HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.01.82 Council Minutes
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MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR
MARCH 1, 1982
1. The Acting Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Members Cook, Kelly, Kuchera, Orr
Absent: Mayor Stegmaier
Also Present: Administrator Ford, Attorney Gorgos
2. Motion by Cook, second by Kelly to approve the minutes of February 16,
1982. APIF, motion carried.
3. Motion by Cook, second by Kelly to approve the minutes of February 22,
1982 as presented. APIF, mobion carried.
4. The Council examined the feasibility submitted to them by City Engineer
Glenn Cook, on the following work:
Public Improvements, east side of 8th Street, between
C~ntennial Drive and Heritage Way.
Project 82-1 ia-r Sewer Sub-Trunk
Project 82-~ kb1 Water Sub-Main
Project 82-,3 !-e-r Frontage Road
It was pointed out to the Council that these feasibilities were ordered by
the Council following a petition by the two property owners benefitted,
who also waived their right to a public hearing. The feasibility report
stated that all of the proposed work was feasible, could be done independently
without being done in conjunction with any other work, and at the following
costs: Sanitary Sewer - $13,100; Water - $14,345; Frontage Road - $45,100.
Motion by Kuchera, second by Kelly that the above feasibility reports be
accepted. APIF, motion carried.
5. Motion by Kuchera, second by Kelly to adopt Resolution No. R8-82
ordering the preparation of plans and specifications on the above projects.
APIF, motion carried.
6. The Council reviewed correspondence received from Dakota County Planning
Services dated February 10, 1982 in which the Council was informed that a
Metropolitan Regional Railroad Authority was proposed which would provide
for the "preservation and improvement of local rail service for agriculture,
industry, or passenger traffic when determined to be practical and necessary
for the public welfare, particularly in the case of abandonment of local
rail lines.1I The Council requested the City Administrator to obtain more
detailed and understandable information concerning this proposal.
7. The next item on the agenda was a review of the status of the on-sale
liquor license recently issued to the Ruddy Duck at 209 Oak Street. Contacts'
made with the City Hall had alleged that perhaps the owner of the Ruddy Duck
was not, in fact, operating a full-fledged legitimate restaurant in which
meals were regularly served as required by the on-sale liquor license ordinance
in Farmington. The owners appeared at the meeting and discussed the matter
informally with the Council. The thrust of their statements was that at the
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time the license was issued the Council granted a certain period of time
to allow the operation to get into full swing. They stated that they
were in that period of time now and that by the 1st of April they
expected to be operating a full-scale operation. Further questioning
by members of the Council and staff disclosed that they expected to be
on the following schedule by April 4th: Thursday, Friday, Saturday -
full meals from 6am - 9pm.; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday - bar
menu only from 6am -:-m9pm. The City Administrator and City Attorney
were requested by the Council to make inquiries into the status of all
holders of on-sale liquor licenses, and to prepare recommended guidelines
and standards as well as a glossary of definitions by which the Council
could better interpret the intent and operation of the ordinance.
8. The following subjects dealing with the Fire Department were addressed
by the Council:
a) The volunteer site offered to the City for a future
fire facility as explained in the Administrator's
memorandum dated February 26, 1982 should be included
in the list of potential sites which will be reported
to the Council on March 22, 1982.
b) The Administrator1s memorandum of February 24, 1982
dealing with a possible financing mode for the
acquisition of a fire facility site was set aside for
further study.
c) The correspondence under 'IAction Alert" from the
League of Minnesota Cities dated February 18,1982
dealing with proposed legislation having to do with
the setting of benefits in fire relief associations
was deferred with the request that additional informa-
tion be obtained and distributed.
9. Motion by Kelly, second by Kuchera to adopt Resolution R9-82
which establishes a fire facility building fund entitled "Fire Facility
Building Fund, Number 4-9-82". APIF, motion carried.
10. Motion by Kelly, second by Kuchera that the City accept a lump
sum donation of $6,750 collected by members of the Fire Department in
support of the Rescue Truck purc~s~ in 1979, and that the following
budget adjustments be authorized: increase General Fund receipts -
donations - $6,750, increase Permanent Transfer to Fund 4-9-82 - $3,500,
increase General Fund - Fire Capital Outlay (Rescue Truck Equipment) -
$3,250, and further that the Council hereby authorize the expenditure
of $3,250 for equipment for the aforementioned rescue truck. The total
list to be furnished to the Deputy Treasurer. APIF, motion carried.
11. Motion by Kuchera, second by Cook to approve the payment of bills
as presented. APIF, motion carried.
12. The Council reviewed the legal opinion from City Attorney G.M. Gorgos
dated February 22, 1982 in regard to the donation of a City to private
causes and activities. Motion by Kelly, second by Orr that upo~ sound
legal advice, it shall be the policy of the City of Farmington that
the City make no donations whatsoever to any private non-governmental
cause or activity over which it does not have complete control if
Council minutes - continued - March 1, 1982
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such activity is not one of the exeptions listed in the legal opinion
of the City Attorney dated February 22, 1982 and for which the Council
has established a special tax levy. APIF, motion carried.
13. The Council discussed the contents of a resolution adopted by the
City of Mendota Heights and forwarded to the City of Farmington for
their consideration. The resolution opposed the establishment of
licensing procedures on the state level for various categories of
general contractors, subcontractors, and trades. Motion by Cook, second
by Kuchera that the Farmington City Council go on record as concurring
with the resolution and so notify the elected representatives. APIF,
motion carried.
14. Motion by Kuchera, second by Cook that the City Council of the
City of Farmington register its disagreement with'ana,disapproval of
proposed legislation which would allow mobile homes (now referred to as
manufactured homes) in various zoning districts throughout the City
and that the authors of this bill and other legislative representatives
be made aware of the opposition on the part of the City of Farmington.
APIF, motion carried.
15. The next item on the agenda was the ongoing selection process
to replace the Police Chief for the City. Acting Mayor Orr reviewed
the actions taken to date by the Council, which dated back to February
8, 1982 in which the Council instructed the City Administrator to
interpret the personnel policy and to prepare a selection process in
accordance with that policy and the review of the first outline of that
procedural policy made by the Council on February~, 1982 in the form
of a discussion paper submitted by the Administrator. The memorandum
,now before the Council dated February 26, 1982 presented to the Council
a refined version and in much greater detail of the procedural steps,
the recruiting procedures, the job description, offer of employment
form, and the advertisement that was published inviting resumes. The
possibility of the Council itself interviewing candidates at some
point in the procedure was discussed and no action taken at this time.
The Administrator was informed that he could proceed at least through
Step 5 with the assurance that no changes or amendments would be made
through to that phase of the procedure.
16. Councilman Kuchera inquired of the staff whether or not the City
had an ordinance which controlled the display of certain magazines
in retail outlets and particularly if restricting them from access by
minors. He was informed that the City did not have such an ordinance
and that in view of recent court decisions one would be very difficult
to write which could be enforced with any confidence. The Attorney,
however, agreed to try.
17. The City Attorney then informed the Council of the public hearing
which he hac attended at the Senior High School concerning the siting
of Sludge/Ash facilities within the Metropolitan Area.
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18. The Attorney also informed the Council that he was proceeding
immediately with legal enforcement of the ordinance in regard to a
structure which had been built in the F-l flood plain.
19. The Council took note of the letter received from a private citizen
dated February 24, 1982, expressing gratitude and praise for Police
Officer Jerry Wacker in an incident which occurred February 16, 1982
in which he lent assistance to the writer.
20. Motion made and seconded to adjourn at 9:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
~~.I..~ Y 3/4n-
William J. Ford;'
City Administrator
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