HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.10.93 Special Council Minutes
75
MINUTES
COURCIL MEETING
SPECIAL
MAY 10, 1993
1. Mayor Kuchera called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M..
Members Present: Kuchera, Ristow, Orr, Rotty, Galler.
Members Absent: None.
Also Present: Administrator Thompson, Planner Tooker, Consulting
Attorney Marx, Financial Consultant Fifield.
2. The purpose of the meeting was to consider approving a petition to
annex approximately 11.75 acres of Castle Rock and Empire Townships.
3. Mayor Kuchera opened the discussion stating:
a. Staff will give remarks.
b. Notice was sent to various Township and civic leaders.
c. Even if the Council decides to pursue annexation tonight, it is only
the beginning of the process.
d. There will be plenty of opportunities for continued discussion.
e. Several options are available.
4. Tim Marx of Briggs and Morgan explained the resolution which was
before the Council:
a. History of the process.
b. Authorizing the filing of a petition for contested annexation.
c. Allows room for negotiated settlement.
5. Planner Tooker outlined the following:
a. Areas proposed to be annexed.
b. Affects 900 persons in Empire and 200 in Castle Rock.
c. Irregular boundaries.
d. Conflict over land use policies.
e. Conflict in comprehensive transportation planning. (208th Street
example)
f. Extension of City services.
g. Southeast Area Storm Sewer - joint powers agreement.
h. Potential growth along 160th Street in the near future.
6. Consultant Rusty Fifield explained the property tax implications:
a. Figures are based on the best information available.
b. Urges people to look at short term and long term.
c. Decrease in Farmington tax rates. (6% drop for an $80,000
homsteaded property.
d. Increase of approximately 3% in Empire and 12% in Castle Rock
Township.
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Council Minutes - 5/10/93 - Page 2
e. Remainder of townships - per capita tax base would increase in
Castle Rock (slight) and Empire (significant).
7. Tim Marx outlined the process if a petition is filed.
8. The following comments were received:
Richard Childs:
scapegoat.
The Southeast Storm Sewer was not our
fault. It appears we are being made the
Bill Fitch:
What was the response of the watershed
board?
Planner Tooker:
They gave authorization to proceed.
Mike Boland: I came looking for peace and quiet. I
thought Farmington woudl be progressive.
Are you getting greedy by taking our tax base?
Joe Harris: (County Commissioner) Noted that Dakota
County doesn't have a lot to say about the
process. Noted concern of the large area being taken from Empire.
Housing does not create a positive tax base. Also, proposed roads may
hurt the downtown. Finally, Farmington has a great deal of space
available for development. Communities should work together to resolve
problems.
Duane Winnette: How would you deal with crossing the river
on 208th Street? I moved to Empire for
the quiet life. I enjoy it as it is. 208th Street would be a drawback.
John Luckow: My strongest concern is what is going to
happen to the commercial taxes.
Farmington can offer us nothing in services. What are we getting and
for what?
Brad Moen: Council is upset because of 208th Street
and that Castle Rock and Empire wouldn't
help pay for Farmington's water problems. You talk about police
problems, why would you decrease Farmington's taxes to help services in
Castle Rock?
Verlyn Johnson: Would you get more income than
expenditures? Why wasn't 208th Street
considered before the Middle School was built. Why would growth be
pushed north? Do people want to get out of the City? We don't want any
more services. What does Farmington have to offer?
Dan Nicolai: What would happen if you threw the plan
out and just tried to work together. I
think a plan should be made as to how and when annexation should occur.
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Council Minutes - 5/10/93 - Page 3
Bill Fitch:
The growth and annexation study was just a
mud slinging report. Clean your act up
first.
Cm. Orr: The growth pressures to the north will be
the extension of County Road 46, not
whether or not it is the City. Also, the City doesn't locate schools,
the School District does and the City provides the services, including
roads. Regarding 208th Street, any healthy city requires a good
arterial system.
Cm. Galler:
We are here to hear the concerns. I see
many people here who have given countless
major issues are equitable provision and
the community will be in 20 years.
hours to the community. The
payment of services and where
services and coordinated land
is not in the interest of the
Supports the proposal due to long term
benefits, mainly in planning, provision of
use. An uncoordinated piecemeal process
City.
Cm. Orr:
Cm. Ristow: (Thanks people for coming.) Notes that
there are more urban and suburban areas
being created without proper facilities available to meet growth needs.
We should not annex piecemeal. Hopes the parties can get together.
Cm. Rotty: I hoped we could get together but it
didn't happen. I am still hoping we can
negotiate a settlement. It appears that meaningful negotiations have
broken down. This decision did not come easily. We should bury our
differences and move ahead together.
John McBrien: As long as people outside of the City feel
it is taking, there is going to be
opposition. Sometimes you have to work harder. I think you should
delay the resolution and look at doing it as a whole community.
and sell it.
community.
The approach has been wrong. I would
suggest that you go to the township people
Think of a different approach. You will destroy the
Gordy Wichterman:
Cm. Orr:
I believe we are at an impasse and that it
should be submitted to an impartial third
party.
Bill Sachs:
I believe we have tried to work together
and we can work together in the future.
but when we don't agree with you, you say we
couple of years ago I thought we were on the
We hear what you are saying
aren't working with you. A
right path.
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Council Minutes - 5/10/93 - Page 4
Bryce Olsen:
I thought you would listen, but people arE
reading canned statements.
Cm. Galler: We are starting the clock by passing the
resolution. We could play games and cut
off City services, but I think we would work better with guns to our
heads.
Cm. Rotty:
I thought long and hard about this issue
and did not take my decision lightly.
by Galler to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R36-93
the Minnesota Municipal Board for annexation
Castle Rock Townships. VOTING FOR: Orr,
VOTING AGAINST: Ristow. MOTION CARRIED.
9. MOTION by Orr, second
authorizing a petition to
of portions of Empire and
Kuchera, Ratty, Galler.
10. Councilmember Galler suggested appointing a group from each board
to negotiate a settlement. The Townships were requested to respond to
the City by Friday, May 14, 1993.
11. MOTION by Galler, second by Kuchera to adjourn at 9:00 P.M.. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
~spectfuIIY submitted,
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L{f{y Thomptn
City Administrator
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