HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.03.23 Work Session MinutesCity of Farmington
City Council Work Session Minutes
April 3, 2023
1. Call to Order
Mayor Hoyt called the work session to order at 5:00 p.m.
Present: Hoyt, Bernatz, Lien, Porter, Wilson
Also Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator, Deanna Kuennen, Community Development
Director; John Powell, Public Works Director; Kellee Omlid, Parks and Recreation
Director; Gary Rutherford, Police Chief; Justin Elvestad, Fire Chief, Tony Wippler,
Planning Manager, Jared Johnson, Planning Coordinator.
Also Present: Planning Commission members Dirk Rotty, Phil Windschitl and LeeAnn Lehto.
Parks and Recreation Commission members Megan Merricks, David McMillen,
Ashley Crabtree.
2. Approve Agenda
MOTION by Bernatz, second by Porter to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
3. Discussion Items
a. Park Dedication Study Presentation – Parks and Recreation
This is a joint work session with the Parks & Recreation Commission and the
Planning Commission.
All attendees introduced themselves. Omlid introduced the item and explained the
history of the City’s Park Dedication Ordinance and amendments, developer
questions raised over recent years and recent study work done by HKGI.
Rita Trapp from HKGI explained the purpose of this meeting, expectations, and what
to expect in an upcoming work session. Trapp provided the background of park
dedication, applicable statutes, reasons for park dedication, how fees can be
determined, nexus and demonstrated need for fees, open space/comprehensive
plan requirement, how park dedication fees can be collected and used and the City’s
existing ordinance. She also discussed the option of taking cash in lieu of land and
the status of a current court case which may impact how the City moves forward.
Trapp went into detail about City’s comprehensive plan park and recreation chapter,
types of land included, and level of park land city has determined necessary. She
discussed how the City will establish the essential nexus, totality of master plans and
studies conducted in City, how those plans will demonstrate need for park
dedication fees. Next the City’s current ordinance and current process was
discussed in detail. Trapp showed examples of how other cities handle park
dedication, various methods used and effect land value has on process.
Next steps include evaluation of park dedication requirements, establishing the
nexus, and identifying potential ordinance and fee changes.
Council and commission discussion on timeframe on collection and use of cash, end
goal of work being done, any pending legislation, how 20 acres/1000 population
benchmark was established in 2020 and how does it compare to other cities, how
plans are arbitrary, long term planning, and what is staff hoping to have council and
commissions get from this process. Also discussed how dedication fees are
accounted for internally, ability to use park dedication funds in other areas of city or
for maintenance efforts, need for long-term vision out decades, long-term funding,
open space needs, density, average park dedication fee, how often is cash in lieu
taken, community parks vs. neighborhood parks, Jim Bell Park Survey demographics,
and how to position city to be attractive to developers.
4. Adjourn
MOTION by Wilson, second by Porter to adjourn at 6:46 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Flaten
Assistant City Administrator/Human Resources Director