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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.02.96 Council Minutes MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR JANUARY 2, 1996 1. The meeting was called to order by Acting Mayor Ristow at 7:00 P.M. Members Present: Ristow, Galler, Gamer, Fitch. Mem~ers Absent: Kuchera. Also Present: Interim Administrator Finstuen, Attorney Grannis. 2. Acting Mayor Ristow led the audience and Councilmembers in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to approve the agenda with the following changes: a. Remove item Sa - Approve Minutes - from Consent for discussion. b. Remove item 5h - Approve Payment #4 for Project 93-15 - from Consent for discussion. c. Remove item 5i - Approve Change Order #3 for Project 93-15 - from Consent for discussion. d. Remove item 5j - Adopt Ordinance Withdrawing Ristow Annexation Petition - from Consent for discussion. e. Remove item 5k - Confirming Adoption of Brekke and Schultz Annexation Ordinance - from Consent for discussion. f. Remove item 5m - Payment of the Bills - from Consent for discussion. g. Add item 14a - Sponsorship of WVS Marketing Savings Card - to the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Citizen Comments Don lIayes: Requested the Council to address concerns raised by several citizens regarding "the number of supervisory personnel needed to staff the arena duri.ng games. Interim Administrator Finstuen stated she would discuss the matter with the Parks and Recreation Director. Henry Iwerks: Reiterated his feelings regarding public perception of Council, solid waste rates and bidding procedures. Made statements regarding the Brooklyn Center City Council, which is comprised of all women, and which is, in his opinion, in total disarray. Made a comparison between Farmington and Brooklyn Center. Mr. Iwerks questioned the City's decision to stay in Solid Waste. Member Ristow stated that a survey taken earlier had established the preference of the citizens for a City operated solid waste service. 5. Consent Agenda MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a. Adopt RESOLUTION NO. Rl-96 approving the 1996 Salaries for Non Union Personnel. b. Approve School/Conference Request - Fire Marshal - Fire Code Building Inspections. Council Minutes - 1/2/96 - Page 2 c. Authorize Advertisement for Position - Accounting Clerk. d. Approve January's "City News" Page in the Farmington Independent. e. Authorize Solicitation for Bids for Police Squad Car. f. Approve LMCIT Excess Liability Coverage per Finance Director's Recommendation;- g. Set Public Hearing for Lexington Standard TIF District - Feb. 19th at 7:30 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. u 6. December 18, 1995 Council Minutes Councilmember Ristow raised a question regarding two items for which he had vacabed his seat at the Council table and the minutes noted he had abstained from the vote. Attorney Grannis suggested that the minutes be amended by removing the abstention wording in Paragraphs 21 and 22. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch to amend the December 18, 1995 minutes as noted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 7. Payment #4 - Southeast Area Sanitary Sewer Project (item 5h) - Change Order #3 - Southeast Area Sanitary Sewer Project (item 5i) - Adopt Ordinance No. 096-369 Approving Withdrawal of Ristow Annexation Petition (item 5j) - Confirm Adoption of Ordinance No. 095-367 - Schultz/Brekke Annexations (item 5k) These items were pulled vote. MOTION by Fitch, presented. VOTING FOR: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED. from Consent so that Member Ristow could abstain from the second by Galler to approve items 5h, 5i, 5j, and 5k as Fitch, Galler, Gamer. VOTING AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: 8. Payment of the Bills Member Fitch stated he had requested this item removed from the Consent Agenda because he wished to clarify progress on the various easement agreements in relation to the bill submitted by Briggs and Morgan. Interim Administrator Finstuen noted she had received three separate letters regarding easement issues from Briggs and Morgan and that she would provide copies to the Council. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the bills as submitted. VOTING FOR: Fitch, Galler, Gamer. VOTING AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED. :I 9. Request for Arbitration from S.M. Hentges - Pine Knoll Project City Engineer Kaldunski noted that S.M. Hentges had requested arbitration to settle a discrepancy in the amount paid by the City for completion of the project. Engineer Kaldunski stated that he believed the main point of contention was the costs for dewatering, and that the contract for the project clearly stated that the contracbor was to do field inspections and that costs for dewatering were to be included intthe bid price of the project. It was the consensus of the Council that the Engineer and City Attorney try to negotiate with S.M. Hentges one more time in order to settle.the dispute without going to court. Attorney Grannis will report back to the Council at the next meeting. Council Minutes - 1/2/96 - Page 3 10. City Survey Councilmember Ristow had requested that the Council consider resuming the practice of sending out surveys with the City's newsletter. Interim Administrator Finstuen provided several samples of previous surveys which were mailed to residents. Acting Mayor Ristow opened two public hearings scheduled for 7:30 P.M. to discuss vacating of easements. The hearings were continued until later in the meeting. Member Fitch suggested that staff provide input on any current issues which would benefit from public input. The issue of televising the Council meetings was suggested as a possible topic. It was the consensus that the survey item should be brought back to the Council at the second meeting in February and that the Council and staff should submit possible survey topics to Interim Administrator Finstuen for inclusion with' that agenda item. 11. Public Hearing - Vacating Easement in Prairie Creek Third Addition City Engineer Kaldunski stated that the developer of prairie Creek PUD had requested the vacation of a five foot portion of an existing ten foot drainage and utility easement in the Third Addition. It was noted that only a five foot easement was required in this location. There was no public comment. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Galler, second by Ristow to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R2-96 approving the vacation of a five foot portion of a drainage and utility easement in prairie Creek Third Addition located on the side lot line of Lot 30, Block 2. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. Public Hearing - Vacating Easement in Chateau Manor 2nd Addition City Planner Tooker explained that the vacation was based upon a request by a property owner (Don Hunter) who wished to build a garage within one foot of his property line. Mr. Tooker noted that the Planning Commission had agreed to a variance to allow' the construction of the garage subject to the Council approving vacation of the easement. The presbyterian Church, which adjoins the Hunter property, has agreed to dedicating a ten foot easement for drainage and utilities. It was suggested that the City Attorney develop an easement dedication agreement for th~ presbyterian Church to approve. City Engineer Kaldunski stated that the City had no utilities within the easement at this time. Member Ristow asked whether the garage was already being constructed. Mr. Tooker stated that it had been started due to a misunderstanding by the applicant of the Planning Commission's action. Member Fitch stated that he had a problem with the setback regulations not being followed. There was no public comment. MOTION by Gamer, second by Ristow to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Galler, second by Gamer to adopt RE$OLUTION NO. R3-96 approving the vacation of five feet of an existing drainage and utility easement subject to the approval of a dedication by the Farmington presbyterian Church of a 5 foot easement on the east property line of Lot 1, Block 1, Chateau Manor 2nd Addition. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes - 1/2/96 - Page 4 14. Annual Organizational Meeting The following changes to the Council By-Laws were suggested~ Fitch - Add Economic Development Director position to Section VIII, Subdivision 2. - Change Standing Committee Appointments - Section X - One new and one experienced member on each. Galler - Change regular meetings from Monday to Tuesday. It was noted that these changes would need to be placed on the next regular agenda for approval when the full Council would be present to vote. Appointments to Boards and Commissions A special meeting was set for January 13, 1996 (Saturday) to interview candidatestfor Board and Commission seats. The meeting and interviews were to start at 8:00 A.M. and would be set at 15 minute intervals. MOTION by Fitch, second by Ristow that Councilmember Galler be designated as Acting Mayor from January 2, 1996 through December 31, 1996. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Fitch, Gamer. AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Galler. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Ristow, second by Gamer that the Farmington Independent be designated as the official publication from January 2, 1996 through December 31, 1996. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch that the First National Bank of Farmington, First State Bank of Castle Rock, Premier Bank of Farmington, and League of Minnesota Cities 4M Fund be designated as the official depositories from January 2, 1996 through December 31, 1996. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Galler, second by Fitch that all sworn personnel in the Farmington Police Department be designated as process servers for the calendar year 1996. APIF, MO~ION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Galler that the United Fire and Casualty Public Employ~es Blanket Bond on file in the Clerk's Office be approved. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Galler to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R4-96 establishing fees and charges for licenses, permits and services for 1996. APIF. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to appoint Councilmember Galler to the ALF Ambulance Board. VOTING FOR: Fitch, Gamer, Ristow. AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Galler. MOTION CARRIED. ",-.f MOTION by Ristow, second by Galler to appoint Councilmember Gamer as the alternate to the ALF Ambulance Board. VOTING FOR: Fitch, Galler, Ristow. AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Gamer. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Galler, second by Gamer to appoint Councilmember Ristow as the representative for labor negotiations. VOTING FOR: Galler, Gamer, Fitch. AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes - 1/2/96 - Page 5 MOTION by Fitch, second by Ristow to appoint Councilmember Gamer as the City's representative on the Area Wide Enhancement Group. VOTING FOR: Galler, Fitch, Ristow. AGAINST: None. ABSTAIN: Gamer. MOTION CARRIED. The Interim Administrator was directed to notify the Group of the new appointment. The Council acknowledge the City appointments to the Farmington/Empire Joint Planning Board: Councilmember Fitch, City Planner Tooker and Craig Schlawin. The meetings will alternate being held at the Empire Townhall and Farmington City Hall on every 4th Thursday of the month. It was noted that Castle Rock Township had expressed an interest in participating in a joint planning board. Councilmember Fitch will establish contact with Castle Rock Township to discuss the matter. 15. Upcoming Meetings January 9th - 7:30 P.M. - Brimeyer - Update on City Administrator Position January 13th - 8:00 A.M. - Boards and Commissions Candidate Interviews January 29th - 7:00 P.M. - Workshop on Railroad Issues Discussion followed regarding changing the dates for meeting the candidates for the City Administrator position due to scheduling difficulties. Interim Administrator Finstuen will contact James Brimeyer to attempt to change the dates. 16. MOTION by Fitch, second by Galler to approve the Farmington Hometown Super Saver program initiated by WVS Marketing with a portion of the sale proceeds to go to the Fire Department. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 17. Roundtable Former City Administrator Thompson began his new position with the City of River Falls, Wisconsin. The Council wished him luck. The City crew was commended for the good job that was done with snow plowing over the holiday weekend. 18. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adjourn at 8:51 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Submitted by, Karen M. Finstuen Interim City Administrator Approved ":\ jj