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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.04.21 Council Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 4, 2021 1. Call to Order Administrator McKnight called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. McKnight administered the oath of office to Mayor Joshua Hoyt, Councilmember Steve Wilson and Councilmember Katie Porter. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Hoyt led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Roll Call Present-Hoyt, Bernhjelm, Porter and Wilson Absent-None Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Community Development Director Kienberger, Finance Director Malecha, Police Chief Rutherford and Attorney Jamnik. 4. Agenda Motion by Wilson, second by Porter, to approve the agenda as amended adding item 12D-a closed session in regards to updating the city administrator's 2020 performance evaluation. APIF, motion carried. 5. Announcements/Commendations a) City Council Vacancy and Appointment Administrator McKnight shared that with the election of Joshua Hoyt to the position of mayor, a vacancy exits on the city council. There are two years remaining on the city council term that will run through December 31, 2022. The city council decided upon an application process to fill the vacancy. Eight residents applied for the vacant position and were interviewed by the city council in December 2020. Four candidates were brought back for a second interview and from that group the city council has selected Joy Pearson to fill the city council vacancy. January 4, 2021 Minutes - 1- Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Porter, to declare a vacancy on the city council with the election of Joshua Hoyt to the position of mayor and appoint Joy Pearson to the city council position with a term that will run through December 31, 2022. APIF, motion carried. 6. Citizen Comments None 7. Consent Agenda Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Wilson, to approve the consent agenda: a) Approve Minutes of the December 7, 2020 City Council Meeting-Administration b) Approve Minutes of the December 14, 2020 City Council Work Session-Administration c) Approve Resignation/Retirement Parks-Administration d) Acknowledge Annual Review of the Open Meeting Law-Administration e) Acknowledge Annual Report of City Council, Boards and Commissions Attendance- Community Development f) Adopt Resolution R01-2020 Approving the 2021 CDBG Allocation Recommendation- Community Development g) Approve Bills-Finance APIF, motion carried. 8. Public Hearings None 9. Award of Contract None 10. Petitions, Requests and Communications None 11. Unfinished Business None 12. New Business a) Annual Organizational Matters January 4, 2021 Minutes -2- Mayor Hoyt discussed with the city council annual organizational matters and appointments to various boards. Motion by Wilson, second by Bernhjelm, to adopt Resolution R02-2021 approving annual organizational matters. APIF, motion carried. 1) Acting Mayor-City Council By-Laws provide that an Acting Mayor be appointed on a rotating basis in the absence of the mayor. Councilmember Bernhjelm, subject to the highest number of votes in the 2018 General Election and serving the third year of her term, is eligible for appointment as Acting Mayor. 2) That the Dakota County Tribune be designated as the official publication from January 6, 2020 through December 31, 2021. 3) Continue the agreement for legal services with Campbell Knutson,Joel Jamnik as city attorney for 2021. 4) That Old National Bank of Farmington, Oppenheimer and Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets and Castle Rock Bank be designated as the Official Depositories from January 4, 2021 through December 31, 2021. 5) That all sworn personnel in the Farmington Police Department be designated as process servers for calendar year 2021. 6) Approve a $1,000,000 Faithful Performance bond for the city clerk. 7) Ordinance No. 2020-752 Establishing Fees and Charges for licenses and permits for 2021 as adopted on November 16, 2020. 8) Appointments to Boards and Commissions-Candidates will be interviewed on January 11 and 19, 2021 and appointments will be made on January 19, 2021. 9) Appoint Mayor Hoyt to serve on the Economic Development Authority through December 31, 2024. 10)Appoint Councilmember Wilson as the primary and Councilmember Pearson as the alternate representatives to the ALF Ambulance Board. 11) Appoint Councilmember Porter as the primary and Councilmember Bernhjelm as the alternate to the Dakota Communications Center Board of Directors through December 31, 2022. January 4, 2021 Minutes -3- 12)Appoint Councilmember Pearson as the city's representative to the CEEF Committee. 13)Appoint Councilmember Bernhjelm, Administrator McKnight and a Planning Commission member of their choice to the Empire/Farmington Planning Advisory Committee. 14)Appoint Councilmember Wilson, Administrator McKnight and a Planning Commission member of their choice to the Castle Rock/Farmington Discussion Group. 15)Appoint Mayor Hoyt, Administrator McKnight and a Planning Commission member of their choice to the Eureka/Farmington Planning Advisory Committee. 16)Appoint Councilmembers Bernhjelm and Wilson to the MUSA Review Committee. 17)Appoint Councilmember Bernhjelm and Councilmember Porter to the Liquor Operations Committee. 18)Appoint Councilmembers Bernhjelm and Pearson to the Farmington Intergovernmental Committee. 19)Appoint Mayor Hoyt as the primary and Councilmember Porter as the alternate to the Dakota Broadband Board. 20)Appoint Peter Gilbertson as Primary and David McKnight as alternate to the Dakota Broadband Board Executive Committee. 21)Appoint Human Resources Director Jennifer Gabbard as Director and Jim Constantineau as the alternate to LOGIS for 2021. 22)Appoint by Resolution R02-2021 David McKnight as the Responsible Authority for data practices and the Human Resources Director as Data Practices Compliance Officer and Gary Rutherford as Responsible Authority for law enforcement for 2021. 23)Approve the City Council By-Laws as amended. 24)Approve the City Council Policies as presented. b) Targeted Neighborhood Picketing Ordinance Administrator McKnight reviewed a draft targeted picketing ordinance with the city council. This issue was discussed in detail at the November 12, 2020 city council work session at which time the city council expressed an interest in considering this type of ordinance in Farmington. January 4, 2021 Minutes -4- Since the civil unrest in 2020, a number of cities have considered this type or ordinance. At the November 12, 2020 work session, Police Chief Rutherford shared that an individual's home is their safe space. This type of picketing can be the source of significant inconvenience to a neighborhood. Chief Rutherford shared a growing number of communities have this type of ordinance in place. This is a tool for the department to use if needed. Councilmember Porter asked if we expect any issues in the spring. Rutherford stated he does not anticipate anything occurring in Farmington, but the possibility exists. This ordinance is about being prepared. Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Porter, to adopt Ordinance 2021-753 and the summary ordinance for publication. APIF, motion carried. c) Mayoral Compensation Mayor Hoyt shared that he would like to see the mayoral salary reduced to the same level as the city councilmembers. Currently the annual mayor salary is$8,040 and the city council salary is $7,020. He believes all five councilmembers are equals and should be compensated that way. This is a personal decision that only affects him and he is looking for city council support on this issue. State statute offers two opportunities for the city council to fix their salaries. Both options are included in Minnesota Statute 415.11. The two options include- The city council may change the salary of the mayor and/or city council at any time but it would not take effect until after the next succeeding municipal election. ✓ The city council may change the salary of the mayor and/or city council by ordinance to take effect before the next succeeding municipal election that reduces the salaries of the members of the governing body. The ordinance shall be in effect for 12 months, unless another period of time is specified in the ordinance, after which the salary of the members reverts to the salary in effect immediately before the ordinance was enacted. Councilmember Bernhjelm shared that the mayoral position does have additional responsibilities and does not want to dismiss those duties. She supports the request of the mayor but wanted to note for the community the importance of the leadership position. The city council consensus was to support this request for twelve months at this time. Attorney Jamnik stated that a change in ordinance requires posting on our website so this issue will be brought back for consideration at the January 19, 2021 meeting. January 4, 2021 Minutes -5- 13. City Council Roundtable Bern hjelm-Welcome the three new city councilmembers and looks forward to continue to get to know them. Pearson-Thanked the city council for the appointment, she is honored to serve in this position. Porter-She is grateful to the voters for selecting her to serve in this position. Wilson-Thanked the police department for their work on Toys for Town, thanked Watch Me Create for their work on Toys for Town, congratulated Randy Distad on his upcoming retirement, thanked the city administrator for his work during the city council transition, he is excited about the new city council, thanked the voters for selecting him and his family for supporting him. McKnight-Thanked the new city councilmembers for their time over the last month and welcomed them to the city. Kienberger-Shared that city staff is ready to assist the new members with any issues they have. Thanked those who participated in the Holiday ribbon cutting last week. Hoyt-Congratulated his peers on the new city council, the city got a lot done during COVID in 2020, noted the growth in Toys for Town,thanked those involved with Spirit of Giving and the downtown decorations, thanked his family for their support,thanked the residents for their support, it is an honor to serve and encouraged residents to support local businesses, organizations and school groups. 14. Closed Session Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Wilson, to go into closed session as allowed by Minnesota Statute 13D.05 to update the 2020 performance evaluation of the city administrator. APIF, motion carried. Present in the closed session were all five city councilmembers, the city administrator and the city attorney. Those closed session began at 7:38 p.m. 15. Adjourn Motion by Porter, second by Pearson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 p.m. APIF, motion carried. January 4, 2021 Minutes -6- Respectfully Submitted D4wa P. "0e David McKnight, City Administrator January 4,2021 Minutes -7-