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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.16.78 Council Minutes MI=S COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR JANCTARY 16, 1978 1. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 7:00 P.M. Present: Mayor Akin, Councilmen. Johnson, Kuchera, McElmury, Whittier Also Present: Administrator Ford and Attorney Gorgos 2. The Mayor then read a short, prepared eulogy to Senator Humphrey. 3. Notion by McElmury, second by Kuchera that the minutes of December 19, 1977 and January 3, 1978 be approved. APIF, motion carried. 4. The council then met briefly with Special Counsel John McBrien in connection with the recent notice of dismissal of annexation action by the Minnesota Municipal Board. It was agreed that this matter had now come to an end and no further action was taken. 5. Dr. John DuBois presented his consultant report concerning the leasing of space atop the municipal water tower for purposes of private antennaes. In general, Dr. DuBois advised the council that they had a highly marketable item with a good location, good elevation and of sound construction. He further advised that that if steps were taken now, future mistakes could be avoided and a substantial income to the city realized in the future. In regard to the immediate request of coopera- tive Power Association to lease space, he made specific recommendations. It was agreed that the City would proceed with negotiations with Cooperative Power Association. 6. Notion by McElmury, second by Johnson that staff be authorized to order the immediate installation of street liting in all of Pine Knoll Subdivision as in- dicated on the City master street liting plan, and further, install a light in Hill Dee 2nd Addition at the western most extremity of Lower 182nd Street. APIF motion carried. 7. The council considered the request of Mr. Henry Feilen that the City waive the penalty on the special assessments on lots which he still owns as developer in the Pine Knoll Subdivision. Preliminary figures indicated this would amount to $10,147.16. He stated to the council that he was so underfinanced that he was unable to develop the subdivision in an efficient manner and that he saw this move on the council as a way to implement a sale to a developer who would proceed in a rapid and orderly manner to develop the subdivision. A general discussion ensued. Notion by Akin, second by Johnson that the city not grant the waiver of penalty as requested. APIF, motion carried. 8. Motion by Akin, second by McElmury that the request for 1978 Rubbish Hauling Licensees D & M Hauling Company Area Disposal Service hereby be approved. APIF, motion carried. 9. Notion by Akin, second by Kuchera that the request of the Police Department for I97$ attendance at various schools and courses as indicated in memo dated December 30, 1977 hereby be approved. APIF, motion carried. 10. Notion by Akin, second by McElmury that staff request for the attendance of the Deputy Clerk at a University sponsored workshop, January 25, 1978 hereby be approved. APIF, motion carried. 11. The Mayor reminded the City Council of the annual Farmington Fire Department meeting to be held this coming Friday night, December 20, 1978. 12. Notion by Akin, second by Kuchera that the following appointments to Boards and commissions hereby be approved: FROM TO Water Board Robert Juenemann 3 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-81 Planning Com Al Hoyer 2 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-80 Planning Com Ken Hanson, Jr. 2 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-80 Human Rights Ken Hanson, Jr. 2 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-80 Human Rights Dermis Pilger 3 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-81 Pk & Rec Com Mike Cummings 1 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-79 Pk & Rec Com Robert Boeckman Ex-Officio 2-01-78 1-31-79 Pk & Rec Com Jim Bell Ex-Officio 2-01-78 1-31-79 CATV Board Robert Steele 3 yr term 2-01-78 1-31-81 APIF, motion carried. 13. The Mayor then expressed his thoughts concerning continuity between the council and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority and stated that after considerable thought an the matter, he had decided that the best way to improve the relationship between the HRA and the City Council was to appoint himself to that body, which he then did. Motion by Akin, second by Kuchera to adopt Resolution IM-78 approving the appointment to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Patrick Akin for a term of from February 1, 1978 to December 31, 1978. Voting for: Akin, Kuchera, Whittier. Voting against: Johnson, McE]mury. Notion carried. 14. The City Administrator and the HRA Executive Director explained to the City Council the new Federal Program on Community Development Block Grants under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. They explained that the 1977 Block Grant Program was divided into two main sections. Section I was the Urban Demonstration Action Grant which did not apply to Farmington. The other section has been referred to as the "Small Cities" Grant Program. This program is divided into three main categories: (a) Single purpose grant (b) Comprehensive grant (c) Multi year comprehensive grant It was further explained that as near as could be determined from the informa- tion that was sent by HUD that the order of priorities applied to Grant applications would be as follows: 1. Poverty 2. Substandard housing 3. law and moderate income 4. Past performance 5. Support of a superior plan (Metro) The purpose of bringing this matter to the council was to determine whether or not the council had any interest in exploring the possibilities of a current year grant application. Staff were instructed to prepare a discussion paper and to include suggestions of the kinds of activities that might possibly be funded and to present them to the next meeting of the council. 15. The staff then discussed with the council the ongoing $90,000 Rehabilitation Grant which the City (HRA) had been awarded. It was pointed out to the City that inn, the application an area had been described adjoining the downtown redevelop- ment area in which it was intended to conduct rehabilitation activities. State law permits such activity outside of the plan area if it involves Code Enforcement items but that it would not permit acquisition unless the approved plan were to be amended by the City Council. It was explained to the council that no request was being made to amend the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, but that a request was being made to expand the area of operation for non-acquisition rehab activities to the whole city. If the council agreed to this, it would require an amendment to the Grant application, which in turn would require a public hearing, and this request was now being made. Motion by Akin, second by McElmary to adopt Resolution #R3-78 setting a public hearing for 7:30 P.M. February 6, 1978 for the purpose o eterming whether or not the 1977 Rehabilitation Grant Application be amended by permitting loan and grant rehabilitation activities city wide. APIF, motion carried. 16. Motion by Akin, second by McElmury to adopt Resolution YfR4-78 setting a public�earing for 8:00 P.M. , February 6, 1978 for the purpose o receiving citizen input in the preparation of a 1978 Small Cities CDBG Grant application. APIF, motion carried. 17. The council then addressed themselves to the request of Dale and Beverly Neilan for a tax abatement which had been forwarded to the City by the County Assessors on parcel #15-03600-010-75 located in the Northwest quadraunt of CSAH #31 and CSAH #74. This request for reduction in tax evaluation was based on the fact that the City had acquired 6.8 acres for the right of way along Jk31 off of the Neilan parcel thereby reducing the total area from 76.92 acres to 70.071 acres. During the ensuing discussion, it was pointed out that the Assessor had the authority to grant such an abatement regardless of the opinion of the City. The council felt, however, that in this case there was probative information that the assessor should have in arriving at a reasonable market value for the land and that this information should be called to the attention of both the County Board and the Assessor and that the City Administrator should write a letter with that information. Motion by Johnson, second by Whittier that the request for tax abatement by Dalean —Beverly Neilan not be approved by the City Council. APIF, motion carried. Council minutes of 1/16/78 cont. 18. Motion by McEI_nnzry, second by Johnson that the request of the Farmington HRA to awe the taxes on parcels #14-77000-022-22 and #14-77000-022-27 which was tax exempt property be approved. APIF, motion carried. 19. Notion by Akin, second by Johnson to adopt Resolution 15-78 a resolution encouraging Minnesota Legislators to amend Minnesota Statutes y authorizing taxation of Commercial Solid Waste Land fills or to provide alternative remedies. APIF, motion carried. 20. The City Council took note of a letter from the City of Robbinsdale urging support for the Tax Increment Financing law in the State of Minnesota. 21. Notion by Akin, second by Johnson that Sharon Lattimore hereby be hired in a permanent full-time status to the position of Clerk-Typist, effective immediately at a rate of $3.25 per hour subject to continuing CETA eligibility. Voting for: Akin, Johnson, McEln ury. Voting against: Kuchera, Whittier. Motion carried. 22. Motion by McEln ry, second by Johnson to approve the bills as presented. APIF, mo ion carried. 23. Motion made and carried to adjourn at 10:25 P.M. Respectfully submitted, i William J. Ford APPROVED . {+ / City Administrator WJF/kf