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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.17.97 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MARCH 17, 1997 1. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ristow at 7:00 P.M.. Members Present: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Gamer, Strachan. Members Absent: None. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, Attorney Grannis. 2. Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve the agenda with the following changes: a) Add appointment recommendation for Community Development Director to Consent Item Sb. b) Add appointment recommendation for Parkkeeper to Consent Item Sc. c) Add letter from resident regarding East Farmington Traffic Control to Item 7a. d) Add school/conference request to Consent as Item Sv. e) Add setting a public hearing to amend original downtown redevelopment district TIF as New Business Item 9d. f) Remove Consent Item Sg - Front End Loader - for discussion. g) Remove Consent Item St - Amend City Administrator Ordinance - for discussion. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Citizen Comments Richard Graelisch - Requested City contact County to repair potholes on Ash Street. Ci ty will contact County Highway Department. Randy Oswald - Inquired about process for having sod replaced which was damaged by snowplowing operations. Staff will contact Mr. Oswald with correct procedure to follow. Marilyn Weinhold - Handed out brochures for Founders Festivals. Encouraged everyone to become involved. Jan Carpentier - Inquired as to who would repair damage to her yard which occurred during the construction of Deer Meadow Addition. Tim Giles, developer of Deer Meadow, was in audience and stated repairs would be completed as soon as weather permitted. s. MOTION by Fitch, second by Strachan to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve minutes - 3/3/97 - Regular b) Approve appointment of David Olson as Community Development Director. c) Approve appointment of Glenn Mogensen as Parkkeeper. d) Approve appointment of Brenda Wendlandt as Human Resources Coordinator. e) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R27-97 approving gambling premise permit for Dakota Ringnecks/Pheasants Forever to be held at the American Legion. f) Approve 3% wage increase for volunteer firefighters. g) Acknowledge receipt of Met Council 1996 final sewage flow calculation. h) Approve Restorative Justice/Family Group Conferencing Program i) Approve use of narcotics forfeiture funds to purchase Police radio. j) Approve purchase of Rambling River Ballfield netting. k) Approve publication of ISTS Ordinance summary. l) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R28-97 - setting public hearing for April 21, 1997 - TIF District No. 13. m) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R29-97 - approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for a Solid Waste automatic refuse collection truck body. n) Approve appointment of Susan Halvorson as full time liquor store clerk. 0) Approve rental addendum for Pilot Knob Liquor store expansion. p) Approve DNR Reimbursement Agreement for purchase of Fire Department radios. q) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R30-97 - accepting bid of Wanzek Construction for installation of municipal pool filtration/chlorination system. r) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R31-97 - amending 1995 CDBG program activity statement. s) Approve payment of the bills as submitted. t) Approve school/conference request - Fire Department sectional fire school. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. Front End Loader Purchase Member Gamer asked for clarification on the bidding process for the purchase of the front end loader. Finance Director Roland explained that the City had the ability to enter into a joint power agreement to purchase a front end loader for the same price as the City of Mora, or it could advertise for bids, or the Council could approve both options and select the most favorable bid outcome. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to pursue both options and to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R32-97 entering into the Joint Exercise of Powers for Equipment Purchases with the City of Mora and RESOLUTION NO. R33-97 authorizing the advertisement for bids for the purchase of a front end loader. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 7. City Code Amendment - City Administrator Ordinance Councilmember Strachan questioned whether the conditions imposed by the ordinance superseded those of the administrator's contract. City Attorney Grannis stated that it was his opinion that it did. It was also suggested to delete additional language in Section 1-7-2 of the proposed amendment. MOTION by Strachan, second by Gamer to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 097-391. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. Pine Ridge Forest POD Mayor Ristow opened a public hearing to consider the PUD of Pine Ridge Forest. Planning Coordinator Smick presented background information on the proposed PUD of Pine Ridge Forest. Ms. Smick noted that the plat would be developed in two phases due to a 4 acre portion which was not yet in MUSA. She also presented a request by the developer for a letter from the City which stated that the parkland dedication was larger than required by ordinance. Questions which were raised are as follows: Average lot size? 8,000 to 10,000 square feet Hilltop? will remain as it is now. Entrances? Hill Dee and Nelsen Hills Farm. Final disposition of tree farm? Will save as many trees as possible, however, existing tree farm will no longer exist. There were no other questions from Councilor audience. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 097-392 rezoning the area known as pine Ridge Forest from R-1 to R-1PUD. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. East Far.mington Addition Traffic Control Police Chief Siebenaler and resident Carlene Schonhardt presented her request for additional traffic control signs in the East Farmington Addition. There was a lengthy discussion between Council and audience members regarding the effectiveness and necessity of stop signs under various conditions. It was recommended by Chief Siebenaler that additional signs be installed on Walnut and Locust Streets at 9th Street, on 9th Street at Larch Street, and on 10th Street at Larch. Council also suggested a temporary sign denoting "Construction Area - Slow" be placed in the addition. A traffic study would be done before any additional signs were recommended for installation. MOTION by Fitch, second by Strachan to install the recommended signs. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Traffic Control at Elm and Third Streets Police Chief Siebenaler informed Council that a traffic control study for this intersection has been included in the County's 1997 plan. He further stated that the warrants for a 4 way stop will more than likely be met and warrants for a traffic light would probably be met in 2 years. He also stated that a crosswalk at this intersection would be the only one on County Highway 50. This item was presented for information purposes only. 11. Park Referendum - Setting Date/Setting Questions Parks and Recreation Director Bell stated what action was being requested from Council. Attorney Grannis informed Council that City funds could be expended only to inform the public of the issues. The length of the bond issue and the different effects the passage of Question 1 ($695,000) and/or Question 2 ($3,055,000) would have on property tax rates were explained by staff. It was noted that approval of Question 1 was a prerequisite of approval of Question 2. A long discussion followed between Council, staff and audience members during which both sides of the need for the referendum were verbalized. MOTION by Strachan, second by Fitch to approve referendum Question No.1. VOTING FOR: Strachan, Fitch. AGAINST: Ristow, Gamer, Cordes. MOTION FAILED. Councilmember Strachan reiterated his position that the trails and park upgrades were a necessity and suggested that a committee be set up to continue work on obtaining funding for them. PARAC Member Gerten invited all those present to attend the next PARAC meeting on March 26th and sign up to help. Council recessed for 5 minutes. 12. Highway 3 Speed Limit It was noted that MnDOT was continuing to study the possibility of raising the speed limit on Highway 3 through Farmington to 45 mph and would take the City's request that it remain the same into consideration when making its decision. 13. Larch Street Improvement Project Interim Engineer Mann explained the project to Council noting that the City's share of the project would be approximately $22,000 which would be funded through the Road and Bridge Fund. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R34-97 approving the plans and specifications and authorizing the advertisement for bids for the Larch Street Improvement Project. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 14. Main Street Imp~ovement Project Engineer Mann explained the scope of improvements contained in the project, which also included repair of the 4th Street Storm Sewer Outfall. The feasibility report presented provided preliminary assessment information which showed a typical assessment of over $10,000 per lot. Concern was raised that property owners would be against the project because of its cost and, therefore, proceeding with plans and specifications may be futile. It was noted, however, that without the plans and specifications it would be difficult to answer property owner questions accurately. Staff was directed to research options that may reduce the cost of the project. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R35-97 with the amendment that the public hearing date would be set at the April 7, 1997 Council meeting. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 15. Railroad Crossing at Elm Street Police Chief Siebenaler informed Council that the State had agreed to move funding of the crossing gate installation up and the project had been placed on this year's schedule. Installation will take place as soon as equipment is ordered and received. No action was required. 16. Amend Original Downtown Redevelopment District Administrator Erar stated that a resolution setting a public hearing was needed to amend the original downtown redevelopment district in order to facilitate the construction of a restaurant on the northwest corner of the the intersection of Spruce and Third Streets. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R36-97 setting a public hearing for April 21, 1997 to consider amending the original downtown redevelopment district. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 17. Roundtable Councilmember Fitch: Residents have expressed their displeasure with the County for its decisions regarding funding for Ash Street improvements. Councilmember Ristow: Had received compliments from Elementary School Principal Jon Reid on City snow plowing service. Administrator Erar: Updated Council on the progress of the noise mitigation legislation. It had received support from other cities in Dakota County and was moving forward in the legislature. 18. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adjourn at 9:55 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist