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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.08.04 Work Session Minutes COUNCIL/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING MINUTES October 8, 2004 Staff Present Mayor Ristow, Councilmember Cordes, Councilmember Fogarty Barb Thompson, Bev Ersfeld, Josh Rucker, Sarah Miller, Glen Anderson, Mike Heinzerling David Urbia, City Administrator; Kevin Carroll, Community Development Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Council Present: Chamber Present: DISCUSSION OF CHAMBER/CITY COMMUNICATION ISSUES Suggestions from the Chamber on ways to communicate include sending the management report to the Chamber, and placing an article in the paper similar to Lakeville. They have a page in the paper with weekly updates on projects. Farmington could update residents on the Spruce Street project showing things that have taken place, conversations about the wetlands, etc. Mayor Ristow noted this was looked at four years ago and at that time neither the City nor the Chamber had the funds. It was substituted with the management report and the newsletter. City Administrator Urbia suggested adjusting the information in the management report, and placing it on the website with a sign-up mailing list. Mayor Ristow thought the Coffee with the Council had been dropped because there was nothing to discuss. Mr. Heinzerling assumed everyone received the Monday Memo. He asked how to create a communication vehicle instead of Coffee with the Council. City Administrator Urbia suggested the Chamber find a way to contact someone at the City regarding issues to determine if rumors are true. This would provide an opportunity to dismiss rumors that are not true. Mr. Heinzerling stated the information was brought to the table at a meeting. The Letter to the Editor was not meant to be bad to the City. The Chamber assumed the City disregarded the Monday Memo invitation. Mayor Ristow stated the Council has protocols, policies and procedures to follow. Rumors that Council is not being cooperative are not always true. Mr. Heinzerling asked how to create better communication. Ms. Thompson stated the Chamber used to meet with one Councilmember prior to Council Meetings. Unless there was something pressing, they just visited. This was eventually dropped. There is never a problem talking with staff. The purpose of the Coffee with Council was to talk with Council. A lot of Chamber members do not know Councilmembers. Councilmember Fogarty was disappointed when the Coffee with Council ended. She attended one meeting with six Chamber members and it was very productive. It provides an informal situation to bring out rumors. Light agendas are okay. The Chamber needs access to Council. Mayor Ristow suggested if there is not enough for the agenda, the meeting could be postponed. Councilmember Cordes stated it was not a lack of information, but a lack of attendance. Councilmember Fogarty replied it provides a casual environment where Chamber members can reach a Councilmember. City Administrator Urbia suggested if the Chamber hears something during the month, they should call or e-mail him and he will obtain an answer. Mr. Heinzerling stated Ms. Thompson should call City Administrator Urbia and ask if information obtained is true. Mayor Ristow heard the developer for Spruce Street was going to walk. They have a lot of issues to meet. The developer came to Council and they had a follow-up meeting and discussed the issues. Businesses have to promote themselves. The City has done a streetscape project to enhance the downtown. He agreed Ms. Thompson should communicate with City Administrator Urbia when rumors are heard. Councilmember Fogarty recalled a couple years ago the Independent wanted Council to alternate writing articles. This would be a great way to communicate if the City cannot afford a weekly ad. It would put rumors to rest. Mr. Nathan Hansen, Farmington Independent, stated the City could do a column like the school. In Rosemount, the City Administrator writes the column. He could take the management report and call it City Notes. Mayor Ristow agreed City Administrator Urbia should write it so Council would not be attached. Councilmember Cordes agreed. With the article coming from the City Administrator it would not be construed as one- sided. Mr. Heinzerling stated they could still have the Coffee with the Council either monthly or quarterly. City Administrator Urbia will send the management report to the Chamber, set up a schedule for Coffee with the Council, and work on an article for the Independent. Executive Assistant Muller will send the Monday Memo to Council. Mr. Colin Garvey asked the Chamber's opinion of having the HRA turned back to Council. Ms. Thompson stated this was brought up at the candidate forum. She asked if the HRA was an extra board that is not needed. Mayor Ristow understood there were taxing issues made by non- elected people. He would agree with changing the HRA to Council. Councilmember Fogarty did not like the idea of citizens being removed. She suggested the HRA be re-structured to three Councilmembers and three residents. Mr. Garvey felt during the HRA interviews, some people do not understand what they are applying for. The City needs more commercial growth. It needs to be quicker and easier. If a business owner does not want TIP, they should be able to acquire the property easier. Councilmember Fogarty replied Mr. Garvey's experience was that way. It is not a policy. The Spruce Street problems are not related in that way. There are environmental issues, a trout stream, etc. This will set a precedent for the future. Community Development Director Carroll stated as far as Spruce Street, the agencies are not always sure what they require. He invited others to attend the Spruce Street meetings. Ms. Thompson noted the moratorium was lifted in October 2003. She asked how much has changed that these issues could not have been reviewed during that time. Councilmember Fogarty replied the AUAR was being done. Community Development Director Carroll explained there has to be a specific plan from the developer, and the City gives that information to the agencies. The agencies then comment on that information. Mayor Ristow stated it will be even more difficult south ofthe river with more homes. Ms. Thompson stated people are frustrated with the moratorium and now wonder what was done. An article is needed on this issue. Community Development Director Carroll stated it was erroneous information that Spruce Street was involved in the moratorium. Mr. Peterson is not ready to develop his property, he was not slowed down. Mr. Allen and Mr. Adelmann are not ready to develop their properties. Ms. Thompson felt that needed to be communicated. Mayor Ristow stated the preliminary plat is going to the Planning Commission. It will come to Council when the engineering issues are resolved. Community Development Director Carroll replied the Planning Commission is taking a different stand. They do not like recommending plats with too many contingencies. The Spruce Street developer has asked for the plat to go to the Planning Commission. Staffhas to push, but cannot endanger the relationship. Ifthe Chamber receives calls, they should be forwarded to Community Development Director Carroll to address them directly. Mr. Heinzerling felt a monthly article in the Independent should help. Community Development Director Carroll added the Chamber created the CDC. They meet once a month. They have good discussions with 3-S Chamber members. That is the place to talk about issues. Staff should pass concerns to Mr. Heinzerling or Ms. Peggy Johnson. Mr. Heinzerling apologized for the Letter to Editor stating it was done in frustration. Community Development Director Carroll expressed the need to continue discussions. It is difficult to repair the damage from rumors. The Letter to the Editor stated staffhad turned down a hotel. A hotel was never turned down. The Industrial Park was not the appropriate place for a hotel. Mr. Thelen stated the HRA turned it down, because it did not fit the covenants in the Industrial Park. Community Development Director Carroll stated he met with two people on a regular basis who asked for zoning for hotels. They were shown several sites and were told the zoning in the Industrial Park did not allow a hotel. They were told the process to have the property re-zoned. The Spruce Street plat shows a hotel. Ms. Thompson asked why staffwas not working harder with businesses to get them here. There is a difference between marketing and zoning. Community Development Director Carroll replied the City does not have money budgeted for marketing. Ifwe market an area, we have to be ready to deliver. We cannot market the Devney or Berglund properties because the City does not own it. He has sent people to the Spruce Street developer. If Council wants staff to spend money on marketing, they would be glad to do so. Mr. Heinzerling understood with some commercial businesses there has to be more housing. Mr. Heinzerling felt there were some good ideas discussed for communicating. This meeting would cover the September Coffee with Council. They need to set up another meeting for October 21. Community Development Director Carroll suggested this discussion be continued at the next CDC meeting. Respectfully submitted, //.. -~? ,- /Y?d&.-J ~vc/c~ CCynthia Muller Executive Assistant