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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.02.97 Council Minutes o COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR SEPTEMBER 2, 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) Remove Consent Item 5i - Appointment Recommendation - Planning Coordinator - for discussion. b) Add Item 7b - Requesting MnDOT Traffic Study on Flagstaff Avenue and 190th Street. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Citizen Comments - There were no Citizen Comments. 5. Consent Agenda MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve Minutes - 8/18/97 (Regular) and 8/19/97 (Special). b) Approve School/Conference Requests - Fire Department. c) Approve School/Conference Requests - Police Department. d) Approve publication of ordinance summary - Graffiti Control. e) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R98-97 supporting continued participation in the Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Act. f) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R99-97 amending 1997 Fees and Charges by changing fees for ice time for 1998 season. g) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R100-97 approving application submittal for Tree Grant. h) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. RI01-97 accepting donation from Farmington Chorale for Music in the Parks Series. i) Receive update on property acquisition for Fourth Street Storm Sewer Outfall Project. j) Appoint T.E.A.M. Inc. as Employee Assistance Program provider. k) Approve time extensions for plat recording for pine Ridge Forest, Cameron Woods, and Nelsen Hills Farm 6th Additions. 1) Approve Agreement for continuing disclosure on municipal bond issues. m) Approve payment of bills as submitted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. Planning Coordinator Appointment Councilmember Ristow requested this item be removed from Consent for discussion. He asked whether the City had advertised for the position. City Administrator Erar responded that the process had been started, however, upon learning that the former Coordinator had inquired about returning to the position, and with the recommendation of the Department Head to reinstate the Coordinator, the process had been halted. Mr. Erar added that he concurred with the recommendation for reinstatement based upon the Planning Coordinator's previous work record for the City and qualifications. Mayor Ristow stated concerns regarding stability in the organization and legalities of following the hiring process. He also questioned whether it was a Union position and if the Union had objections. Mr. Erar responded ,~ ! that Planning Coordinator was a Union position, however, the action being requested did not involve the Union. MOTION by Ristow to not appoint Ms. Smick as the Planning Coordinator at this time and to go through the hiring process. The motion failed for lack of a second. MOTION by Cordes, second by Strachan to approve the appointment of Ms. Smick as Planning Coordinator. VOTING FOR: Cordes, Fitch, Strachan, Gamer. AGAINST: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED. 7. City Hall Roof Repair Contract Award Parks and Recreation Director Bell stated that 4 bids had been received and that the low bid was below the estimated project cost. He recommended that the bid be awarded to All Systems in the amount of their bid of $28,085. Councilmember Ristow asked whether the library roof was still in need of repair. Mr. Bell stated that the roof needed to be replaced, however, there were no funds budgeted for its replacement at this time. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R106-97 accepting the bids received and awarding the contract for City Hall roof repair to All Systems in the amount of their low bid. APIF, MOTION CARRIED 8. Sewer Flow Update City Engineer Mann stated the City had received estimated sewer flows for 1997 from Metropolitan Environmental Services. He stated their estimate for the entire year was 400 million gallons which was 46 million gallons below the 1994 flows. Since the City has experienced a large population growth during the last three years, the flow indicates that the City's extensive I/I reduction program was having a significant impact. 9. Requests for Traffic Studies City Engineer Mann informed Council that this item was brought to their attention following requests by residents to reduce traffic speed on Flagstaff Avenue and 190th Street. He explained that MnDOT was the governing body for setting speed limits and, in order to implement a speed reduction, MnDOT would need to perform a speed study. This requires passage of a resolution requesting the study. Member Fitch asked whether the possibility existed that the study could produce the opposite result and suggest the speed should be raised? Police Chief Siebenaler said it was possible. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R102-97 requesting MnDOT perform a traffic speed study on 190th Street. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Cordes, second by Ristow to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R103-97 requesting MnDOT perform a traffic speed study on Flagstaff Avenue. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Railroad Crossing Gates on Elm Street City Engineer Mann explained progress on the crossing gates, stating the City's share of the City/County/Railroad project was $5,321. Funding would come from the City's Road and Bridge Fund. He stated it was possible the project could be completed this Fall and, if not, then in the Spring. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R104-97 approving the agreement with the Soo Line Railroad and the Commissioner of Transportation for the installation and maintenance of railroad crossing gates at the intersection of Elm Street (CSAH 50) and the tracks of the Soo Line Railroad. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. Traffic Study on Elm Street Police Chief Siebenaler updated Council that the County Highway Department intended beginning the study this week and it should be completed within a week. When results are received, they will be forwarded to Council. 011 ~~ 12. East Farmington House Moving Update City Administrator Erar updated Council on the status of the proposed house moving to an outlot in East Farmington. Following expressions of concern by Councilmembers, staff reviewed the request again. While the request met all City Code requirements for moving, the property owners involved, Roger Randall and SSMC CEO Robert Johnson had agreed to stop the moving process. A joint City/Hospital reimbursement agreement was proposed to defray costs incurred by Mr. Randall. This reimbursement would only occur should the house have to be demolished or if another appropriate location could not be found. One suggested site was at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets. This location would involve purchase of the tax forfeited site by the City, resale to Mr. Randall, in addition to resolving issues regarding a sewer easement running through the property and rezoning the property. Discussion of the 4th and Main site involved soil testing/environmental issue costs and public notification of rezoning. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to approve the reimbursement agreement with SSMC should the Randall house need to be demolished. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to instruct staff to begin the rezoning process for the lot at Fourth and Main Streets. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Councilmembers thanked staff, Mr. Randall, and Mr. Johnson for their cooperation in the resolution of this matter. 13. Code of Ethics Ordinance City Administrator Erar stated the ordinance was the result of a request by Council. He noted that the document was a draft stage presented for Council review. He suggested the item be placed on an agenda for discussion and possible adoption in a month or so. Discussion regarding various sections of the document followed. Mayor Ristow stated his belief that the document was an unnecessary waste of time and that most of the items it included were covered by State laws. Administrator Erar noted it was up to Council to decide whether they wished to pursue enacting the ordinance. After discussion, it was determined the item would be placed on the October 6, 1997 agenda and if interest to continue was expressed, a workshop would be set to discuss the ordinance more thoroughly. 14. 1998 Preliminary Levy/Truth In Taxation Hearing Finance Director Roland informed Council that State statute required the preliminary levy be set before September 15th. She also noted that after adoption of the preliminary levy, it could be decreased but not increased. The suggested dates for the Truth in Taxation hearing were December 3rd or 4th, with continuation dates, if necessary, of December 10th or 11th. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R105-97 adopting the preliminary tax levy for 1998 and to set the Truth in Taxation hearing for December 3rd. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 15. Initiate POD Agreement Amendment - East Farmington Community Development Director Olson stated the amendment dealt with restricting development of outlots within the East Farmington PUD to construction consistent with existing development. It was the consensus of Council that staff move forward with initiating the PUD agreement amendment. 16. Fair Hills Storm Water Pond Outlet City Engineer Mann explained that the outlet pipe for the storm water pond in Fair Hills had been buried over the years and no longer functioned properly. This caused high water levels in the pond during heavy rains and periods of high water run off. Two options were suggested for correcting the problem. The first would involve regrading the area around the pond which would require extensive work in residents' backyards. The second would be to extend the outlet pipe by 75 feet. Since it would be difficult to determine who was responsible for the original pipe being ~ ~, buried, it was proposed that the improvement be funded through Storm Water Utility Funds. Engineer Mann suggested that option two, extension of the pipe, be selected to correct the problem. Councilmember Fitch asked what was being done to prevent this situation from occurring in the future. Engineer Mann explained the recently adopted as built certificate requirement process, which should eliminate the majority of the problem in addition to making it easier to identify who caused the change in approved grades. MOTION by Gamer, second by Ristow to approve the drainage pipe extension in the Fair Hills Storm Water Pond. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. It was noted that the work was estimated to cost below $25,000 and that the project was scheduled for this Fall if weather conditions permitted. 17. Dakota County Estates 8th Drainage Problem City Engineer Mann illustrated the problem area on a map and explained that the drainage problem was a combination of landscaping done by residents which aggravated inadequate grading (less than 1% slope). The proposed solution was to install drain tile and small yard drains along the problem area. Several affected residents were in the audience and requested Council approve the improvements. Staff research suggested the swale had originally met grading requirements and the problems were likely caused by homebuilders. Because neither developer or homeowners seemed to have created the drainage problem, it was staff's suggestion that the estimated $16,000 required for corrections be funded through the Storm Water Utility Fund. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve City funding to correct the drainage. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 18. Roundtable Councilmember Strachan: Exchange Bank Building looks fantastic. Councilmember Gamer: Reiterated Member Strachan's comments regarding the Exchange Bank Building. Councilmember Fitch: Noted he had been asked how much the City was paying due to I/I in the Main Street Project area. He also asked whether holding as built surety longer would reduce grading/drainage problems later. Administrator Erar: Informed Council the City was now on the Internet. Community Development Director Olson: Reminded Council of the Exchange Bank Building unveiling celebration on Thursday, September 4th at 5:00 P.M.. Mayor Ristow: Had received weed complaint for property in the prairie Waterway. Also had received complaints regarding railroad whistles again. 15. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to adjourn at 8:58 P.M.. CARRIED. APIF, MOTION Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist