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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.20.04 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR January 20, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Acting Mayor Cordes at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Acting Mayor Cordes led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: Audience: Cordes, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg Ristow Andrea Poehler, City Attorney; Dan Siebenaler, Interim City AdministratorlPolice Chief; Kevin Carroll, Community Development Director; Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director; Lee Mann, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Lisa Shadick, Administrative Services Director; Brenda Wendlandt, Human Resources Director; Lee Smick, City Planner; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Randy Oswald, Dawn Johnson, Steve Juetten, Sherri Buss 4. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fitch to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Commendation - Community Development Director Kevin Carroll Councilmembers Soderberg and Fitch recognized Community Development Director Kevin Carroll for outstanding achievement in obtaining the Met Council Grant for the Spruce Street Corridor. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes (115/04 Regular) b) Received Information Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes - Parks and Recreation c) Adopted RESOLUTION R5-04 Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorize Bids - Parks and Recreation Council Minutes (Regular) January 20, 2004 Page 2 d) Received Information Annual Report - Boards and Commissions - Administration e) Acknowledged Resignation HRA - Administration f) Approved Appointments to Boards and Commissions - Administration g) Received Information Capital Outlay - Human Resources h) Received Information Capital Outlay - Parks and Recreation i) Received Information School and Conference - Fire Department j) Received Information School and Conference - Finance/Community Development k) Approved Bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Third Quarter Customer Service Response Report - Administration Staff received an 86% rating for prompt service, 95% in courteous and helpful service, and 79% for customers being personally satisfied with the service. b) Fourth Quarter Building Report - Community Development There were 99 building permits issued during the fourth quarter of2oo3. The valuation of homes is up from the third quarter. The value oftownhomes has gone down from the third quarter. The total number of building permits for 2003 was 539. The average value ofa single-family home was $193,226, and the value ofa townhome was $149,771. The population as of December 31,2003 was 18,282. c) Approve Tamarack Park Master Plan - Parks and Recreation Tamarack Park is located to the east ofHwy 3, south of County Rd 66, and north of209th Street. It is a 3.5 acre park. The park will contain playground equipment, picnic shelter, basketball court, small ballfield, soccer field, and play areas. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Soderberg to approve the Tamarack Park Master Plan. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. ' d) Proposed Satellite Fire Station - Approve Site Soil Investigation - Fire Department Staff requested permission to investigate the soil condition at the comer of 197th Street between Municipal Drive and Pilot Knob Road for a satellite fire station. When the Maintenance and Police facilities were built, this area was used as a borrow pit and staff is uncertain of the material used to backfill the site. These tests could also be used for any other structure that might be built there. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty to approve the expenditure to Council Minutes (Regular) January 20, 2004 Page 3 perform soil testing for the site at the corner of 19ih Street and Municipal Drive. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. e) 2004 Sealcoat Project - Project Delivery Option - Engineering Staffhas found an option for obtaining the sealcoat project for 2004. Burnsville and other cities have a Joint Powers Agreement by which they bid their sealcoating, traffic markings, and other items as one package. Their prices are less than what Farmington has paid in the past and the aggregate used is a higher quality, equal to what is currently used in cul-de-sacs. Council agreed for staff to move forward with this option. t) Review/Approve Final AUAR and Mitigation Plan for SeedlGenstar Property - Community Development Council ordered the AUAR in July 2002, a draft was presented in September 2003, and the final AUAR was prepared. The Seed/Genstar property is located west ofHwy 3 and east of Autumn Glen and Meadow Creek. It contains 1,006 acres. Council asked a few questions on various sections of the AUAR. Councilmember Soderberg asked if it was possible to work: with Lakeville to extend the north/south collector within that development. City Engineer Mann replied the area just north ofthe property is slated to be in the gravel mining area in Empire Township. Due to that it would be difficult to have a north/south collector going up to I 70th Street until the mining is completed in the next 20 years. The city would want to connect with Lakeville as the area is developed, but that will take a few years. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION R6-04 approving the Final AUAR and Mitigation Plan for the Seed/Genstar Property. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. g) Review/Approve Draft AUAR for Spruce Street Area - Community Development The location of the Spruce Street project is south ofHwy 50, west of Denmark Avenue, north of 220th Street, and east of the proposed extension of Pilot Knob Road and contains 450 acres. The Planning Commission reviewed the draft AUAR and recommended forwarding it to the Council for review. After Council approval, the AUAR is sent to various agencies for a 30-day review. The final AUAR could be adopted by Council in early Spring. Ms. Sherri Buss, of Bonestroo stated a major issue will be storm water management. The second issue will be the number of crossings proposed across the river. The agencies felt there are too many crossings. The design for the bridge will have to consider the least amount of impact to the river. Councilmember Fitch noted one of the proposed businesses is a gas station and it seemed that created some problems. Ms. Buss felt the plans will have to show how the mitigation for that will be handled. City Engineer Mann stated staffhas spoken with the agencies and they are willing to work with staff as long as it is shown there is a way to protect the trout stream. This is the first project of its kind with the agencies' new rules next to this high a quality of water body. Infiltration devices will have to be built. In some cases there will have to be filtration systems. It will put a burden on staff Council Minutes (Regular) January 20,2004 Page 4 and developers how to do this and also consider long term maintenance, how to pay for it, and what if these new kinds of systems don't work as intended, will it be the city's or the developer's responsibility. Councilmember Fogarty asked about the different districts. The commercial district lists housing on the upper floors, and she thought that was reserved for the flex and mixed-use district. Community Development Director Carroll replied staff is receptive to having second story housing in some portions of the commercial district. The likelihood developers will do that is minimal. Staff is trying to focus second story housing around the town square. Councilmember Fogarty noted the AUAR advised having a transit center in the area. She did not foresee mass transit coming in the near future and wondered about setting land aside for that purpose. Ms. Buss replied that is a standard recommendation by the traffic engineer. If transit service becomes available, he recommends a place for it be available. Community Development Director Carroll stated staffhas discussed the Cedar A venue transit way with the County. At some point it might be feasible to have busses come down Cedar Avenue and take a left on Hwy 50 into Farmington, then go north on Pilot Knob and cut over to Cedar Avenue. That is probably a number of years away, but it is not too early to begin thinking of that. Ms. Buss stated this area would have the density for that type of amenity. Councilmember Fitch noted the Chamber has been active in trying to get some type of transit to Farmington. Staff stated with the new development and the industrial park, several employers might appreciate having mass transit nearby. MOTION by Fitch, second by Soderberg to approve the draft AUAR for the Spruce Street Area. APIF, MOTION CARRIED h) Approve 2004 CDBG Application - Community Development Every year the federal government gives money to the counties and the counties pass it on to the cities as Community Development Block Grants. Staff brought options for using the money to the HRA, and the HRA provided recommendations to the Council. The money can be used for redeveloping a slum or blighted area, or for creating or improving housing for individuals with low to moderate income, or for creating jobs that pay wages within certain ranges. At the HRA meeting staff thought there would be $55,000 available. However, based on the 2000 census the government is reallocating the money based on population increases. This has increased the amount of money coming to Farmington. Farmington will now receive $64-65,000. The HRA recommended the money be used for: 1. $5,000 for costs related to the redevelopment of a parcel of property located at the southeast corner of Main and Fourth Streets. The property has not been developed due to potential pollution problems. There is a party interested in the lot and is willing to pursue this through various governmental levels. The HRA can acquire the property at market value, which they are willing to do as long as there is someone who can take immediate possession of the property. The Council Minutes (Regular) January 20, 2004 Page 5 $5,000 could be used to hire consultants to determine the nature of the contamination, to remedy the problem, and the cost of clean-up. 2. There has been a problem with rear access to the Exchange Bank building and surrounding buildings. The addition on the back of the Riste building is preventing access to those buildings. Staffhas spoken with the owner about demolishing that portion of the building and reconstructing the back wall to enable trucks to back in from 2nd Street to make deliveries. $20,000 could be used for the demolition of the back of the Riste building or the whole building. If the building can be used, the money could also be used for rehabilitation. The back sides ofthe buildings that face 3rd Street could be improved, such as paving gravel parking areas and repairing stairways. The HRA had recommended $10,000, but as there is an additional amount of money, staff recommended $20,000. 3. The HRA recommended that $40,000 be returned to the CDA for a housing rehabilitation program for Farmington residents. Farmington has done this in the past and that money is almost used up. There are two types of loans. One is a deferred loan, where the CDA would loan the money to homeowners, they would not have to make installment payments, it would not accrue interest, and when the home is sold they would be required to pay back the loan out of the sale proceeds. The other type ofloan is an installment loan with a 3% interest rate and owners would have to make installment payments. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty adopting RESOLUTION R7-04 approving the city's application for Program Year 2004 Community Development Block Grant funding. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Soderberg: He attended the Fire Department's Annual Dinner/Awards Banquet. At the banquet, the State Fire Marshal stated as people get older, they have regrets about not spending enough time with their family. That goes for anyone involved in public safety. We have a volunteer Fire Department that does a wonderful job as evidenced by another letter of appreciation. Councilmember Soderberg stated he appreciated them and their families' support in what they do to help keep the community safe. Councilmember Fitch: He also attended, and it was great to see a group from young to old. They do a great job and the money given to the cataract association each Council Minutes (Regular) January 20, 2004 Page 6 year is well spent. He received some calls on the Meadowview boardwalk and the fact there was talk about removing the observation deck and that was not part of the motion. That is still in the master plan. Another question was about the cost and limiting the amount of money expended. He stated devotion is like our wedding vows for better or worse, richer or poorer, to death do us part. Then there is leadership. People who take on a thankless job and people ask why would you do that. That person puts a happy face on, moves fOlWard, enlists the talents as well as the respect of their peers to get the job done and treats everyone in an equal manner. That is his feeling about Dan Siebenaler and the fine job that he performed for the city. He thanked Interim City Administrator Siebenaler for his commitment and devotion to the city and the citizens in getting the job done. He asked Interim City Administrator Siebenaler to introduce City Administrator Urbia at the next Council meeting. Councilmember Cordes: Also thanked Interim City Administrator Siebenaler. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty to adjourn at 8:04 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, /0"" (yJL~-" J?7det2J (/ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant