Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.21.03 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR April 21, 2003 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: Audience: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg None Joel Jamnik, City Attorney; Ed Shukle, City Administrator; Robin Roland, Finance Director; 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; Ken Kuchera, Fire Chief; Ken Lewis, Building Official; John Powers, Fire Marshal; Joe Fischbach, Human Resources/Payroll Specialist Robin Hanson, Randy Oswald, Jeff Krueger, Cheryl Retterath 4. APPROVE AGENDA Councilmember Soderberg pulled item 7i) for discussion. Councilmember Cordes pulled item 7a) to abstain and item 7h) for discussion. Councilmember Fitch pulled item 7c) for discussion. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Introduce Promoted Employee - Human Resources Mr. Joe Fischbach was introduced as the new Human Resources/Payroll Specialist. b) Certificate of Appreciation - Jim Bell Mr. Jim Bell received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Dakota County Solid Waste Advisory Commission. c) Proclaim Heritage Preservation Week, May 5-12, 2003 MOTION by Cordes, second by Soderberg proclaiming May 5-12, 2003 as Heritage Preservation Week. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes (Regular) April 21, 2003 Page 2 d) Proclaim Arson Awareness Week, May 4-10, 2003 MOTION by Fogarty, second by Cordes proclaiming May 4-10, 2003 as Arson Awareness Week. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Fitch, second by Soderberg to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: b) Approved Charleswood Development Park Name - Parks and Recreation d) Approved Capital Outlay - Parks and Recreation e) Received Information Capital Outlay - Parks and Recreation f) Authorized Capital Outlay - Police g) Adopted RESOLUTION R27-03 Calling for Bond Sale - Finance j) Approved Fire Department Medical Direction Agreement - Administration k) Approved Assignment of City's Right of First Refusal/McCarthy Property - Administration 1) Approved Bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. a) MOTION by Fogarty, second by Soderberg approving Council Minutes (4/7/03 Regular). Voting for: Ristow, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg. Abstain: Cordes. MOTION CARRIED. c) Approve Parks and Recreation Commission Request for Recreational Facilities Task Force - Parks and Recreation The Parks and Recreation Commission was requesting Council direction on forming a Recreational Facilities Task Force. The Task Force would analyze athletic fields and complexes, parks, trails, indoor/outdoor recreational facilities such as an outdoor pool, and a community center. The YMCA has also indicated an interest in coming to Farmington. Councilmember Fitch stated with where we are today, he does not want anyone going into this with a preconceived notion that because there is a task force, a lot of things are going to happen in a short period of time. He suggested the Council and Parks and Recreation Commission meet to discuss ideas before it goes too far. Councilmember Fogarty stated a recreational task force was identified as a goal at the retreat. It is difficult to tell where we are with parks and recreation as a whole until it is analyzed. This is a good way to do that. Councilmember Fitch stated it was number 8 or 9 on the priority list out of 14. Sometimes a Task Force gets ahead ofthe Council as far as what we are thinking. Councilmember Fogarty stated two Councilmembers would be included on the task force. So it would not be getting ahead ofthe Council. The Council would be included. Councilmember Fitch stated we went through this before and met with the Parks and Recreation Commission one or two days before the Council Meeting. This Council Minutes (Regular) April 21, 2003 Page 3 was done several years ago. We met with the Task Force once they had come up with recommendations. He thought it might be beneficial if the Council had input upfront to give an idea of what Council is willing to do. Councilmember Fogarty stated that was six years ago and nothing has been done. Mayor Ristow asked what she meant by nothing had been done. Councilmember Fogarty stated she did not mean nothing had been done in parks, analyzing needs with the Task Force in an overview has not been done since then. Mayor Ristow stated there were things that needed to be upgraded, and Council met with the Parks and Recreation Commission and money was budgeted for upgrading park equipment. Councilmember Fogarty stated she is not discounting that. An overview ofthe entire parks and recreation facilities has not been done in six years and our needs have changed. Councilmember Cordes asked if we are looking at a Master Plan. Staff agreed. Councilmember Cordes then asked if a Master Plan would be done first to analyze the needs. She looks at this as a commission to go ahead and then there would be a referendum. She would like to see the needs laid out first and then put the task force together. Representatives from different community organizations would still be needed for the Master Plan. Staffwas trying to do this inexpensively. A Master Plan could cost $25-30,000 which would be very comprehensive. Councilmember Cordes noted a consultant would be used anyway, and it would be comprehensive for many years. She would like to identify what the committee will do. She stated the city needs to do a Master Plan of some sort to identify needs. Staff stated the last plan was done in 1997 or 1998. Mr. Jim Bell, 201 Maple Street, stated the idea of a Task Force was to get an idea from the public as to what they would like. This Task Force would give the Park and Recreation Commission and the Council an idea of what the residents want. The consultant could cost $25,000, but that would come later once you have the Task Force ideas and the Council meets with the Parks and Recreation Commission. Then it can be discussed whether to hire a consultant. Until that time you have to have public input. Mayor Ristow stated you would put a task force together and then hire a consultant? Mr. Bell replied he would put a task force together, and they would discuss what the needs of the community are. Then the consultant could help with design work, etc. There are a lot of good people in the city that could give good input. Ms. Robin Hanson, 18880 Elgin Avenue, stated she is representing the Farmington Youth Athletic Association. The