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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.17.26 Council Minutes City of Farmington Regular Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 17, 2026 The City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Farmington City Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota. 1. CALL TO ORDER Acting Mayor Lien called the meeting to order at 7 pm. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Acting Mayor Lien led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Acting Mayor Lien Councilmembers Holly Bernatz and Steve Wilson Members Absent: Councilmember Jake Cordes Staff Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator David Chanski, Assistant City Administrator Amy Schmidt, City Attorney arrived at 7:04 pm Deanna Kuennen, Economic & Community Development Director Tony Wippler, Planning Manager Kim Sommerland, Finance Director Matt Price, Fire Chief Josh Solinger, Liquor Operations Manager Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director Nate Siem, Police Chief John Powell, Public Works Director Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk 4. APPROVE AGENDA Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 1 of 6 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS 5.1 Swearing In of Fire Department Personnel Fire Chief Price administered the Oath of Office for: • Firefighter Tyler Beaune • Firefighter Matthew Jahns • Firefighter Katelynn Scholl • Fire Captain Matthew Dinneen • Fire Captain Brian Hanson • Fire Captain Steven Karsten • Deputy Fire Chief Caleb Bolton 5.2 Recognition of Mayor Joshua Hoyt's City of Farmington Service The City Council recognized Joshua Hoyt and his contributions to the City of Farmington serving as Councilmember from January 2019 through December 2020 and as Mayor from January 2021 through February 4,2026. 6. CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS The following citizen(s) addressed the Council: • Terrie Pearson (city/township not stated) • Jeff Schottler, Farmington • Casey Nelson, Farmington • Cathy Johnson (city/township not stated) • David Pritzlaff, Farmington • Kathy Peragrino, Farmington • Nick (last name not stated), Farmington • Nancy Aarestad (city/township not stated) • David Seaberg, Farmington • Stefan Petrasheck, Castle Rock Township • Nickita Klochan (city/township not stated) • Mary Johnson, Farmington • Nate Ryan, Farmington • Theresa Raine, Farmington • Steven Endress, Farmington • Jeremy Stewart (city/township not stated) 7. CONSENT AGENDA 7.1 Downtown Liquor Store Lease Renewal 7.2 Mayor Joshua Hoyt's Resignation 7.3 Minutes of the February 2, 2026 Council Work Session 7.4 Payment of Claims 7.5 Updated Capital Asset Policy Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 2 of 6 7.6 Assistant City Administrator Job Description Update 7.7 Staff Approvals and Recommendations - appointment of Keaton Reuben as Police Sergeant 7.8 Agreement with Cool Air Mechanical, Inc. for Relief Valve Replacement at Schmitz-Maki Arena 7.9 Donation from Happy Harry's Furniture to the Rambling River Center 7.10 First Amendment to Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County for Communities for All Initiative Funding 7.11 Professional Services Agreement with WSB for Staff Augmentation 7.12 Professional Services Agreement with WSB for a Storm Water Asset Management Plan 7.13 Receive Bids and Award a Contract for the Devonshire Avenue and 206th Street Pond Maintenance Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10.PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 10.1 Resolution 2026-010 Approving the Final Plat - Dakota Meadows 2nd Addition; and Development Contract - Dakota Meadows Preserve 2nd Addition Planning Manager Wippler presented a resolution approving the final plat and a Development Contract for Dakota Meadows Preserve 2nd Addition and answered questions for the Council. Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to adopt Resolution 2026-010 Approving and Authorizing the Signing of the Dakota Meadows Preserve 2nd Addition Final Plat, contingent upon the following: a) The satisfaction of all engineering comments related to the construction plans for grading and utilities. b) A Development Contract between the Developer and the City of Farmington shall be executed and security fees and costs shall be paid. Submission of all other documents required under the Development Contract shall be required. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 3 of 6 Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to adopt the Development Contract and authorize its execution. Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays 11.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12.NEW BUSINESS 12.1 Professional Services Agreement with WSB, LLC for the 2026 Street Improvements Director Powell presented the Professional Services Agreement with WSB, LLC for the 2026 Street Improvements Final Design and Bidding and answered questions for the Council. Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to approve the Professional Services Agreement with WSB, LLC for the 2026 Street Improvements Final Design and Bidding. Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays 13.CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Bernatz shared information about Farmington High School Choir and their annual fundraiser and performances for Cabaret. Tickets are available at the door or on the website. Councilmember Wilson thanked the public who came to speak tonight; shared that the Girls Hockey Team is going to the State Tournament on Thursday, and the Boys Hockey Team start section play on Thursday; and, along with Director Omlid, commented on how the skate park is being funded. Administrator Gorski provided a brief update on the data center subject and how to find information on the data center on the City's website at: Protect Updates I Farmington, MN (https://www.farmingtommn.gov/428/Project-Updates). Administrator Gorski thanked Joshua Hoyt for his service to the City. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 4 of 6 Assistant Administrator Chanski talked about the role of Staff, which is to use our experience, our professional expertise in our given fields, as well as our knowledge and care for this community, to advise the City Council, whomever sits in those seats.Staff appreciates a Council that encourages us to do our best work and hears us out, even if you disagree. Assistant Administrator Chanski thanked Mayor Joshua Hoyt for his service to the City and commented on his time working with him over the past year. Director Kuennen commented on the phone calls she has received from developers, colleagues, Mayors from other Cities, City Council people from other communities, Staff members from other communities, reaching out to her and expressing how much they respect Mayor Joshua Hoyt. She thanked him for his service and what he has done for the city. Director Kuennen said we will be celebrating the first Spanish Immersion daycare in this community later this week. Director Powell thanked Mayor Joshua Hoyt for his support of Public Works and everything we're working to accomplish. Director Powell said a preconstruction meeting was held last week on the Industrial Park Ditch Pond Cleaning. Director Omlid thanked Mayor Joshua Hoyt for his service and his support of the senior center. She thanked him for everything he has done for Parks and Recreation and also for Staff- he was a valuable leader. Director Omlid mentioned how busy Rambling River Park has been with the warmer weather. Reminder that all dogs must be leashed at all times and owners are required to clean up after their pets. Please help us keep our parks and trails clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. Director Sommerland acknowledged Mayor Joshua Hoyt and the level of dedication he brought to the role. She thanked him for his years of service and his unwavering commitment to Farmington. Police Chief Siem thanked the Council for their approval of Officer Keaton Reuben for his promotion to Sergeant. His pinning ceremony will be at the next meeting. Police Chief Siem also commented on the success of Movie with A Cop night at the Police Department. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 5 of 6 Police Chief Siem thanked Mayor Joshua Hoyt and commented on the incredible friend he is to the Police Department. He has been a part of just about everything the Police have done to engage with the community. Mayor Hoyt never asks when the event begins or ends - he asks when does the work begin or end, and he shows up for the entire event to make sure they're supported. Acting Mayor Lien gave an example of an argument where one person wants to vent, and they also want to talk through it. When we get up here, we're running into the piece where we let you say your piece and, hopefully, that's some amount of your venting. He hopes that is some sort of relief, even though the Council cannot respond. Trying to cross over and talk about it, when we cannot, is an argument that's not going to get solved in here. It's very difficult to try and understand what it is to get outside the Chamber walls and fix this problem when we're in the middle of litigation. But in this limited time that he's been given as Acting Mayor, he is committed to try and find some kind of path to have those conversations. Acting Mayor Lien also responded to the speaker who mentioned that Tract reached out to them to talk and work with them. He suggested that they do not waste the opportunity to meet with them and see what they'd be willing to work on and also give them a chance to hear you. Councilmember Wilson told Acting Mayor Lien that he really appreciates his leadership tonight, knows that this was probably stressful stepping into a new role, and said he did a great job. 14.ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm. Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays Respectfully submitted, ley heksler City Clerk Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of February 17,2026 Page 6 of 6