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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.19.99 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR January 19, 1999 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Acting Mayor Cordes at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Acting Mayor Cordes led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: Cordes, Soderberg, Verch Ristow, Strachan City Administrator Erar, Attorney Joel Jamnik, City Management Team 4. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Verch, second by Soderberg to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Staff Introduction This item was deferred to the February 1, 1999 Council Meeting. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS a) Camp Courage Wagon Train Request The Camp Courage Wagon Train will be in Fannington the weekend of June 12- 13, 1999. The Wagon Train requested the City donate water for the horses. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Verch to donate and deliver water to the Camp Courage Wagon Train upon their arriving in Fannington, the weekend of June 12-13, 1999. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Soderberg, second by Verch to approve the consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes 1/4/99 (Regular) and 1/9/99 (Special) b) Approved Boards and Commissions Appointments c) Approved 1998 ALF Ambulance Reimbursement d) Adopted RESOLUTION R05-99 accepting Dakota Electric Cooperative Grant e) Adopted RESOLUTION R06-99 accepting a donation to the Fire Department f) Received fourth quarter and year-end building report g) Approved bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes (Regular) January 19, 1999 Page 2 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS a) Hearing Continuance - Seed Property Annexation Staff recommended that the hearing on the annexation petition for 60 acres of the Seed property be continued to the February 1, 1999 Council Meeting at which time it is anticipated the Orderly Annexation Agreement will be fmalized and ready for City Council consideration. MOTION by Verch, second by Soderberg to continue the Seed Property Annexation Public Hearing to February I, 1999. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) BATC Communication - City Fees The City Council received correspondence from the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BA TC) requesting an opportunity to comment on the new fee schedule. Mr. Steve Juetten, Genstar, stated BATC continues to work with staff on the fees and noted there are fees that have been reduced. BA TC will be conducting a study, not specifically in Farmington, to point out to the public what it does cost to buy a new home as far as City fees. The study will be conducted over the next 6-12 months. BATC asks that the fees the City adopts are appropriate and prudent and just cover the costs. Any costs charged to the developer, according to Mr. Juetten, are passed directly on to the consumer.. b) Review New Zoning Classification - Neighborhood Commercial Staff presented for discussion an amendment to the City Code to provide a new zoning district titled B-4 - Neighborhood Business. Staff is trying to make certain buildings in older residential neighborhoods are still viable for business use, but compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The Planning Commission and staff felt there was a need to provide business districts that could serve adjacent residential areas on parcels of land three acres or less in size. The main purpose of the district is to meet a wide range of residential needs of everyday living in neighborhoods with a variety of housing choices, that invite walking to gathering places, services and conveniences, and that are fully integrated into the larger community. Possible permitted and conditional uses within the B-4 District were discussed. Councilmember Soderberg asked if there are other buildings that need to be switched to the new zoning. Staff replied there are buildings along 4th Street and Main Street. Staff will need to do more research. Acting Mayor Cordes inquired as to a light manufacturing facility that does not use machinery to produce products. Staff replied there is a mail collating service at 821 3rd Street. Staff also stated the conditional use permit would not preclude the use of machinery. However, no process involved will produce noise, vibration, air pollution, fire hazard or noxious emission which will disturb or endanger neighboring properties. The shipment of products before or after assembly by semi-tractor Council Minutes (Regular) January 19, 1999 Page 3 trailer trucks will not be allowed. The work that is done inside should not be visible from the outside. Councilmember Verch asked if there would be large straight trucks driving through the area. Staff replied the use of trucks would have to come under a conditional use permit. Acting Mayor Cordes noted no automotive repair facilities are allowed, and asked how this differs from home auto repair. Staff replied that while there may be existing home auto repair businesses in the City, the current zoning ordinance regulations do not allow new ones to be established as home businesses or occupations. Mr. Marvin Wier, 808 3rd Street, expressed concern over having dry cleaning establishments in the neighborhood as they store highly volatile chemicals which can leak, and also the large volume of traffic. Staff replied solvents currently used in dry cleaning are regulated by the state and/or federal government. Regarding the traffic issue, there are requirements for parking that each business would have to meet. Councilmember Soderberg asked if it was possible to split neighborhood services so they fall under a conditional use, in