FY AA feels this is a very important first step. They are committed to volunteering their time to make sure the needs of Farmington today and in the future are met. Mr. Randy Oswald, 19282 Evenston Drive, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, stated the commission has done a lot, but the city is exploding. The commission needs guidance as things are growing so fast. The commission makes recommendations and Council makes the decision. Council Minutes (Regular) April 21, 2003 Page 4 Councilmember Soderberg stated they are looking at an inventory of what we have and a sense of what the community wants. Maybe task force is not the right choice of words. He does not think the purpose is to recommend a big project. Staff stated they are looking to assemble information as to where they are currently, where they need to be in the future, and what it will take to get there. The ultimate decision is up to Council. Councilmember Soderberg felt the request is not unreasonable and it would be a good idea. Mayor Ristow asked Parks and Recreation Director Distad ifhe was recommending this with the consultant at the present time or later on. Staff replied the consultant could take the time to analyze what we currently have in facilities not only in the city but also in the school district. The idea behind the consultant was that they would be hired to do the analysis up front with what we currently have and to look at what the trends are for facilities. School district members would also be included in the task force. MOTION by Fitch, second by Soderberg to approve the Parks and Recreation Commission request for a Recreational Facilities Task Force. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. h) Adopt Ordinance - Fire Code - Community Development i) Adopt Ordinance - Building Code - Community Development Councilmember Cordes stated a few years ago Council discussed 1306. She would like to set a workshop to discuss how they affect the current ordinance, and to obtain more information. Previously when 1306 was discussed she thought she had an understanding of it. There were some issues that came up and her understanding was not how the code read. Mayor Ristow stated he would also like more explanation. He does not want it to be a hardship on existing businesses. Councilmember Soderberg stated he wanted to make sure, as far as 1306, that it would be for new buildings. He would like to see new buildings sprinkled. Fire Marshal Powers stated the new fire and building codes were adopted by the state effective April 1. Without Council action, the city only has the current fire code to enforce. The building code automatically goes into effect April 1 without the fire code portion. Building Official Lewis stated he would like to see a workshop so everyone is informed correctly on 1306. He would like Council to adopt the building code now and set 1306 aside for a workshop. Attorney Jamnik recommended Council adopt the fire code. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty to adopt ORDINANCE 003-488 adopting the Minnesota State Fire code. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes (Regular) April 21, 2003 Page 5 Attorney J amnik recommended Council make a motion amending the ordinance by deleting a partial sentence in section 4-1-1, and deleting paragraph 4-1-2 noting this number is retained for future amendment purposes. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Fogarty adopting ORDINANCE 003-489 adopting the current Minnesota State Building Code with amendments as noted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Staffwill respond to Council regarding setting a workshop. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) March 2003 Financial Report - Finance Under revenues, licenses and permits are 41 % of annual budget with 25% of the year complete. Expenses are less than 20% of budget. b) Approve Youth Scholarship Program - Parks and Recreation The program would be set up to cover registration fees for park and recreation programs for those who cannot afford the fee. The goal would be to raise enough money in the fund so that future scholarships could be funded from the interest earned during the year. Staff did not plan on raising fees to support this program. This would be inclusive for those living within the school district rather than just the city. The applicants would have to prove they are on the hot lunch program. Recently, staff has received more calls inquiring about a scholarship program than in the past. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Cordes approving the Youth Scholarship Program including the dedication of a Scholarship Fund. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. c) Charter Communications - Administration A letter was received from Charter stating they will be renaming their promotional value package for digital customers effective May 8, 2003. d) Set Council/Planning Commission/HRA Industrial Park Lot Workshop Date and Council/Planning Commission Spruce Street Extension Workshop Date- Community Development Staff requested setting a Counci1/Planning CommissionIHRA workshop to discuss the splitting up of the 9.3-acre lot located on the north side of208th Street. A workshop was scheduled for April 30, 2003 at 8:00, following the Council/City Hall Task Force workshop. Staff also requested setting a Council/Planning Commission workshop with the Spruce Street Task Force to discuss preliminary development concepts for the Council Minutes (Regular) April 21, 2003 Page 6 Spruce Street Corridor area. Staff requested May 7, however Councilmembers Cordes and Soderberg were not available on this date. Therefore, Council suggested May 6 or May 5 after the Council meeting. Staffwill check on availability for these two dates. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Parks and Recreation Director Distad: Reminded Council Friday is Arbor Day. There will be a celebration at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Knoll Park. A tree will be planted courtesy of Dakota Electric. Mayor Ristow will be asking students questions regarding trees. Mayor Ristow: He attended the mural dedication on the elevator with the Lion's club. They had a good turnout, and thanked the Lion's Club for the mural. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Cordes, second by Soderberg to adjourn at 8:01 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~h/~~ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant