HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.20.24 Council MinutesCity of Farmington
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
The City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Farmington
City Hall, 430 3rd Street, Farmington, Minnesota.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hoyt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Hoyt led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Mayor Joshua Hoyt
Councilmembers Holly Bernatz, Nick Lien, and Katie Porter
Members Absent: Councilmember Steve Wilson (excused absence)
Staff Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator
Julie Flaten, Asst City Administrator/HR Director
Leah Koch, City Attorney
Deanna Kuennen, Community & Economic Development Director
Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director
Gary Rutherford, Police Chief
John Powell, Public Works Director
Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Porter
to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS
Mayor Hoyt read the following statement:
I come before you today with a heavy heart as we address recent events that have
deeply impacted our neighboring community of Burnsville and, indeed, all of Dakota
County. We had initially planned to hold a Swearing In Ceremony for members of
the Police Department. However, considering the recent events, we have decided
to reschedule this ceremony to another date out of respect for the lives lost and the
wounded. Among the fallen were Officer Paul Elmstrand, Officer Matthew Ruge,
and Firefighter Paramedic Adam Finseth. Additionally, Sergeant Adam Medlicott
was also injured during the incident. This tragedy strikes home for all of us. Many
of you have known these involved or played a role in supporting during this time of
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crisis. As a community, we must come together and support one another in this time
of need. The road to healing will be long but know that Farmington stands to assist
in every way possible. In honor of the three fallen public servants, and in recognition
of the pain and loss felt by their families, colleagues, and communities, / ask that
we observe a moment of silence.
A moment of silence was held by everyone in attendance.
6. CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
None.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
7.1 Minutes of the January 16, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
7.2 Ordinance 2024-03 Amending Title 10, Chapters 2 and 5 of the Farmington City
Code as it Relates to Edits to Zoning Districts and Uses
7.3 Payment of Claims for the Period January 31 — February 13, 2024 in the Amount
of $868,929.35
7.4 Out of State Travel for Fire Staff to attend the Fire Department Instructors
Conference April 15-20, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
7.5 Purchase of two Defibtech Lifeline Arm XR, two spare batteries, and two battery
chargers.
7.6 Memorandum of Understanding with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS)
Local #387
7.7 Staff Changes and Recommendations Including:
• Appointment of Isaac Scherbel as Public Works Worker
• Appointment of Dane Tukua as Police Officer
7.8 Agreement with South -Town Refrigeration & Mechanical for Gas Line Reroute at
Schmitz -Maki Arena
7.9 Resolution 2024-20 Accepting a Donation of $100 from Michelle Bade to the
Rambling River Center
7.10 Resolution 2024-23 Authorizing a State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement
with the City of Farmington on Behalf of its Police Department Regarding the
Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)
7.11 Resolution 2024-22 Declaring Items as Surplus and Authorizing Disposal — 2013
Ford Interceptor Sedan, 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
7.12 OpenGov Master Services Agreement, Fleet Asset Management Software
Motion was made by Councilmember Lien and seconded by Councilmember Porter to
approve the Consent Agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
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9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
None.
10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
None.
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
12. NEW BUSINESS
12.1 Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources Outdoor Recreation Grant Program Application
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember
Lien to adopt Resolution 2024-21 Authorizing to Act as Legal Sponsor and
Authorization for DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant Program Application.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
12.2 Community Development Department 2023 Recap and 2024 Goals
Director Kuennen presented a recap of the Community Development
Department's 2023 accomplishments and goals for 2024.
12.3 Public Works 2023 Annual Update
Director Powell presented the 2023 Annual Update for the Public Works
Department.
13.CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
City Attorney Koch:
It's nice to see these presentations from departments and the great things they do.
A little legal education — I am not a prosecuting attorney; I am the City Attorney for
Farmington. My office, Campbell -Knutson, does the prosecution for Farmington. In
a metro county like Dakota, anything from misdemeanors to gross misdemeanors
are taken care of by the City Attorney. Felonies are taken care of by the County
Attorney.
Councilmember Lien:
Thank you to Chief Rutherford and your Officers for always showing up, even when
it's the hard ones. It doesn't go unnoticed.
Councilmember Bernatz:
As a resident, it has been an interesting week. It's one of those things that we take
for granted that we're going to be safe. The work being done by our First
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Responders is absolutely necessary, but this is one of those weeks where it comes
right in front of your face, and you realize how important these people are to you
both personally and in the jobs that they do. Thank you.
Councilmember Porter:
Any time you're in a public service capacity and you put on the uniform, you go out
and you don't know. And your family doesn't know. I'm sure I can speak for our
whole team with our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen and the City
of Burnsville. You also have this beautiful comradery and family that comes around
you when you're a part of these Departments. Watching that unfold in the wake of
tragedy is phenomenal. Thank you for covering for them. Thank you for standing
watch. Thank you for coming around as a community. People don't understand the
trickle down effect of grief when people are in these positions and putting their life
on the line. We stand with them, our prayers and thoughts are with the city, and
with all the teams that are affected. For people like my brother-in-law, who is a part
of SWAT, and were on the scene, we just can't say thank you enough. Giving
everyone space, time to heal, and time to come together as a community is so
important. If there is anything we can do, specifically, for our Police and Fire
Departments, we are here.
Clerk Buecksler:
Two weeks from today is the Presidential Nomination Primary. Polling sites will be
open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're unable to vote on Election Day, you can vote
by absentee at City Hall or any of the County Offices. City Hall will also be open on
Saturday, March 2nd, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, March 4th, until 5 p.m.
Chief Rutherford:
Thank you all. I appreciate all of the kind words and sentiment and expressions of
support that you've all given tonight and since Sunday. At some point, I will probably
take many of you up on your offers of help and support. Currently we are going to
stay focused on supporting Burnsville, because that is where the help is most
needed. As you know, we've been providing patrol and other administrative support
to Burnsville since the incident. That will probably continue until the middle of next
week. Their Department is completely offline. We, along with all the other agencies
in the county and in the area, are covering them for that.
The only other comment tonight is that you're going to hear a lot of talk about the
three fallen and that they're heroes. There is absolutely zero question that they died
heroes. I think it's a shame that it took something like this for us to recognize that
they're heroes because I will be perfectly honest with you — the fact is that people
still put these uniforms on and come to work every day — makes them heroes. It's
not that they sacrificed. It's that they showed up. That happened and hundreds of
public safety professionals went to Burnsville that morning to try and solve that
problem. And they're all heroes. They all deserve our thanks.
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14.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Councilmember Porter and seconded by Councilmember Lien to
adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays.
cfullysubmitted,tR er
hirl
erk
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