HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.04.25 Work Session Minutes City of Farmington
City Council Work Session Minutes
Monday, August 4, 2025
The City Council met in a work session on Monday, August 4, 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,
and Nick Lien
Members Absent: Councilmember Steve Wilson
Staff Present: David Chanski, Interim City Administrator/HR Director
Deanna Kuennen, Community & Economic
Development Director
Kim Sommerland, Finance Director
Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director
Nate Siem, Police Chief
John Powell, Public Works Director
Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk
2. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by
Councilmember Lien to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
3. DISCUSSION ITEMS
3.1 Comprehensive Plan Amendment- Eureka Township
Director Kuennen presented a proposed Comprehensive Plan
Amendment from Eureka Township which was approved by the Town
Board on June 10, 2025. Per State Statutes, the Township is required to
provide notification and an opportunity for review and comment by
adjacent jurisdictions. The City received notification on July 2nd.
The Township is looking to guide approximately 318 acres of land that
is contiguous to the city's southern boundary as commercial-industrial.
The portion of the city that is contiguous to these 318 acres is currently
Work Session Minutes of August 4, 2025 Page 1 of 3
guided as Agriculture and has a development staging timeframe of
post 2040 and in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan. At this time, Staff does
not anticipate the land use guidance or development staging
timeframe changing for this area of the city with the upcoming 2050
Comprehensive Plan Update.
Discussion ensued, including Council in support of what the Township
is doing and that Staff's questions for the Township are valid. Mayor
Hoyt recommended, and Councilmember Lien agreed, that the
verbiage in our Eureka/Farmington Planning Advisory Committee
should be changed to meetings twice per year. The City Council
would appreciate updates in real time.
Planning Manager Wippler will submit a response to Eureka Township
on behalf of the City.
3.2 CR 31 and CR 74 Corridor Study Update
Director Powell provided an update for the City Council on the CR 31
and CR 74 Corridor Study. A Project Management Team (PMT) kickoff
meeting was held last October and has been meeting regularly since.
Tow open houses have been hosted by the City, the most recent being
held on July 22nd. A separate meeting was also held with ISD 192
representatives in April of this year. Preliminary design is expected to
be completed by the end of 2025, with construction expected to
occur in 2027.
Discussion ensued.
3.3 City Award Discussion
Interim Administrator Chanski said the City does not have an official
City award or any kind of formal award. As such, there is no formal
process for recognizing Staff retirements or significant departures, the
completion of service by Councilmembers or Committee Members, or
the recognition of community members who make significant impacts
on the community.
Council is on board with this idea, which was also brought up by
Councilmember Wilson a few years ago. Discussion included being
consistent, a formal standardized process would be beneficial, and
that an average size group of people (perhaps an internal and an
external group) would meet on an occasional basis. Incorporate
something into the newsletter, such as "Meet the Team." Farmington
Work Session Minutes of August 4, 2025 Page 2 of 3
Fix could include, "I noticed when one of your employees did..."
Recognize a community member doing something good for the
community, but in a way to not make it public. Council directed Staff
to move forward, let the committee come up with what's possible and
create something without boundaries, and implement a consistent
policy.
4. COUNCIL COMMITTEE UPDATE
5. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by
Councilmember Cordes to adjourn the meeting at 6:32 pm.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
ResiDectfully submitted,
S ' ey cksler
City Cle
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