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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.04.97 Council Minutes (; [, COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR AUGUST, 4, 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 Rossow. 2. Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to approve the agenda with the following changes: a) Remove item Sa - Minutes of 7/21/97 - for abstention. b) Remove item 5d - Fire Station Facility Use Policy - for discussion. c) Remove item 5n - Payment of Bills - for discussion. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Citizen Comments - There were no Citizen Comments. 5. Consent Agenda MOTION by Fitch, second by Cordes to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R92-97 approving assessment agreements for pine Knoll Sanitary Sewer Connections. b) Approve reallocation of portion of 1997 CDBG Funds for Senior Center computer purchase. c) Adopt ORDINANCE NO. 097-399 approving criminal history background checks for employment applications and Peddler/Solicitor/Transient Merchant Licenses. d) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R88-97 rescheduling the 1997 Seal Coat Project assessment hearing until September 15, 1997 at 7:00 P.M.. e) Receive second quarter building permit summary. f) Approve School/Conference Request - Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Conference. g) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R89-97 authorizing preparation of plans and specifications and advertisement for bids - Municipal Pool Bath House. h) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R90-97 authorizing submittal of Met Council grant application for funding the Comprehensive Plan update. i) Approve waiver of platting ordinance - Gerster Jewelers building contingent upon the owner combining the two existing lots. j) Acknowledge resignation of Police Officer. k) Approve increase in Fire Relief Association Pension for 1998 - $1, 750/year/man. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve the minutes of July 21, 1997 regular Council meeting. VOTING FOR: Gamer, Ristow, Cordes, Fitch. ABSTAIN: Strachan. MOTION CARRIED. 7. Fire Station Facility Use Policy Member Cordes requested this item be removed from the Consent Agenda. Member Cordes felt since the proposed usage was so limited, it made more sense to eliminate use totally. Fire Chief Kuchera stated that many requests were received for use of the Fire Hall, particularly since there was no fee associated with the use. He explained that discussion among the Department's Board of Directors had indicated that eliminating use all together was the preferred option, however, limiting use to Thursday evenings and establishing a usage fee would be acceptable if Council 2;3 preferred. The potential for problems relating to building and equipment supervision were discussed. Liability for injury, building and equipment damage, and finding volunteers to provide supervision were all taken into consideration. Mr. Kuchera noted that none of the surrounding communities allowed public use of fire facilities. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to eliminate all usage of the City Fire Facility by outside organizations. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. Payment of Bills Member Cordes requested this item be removed from the Consent Agenda for clarification of funding source for the Concert in the Parks series. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to approve payment of the bills. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. Elm Street Extension and Fourth Street Outfall Contract Consulting Engineer Cook informed Council that bids had been received for these improvements, with the low bid being submitted by Ryan Contracting, Inc.. The costs for the Elm Street Extension Project would be 100% assessed to South Suburban Medical Center, the owner of the property; the Fourth Street Storm Sewer Outfall would be funded by the Storm Water Utility Fund. Mr. Cook recommended accepting the bids and awarding the contract to Ryan Contracting for their bid of $279,656.45. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R91-97 awarding the contract for the Elm Street Extension and Fourth Street Storm Sewer Outfall projects to Ryan Contracting. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. City Hall Roof Repair Parks and Recreation Director Bell explained there had been confusion in the specifications as to how much of the roof contractors were bidding to repair. It was his recommendation to reject all bids and rebid the project. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to reject all bids received and authorize rebidding the City Hall roof repair project. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. Historic Resources Survey HPC Consultant Robert Vogel presented the Downtown Historic Resources Survey. The survey is intended to be used as a planning document for Council in determining future use and development of the downtown. Mr. Vogel noted the survey had shown more properties worth preserving than originally believed, with 5 buildings having high economic potential and another 10 which relate well to the top five and, therefore, are also of value. He also noted that while Farmington has a distinctive downtown whose character is worth preserving, new construction should also be introduced to maintain its vitality. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to accept the survey to be used as a planning document for use and development of the downtown. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 12. Council approved the dates of August 27th and September 10th as the Council/Management Team work sessions. 13. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to set the County Road 31 Realignment Open House date for August 26th from 5:30 to 8:30 P.M. at Dakota Electric Association building. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. It was the consensus of Council that flyers be placed at various locations in the City and that staff check into placing a notice on the public service information cable station. 14. Gateway Signs Parks and Recreation Director Bell provided samples of proposed gateway sign designs and materials. He explained how the gateway sign project had come about, the participation of community committee members, and the selection of the final three " LJ design options. He requested Council select one of the designs so the project could continue. willard Barnett, who was a member of the community committee, was present to express his concern that the City's civic clubs would not be advertised on the signs, which was his original intent. Discussion continued regarding design, lighting, location and funding of the gateway signs. MOTION by Strachan, second by Gamer to select design option #2 for the gateway signs. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. It was the consensus of Council that staff work with the civic organizations to insure their promotional signage is completed. They also thanked members of the Committee for their hard work. 15. Graffiti Ordinance Police Chief Siebenaler explained the proposed ordinance, which came about following a request at a previous Council meeting. Chief Siebenaler stated that the proposed ordinance would make creating graffiti a criminal violation and failure of property owners to remove it a civil violation. He noted that graffiti is often used to mark territory and, if allowed to remain in place, ususally causes a negative shift in the residents' attitude and community pride, thereby degrading the entire community's environment. Questions were raised regarding help for property owners whose buildings were repeatedly targeted, the possibility of having those responsible for the graffiti remove it, and the ordinance section which calls for Council to review each case individually. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 097-400 amending Title 6 of the City Code by adding Chapter 11 - Graffiti Control. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 16. 1998 Proposed Budget Presentation City Administrator Erar reviewed the proposed budget document with Council. He informed Council that the budget would reduce local tax capacity rates by 1%, and that any increase in residents' property taxes would not be due to City tax rates. After review, Council was requested to accept the proposed budget and to set a workshop for more thorough review of the document. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to accept the proposed 1998 Budget. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the workshop date of August 19th at 7:00 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 17. Roundtable Councilmember Strachan: Noted he had received a survey regarding Community Crime Prevention which was very interesting and useful and offered Council the opportunity to review it. Councilmember Cordes: Letters relating to park improvement issues which had been placed in Council boxes should have been forwarded sooner. Mayor Ristow echoed Member Cordes' concern. Member Cordes also noted that she had received complaints regarding pool filtration system noise once again. Staff was requested to review a noise ordinance. Member Cordes suggested contacting the City of Rosemount for a copy of its ordinance. Councilmember Fitch: Noted he had received a weed complaint for property located on 193rd Street. Staff will check into the complaint and Parks and Recreation Director Bell stated a policy will need to be developed regarding how to deal with natural vegetation around storm water ponds and on steep slopes. Councilmember Gamer: Asked about the status of restricted parking signs on Second Street. Staff was in the process of ordering and installing. Mayor Ristow: Eagles Club groundbreaking ceremony. Had received complaints regarding railroad whistles again. 2 Administrator Erar: Received a letter from Gil Gilbertson thanking City for efforts in having Ash Street railroad crossing repaired. Castle Rock Township and the Fair Board sent written confirmation of their willingness to share in the costs of additional engineering study for the Ash Street/Prairie Waterway Phase III project. Community Development Director Olson: 1) Exchange Bank Building - waiting for windows. 2) Dakota County Tribune Site - most of soil work/testing has been completed Consulting Engineer Cook: Construction on water tower has begun. 15. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to adjourn at 9:05 P.M.. CARRIED. APIF, MOTION Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist