Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.01.20 Council Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JUNE 1,2020 1. Call to Order Mayor Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Larson led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Roll Call Present-Larson, Bernhjelm, Craig, Donnelly and Hoyt Absent-None Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Community Development Director Kienberger, Planning Manager Wippler, Administrative Assistant Muller and Police Chief Rutherford. 4. Agenda Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Hoyt,to approve the agenda as presented. APIF, motion carried. 5. Announcements/Commendations None 6. Citizen Comments None 7. Consent Agenda Motion by Craig, second by Bernhjelm,to approve the consent agenda as printed: a) Approve Minutes of the May 18, 2020 City Council Meeting-Administration b) Approve Parks and Recreation Commission By-Laws-parks c) Approve Westview Park Basketball Court Surface Improvement Project Contract-Parks d) Approve Seasonal Hiring-Public Works e) Adopt Resolution R30-2020 Approving the Electronic Funds Transfer Policy-Finance f) Approve Authorized Signers for City Depositories-Finance June 1, 2020 Regular Minutes -1- g) Authorize Closing of Deposit Account-Finance h) Approve Bills-Finance 8. Public Hearings None 9. Award of Contract None 10. Petitions, Requests and Communications a) Holiday Station Store Farmington Plat Planning Manager Wippler presented the Holiday Station Store Farmington plat for consideration Gary Thorson, franchisee for Holiday Companies, is requesting approval of the Holiday Station Store Farmington plat. This plat is part of the proposed redevelopment of the property located at 10-8th Street (former Carbones site). Councilmember Bernhjelm stated she was happy to see redevelopment occurring in this area. Councilmember Craig stated that redevelopment is a good thing on Highway 3. Councilmember Hoyt stated it was good to see redevelopment occurring and 9th Street is a part of a plan that encompasses long term visioning. Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Hoyt,to adoption Resolution R28-2020 approving the Holiday Station Store Farmington plat, subject to the following conditions: 1. The satisfaction of all engineering comments related to the construction plans for grading and utilities. 2. A development contract between the application and the City of Farmington shall be executed and security fees and costs shall be paid. Submission of all other documents required under the development contract shall be required. APIF, motion carried. 11. Unfinished Business None June 1, 2020 Regular Minutes -2- 12. New Business a) Temporary Polling Locations and Election Judges for the 2020 Primary and General Elections Administrative Assistant Muller presented information on the possible change of polling places and election judges for 2020 due to the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, some adjustments need to be made for the August Primary and November General Elections for the safety of voters and election judges and to maintain security of the voting process. Minnesota State Statute 20413.175 allows for the change of polling locations due to an emergency. Legislation has also been passed allowing for the re-location of polling locations due to COVID-19 before July 1, 2020. Because of the pandemic, not all of our polling locations may be available depending on the situation on Election Day. In addition, we will not be expecting residents to serve as election judges and will be using city staff. We have enough city staff to cover two polling locations. Therefore, we will be using two of our current polling locations at City Hall and the Rambling River Center and moving the other four polling locations to these two locations as follows: Precincts 1, 4 and 5 will be located at the Rambling River Center Precincts 2, 3 and 6 will be located at City Hall This combination keeps the number of registered voters and the number of past election day voters as even as possible between the two locations. Safety measures will include all staff wearing masks and gloves, disinfecting wipes will be available to constantly clean surfaces and equipment, voters will be asked to wear masks, six-foot distancing will be maintained, and a limited number of voters will be allowed in the room at one time. Each precinct will still have its own epollbook, ballot and ballot counter and each precinct will be balanced separately at the end of the night. To lessen the number of in-person voters, we are encouraging voters to vote at home by absentee ballot. There are several very secure ways voters can obtain a ballot through the mail as shown on our website. All of these changes will be advertised through social media, our website and the county will be mailing PVC cards to registered households. In addition, residents should watch for a flyer coming in the mail in June with information on absentee and early voting, polling location changes,voter pre-registration, candidate filing information and it will include an absentee ballot application. June 1, 2020 Regular Minutes -3- BUDGET IMPACT There will be no charge for the mailing of PVC cards to registered households by the county. The city will be saving approximately$17,000 in election judge wages. Some overtime costs will be incurred with the use of city staff as election judges. The legislature will have grant funding available to cover 80%of the costs associated with promoting absentee voting and preparation of polling locations Councilmember Craig asked for clarification on the timing of communications. Muller stated that PVC cards would go out in July, a city brochure would go out in June and the county will be sending out a mailer. The city will use social media and other forms of communication to educate the public. Councilmember Bernhjelm thanked staff for all of their work on this issue. Administrator McKnight asked if the city is being too cautions. Muller stated she did not think so. With so many unknowns,the city needs to be prepared for August and November while having to make decisions in June. McKnight asked what happens if people decide to not use absentee voting and want to vote in precincts. Muller stated that we track absentee ballot returns each day. If we see that polling places will be busy on Election Day the few weeks prior to that day, the city will educate voters on the availability of absentee voting, early voting and warn people they will likely have to wait in line outside on election day. Motion by Hoyt, second by Bernhjelm,to adopt Resolution R29-2020 approving the temporary relocation of polling places for the 2020 Primary and General Elections and appointing city staff to serve as election judges. APIF, motion carried. b) COVID-19 City Response Update Administrator McKnight presented an update on the city response to the COVID pandemic. McKnight updated the city council on the following items- City Hall opened to the public on June 1, 2020 ✓ City staff all received version two of the COVID Preparedness Plan today. ✓ City staff is on track to get the arena back open in mid-June. User groups must submit their preparedness plans for staff review prior to using the arena. ✓ Staff is working on plans for the Rambling River Center and looking at an opening sometime in July. June 1, 2020 Regular Minutes -4- ✓ Staff is continuing to monitor the 2020 budget and potential impact of any state or federal assistance. ✓ Other city facilities continue to be closed to the public. ✓ Both liquor stores are open at this time. Adjustments to the schedule continue to be made. Recruitment of part-time staff continues to be an issue. Councilmember Hoyt thanked staff for their continued communication and efforts in dealing with the pandemic. 13. City Council Roundtable Bern hjelm-Shared her thoughts on the difficult conversations that are being held in homes due to recent events. Craig-Asked residents to be tolerant and generous with each other. Thanked the police and fire departments of their work over the weekend around the area. Hoyt-Discussed the surreal times we are in today. Asked residents to listen and learn from each other. McKnight-Thanked the police and fire departments for their work over the past week. Kienberger-Discussed the temporary outdoor seating that is occurring in restaurants around the city starting today. Rutherford-Shared his appreciation for the support being shown to the department. Larson-Discussed the difficult conversations being had with children the past week. Asked people to call out the wrong when you see it. 14. Adjourn Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Craig, to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. APIF, motion carried. Respectfully Submitted David McKnight, City Administrator June 1, 2020 Regular Minutes -5-