order to look at them on a case by case basis. Staff replied uses that are a concern can be pulled and made a conditional use. Acting Mayor Cordes asked if all neighborhood services could be put under conditional use, instead of choosing certain ones for conditional use. Staff replied that has been discussed, and is attempting to identify businesses by the nature of their use. Mr. Dan Smith, 804 4th Street, asked if the uses are covered under any other zones. Staff replied some are, but the purpose is to separate out the businesses that aren't compatible with the residential area and create a district that is compatible. Existing buildings will come under the comprehensive plan. Proposed buildings will be in undeveloped areas of the city. Mr. Dave Kennedy, 312 Maple Street, asked if there was any intent to enlarge the B-4 zone at 821 3rd Street. Staff replied, no, the zoning will not go into a residential area. Councilmember Soderberg asked if zoning changes have an affect on property taxes. Staff replied the assessor determines the value of the property based on improvements and use of the property. The above comments will be discussed at the Planning Commission on February 9, 1999. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS at,2) Council By-Laws Language Revision and Research Issues These items were deferred to the February 1, 1999 Council Meeting. Council Minutes (Regular) January 19, 1999 Page 4 b) Approve Draft - Multi-Jurisdictional Ash Street Project Agreement Staff presented to Council a draft joint powers agreement for Ash Street reconstruction and Phase III of the Prairie Waterway projects. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Verch approving transmittal of the draft Multi- Jurisdictional Ash Street Project Agreement to Castle Rock Township as presented. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. c) Approve Authorization to Re-Advertise Towing Contract RFP Request for Proposals for the City Towing Contract were accepted through December 28, 1998. Although two proposals were received, mandatory zoning information was missing from each of them. After discussing the issue with the City Attorney, staff reached the conclusion that all proposals should be rejected and the RFP should be re-advertised. MOTION by Verch, second by Soderberg authorizing re-advertisement of Request for Proposals for the City Towing Contract and extend the existing towing service until a new contract is signed. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Strachan arrived at 8:05 p.m. d) Downtown Streetscape Project - Neighborhood Meeting Report On January 7, 1999, staffheld a neighborhood meeting for the Downtown Streetscape project. After a brief presentation, property owners were given a handout outlining assessment amounts for the project based on three different assessment methodologies. The property owners in attendance appeared to be in favor of the project. One individual suggested Third Street and Oak Street should be widened for snow and parking purposes. It was not staffs recommendation to look at widening Third Street and Oak Street. Several attendees indicated to staff they would like to find out more regarding the implications of including "neck- outs" at the intersection of Third and Oak. The addition of "neck-outs" would present opportunities to create a strong focal point for the center of downtown as well as providing benefits from a traffic engineering point of view. It was also suggested the City look at the possibility of inlaying the City Logo (in pavers) in the center of the intersection of Third and Oak. Ms. Marilyn Weinhold, Fannington Chamber of Commerce, felt it was a very supportive meeting. The Chamber realizes it is a good project and will positively impact the community. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Verch authorizing staff to prepare a feasibility report for the option of adding "neck-outs" and a paver City Logo at the intersection of Oak and Third. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. e) Orderly Annexation Agreement - Empire Township The Orderly Annexation Agreement was approved by Empire Township on January 12, 1999 subject to resolution of the Stelzel homestead issue. Staffis waiting for an agreement to be reached between Mr. Stelzel and the Seed Family Trust regarding the timing of annexation of the Stelzel homestead. The Orderly Annexation Agreement will reference this arrangement specifically, therefore the Council Minutes (Regular) January 19, 1999 Page 5 final draft agreement will be ready for Council consideration at the February 1, 1999 Council Meeting. Mr. Bernard Murphy has requested to annex 160 acres south of the Seed property. The options available for the Murphy property include: Pursue a separate orderly annexation agreement for the property, or Mr. Murphy may pursue individual annexation petitions not to exceed 60 acres. Council felt it was up to Mr. Murphy as to how to proceed. Staffwill inform Mr. Murphy of his options. 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Strachan: First ALF Ambulance Board meeting is January 26, 1999. Councilmember Soderberg: Received a comment from a citizen in Northern Fannington, commending the City on their excellent job of snow plowing. Community Development Director Olson: A Council Workshop will be held February 23, 1999 to discuss Deer Meadows and a draft landscape ordinance. Parks and Recreation Director Bell: The tree by the Post Office has been trimmed to accommodate the flag pole placed there by the Post Office. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Strachan, second by Verch to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, // ...' /7 .~-7 ~~7 7~"';cfiu~.? /' C.~(:'k J ( Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant