with pending bond legislation sought to help
construct school that he recommends approval of settlement.
Cliff Greene, counsel for the City then commented that mediation was pursued at the
direction of District Court Judge Messerich, and that the parties realized that not only
would it take a long time and great expense to go through litigation, they entered
mediation with a mutual understanding that both boards had a duty to seek settlement if
settlement is possible. He also recommended approval of the settlement and detailed the
main themes from the City's perspective of maintaining the integrity of the City's
comprehensive plan and ensured adequacy of infrastructure with cost recovery/cost
reimbursement.
6. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION
Motion by Weyandt, second by Manthey to approve the settlement agreement. Motion
passed 4-0.
7. CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Motion by Fogarty, second by McKnight to approve the settlement agreement and direct
staffto take steps to effectuate the settlement. Roll Call: Fogarty, McKnight, Soderberg
and Wilson voted aye, Pritzlaffvoted nay, motion passed 4-1.
8. FINAL COMMENTS BY JUSTICE GILBERT
Justice Gilbert then read ajoint public statement.prepared on behalf of the school and
city.
9. COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE, SCHOOL AND CITY OFFICIALS
Comments were taken from the audience. Jerry Ristow commented indicating support
for the selected site and. the settlement. John Gibertson thanked both bodies for resolving
the litigation and noted the good will of all those involved and that nobody has anything
to be ashamed of with regard to the process. Bryce Malme also thanked both bodies for
their decision to resolve the dispute.
Comments from individual councilmembers and boardmembers, as well as from
Superintendent Meeks and Administrator Herlofsky were made.
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10. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Manthey, second by Weyandt to adjourn the School Board meeting at 6:48.
Motion passed 4-0.
Motion by Fogarty, second by McKnight to adjourn the City Council meeting at 6:48
Motion passed 5-0.
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