HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.01.24 Council MinutesCity of Farmington
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 1, 2024
The City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 1, 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 Nick Lien, Katie Porter, and Steve Wilson
Members Absent: Councilmember Holly Bernatz (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
Matt Price, Interim Fire Chief
Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director
Gary Rutherford, Police Chief
Jim Constantineau, Deputy Police Chief
John Powell, Public Works Director
Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Porter
to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember porter stated that she will abstain
from approval of the Consent Agenda.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS
5.1 Swearing of Police Officers and Sergeant Promotion
A Swearing In Ceremony was held for Police Officers August Kewitsch, Max
Theirl, and Dalton Vickery. Andrew Van Dorn was sworn in as a newly promoted
Police Sergeant.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April I, 2024 Page I of 5
6. CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
None.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
7.1 Minutes of the March 18, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
7.2 Minutes of the March 18, 2024 Work Session
7.3 Temporary On -Sale Liquor License for The Rotary Club of Farmington, May 18,
2024
7.4 Agreement with Michael Hawke
7.5 Professional Services Agreement with HKGi for Planning and Design Services to
Support the Development of a City -Wide Wayfinding Plan
7.6 2023 Fund Transfers
7.7 Payment of Claims
7.8 Professional Services Agreement with Alliant Engineering, Inc. for the Dushane
Parkway/Spruce Street Intersection Study
7.9 Quotes and Award of Contract for the 2024 Spring Park Planting
7.10 Quotes and Award of Contract for the Spring 2024 Boulevard Stump Removals
7.11 Staff Recommendations and Changes, Including:
• Appointment of Lawrence (Joe) Pluta as full-time Public Works Worker
• Appointment of several seasonal workers:
o Zachary LaMotte as a Public Works Worker
o Brynn Larson as a Skate Instructor
o Anna Goodrich as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Ava Goodrich as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Josiah Kuennen as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Lauren Lansing as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Micah Porter as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Sadie Spolarich as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Josilyn Tooley as a Recreational Program Assistant
o Maya Tracey as a Recreational Program Assistant
• Approval of the Water Resources Specialist position
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Lien, to
approve Items 7.1 through 7.10 on the Consent Agenda.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays.
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Lien to
approve Item 7.11 on the Consent Agenda.
Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays / 1 abstain — Councilmember Porter.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2024 Page 2 of 5
9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
None.
10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
None.
11.UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
12. NEW BUSINESS
12.1 Plans and Specifications and Authorize the Advertisement for Bids for the 2024
Street Improvement Project
Motion was made by Councilmember Porter and seconded by Councilmember
Lien to approve the plans and specifications and authorize the advertisement for
bids for the 2024 Street Improvement Project.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays.
13.CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
City Attorney Koch:
Another judicial announcement. Judge Shawn Moynihan is retiring. He is
chambered in Hastings. A vacancy will be open, and the Governor's Office is
accepting applications until April 17tn
Councilmember Katie Porter:
The forecast looks great, so we're all getting out there. Watch for kiddos crossing
streets and all the extra traffic because there will be foot traffic, pedestrians, bikes,
etc. Sports are also underway. Looking forward to spring and summer
Councilmember Wilson:
I'm not a meteorologist but I do think we will have another snowstorm and I do think
we still have winter parking restrictions in effect until about April 15tn
want to give huge kudos to Josh Solinger who runs our liquor operations. He is
one of the most enthusiastic individuals I know. One thing that residents may not
be aware of is when you shop one of our two liquor stores, there is always a benefit
that goes back to the community through a round -up campaign. This month, the
campaign is going to our Police K9 Unit and also to Rambling River Park
enhancements. So shop local — we've got great customer service, great teams, and
you're supporting our community by doing so.
Director Flaten:
The City has been working for months on our new website and, if all goes well, it
will go live a week from Thursday.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2024 Page 3 of 5
Director Powell:
I want to thank you, Mayor, for approving our hiring of our second additional Staff
maintenance worker in Public Works. Joe Pluta has great experience and he's
going to be a fine addition to our team. I look forward to introducing these
employees to you at a future meeting.
Director Omlid:
If you haven't been by the Rambling River Park since last Friday, the tennis court
fence started coming Friday afternoon. They have started taking up the asphalt for
the tennis court in preparation for the new inclusive playground equipment. We are
still on track for July 1st. I think the equipment will be delivered on site in the next
couple weeks, so we are very excited for the new playground at Rambling River
Park.
Interim Chief Price:
Our tender is in its final build, so the Truck Committee and I will be heading down
to Florida April 20th to sign for it to be shipped to MacQueen for the remainder of
the equipment items mounted onto it. Hopefully in May we will start training and
then we'll have our truck in service ceremony. No surprises with the build as of right
now.
Mayor Hoyt:
On the Consent Agenda, we approved a contract for 187 stumps to be ground,
which is 187 stumps from boulevard trees. Questions come up a lot about the trees
coming down and when are the stumps coming out. We pulled about 700+ trees
last year. There are 187 stumps coming out with this approval. We are working on
the reforestation plan, and a strategy with doing that effectively and most beneficial
for the community.
In regard to our liquor stores, one of the things that gets spurned around is a
falsehood and that, somehow by the City being in the liquor operations business,
that it's preventing people from coming here to transact. The reality is we don't have
businesses telling us that they we would be there if all you do is get out of the liquor
operations. So it's not a reality; it's something that we tell ourselves that makes us
feel comfortable with why things do or do not happen in the community. On the
other side of that, even if that was a scenario where there was this big monster
company that wanted to come in and the conversation revolved around liquor.
Liquor operations help offset a significant portion of our tax every year, to the tune
of a few hundred thousand dollars annually. So if and when a conversation ever
were to be had, there are other consequences than just shut the doors and go away.
So, again, any time you see a lot of that stuff being thrown out there, it's good to
put facts behind it, rather than emotions and falsehoods. But it's not a thing and
hasn't been a thing in at least the last six years that I'm aware of or our team is
aware of. Liquor operations is a great added benefit to the community. It helps offset
our levy, puts dollars into funds that otherwise would come out of property taxes,
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2024 Page 4 of 5
so there are different ways to diversify our base and that's one of them we are using
right now.
14.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Councilmember Porter and seconded by Councilmember Wilson
to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays.
R pectfully submitted,
kley, R e ksler
City Clerk
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April I, 2024 Page 5 of 5