HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.19.21 Council Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 19, 2021
1. Call to Order
Mayor Hoyt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Hoyt led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Roll Call
Present-Hoyt, Bernhjelm, Pearson, Porter and Wilson
Absent-None
Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Parks and Recreation Director Distad, Public Works
Director Gehler, Fire Chief Elvestad, Planning Manager Wippler, Fire Chief Elvestad, Police Chief
Rutherford, Human Resources Director Gabbard, and Attorney Jamnik.
4. Agenda
Motion by Porter, second by Wilson,to approve the agenda as presented. APIF, motion
carried.
S. Announcements/Commendations
a) Parks and Recreation Department 2020 Annual Report
Recreation Programmer Kohlbeck presented the department 2020 annual report. Some of the
topics covered included the impact of the pandemic, the department mission and vision,
partnerships, the department at a glance, arena review, special events, sports,the senior
center, trails and facilities.
Councilmember Wilson commented that the department does so much.
Councilmember Porter thanked the department for a great year of work.
Councilmember Bernhjelm stated it was wonderful to see all of the events that took place.
Councilmember Pearson commented that she appreciated the creative presentation and
thanked staff for their work.
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b) Recognition of Service of Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad
Administrator McKnight shared with the city council that this is the last city council meeting for
retiring Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad. McKnight thanked Distad for his 18 years
of service to the community.
Councilmembers thanked Distad for his work in the community, his leadership style and for
everything that he has done to improve the community.
McKnight shared that in discussing Distad's service to the community with city staff and the city
council, McKnight believed the service of Randy Distad has left a legacy in Farmington. With
this in mind, McKnight recommended to the city council that North Creek Park be renamed
Distad Park and Greenway.
Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Porter, to adopt Resolution R17-2021 naming Distad Park and
Greenway. APIF, motion carried.
c) Arbor Day 2021 Proclamation
Public Works Director Gehler shared the history of Arbor Day in Farmington.
Motion by Wilson, second by Porter, to proclaim Friday,April 30, 2021 as Arbor Day in
Farmington and May 2021 as Arbor Month in Farmington. APIF, motion carried.
6. Citizen Comments
None
7. Consent Agenda
Motion by Porter, second by Wilson,to approve the consent agenda:
a) Approve Minutes of the April 5, 2021 City Council Meeting-Administration
b) Approve Minutes of the April 5, 2021 City Council Work Session-Administration
c) Approve Minutes of the April 12, 2021 City Council/Planning Commission Work Session-
Administration
d) Acknowledge First Quarter 2021 New Construction Report and Population Estimates-
Community Development
e) Approve Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for Sidewalk Replacement
Downtown-Public Works
f) Approve Joint Powers Agreement with the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers
Organizations for the Vermillion River Direct Drainage Stormwater Treatment
Assessment-Public Works
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g) Adopt Resolution R18-2021 Authorizing Police Department Fundraising-Police
h) Adopt Amendment to the Fire Fighting Service Agreement Between the City of
Farmington and Eureka Township-Fire
i) Approve Recommendation for Hire Parks and Recreation-Human Resources
j) Approve Seasonal Hiring-Human Resources
k) Approve 2020 Interfund Transfers-Finance
1) Acknowledge Financial Review for the Year Ending December 31, 2020-Finance
m) Approve Bills-Finance
APIF, motion carried.
8. Public Hearings
None
9. Award of Contract
None
10. Petitions, Requests and Communications
a) Rivers Edge Schematic Planning Unit Development Plan
Planning Manager Wippler presented the Rivers Edge schematic plan for city council review.
The subject property is approximately 68 acres in total size and is located at the northwest
intersection of Denmark Avenue and 220th Street West. The existing use of the property consists
of cultivated farmland along with floodplain / open space on the northern portion of the
site. The site is encumbered with four (4) natural gas pipelines that travel north and south
through the center of the property.
The property currently consists of three zoning districts. The west side of the site is zoned R-3
(Medium Density) and consists of approximately 15 acres. The east side is zoned R-5 (High
Density)and consists of approximately 26 acres. The remaining 27 acres of the site is zoned Parks
and Open Space. The 2040 Comprehensive Land Use guidance is consistent with these zoning
designations. The proposed Schematic Plan shows the development of 289 townhome units for
a net density of 7.0 units per acre.
The eastern portion of the property currently zoned R-5 (High Density Residential) will have to
be rezoned to R-3(Medium Density Residential)Planned Unit Development and a comprehensive
plan amendment would be needed to re-guide this portion of the property to Medium Density
Residential as well as to change the anticipated development staging in the comprehensive plan
from post 2040 to 2020-2030. Applications for rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment
have been made for this property by Hunter Homes LLC. The comprehensive plan amendment
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has been submitted to the adjacent jurisdictions for the 60-day comment period as required by
the Metropolitan Council.
The proposed standards for the development are:
Front setback (public ROW or Private Road): 25 feet
Side corner setback: 15 feet (required 25 per code)
Setback between structures: 20 feet (10-foot side yard setback required)
Rear yard setback: 10 feet
Maximum lot coverage: 30%
Maximum building height: 45 feet
A 1.6-acre park is located near the northwest corner of the proposed development. The Existing
and Proposed Park, Trail and Open Space Plan within the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan has
identified a neighborhood park at this location. Trails and sidewalks beyond what is shown on
the Schematic Plan will be required within this development as well as along Denmark Avenue
and 220th Street W.
The Schematic Plan shows two accesses into the development. One off Denmark Avenue
towards the center of the development and one off 220th Street W at the south end of the
development. The access off 220th Street W will likely become a restricted access(right in, right-
out) in the future when development occurs to the adjacent property to the west as this access
does not meet the county spacing guidelines. Future access to the adjacent property to the west
is provided with two public street stubs.
