Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.02.25 Council Minutes City of Farmington Regular Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 2, 2025 The City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Farmington City Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota. 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hoyt called the meeting to order at 7 pm. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Hoyt led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Joshua Hoyt Councilmembers Holly Bernatz, Jake Cordes, Nick Lien, and Steve Wilson Members Absent: None Staff Present: David Chanski, Interim City Administrator/HR Director Amy Schmidt, City Attorney Kim Sommerland, Finance Director Matt Price, Fire Chief Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director Nate Siem, Police Chief John Powell, Public Works Director Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk Also Present: Tammy Omdal, Northland Securities Gary Rutherford, Police Chief - Retired 4. 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 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS 6. CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS No citizens addressed the Council for comment. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2, 2025 Page 1 of 6 7. CONSENT AGENDA 7.1 Minutes of the August 12, 2025 Special Work Session 7.2 Minutes of the August 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting 7.3 Minutes of the August 27, 2025 Special City Council Meeting 7.4 Payment of Claims 7.5 Staff Approvals and Recommendations, including: • Rehire of Kevin Conrad as Seasonal Arena Supervisor • Rehire of Rodney Koch as Seasonal Arena Supervisor • Rehire of Jake Novak as Seasonal Arena Supervisor • Appointment of Shanna Hofacker as Part-Time Liquor Store Clerk • Approval of the completion of 6-month probationary period for Assistant City Administrator/HR Director David Chanski 7.6 Contract with Farmington ISD 192 for the Services of a School Resource Officer 7.7 Professional Services Agreement with I & S Group, Inc. for the 2201" Street Trunk Utility Preliminary Design 7.8 Receive Quotes and Award a Contract for Abandonment of Well No. 1 and Well No. 2 Motion was made by Councilmember Cordes and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10.PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 11.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12.NEW BUSINESS 12.1 Authorizing Issuance and Awarding Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025A Director Sommerland stated that Northland Securities conducted the bond sale and received eight competitive bids. Tammy Omdal of Northland Securities presented the results. Motion was made by Councilmember Lien and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to adopt Resolution 2025-059 Authorizing Issuance, Awarding Sale, Prescribing the Form and Details, and Providing Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2, 2025 Page 2 of 6 for the Payment of $2,950,000 General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds, Series 2025A. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 12.2 Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for Communities for All Grant Funding Director Omlid introduced a Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for Communities for All (CFA) funding, an initiative dedicated to fostering more inclusive, welcoming spaces for residents of all abilities. In early April, Staff met with the CFA Program Coordinator to learn more about the new initiative and explore opportunities for partnership. One identified need was the purchase and installation of an electric adult changing station at the Rambling River Center. The City was awarded the full $16,000 in reimbursable funding through the CFA micro-grant program for this project. Dakota County requires a Joint Powers Agreement for awarded CFA projects, including the adult changing station for the Rambling River Center. Motion was made by Councilmember Cordes and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for Communities for All Funding. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 13.CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Lien reminded everyone that it's the first day of school for a lot of people, so please watch out for buses, stop for the stop sign, and stop for red. Councilmember Bernatz commented on the Police fencing that is well underway and the community feeds with comments on whether or not this is necessary. Federal tax dollars have already been paid in, which means we have a couple of options-whether the tax dollars return to Farmington, or they don't. That money is coming back to provide something for our Police Department-to protect the things we've invested in to protect our community, and to keep them safe. And the grant for the adult changing station, we are being proactive and catching up to where we could or should be. These are great opportunities that we have the ability to take advantage of - and it's strategic, inventive, and thinking outside the box. Councilmember Cordes said it is back to school season and reiterated Councilmember Lien's message about safety - watch out for the walkers, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2, 2025 Page 3 of 6 bikers, and buses. And good luck to the students, staff, and parents of Farmington Area Schools - have a safe and successful school year. Councilmember Wilson appreciated Councilmember Bernatz's comments about the value of grants, whether they be county, state, or federal money. For the public's awareness, it cannot be stated loudly enough how valuable our federal partners are - these aren't resident tax dollars, this is money that we've paid in to Washington and other places that is coming back to us. Councilmember Wilson also commented on back-to-school safety and told about his experience driving school bus 25-30 years ago. If he hadn't yelled "Stop!" to a first or second grader at the very bottom step of the bus, a car zipping