HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.05.04 Council Minutes
COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR
April 5, 2004
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ristow at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Also Present:
Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg
None
Joel Jamnik, City Attorney; David Urbia, City Administrator;
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; Cynthia
Muller, Executive Assistant
Audience:
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Councilmember Soderberg pulled item 7e) Adopt Resolution Supporting Regional Park
for action following the presentation on the Regional Park.
Mayor Ristow pulled item 7a) Council Minutes (3/15/04 Regular) to abstain.
MOTION by Cordes, second by Soderberg to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) Dakota County Regional Park Presentation
Mr. Steve Sullivan, Dakota County Parks Director gave a presentation regarding a
future Regional Park in Empire Township. Dakota County is part of the Regional
Park System which was established in 1973. The Regional Park system is made
up of 10 agencies and provides natural resource based parks to the metro area.
Recreation opportunities provided are picnicking, swimming, hiking, and boating.
Dakota County Regional Parks serve about 700,000 people per year. Due to the
high growth in the FarmingtonlLakeville area, there was a void in this area for
regional parks. A wonderful aspect to Empire is there are only a few property
owners and they are interested in selling. The County Board considered 3
options:
1. It should all be regional park.
2. No need for a regional park and have the DNR manage as a wildlife area.
3. Partnership with surrounding organizations.
Council Minutes (Regular)
April 5, 2004
Page 2
The County Board recommended the partnership. The Board directed County
staff to prepare a Master Plan for the park area. Both Farmington and Lakeville
are extending trails into Empire Township along the Vermillion River, which are
consistent with the Regional Park. The process is to meet with potential
collaborators to see ifthere is a management concept for a partnership and then to
establish boundaries for the park. Once this is done, funds can be obtained
through the Met Council. The park will be located south of CR 42, down
Biscayne Avenue to CR 66. It is just north of the Vermillion River. The entrance
would probably come off Annette Avenue from 1 70th Street. A draft Master Plan
will be presented to the County Board within 3 months.
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Soderberg to adopt RESOLUTION R27-04
supporting the location of a new regional park in Empire Township. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
Staff noted the park will be 3 miles from downtown Farmington and accessible to
the trail system.
6. CITIZEN COMMENTS
7. CONSENT AGENDA
a) MOTION by Cordes, second by Soderberg approving Council Minutes (3/15/04
Regular). Voting for: Cordes, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg. Abstain: Ristow.
MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Cordes to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
b) Approved Temporary On-Sale Liquor License - Administration
c) Adopted RESOLUTION R25-04 Approving Gambling Event Permit-
Administration
d) Adopted RESOLUTION R26-04 Approving Gambling Premise Permit -
Administration
f) Adopted RESOLUTION R28-04 Accepting Donation - Parks and Recreation
g) Adopted RESOLUTION R29-04 - 2004 Seal Coat Project Joint Powers
Agreement - Engineering
h) Approved Arrangement for Watering of Flower Baskets - Parks and Recreation
i) Approved Capital Outla~ Outdoor Pool - Parks and Recreation
j) Received Information 4t Quarter/Annual Customer Service Response Report-
Administration
Mayor Ristow thanked Administrative Services Director Shadick for this report
which was over 90% in customer satisfaction. He also thanked City
Administrator Urbia for the staff being customer service oriented.
k) Approved Parking Regulations - 5th Street - Engineering
1) Approved Reimbursement - 203rd Street Lift Station Removal- Engineering
m) Approved Reimbursement - Lake Julia Waterway Project - Engineering
n) Approved Assessment Agreement - 300 1 st Street - Engineering
Council Minutes (Regular)
April 5, 2004
Page 3
0) Adopted RESOLUTION R30-04 Setting Bid Date - Main Street Project Phase 2
- Engineering
p) Approved 2004 Street Sweeping Contract - Engineering
q) Approved Bills
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
a) City Hall Architectural Firm - Administration
On January 5,2004 Council selected a site for a new City Hall. Requests for
Proposals were distributed and 16 responses were received. Six firms were
interviewed. Staff recommended Wold Architects. Staff proposed detailing the
cost of studying facility information with a completion date of June to be
presented with the CIP. The cost for this would be $8,000 which would be
credited upon approval and notice to begin the project. In June, Council will
make a decision whether to continue with a design of the building.
Councilmember Fitch asked if this would be similar to a feasibility study.
Attorney Jamnik replied it would. Councilmember Fitch then asked about the
35,000 sq. ft. He recalled it was 26,000 sq. ft. Staff replied the additional space
would be used for a liquor store, and as the City Hall needs grew, the liquor store
would move out and that space would be available for City Hall.
Councilmember Cordes asked if this report was directed to the site on Spruce
Street or could it be used in a different area. Staffwill check with Wold
Architects. Space needs could be used anywhere.
Councilmember Soderberg asked if the information would be as indepth as a
feasibility study. Attorney Jamnik replied there is a great variation in the level of
detail for feasibility reports. Most are fairly detailed, but do not go to the plans
and specifications stage. If Council determines to go ahead with the project, the
architect would draw up actual plans. Councilmember Soderberg stated he
assumed it would be site specific as the Council has made a determination for the
3rd and Spruce Street site. Attorney Jamnik stated the architect is likely to draft
the space needs and a possible layout to fit on the identified site. If you change
the site, you may have more flexibility to offer the architect to change those plans
to go with a one-story building versus two or three stories.
MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fitch to enter into a contract with Wold
Architects to assist the city with further refinement of space needs and site
development in order to determine the estimated costs and construction schedule
for the proposed City Hall project for a total fixed fee of $8,000. This
information is needed for inclusion in the City's Capital Improvement Program
Council Minutes (Regular)
April 5, 2004
Page 4
scheduled to be completed in June 2004. This $8,000 would be credited towards
the project upon approval and notice to begin the project. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Main Street Project - Hwy 3 Considerations - Engineering
A Coffee with the Council was held with downtown business owners to discuss
closing Main Street at Hwy 3. Based on the information received, staff felt there
were issues that needed further review. Some issues have to do with access to a
couple of businesses that have a lot of truck traffic, the future reconstruction of
Elm Street, and the possible opening of other streets in the area. Staff suggested
at some time in the future Council authorize a study of the downtown area in
regards to access and traffic issues.
b) Adopt Resolution - Minnesota Zoo Bonding Bill Request - Administration
At the last Council Meeting the Council had some concerns with the information
and how other areas would be affected as far as funding. Councilmember Fogarty
noted the Governor has already consented to $32 million for funding. Council
agreed to not take any action.
12. NEW BUSINESS
13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Councilmember Fogarty: At the end of the year Council receives an attendance
record for Board and Commission members. As Council is appointed to some
committees she would like staffto develop an attendance list for committees Council is
appointed to. Mayor Ristow agreed this is a great idea.
Councilmember Soderberg: He received an excellent letter regarding the Fire
Department and the good work they do. There was a lot of news in the Pioneer Press
regarding Farmington including the RFP for the McVicker lot. There will be a Council
Workshop April 6.
Councilmember Fitch: Stated he had a complaint for the citizens. He noticed by a
cardboard recycling bin, someone overnight had dumped a truckload of cardboard outside
of the cage. A dedicated city employee, who in our tight budget, had to take an hour and
a half to repack cardboard into an empty container he brought. Councilmember Fitch
found it unconscionable that we have people in this city that would be that reckless. We
provide these as a service to the citizens in order to do a better job of recycling. He also
noticed the container on Hwy 3 contained everything from beer cans to garbage bags to
cardboard on the outside. People are dumping things that should not be dumped in them
Council Minutes (Regular)
April 5, 2004
Page 5
and all around them. A little restraint and responsibility by our citizens would be
warranted.
City Administrator Urbia: The Chamber's Volunteer Recognition Dinner will be held
April 22. Coffee with the Council is April 15 and the next on the list to attend are
Councilmember Cordes and Mayor Ristow. They both will be available to attend. A
topic has to be determined. Charter Communications and the cable commission have a
tentative solution to the outage. The franchise requires a refund of the amount oftime the
digital cable service was out. There were a large number of users affected. Charter is
proposing to offer 3 free pay-per-view movie passes. If a resident would prefer the
refund, they can call Charter to request it. At this time, this is a tentative solution.
Parks and Recreation
Director Distad: Showed Council the new Adopt-A-Park sign. There are six
organizations that have adopted six parks. There are 20 parks, so the city is still looking
for more organizations. The name of the organization is placed on the sign. It is a 2-year
commitment. Staffis also looking for volunteers for the Adopt-A-Pond program.
Mayor Ristow:
There will be a MUSA Review Committee meeting April 7.
14. ADJOURN
MOTION by Cordes, second by Soderberg to adjourn at 7:48 p.m. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
~~?r?~
C7
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant