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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.06.97 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR JANUARY 6, 194 1. The Oath of Office was administered to newly elected Mayor Ristow and Councilmembers Cordes and Strachan by Judge Michael Sovis. 2. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ristow at 7:05 P.M.. Members Present: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Strachan, Gamer. Members Absent: None. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, Attorney Grannis. 3. Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the agenda with the following changes: a) Item 5a - Minutes - remove from Consent for abstention. b) Item 5g - Animal Control Ordinance - remove from Consent for discussion. APIF, MOTION CARRIBD. 5. Citizen Comments Ron Thelen: voiced his concern about snow being removed from church parking lot and dumped at the Fairgrounds. Noted that this would cause flooding problems in the spring. Public Works Director Kaldunski responded that he was aware of the situation and had made preliminary contact with persons involved. Mayor Ristow presented a plaque to former Mayor Eugene "Babe" Kuchera honoring his many years of service to the City. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION NO. Rl-97 acknowledging Mr. Kuchera's outstanding service to the City. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Ristow presented a plaque to former Councilmember Christopher Galler honoring his years of service to the City. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adopt RBSOLUTION NO. R2-97 acknowledging Mr. Galler's dedicated service to the Ci ty . APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Strachan presented a plaque to retiring City Planner Charles Tooker honoring his thirty years of service to the City. MOTION by Strachan, second by Gamer to adopt RBSOLUTION NO. R3-97 acknowledging Mr. Tooker's devoted service to the City. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve planting trees in City parks in honor of former councilmembers Kuchera, Galler, and Rotty as part of 1997 Arbor Day Celebration. b) Authorize application for conveyance of two tax forfeited lots in Hillview 5th Addtion for street right of way purposes. c) Approve 1997 Consulting Engineering Rates from Bonestroo, Rosene and Anderlik. d) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R4-97 approving application for grant for Living History Quilt in connection with City'S 12Sth Anniversary celebration. e) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. RS-97 approving application for CLG grant to fund Historic Property Handbook. f) Set Annual Board of Equalization hearing for April 7, 1997 at 7:00 P.M. g) Approve compensation increase for City Administrator h) Approve City organization realignment. i) Adopt ORDINANCE NO. 097-385 amending the zoning ordinance related to credit for common open space. j) Adopt RBSOLUTION NO. R6-97 approve Pilot Knob Road address for SuperAmerica k) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R7-97 requesting a County traffic count on CAH 31 l) Approve purchase of Opticam Traffic Pre-emption Devices - Fire/Rescue m) Approve attendance at Annual Institute of Building Officials - Inspections n) Approve LMCIT Excess Liability Coverage 0) Approve Workers Compensation Premium Options p) Acknowledge Resignation of Public Works Director/City Engineer q) Approve payment of bills as submitted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 7. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to approve minutes of December 16, 1997. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Fitch, Gamer. ABSTAIN: Cordes, Strachan. MOTION CARRIED. 8 . Amend Animal Control Ordinance Councilmember Cordes requested this item be removed from Consent for discussion. She questioned how the Police intern would be paid if fees generated were not sufficient to cover his/her wages. Police Chief Siebenaler explained that the cost differential between the number of dogs in the City which were currently not licensed and the fees that would be collected through enforcement of the new ordinance would result in excess funds this year. In future years, this position would be a budgeted expense. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to adopt ORDINANCB NO. 097-386 amending the animal control ordinance by adding enforcement measures for licensing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. Annual Organizational Meeting The following items were approved and/or discussed as part of the organizational meeting. a. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes that Councilmember Fitch be designated as Acting Mayor from January 6, 1997 through December 31, 1997. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Cordes, Strachan, Gamer. ABSTAIN: Fitch. MOTION CARRIED. b. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer that the Farmington Independent be designated as the official publication from January 6, 1997 through December 31, 1997. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. c. MOTION by Cordes, second by Strachan that David L. Grannis be appointed as City Attorney from January 6, 1997 through December 31, 1997. d. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes that Labor Relations Associates be designated as the City'S labor consultant from January 6, 1997 through December 31, 1997. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. e. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer that the following official depositories be approved from January 6, 1997 through December 31, 1997 be approved: First National Bank of Farmington; League of Minnesota Cities 4M Fund; Dain Bosworth, First Bank Investments; Juran and Moody, Premier Bank of Farmington. API!', MOTION CARRIED. f. By Laws - Discussion regarding proposed changes was tabled until the annual Council retreat. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve the Council By- Laws as presented. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. g. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch that all sworn personnel in the Farmington police Department be designated as process servers for the calendar year 1997. API!' , MOTION CARRIED. h. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch that the following bonds for faithful performance now on file in the office of the City Clerk be approved: League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997 $250,000.00 API!', MOTION CARRIED. i. Councilmember Cordes stated she believed the parkland contribution fee was too low for commercial/industrial property. She stated she believed the rate should at least be equal to that for residential property. Parks and Recreation Director Bell stated that it had been past Council practice to charge less for commercial and industrial land because of the City'S desire to encourage industrial growth in the City. It was the consensus of Council that a survey be done of communities with similar growth patterns be done and report the results of that survey at the January 21st meeting. It was also the consensus to approve the parkland rate as stated in the proposed resolution, acknowledging that it can be amended in the future if Council wished. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to adopt RBSOLUTION NO. R8-97 establishing fees and charges for licenses and permits for 1997. API!', MOTION CARRIED. j. Boards and Commissions - Interviews to be held on Saturday, January 11th beginning at 8:00 A.M.. k. MOTION by Strachan, second by Fitch to appoint Councilmember Gamer to the ALF Ambulance Board. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Strachan. ABSTAIN: Gamer. MOTION CARRIED. 1. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to appoint Councilmember Strachan as an alternate to the ALF Ambulance Board. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Gamer. ABSTAIN: Strachan. MOTION CARRIED. m and n. It was the consensus of Council to defer action on the appointment of Council representatives on labor negotiations, finance committee and personnel committee until the By-Laws were discussed at the annual retreat. o. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to appoint Councilmember Cordes as Council representatives to the CEEF (Castle Rock, Empire, Eureka, Farmington) Committee, and City Administrator as the alternate. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Fitch, Strachan, Gamer. ABSTAIN: Cordes. MOTION CARRIED. p. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to appoint Councilmember Fitch, the Senior planner and Craig Schlawin to the Joint Planning Board. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Cord.., Strachan, Gamer. ABSTAIN: Fitch. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Workshop Dates CIP Workshop - To be determined at a later date. Ash Street/Prairie Waterway Phase III Workshop - February 10th following regular HRA meeting. Snowmobile Regulations Workshop - January 10th following regular HRA meeting. Joint Council/Commission/Chamber Workshop - March 8th at the Senior Center from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.. 11. Parks Referendum Update Acknowledged the publication of a date for the referendum was premature. Staff, PARAC and Council will need to hold a joint meeting in February or March to review and finalize referendum issues. 12. Appointment of COUDcilmembers to Chamber Business Meeting After discussion, it was Council's wish to have the Councilmember representatives rotate their participation on a six month basis. It was also felt that an alternate should be appointed. MOTION by Fitch, second by Cordes to appoing Councilmember Strachan as the representative and Councilmember Gamer as the alternate to the Chamber Business Meetings for 6 months. VOTING FOR: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch. ABSTAIN: Strachan, Gamer. MOTION CARRIED. 13. HRA BY-LAWS Councilmember Fitch placed this item on the agenda for Council consideration. He proposed that the HRA by-laws be revised by changing the makeup of the Board to include 2 Councilmembers and 3 at large members. Since the HRA was a separate legal entity which was capable of entering into contracts and approving bond issues which affect taxpayers, it was believed that taxpayers should have a voice in those decisions. Terms of office would be 5 years and, initially, would be staggered to provide continuity. It was the consensus of Council to discuss the issue further at the January 13th HRA meeting. 14. Department of Revenue Letter on City Spending City Administrator Erar expressed his concern and dissatisfaction with the tone of the letter received from the office of commissioner Girard. Discussion which followed indicated Council agreed that the letter was shortsighted and patronizing and seemed to indicate the State did not understand city financing. It was also noted that cities experiencing rapid growth, such as Farmington, had increases in tax levies caused by needs associated with that growth. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to send a letter under the Mayor's signature noting the City's displeasure with the accusations made by Commissioner Girard. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. Council/Management Team "Team BuildingH Session Administrator Erar informed Council that he had reviewed Council's concerns with the cost of the facilitator for this annual retreat. He explained that he had discussed the retreat with James Brimeyer and had arrived at an agreement which would reduce the cost. He also proposed holding the Friday evening session with the Council on February 7th and postponing the Saturday day session with the Management Team until sometime in May when new staff members would be on board. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the suggested dates and facilitator costs as presented. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 14 . ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Fitcb: Welcomed the new Councilmembers and wished them well during their tenure in office. City Administrator Brar: Reminded Council of the upcoming LMC Conference for for newly elected officials. Members Strachan and Cordes stated they were planning on attending. 15. Councilmembers agreed to take an 8 minute recess at 8:30 P.M. before adjourning into Executive Session. Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist