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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.01.96 Council Minutes MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR APRIL 1, 1996 1. The meeting was called to order by Acting Mayor Galler at 7:00 P.M.. Members Present: Galler, Fitch, Ristow, Gamer. Members Absent: Kuchera. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, City Attorney Grannis. 2. Acting Mayor Galler led the Councilmembers and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Gamer, second by Ristow to approve the agenda with the following changes: a) Add Item 5k - Liquor Store Staff Appointment - to the Consent Agenda. b) Add Item 9f - City Hall Remodeling project Budget - to Unfinished Business. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. Acting Mayor Galler opened the Annual Board of Equalization Hearing for the City of Farmington. Bill Peterson from the County Assessor's office informed the audience that testimony from residents would be heard in an adjacent office. 4. Citizen Comments Laura Adelmann: Ms. Adelmann notified the City Council that, during the construction of the Southeast Sanitary Sewer project, significant ruts had developed on the construction easement on her property. She wanted assurance from the Council that the damage would be corrected when the project was completed. MOTION by Ristow, second by Gamer to proclaim Saturday, April 6, 1996 as Amber Heglund Hometown Day in the City of Farmington. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. Consent Agenda MOTION by Ristow, second by Fitch to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve Minutes - 1/29/96 (Special); 3/18/96 (Regular). b) Approve Temporary 3.2 License - Farmington Independent's Fastpitch Softball Tournament. c) Approve School/Conference Request - City Administrator's attendance at City Manager's Spring Conference. d) Approve School/Conference Request - HazMat Refresher Course for Fire Department. e) Receive Bids and Award Sale of Solid Waste Containers to Dick's Sanitation for $1,350. f) Approve a 3.2 On Sale Beer and a Tobacco Sales License for Kwik Trip - 217 Elm Street. g) Approve Articles for April's City News Page - continuation of series on Council's duties and responsibilities. h) Receive Update Report on Residential Speeding. i) Receive Update on D.A.R.E Program. j) Approve Payment of the Bills as submitted. k) Approve Appointment of Harry Gramentz as Part Time Clerk in the Liquor Store. 6. Southeast Area Storm Sewer - Environmental Report/Wausau Easement City Engineer Kaldunski informed the Council that the amount of contamination found on the project site had been determined to be less than originally anticipated. He stated that the estimated additional cost would be $3,850.00. Councilmember Ristow asked whether the City was responsible for cleaning up only the soils disturbed by the installation of the storm sewer pipe. Mr. Kaldunski and Attorney Grannis stated that MPCA regulations only required clean up of disturbed soils. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to accept the report from PEER Environmental and to authorize staff to proceed with completing the terms of the agreement with Wausau Supply to secure an easement. VOTING FOR: Gamer, Ga1ler, Fitch. ABSTAIN: Ristow. 7. Receive Bids/Award Contract - project 93-14 - Southeast Area Storm Sewer (Wausau Alignment) City Engineer Kaldunski noted that the City had received 8 bids for the project, however, a fiscal review needed to be completed before a recommendation of award could be made. It was recommended to delay action until the April 15, 1996 regular Council meeting. 8. 1996 Seal Coat project City Engineer Kaldunski gave an overview of the sealcoating project, noting that it was proposed to assess affected property owners $53.00 per buildable lot. This represented a 3% increase over last year's assessment. Discussion took place regarding keeping the assessed amount close throughout the 7 year program rotation cycle. Mr. Kaldunski stated that the amount to be assessed was Council's decision. Councilmember Fitch requested that affected property owners be made aware of the time frame in which assessments must be paid before certification to the County. The Council concurred that the City Engineer should contact the Townships to see if they were considering any sealcoating projects this year in order to "piggy back" the projects and reduce costs. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R36-96 accepting the feasibility report and ordering the preparation of plans and specifications for the 1996 Seal Coat Project. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. Municipal Pool Reconstruction Project Parks and Recreation Director Bell presented bid information to the Council, noting that the estimated cost was $100,000 and the low bid from Wanzek Construction had come in at $103,250. Mr. Bell suggested that the bid overage could be taken from the Parks Improvement Fund and that City Attorney Grannis had concurred that the project was a legal park expense. Director Bell reminded the Council that additional work would need to be done next year to complete the repairs. Raising fees and CDBG funding were being considered as options to aid in funding the improvements. Discussion evolved into consideration of the continuance of operatio of the municipal pool. Councilmember Galler stated his belief that awarding the contract would be, in effect, a commitment by the Council and City to continuing the operation of the pool well into the future. Councilmembers suggested delaying the award of the contract until they had the opportunity to further review funding options. Director Bell informed the Council that a delay in the contract award would result in a delay in construction start, thereby delaying the scheduled opening of the pool for the season. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that the operation of a municipal pool was a valuable contribution to the quality of life for residents and that it should be continued. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R37-96 accepting the bids and awarding the contract for municipal pool reconstruction, project 96-15, to Wanzek Construction in the amount of their low bid of $103,250.00. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Public Hearing - Vacating Easements for the Townhouses of Nelsen Hills Farm Administrative Assistant Finstuen noted that the action being requested by the Developer, Heritage Development, was to vacate the existing utility and drainage easements with new easements to be dedicated in the townhouse plat. City Engineer Kaldunski noted that he was in favor of vacating the existing easements with the provision that the vacation resolution require new easements to be dedicated. Ms. Finstuen stated that the resolution contained the requirement. Councilmember Fitch asked Planning Commission Chairperson Craig Schlawin, who was in the audience, whether the Planning Commission had approved the plat with the 10 foot variance in road setbacks. Mr. Schlawin stated that the Commission had approved the plat, however, he had voted against approval because of the setback variance. Member Fitch noted that the Developer had promised to inform potential buyers of the close proximity to the road (County Road 31) and also noted that the townhouse units were on a significantly higher elevation than the road. Engineer Kaldunski stated that the Developer would grade the site with new County Road 31 alignment in mind. Councilmember Galler expressed his feelings that the on site sales planning boards would provide prospective homeowners with sufficient information regarding the development. Mr. Schlawin stated he felt that conditions of the plat were not unique enough to warrant a variance and that he would continue to vote against such variances in the future. MOTION by Ristow, second by Gamer to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Ristow, second by Galler to adopt a resolution approving the vacation of the drainage and utility easements on Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 of Nelsen Hills Farm 3rd Addition. VOTING FOR: Galler, Ristow. OPPOSED: Fitch, Gamer. MOTION FAILED. Councilmember Ristow pointed out that the Council had approved the plat at a previous meeting and asked Attorney Grannis about the ramifications of denying the easement vacation. Mr. Grannis noted that it would create problems. since the plat had already been approved, Member Fitch questioned why it was being discussed again. Attorney Grannis stated that a public hearing was required in order to vacate easements. City Administrator Erar stated that it was a part of the platting process. Member Fitch requested a listing of the steps involved in the platting process. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to reconsider the adoption of a resolution vacating the requested easements. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Ristow, second by Galler to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R38-96 vacating the drainage and utility easements in Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 of Nelsen Hills Farm 3rd Addition subject to the dedication of new easements in the plat of the Townhouses of Nelsen Hills Farm. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. City Administrator Erar stated that the development process was complicated and suggested it be a topic of a future workshop. 11. Acting Mayor Galler acknowledged the County Assessor representative and requested an update on the outcome of the Board of Equalization hearing. Mr. Peterson stated that 35 residents had been present at the hearing and one letter had been received. He informed the Council that the assessed values of 15 properties would be reviewed. MOTION by Fitch, second by Ristow to accept the report of the hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to close the Annual Board of Equalization Hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 12. Commercial Recycling Contract Public Works Director Kaldunski explained that minor revisions to the commercial recycling contract had been made, primarily the removal of the clause regarding oil and battery recycling, minor numbering changes, a change from gallons to cubic yards for unit pricing, and the addition of a clause to allow the City to cancel the contract as suggested by the City Attorney. Mr. Kaldunski recommended that the recycling contract be awarded to Dick's Sanitation, the current residential recycling contractor. He also noted that the commercial customers had the option whether or not they wished to continue recycling. MOTION by Ristow, second by Gamer to approve the commercial recycling contract with Dick's Sanitation. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. City Hall Remodeling Project Budget Update City Administrator Erar informed the Council that staff had reviewed the remodeling project and that an increase in the budgeted contingency funding was being requested. Mr. Erar presented an overview of costs necessary to upgrade the telephone and data cabling systems, in addit~on to unknown costs associated with remodeling versus new construction. Several sources of revenue had been identified to fund the increase including CIP, Space Needs, CDBG and General Funds. Councilmember Fitch thanked the City Administrator for his foresight in anticipatin! future needs, which will actually save money in the long run. He also commended Administrative Assistant Finstuen and Finance Director Henneke for their diligence in keeping the project on track. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to approve the ' increase in contingency funding for the City Hall remodeling project. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 14. Water Board Update Public Works Director Kaldunski reported on his and Water Board Member wier's meeting with the Empire Township Board. Topics of discussion were reservoir siting and interconnection of water systems and metering. A joint meeting will be scheduled in the future to present more detailed information to the Township Board members. Mr. Wier noted that the Township requested that contacts be made through the Joint Planning Board. No action was needed. 15. Roundtable U~coming Meetings · Noted upcoming Council workshop on April 8th at 8:00 P.M.. · Administrator Erar informed the Council that he and Planner Tooker had met with Metropolitan Council staff and information obtained would be discussed at the joint workshop with the Planning Commission on April 9th at 7:30 P.M.. . Member that a waste. contact Ristow had been contacted by a member of the hospital board requesting meeting be held with the Council to discuss issues, one of which was solid Councilmember Ristow will request that hospital administrator Bob Johnson City Administrator Erar to set a date to meet. . A joint meeting with the School Board was set for May 6, 1996 from 5:00 until 6:30 P.M.. Issues to be discussed will include managing growth. . The annual joint meeting with the City of Lakeville was discussed. No date was set. . A meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, to be held prior to a regularly scheduled Council meeting, should be set. Other Issues . Complaints regarding the cracks in the streets on 203rd Street and Dunbar Avenue. City Engineer Kaldunski will notify the contractor. Repairs would be covered by the warranty. . Member Fitch related his experience monitoring traffic speeds with the Police Chief. During a one hour time period, at rush hour, only 1 person exceeded the limits. It was his belief that complaints regarding speeding were a matter of perception. . Councilmember Galler informed the Council that an agreement had been reached with ALF Ambulance regarding hours of ambulance location in the City. The City will not lose any service. He also noted that response time was excellent and ALF was acknowledged as one of the best operations in the State. . Acknowledged the recent article in the Farmington Independent regarding III reduction and Engineer Kaldunski's involvement with the project. 16. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adjourn at 8:45 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk Typist Approved