The internal road network consists of a combination of public and private roads. A change that
staff would like to see contemplated with the road network is the change of a section of private
street to public street. The portion of street to be changed is shown highlighted black in the
attached Exhibit A. With this change, staff would also like to see this public road connect into
Denmark Avenue across from an existing access to Boeckman Middle School. This would likely
have to be a right-in, right-out restricted access and would have to be approved by Dakota
County. All roads within the development will have to meet the minimum standards for public
and private residential street sections.
It should be noted that per code private streets are only be allowed in the R-2, R-T,and R-D zoning
districts as part of a planned unit development. As previously mentioned this property will have
to be rezoned to R-3, which under the current city code does not allow for private roads. Staff
will be processing a code amendment in the near term to address this particular code
provision. Staff will be proposing to allow for private streets in the R-3 and R-5 districts only,
instead of the R-2, R-T and R-D districts as historically it is within townhome districts (R-3) and
multi-family districts (R-5) where private roads are located, not within single-family
developments.
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The Planning Commission did review the Schematic PUD Plan at their regular meeting on April
13, 2021 and recommended approval of the Schematic PUD Plan with a vote of 4-0.
Councilmember Bernhjelm asked about the approach with public and private streets. Wippler
shared that we try to minimize the number of private streets if possible. The proposed change
is related to increasing the number of accesses to the development.
Councilmember Porter clarified that the developer is responsible for the initial streets that are
being constructed. Wippler stated that is correct.
Councilmember Wilson shared that it looks like an attractive development.
Mayor Hoyt raised the issue of access to the development in regards to the two potential right-
in, right-out intersections. City staff will share this concern with Dakota County since the issue
relates to access on to county roads.
Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Porter, to approve the Rivers Edge schematic schematic PUD
contingent upon revising the street network converting a section of private road to in
accordance with Exhibit A. APIF, motion carried.
11. Unfinished Business
None
12. New Business
a) Donation of$10,000 from Bethel's Rock Church to the Rambling River Center
Parks and Recreation Director Distad presented the city council with a donation of$10,000
from Bethel's Rock Church to be used at the Rambling River Center. The church raised these
funds with the Muddy Bunny 5K held on April 3, 2021.
Distad thanked the church for this very generous donation and shared that it would be put to
good use at the center.
Councilmember Porter thanked Bethel's Rock for a great event and for the donation to the city.
Mayor Hoyt thanked all of those involved in putting on this great event.
Motion by Porter, second by Wilson, to adopt Resolution R19-2021 accepting the donation of
$10,000 from Bethel's Rock Church to the Rambling River Center. APIF, motion carried.
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b) Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for a Waste Management Incentive
Public Works Director Gehler presented a joint powers agreement with Dakota County for a
waste management incentive.
In December 2020, County Commission Slavic announced that the Dakota County would be
offering Waste Abatement Incentives to the cities of Hastings and Farmington for diverting
waste to a resource recovery plant. The city council is asked to enter into a joint powers
agreement to receive the incentive payments.
The current Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Plan provides that the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency will not review any request for additional disposal capacity for a
landfill located in the Metropolitan Area unless MMSW resource recovery facilities
servicing the Twin Cities area are operating at capacity and waste has been certified as
unprocessable by metro counties. By diverting waste to Red Wing,the cities of Farmington and
Hastings help ensure that the resource recovery plant is operating at capacity.
With Red Wing operating at capacity,the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency may consider
additional land disposal capacity at the two Mixed Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in Dakota County
(Burnsville Sanitary Landfill and Pine Bend Sanitary Landfill).Without the additional permitted
capacity,those landfills would be closed once at existing capacity that would result in higher solid
waste fees for residents due to longer transportation distances and would result in a loss of future
Host Fee revenue to support environmental programming throughout Dakota County.
The joint powers agreement sets forth provisions for the cities of Hasting and Farmington to receive
the waste abatement incentive. Dakota County is offering$25 per ton up to$223,000 to the City of
Farmington. The cities can request funds on a quarterly basis by meeting the requirements set for
in the agreement and submitting the appropriate reporting forms. For Farmington,submittal of the
monthly invoices from the City of Red Wing and a report noting how the funds will be used is
required. The agreement covers the 2021 funding cycle.
The County Board approved the joint powers agreement at their April 6th meeting. After the City
approves the agreement,we can submit for our first reimbursement.
Mayor Hoyt thanked Commissioner Slavik for his work in making this funding available to
Farmington.
Motion by Wilson, second by Bernhjelm, to approve the joint powers agreement with Dakota
County to receive the waste abatement incentive and authorize the mayor and city
administrator to execute the same. APIF, motion carried.
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13. City Council Roundtable
Pearson-Encouraged residents to pause this week and reflect. The eyes of the world are upon
us with everything that is going on in our state. Thanked Randy Distad for his service to the
community.
Bern hjelm-Shared that this is a tough week. Asked everyone to think about how we show up
and to reflect your best possible self.
Porter-Asked about the possibility of a city Arbor Day event. City staff shared that they will be
planting some trees and the city council will be invited.
Wilson-Thanked Randy Distad for his work and shared is he excited for Kellee Omlid to start her
work.
McKnight-Asked the city council for direction on the upcoming work session schedule.
Gehler-Thanked Randy Distad for his work.
Hoyt-Thanked the Planning Commission for their work on the joint work session. Commented
on a number of positive items on the consent agenda. Asked residents to have grace this week.
14. Adjourn
Motion by Porter, second by Wilson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. APIF, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted
v P. "C' e
David McKnight, City Administrator
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