Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.15.02 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR July 15, 2002 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, Soderberg, Strachan, Verch None Joel Jamnik, City Attorney; Ed Shukle, City Administrator; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Kevin Carroll, Community Development Director; Dan Siebenaler, Police Chief; Jim Bell, Parks and Recreation Director; Lee Mann, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Karen Finstuen, Administrative Services Manager; Lee Smick, Planning Coordinator; Brenda Wendlandt, Human Resources Manager; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Sherry Buss, David Pritzlaff, Dan McCarthy, Michael Bussion, Dave Selegren, Don Patton, Larry Frank 4. APPROVE AGENDA Councilmembers Cordes and Verch pulled item 7a) Council Minutes (7/1/02 Regular) to abstain from voting as they were absent from that meeting. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Cordes to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mr. Michael Bussian, 1316 Fairview Lane, spoke regarding the relocation and new construction of a grandstand on the fairgrounds and a steel fence being built behind the residents on Heritage Way and Fairview Lane. He brought a petition signed by the residents opposing the location of the grandstand and the steel fence. He will also present the petition to the Fair Board. Mayor Ristow stated he has talked to Mr. Jim Frost, Administrator of the Fairgrounds, who agreed to have a meeting with the residents on July 16, 2002 at 6:00 p.m., to discuss the situation. Councilmember Soderberg stated this is something the City should be concerned about. With the relocation of the grandstand, it takes up parking at the south end of the fairgrounds and will discourage use ofthe south entrance, which will drive traffic to the north and have an impact on Ash Street. Mr. David Pritzlaff, 20255 Akin Road, stated he has been working on the culvert in his front yard. He stated Chuck, involved with the Akin Road Project, and Matt Stordahl, Engineering, have worked with him and guided him through the project. City Engineer Mann called him at the end ofthe project to see ifhe had any questions. Mr. Pritzlaff thanked them for their assistance. Council Minutes (Regular) July 15, 2002 Page 2 Mr. Pritzlaff stated he is amazed at how much the traffic has been reduced on Akin Road because of a detour sign placed on Pilot Knob Road due to the culvert project. He would like to have a sign placed on Pilot Knob Road pointing south towards Farmington. As Akin Road will be closed for a month, he feels this is a good chance to educate people on using a different route to Farmington other than Akin Road. Mayor Ristow stated by the time traffic reaches the turn off for Akin Road, they are already in Farmington. A sign indicating Farmington straight ahead may confuse traffic from out oftown. Council suggested having the sign read "Downtown Farmington." City Engineer Mann will research the request and respond. 7. CONSENT AGENDA 7a) Council Minutes (7/1/02 Regular). MOTION by Strachan, second by Soderberg approving Council Minutes (7/1/02 Regular). Voting for: Ristow, Soderberg, Strachan. Abstain: Cordes, Verch. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Strachan to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: b) Adopted RESOLUTION R58-02 Accepting Donation - Parks and Recreation c) Adopted RESOLUTION R59-02 Set Assessment Hearing Date - 3rd Street Overlay Project - Engineering d) Approved Goals Program - Administration e) Approved Mission Statement - Administration t) Approved School and Conference - Administration g) Approved Bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Customer Service Response Report - Administration The City has adopted a customer service satisfaction program. This program is designed to measure the level of customer satisfaction during service-related interactions. Contacts are documented in terms of complaint type, referring department, priority of service request and service outcomes. A report for January - March 2002 was presented to Council. On average, 90% of citizen requests for service are handled and addressed within a 1-3 day period. In terms of core customer service skills, City staff have achieved an impressive 100% rating in courteous and helpful service and 99% in prompt service. Overall, a summary rating of 98% over the three month period for how personally satisfied a resident was with a City service response is a very respectable response ratio. b) Building Permit Report - Community Development During the second quarter of 2002, the City issued new residential building permits for 84 single-family homes and 88 owner-occupied townhouse units for a total of 172 new housing units. For the first half of 2002 the city issued permits for a total of 285 new owner-occupied housing units. Council Minutes (Regular) July 15, 2002 Page 3 c) Adopt Resolution - Authorize Commencement of AUAR Process - Community Development Newland Communities is preparing to develop the Seed/Genstar property located east of the City's boundary. A form of environmental review is an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). The AUAR needs to include a land use plan, a public facilities plan, an implementation plan, an analysis of the proposed development's impacts on the environment, and a mitigation plan. A responsible government unit is required to verify the accuracy of the environmental documents and comply with the environmental review processes. As the property will be annexed into the City in the near future, the City would like to be the RGU for the AUAR process. The Empire Town Board met July 9, 2002 and voted to consent to Farmington being the RGU. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Verch adopting RESOLUTION R60-02 ordering the environmental review of the area known as the Seed/Genstar Orderly Annexation Area consistent with the intents and purposes of the Rules of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board under the provisions for Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). d) Adopt Ordinance - Shoreland - Community Development The City proposes to amend Section 10-6-18 of the Farmington City Code: Shoreland Ordinance, and the following sections need to be renumbered. Definitions will also be added to Section 10-2-1 pertaining to the Shoreland Ordinance. The MPCA and the DNR have required the City prepare and adopt a Shoreland Ordinance because the City is located within the Vermillion River Watershed. The ordinance preserves and enhances the quality of surface waters. The ordinance applies to any land within 300 feet from the top of the bank of DNR-protected watercourse. The Shoreland Ordinance looks at standardizing lot sizes and setbacks along the river. For the Vermillion River, there is currently a 100-foot setback from the top of the bank for wetland protection. This setback was carried over to the Shoreland Ordinance requirements. MOTION by Strachan, second by Cordes adopting ORDINANCE 002-477 amending Section 10-6-18: Shoreland Ordinance, renumbering Section 10-6-18: Manufactured Homes, Section 10-6-19: Industrial Park Design Standards, Section 10-6-20: Spruce Street Commercial Design Standards, Section 10-6-21: Business Park Design Standards, and Section 10-6-22: Site Plan Review and adding definitions to Section 10-2-1 pertaining to the Shoreland Ordinance. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. e) Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment/Rezone Update for Properties Located at 213 8th Street, 301 Main Street, 305 Main Street - Community Development At the May 6, 2002 City Council Meeting Council decided to table any action with regard to the properties located at the above addresses to allow staff to have follow-up discussions with the homeowners concerning the proposed rezoning of their respective properties. For the property located at 213 8th Street - staff recommended amending the 2020 Comprehensive Plan from Institutional to Low/Medium Residential. Staff also recommended the property be rezoned from R-l (Low Density) to R-2 (Low/Medium Density Residential). Council Minutes (Regular) July 15, 2002 Page 4 Regarding 301 and 305 Main Street, staff recommended rezoning both properties from the existing R-2 (Low/Medium) Zoning District to the R- T (Residential Transition) District. The proposed R-T designation would allow single-family uses to continue as a permitted use, but would also allow multi-family uses with conditional permit approval. MOTION by Cordes, second by Verch adopting RESOLUTION R61-02 amending the Comprehensive Land Use Map for the property located at 213 8th Street from Institutional to Low/Medium Residential. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Cordes adopting ORDINANCE 002-478 rezoning properties located at 213 8th Street from R-1 to R-2, and 301 and 305 Main Street from R-2 to R- T. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. f) Aquila Communication - Administration A letter was received from Aquila, formerly People's Natural Gas, stating their Rosemount office will be closed to walk-in service effective August 3, 2002. g) NPDES Phase II League of Minnesota Cities Guide Plan Participation - Engineering Farmington, along with other cities in the state, is required to submit a permit application as part ofthe National Pollutant discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, Phase II. The LMC is proposing that the cities get together to fund the creation of a guide plan that would be used as a base for the permit that needs to be submitted. Farmington will need to submit a permit application that outlines a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program addressing the reduction or elimination of pollutant discharges to the City's storm water system. The program will include implementation of various "Best Management Practices," ordinance controls, monitoring, and community education. The cost to participate in the preparation ofthe guide plan is estimated to be $5,000. MOTION by Verch, second by Soderberg approving the City's participation in the LMC Guide Plan preparation to be used in preparing the City's permit application for the NPDES Phase II requirement. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. h) June 2002 Financial Report - Finance The Financial Report as of June 30, 2002 was presented to Council. Under revenues, licenses and permits are 89% of budget as of June 30. This is a significant increase in the number of building permits and the valuation increase. Last year was at 52% as of June 30. The City is at 42.61 % of the general fund revenues budget, compared with 20% last year. The City is at 42.75% of the general fund expenditure budget. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) Adopt Resolution - Middle Creek East Preliminary Plat - Community Development DR Horton and Arcon Development jointly propose to plat 185 lots on 74.7 acres located east of CSAH 31 and Middle Creek I SI, 3 rd and 4th Additions. They are proposing 185 townhome units. On May 20, 2002 the Council tabled the Council Minutes (Regular) July 15, 2002 Page 5 preliminary plat due to an issue regarding the width of the proposed 203rd Street not meeting City standards. The City Attorney has had several discussions with the title company, the City, the developer and Mr. McCarthy who lives next to the 203rd Street right-of-way. They discussed the issues of assisting and seeing a standard roadway section be implemented in the area, and to assist Mr. McCarthy with the possibility of relocating his home. The title company, developer, and the City want to settle all potential claims with Mr. McCarthy for a specified dollar amount that would allow him to relocate his home outside of the City's 203rd Street easement. The City Attorney has recommended that the development be allowed to proceed at the preliminary plat stage due to these discussions and also the construction of203rd Street would be at the standard width requirement of32 feet. At the July 9,2002 Planning Commission meeting, the commission stated they would not object to the plat if an agreement could be reached and the street could be constructed at the standard width. The plat contains 4 units. A 6.7-acre park is platted to the south. The City is requesting an access agreement for an access from the north-south roadway (Eastview Avenue). The plat is contingent upon the following: 1. Constructing 203rd Street to full-width in accordance with city standards provided a settlement agreement is reached concerning the McCarthy house/easement. 2. Complying with the requirements stated in the May 8, 2002 memo from Jim Bell, Parks and Recreation Director. Mr. Dave Selegren, attorney for Arcon and DR Horton, stated they appreciate the efforts of the City in trying to resolve the issues ofthe road design, when it can be constructed, and its impact on Mr. McCarthy. However, there is a City easement that has been there for quite some time. They are prepared to build the road any way the City would like to have it built. They will continue the discussions with the City Attorney and City staff, but they believe their contribution is sufficient to build the road. Arcon and DR Horton are not prepared to write a check to Mr. McCarthy. They feel the issue is between the City and Mr. McCarthy. They will build the road when the City says it is time to build it at their cost. They agree with conditioning the plat on the construction of the road. They object to linking approval of the plat to a settlement with Mr. McCarthy. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Cordes adopting RESOLUTION R62-02 approving the Middle Creek East Preliminary Plat contingent on constructing 203rd Street to full-width City standards, provided a settlement agreement is reached with Mr. McCarthy; and complying with the requirements stated in the May 8, 2002 memo from the Parks and Recreation Director. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 12. NEW BUSINESS Council Minutes (Regular) July 15, 2002 Page 6 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Verch: Regarding Akin Road, he asked if a sign could be installed on Pilot Knob indicating a truck route to Hwy 50. Some residents called him regarding the house at 408 Spruce Street. It was supposed to be burned down for fire training, but it was bulldozed instead, and then the pile of wood was burned. City Administrator Shukle stated the Fire Chief suggested it be done that way because of wind conditions. Councilmember Verch asked why it was burned in town instead of hauling the debris away? Administrator Shukle stated the Fire Chief suggested it be done that way and worked with the developer, Colin Garvey. Councilmember Verch stated there are citizens that are upset with burning it in town. Mayor Ristow suggested Councilmember Verch discuss the issue with the Fire Chief. City Administrator Shukle: There will be a TH3 Access Management Open House on July 24, conducted by the Department of Transportation. Police Chief Siebenaler: The Police Department has moved to 195th Street and Pilot Knob Road. He is aware some residents in the downtown area are concerned they will not see as much police presence. He wanted to assure the downtown residents the police will always be there for them. There will be no change in response time. Mayor Ristow: A meeting will be held with Sunnyside and Chateau Manor residents on July 16 regarding the fairground's fence. A meeting will be held July 17 with the Castle Rock Town Board on Ash Street. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Cordes, second by Strachan to adjourn at 8:34 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, " ,<" .. ... /;;%:' c7'~~~ ci:. );l 7...,a;6~.,. Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant