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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.15.98 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR June 15, 1998 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ristow at 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Gamer, Strachan. Members Absent: None. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, Attorney Joel Jamnik, City Management Team 4. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS -None. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS- . Dolly Newberg, 5680 W. 193rd St. passed out a letter (entered as official document) concerning the sewage back up in her basement as a result of a power outage which incapacitated a lift station. Her claim was submitted to League of MN Cities insurance, but denied because the City was not found negligent. Rather the situation was ruled as an "Act of God." Ms. Newberg presented her facts, and asked for compensation for the damages and to make the necessary changes to the area sanitary sewer system/lift station to prevent this from ever happening again. Administrator Erar assured Ms. Newberg that the City will respond in writing to any statements that had been made. Also, a representative from the League's insurance will be invited to the next meeting, July 6, 1998. . Mike Sibley, 5681 193rd St. commented on the excessive amount ofponding water in the area of Fair Hills which he attributes to the increasing development of the surrounding area. Sibley asked if there could be sewer contamination in these ponds and questioned how much forethought has gone into the City's growth. He also asked the Council to consider the feasibility of extending the new trunk storm sewer (Charleswood Project) to the area of the ponds in Fair Hills to prevent their flooding potential. Administrator Erar said staff will address these questions at the next meeting. . Mary Stark, 19380 Eureka Ave., who also experienced a sewer back up on May 15th, reported that storm water was mixed into the sewage and asked why. She feels that the City is responsible for taking whatever measure necessary so that this doesn't happen again. . Jason Elias, 19267 Euclid Path, expressed his frustration with the slow reaction by the City in handling a storm drainage pipe between two ponds that was inoperable because it had been inadvertently buried. He urged the City to handle this recent problem (effectiveness of the lift station and storm sewer ponding in Fair Hills) in a timely fashion. 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes 6/1/98 (Regular) b) Approved Certification of 1999 Local Performance Aid c) Approved the Drafting of Northern Natural Gas Easement Request d) Approved Bills. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS - none. 6/15/98 Minutes Continued Page 2 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT a) Middle Creek Construction Contract Director of Public Works/City Engineer Mann presented the five bids received for the construction of the Middle Creek Area Trunk Sanitary Sewer and the Charleswood Trunk Storm Sewer. Latour Construction, Inc. submitted the low bid of$I,089,607.15. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to adopt RESOLUTION R57-98 to Award the Contract for Project 98-14, Middle Creek Area Trunk Sanitary Sewer, and Project 98-15, Charleswood Trunk Storm Sewer to Latour Construction, Inc. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS a) Water Reservoir Logo Update Public Works Director/City Engineer Mann stated that the Water Board has provided for the lettering (FARMINGTON) to be painted on the new water reservoir on 195th Street. If a City logo were to included in the painting contract, it would have to be determined soon. A simple black & white logo could possibly cost approximately $10,000 and a multi-colored logo would cost approximately $50,000. The Water Board has decided not to fund the painting of a logo. It was the consensus of the Council that having the logo on the reservoir was not necessary, but that simple, low contrast lettering should be sufficient since it is in a residential area. b) Comprehensive Plan Update Process - Update Community Development Director Olson reported on the process so far. Over thirty-five interviews have been held; two visioning workshops are scheduled whereby public input will be sought. These visioning workshops will be designed and facilitated by Brimeyer Consulting firm. The first workshop will be held Wednesday, July 8th, 6:00-9:00 p.m., and the second one is scheduled three weeks later, Wednesday, July 29th. The workshops will be promoted in the area papers and the City newsletter. c) Cable Franchise Negotiations - Update Administrator Erar updated the Council on Marcus Cable franchise negotiations. There are three issues that need to be considered: 1) PubliclEducationlGovernment (PEG) Fees and the implementation of such a fee within the new franchise agreement; 2) Forming a more formal relationship through the enacting of a Joint Powers Agreement with Apple Valley and Rosemount; 3)Providing for a capital grant within the franchise agreement that would originate out of the current operating revenues and expenses, with no increase in subscriber rates. These capital grant fees would be used to underwrite new audio-video-recording equipment installed in the Council Chambers. MOTION by Gamer and second by Fitch to approve incorporating the authority to impose PEG fees with the Cable Franchise Agreement, and forming a Joint Powers Agreement with the cities of Apple Valley and Rosemount. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. d) Environmental Contamination - Ash Street Stormwater & Sewer Issues Gene Thurmes, 520 Ash St., expressed his disgust at what appears to be sewage contaminated water standing in the ditch along Ash Street (520-608 Ash St). Reporting his observations has resulted in an investigation by City staff and Dakota County Environmental Management. Tests have confirmed that high levels of coliform bacteria were present in these storm water drainage ditches, implicating septic system failures in the Castle Rock Township fringe area south of Ash Street from the fairgrounds to Fountain Valley Golf Course. Justin Grabowksi, 608 Ash St., questioned the possibility of hose leaks when the nearby lift station was pumped during the last two storms. The City is checking the integrity of the lift station connections to make sure no leaks are occurring. The County will conduct a septic survey to ascertain which private septic systems are failing. The contamination of private wells is of major concern. Discussions at the June 9, 1998 meeting emphasized the need to look at a long-term solution. A special joint meeting of City and Township representatives is scheduled for June 16, 1998. It should be noted that a feasibility study was conducted in 1995 for street and utility improvements in this area, but the project came to a halt because not all parties were willing to afford the expense. Now that groundwater contamination is an issue, the problem will have to be dealt with collectively. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) County Road 72 Feasibility Report City Engineer/Public Works Director Mann presented the feasibility of reconstructing C.R. 72 from Trunk Highway 3 to the FarmingtonlEmpire Township border. Dakota County has expressed an interest in turning this portion of the road 6/15/98 Minutes Continued Page 3 J>ack to Farmington, and participate fmancially in a street improvement project within the City limits as part of the tumback agreement. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOULTION R58-98 Accepting the Feasibility Report and Scheduling a Neighborhood Meeting for Project No. 98-21, County Road 72 Street and Utility Improvements. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 12. NEW BUSINESS- None. 13. ROUNDTABLE a) Hickory Street Drainage Update: Councilmember Fitch: City Administrator Erar: Parks and Recreation Director Jim BeD: Community Development Director Olson: Mayor Ristow: Lee Mann reported that he is waiting for a reply from MnDOT granting permission to discharge stormwater to the median on Hwy. 3 from Hickory Street between 7th and 8th Streets. C.R. 31 is progressing niceiy. Gateway signs are in and lots of positive comments heard. Are there any plans for anything on the backside? Reiterated that the purpose of the Council's policy of responding to citizen comments in writing is to keep the emotions at a reasonable level. This policy is not to be interpreted as a cold and callous attitude, nor as a sign of disrespect. Landscaping will be placed around the gateway signs, eliminating the possibility for any message on the backside for now. The Industrial Park will be advertised in various publications, thus increasing marketing efforts in this area. Demolishing" the fIre-gutted house on 1st and Elm will be a long and slow process since it is a foreclosure situation. However, the house is secured and is more of an aesthetic problem than a health/safety hazard. The Thelen house near the hospital is scheduled July 1. Reports tall grass and weeds growing at Larch St. & 9th St.; on the path at Larch; also on the west side of 2nd St. at 2nd and Walnut. Complaints received on Kuchera Entrance being in bad shape all the way to Rambling River Park; reports of a washout with concrete slab exposed near railroad bridge. Cushman Motorcycle Club is in town this week. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to adjourn at 9:20 P.M. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Re ectfully submitted, ~