Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.07.25 Work Session Minutes City of Farmington City Council Work Session Minutes Monday, April 7, 2025 The City Council met in a work session on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Farmington City Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota. 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hoyt called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. Members Present: Mayor Joshua Hoyt Councilmembers Holly Bernatz, Jake Cordes, Nick Lien, and Steve Wilson Members Absent: None Staff Present: David Chanski, City Administrator/HR Director Amy Schmidt, City Attorney Deanna Kuennen, Economic & Community Development Director Tony Wippler, Planning Manager Jared Johnson, Planning Coordinator Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director John Powell, Public Works Director Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk Also Present: Gigapower Representative 2. APPROVE AGENDA Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to approve the agenda, as presented. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3.1 Right-of-Way Management Discussion Director Powell presented detailed information on and several challenges to efficient Right-of-Way Management. As there is potential for right-of-way activity to increase even further, Staff is requesting policy guidance to ensure administration of this activity is efficient, fully considers the impact on property owners, and is consistent with City Council expectations. Work Session Minutes of April 7,2025 Page 1 of 3 Discussion: • Cost of right-of-way permits. • As-builts due in 90 days. • Additional escrow to ensure timely submittal of as-builts. • Mechanism to hold contractors to standards. • Ordinance verbiage for Planned Unit Development contracts as part of new development work. • Design standards beyond as-builts; amend the Development Contract for new developments regarding private utility as-builts. • Verbiage in right-of-way ordinance to explain off-set from center line and confining new utility installations to right-of-way easement that exists. • Go into right-of-way only once during street construction projects; share street reconstruction phasing earlier with utilities. • Protect property owners from disruption. • Increase permit cost to recoup cost of Staff doing right-of-way permit work. • Space constraints - how to define as full or congested. • How can we know what space may be needed in 20 years and what reasonable amount should be preserved? • Education for property owners. • Maintain two or three communication companies to maintain competition in the market. Direction: • Move item forward; bring back recommendations on fee changes. • Include large educational component. • Work with City Attorney on ordinance changes. • Enumerate congested areas based on as-builts when data has been received from utility companies. • Public Works and Planning Commission to work together and coordinate. 3.2 GreenStep Cities Program Overview Planning Coordinator Johnson shared information about the GreenStep program and its process, highlighted what the City has accomplished, and outlined the best practices and actions the City can take to achieve Step 3 recognition. Work Session Minutes of April 7, 2025 Page 2 of 3 Farmington is currently at Step 2, and Staff has been working to identify and prioritize what is needed for the City to receive Step 3 recognition and will be pursuing actions that will help us accomplish this goal. Discussion: • Best practices - credit to Jared for working on this since April 2023. • Benefits - from an economic development standpoint, new businesses want to go into a community that cares about sustainability. • The program saves money for both the residents and the City. Next steps: • Build out on our website and make it readily available. • Consider best practices in our initial planning processes. 4. COUNCIL COMMITTEE UPDATE The Fire Relief Board met last week and will come forward to a future meeting regarding pensions. 5. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE 6. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Lien to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 pm. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays spectfully submitted, S ey R e ksler City Clerk Work Session Minutes of April 1,1021 Page 3 of 3