by the door was going about 50 miles per hour and the outcome would have been very different. With school starting up and kids activities, try to keep safety at the top of mind, maintain the speed limit, and be aware of cross- country runners and others on the road. Director Powell said the Spruce Street/Dushane Parkway intersection is now open for traffic and is a nice rearrangement of the square-about that used to be there, and it will be a better flow for traffic through that intersection. Also, earlier today, we experienced a water main leak on Pilot Knob Road in the vicinity of Euclid Path. The contractor is on site making repairs, and McNamara will repair the pavement tomorrow. Director Powell extended his appreciation to the Police Department for their Staff assisting with traffic control. The postings and cones are now out there, but we appreciate their follow-through and assistance on a very busy road. Director Omlid mentioned a few free family events this weekend: • Movie in the Park-Saturday at dusk at Distad Park Playing: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl o Thank you to our sponsors: Castle Rock Bank, Farmington Liquors, Farmington Youth Hockey Association, Hobo Inc., Sierra Juhl -State Farm, and the VFW Post 7662 • Who Done It Hike -Saturday morning o Ritter Farm Park, Lakeville o Dog-friendly event o Registration starts at 9:45 am; walk starts at 10 am • Rambling River Center and Farmington Rotary Raffle o Buy your tickets by Monday, September 8t" o $52 per ticket gives you 56 chances to win o Proceeds benefit the Senior Center and the Rotary • New Playground Equipment at Westview Acres Park o Demolition started today, new concrete border goes in next week o The new 5- to 12-year-old play structure and new swings will be there in the next couple of weeks Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2,2025 Page 4 of 6 Chief Price said our new candidates started their six-month academy this evening. A reminder that the Fire Department Open House is on Saturday, September 17th, at 5:30 pm. The Open House has been moved to Station #1 where it used to be and allows for the ability to have more area for activities and parking. Chief Siem said our fence project is getting underway and it's exciting to see that moving along quickly. Regarding to comments online about access to the Police Department, the Police Department will have the same access that it always had and is open 24 hours a day into our public parking lot and after- hours lobby where the emergency phone is located. There will be a gate than can be closed in emergencies, but we anticipate having that open 24 hours/day 365 days/year. Chief Siem also mentioned that Pete Zajac is starting back in the school this year, and last week we had interviews for Sergeant promotion. He thanked everyone who helped with that, including Mary Olson with the Fire Department who sat in on the panel, and helped make that very difficult decision. Chief Siem gave recognition to Officer Kyle Miller and K9 Officer Moose. After the incident last week at Annunciation School, they both traveled to give some much-needed care to the First Responders who responded to those incidents. They traveled with the group from Soldiers 6 with many Officers and K9's to spend some time and to make sure those First Responders are doing well, and they did a great job. Mayor Hoyt said a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks and last couple of months. Life is fragile, and life is short in the grand scheme of things. Far too often in today's technological age, you see things happening in real time and it's disturbing. It's disturbing to learn about loss of life, especially little ones. It's disturbing to learn about traumatic injury that affects someone or has a lifelong impact. Don't let that fall on deaf ears. Wherever you are in your life, no matter how your life sits today, that can change in a heartbeat. Things start to happen a little bit closer to home, and it starts to feel more real, and then there is this compelling need to do something about it or to take action, when being a good human being is simply continuing to put good out into the world, with no expectation of return. And when things happen in life that affect those who put a lot out, it's especially painful to watch. So, take time to enjoy life. If the worst thing that happens in your day is coming across a social media post about a fence at our Police Department and that's reason to lash out about what's not right, be fortunate that you were born into a first world country and you have the liberties that we have. I'll be the staunchest proponent of the First Amendment, and I love people being able to say what they want, when they want, how they want. But people are watching, and people see that, and life has a weird way of working. So, just continue to put good out into the world, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2, 2025 Page 5 of 6 make good decisions, do good by others with no expectation of return, and you will find yourself living a fruitful life beyond anything that you could have imagined. There are far too many crosses on roadsides. There are far too many funerals that are attended. There are far too many mishaps that turn into a life-changing situation for somebody and, when it happens really close, all of a sudden the tone changes. And it shouldn't take that happening for the tone to change. There is a lot of stuff that's happened recently that has affected a lot of people, and life is just fragile. Enjoy every minute of it. Make the most of it. See the good in others. Find good to do for others. And you will live a very fruitful life for as long as God will bless you to have air on this Earth. 14.ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Cordes to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 pm. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays R pectfully submitted, y S *rl y R Ac City Clerk Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 2,2025 Page 6 of 6