HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.06.26 Council MinutesCity of Farmington
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 6, 2026
The City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Farmington City
Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lien called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Lien led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Mayor Lien
Councilmembers Holly Bernatz, Jake Cordes,
and Steve Wilson
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator
David Chanski, Assistant City Administrator
Amy Schmidt, City Attorney
Deanna Kuennen, Economic & Community Development
Director
Samantha Hazelrigg, Human Resources Manager
Joshua 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
Councilmember Bernatz requested that Item 6.9 Payment of Claims be pulled
from the Consent Agenda and moved to New Business for a vote. The claims
list includes a payment of $12 to her company, and she would like to abstain
from voting on it.
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by
Councilmember Cordes to move Item 6.9 from the Consent Agenda to New
Business Item 11.4 and approve the agenda as amended.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 1 of 6
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS
5.1 Legislative Update - Representative Drew Roach
State Representative Drew Roach provided the City Council with an
update on the 2026 Legislative Session and answered questions from the
Council.
5.2 Update from Dakota County Chamber of Commerce President Jon Altoff
Dakota County Chamber of Commerce President Jon Altoff provided an
update for the City Council and answered questions.
5.3 Recognition of Detective Shawn Scovill's Retirement
The City Council recognized Schawn Scovill for his contributions and
commitment to public safety and his 26 years of dedicated service in law
enforcement.
5.4 Arbor Day Proclamation
The City Council proclaimed Friday, April 24, 2026 as Arbor Day in
Farmington and the month of May 2026 as Arbor Month in Farmington.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
6.1 Amendment to the City Council By -Laws, Section I Meetings, Subdivision 3
6.2 Donation from the Farmington Firefighters Relief Association to the City of
Farmington
6.3 Election Judge Appointments for the 2026 Election Cycle
6.4 Farmington Municipal Liquor Downtown Store Lease Extension
6.5 Gambling Exempt Permit Application for Northfield Ducks Unlimited
Chapter MN-0113 - May 3, 2026
6.6 Minutes of the March 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting
6.7 Minutes of the March 19, 2026 Joint Planning Commission and City Council
Work Session
6.8 Liquor Operations Fund Balance Policy
This item was moved to 11.4
6.9 Staff Approvals and Recommendations
6.10 Contract with Xcel Energy to Relocate Primary Electrical Line at Feely Fields
6.11 Donation from Carol Sprute to the Rambling River Center
6.12 Donation from the Farmington Sons of the American Legion to the
Rambling River Center
6.13 Donation from the Farmington VFW to the Rambling River Center
6.14 Donation from Happy Harry's Furniture to the Rambling River Center
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 2 of 6
6.15 Donation of Prize Basket from Raising Cane's to the Parks and Recreation
Department
6.16 Declaring Surplus Property -Police
6.17 Final Acceptance of Public Utilities for Denmark Housing Addition
6.18 Institution Community Work Crew Contract
6.19 Plans and Specifications and Authorize the Advertisement for Bids for the
2026 Street Improvements
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by
Councilmember Cordes to approve the Consent Agenda, as amended.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. AWARD OF CONTRACT
9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
10.UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
11.1 Compensation & Classification Study
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by
Councilmember Cordes to approve the agreement with MRA to conduct
a comprehensive compensation and classification study and amend the
budget accordingly.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
11.2 Creation of Communications & Public Affairs Manager
Motion as made by Councilmember Cordes and seconded by
Councilmember Wilson to approve the Communications & Public Affairs
Manager job description and authorize Staff to conduct the recruitment
process.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 3 of 6
11.3 Hiring of Full -Time Liquor Store Clerks
Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by
Councilmember Wilson to approve the addition of two full-time Liquor
Store Clerks to Municipal Liquor Operations, authorize Staff to conduct the
recruitment process, and amend the budget accordingly.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
11.4 Payment of Claims - moved from Item 6.9
Motion was made by Councilmember Cordes and seconded by
Councilmember Wilson to approve the payment of claims.
Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays - Councilmember Bernatz abstained
12.CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
The following citizen(s) addressed the Council:
•
Beth Moore, Empire
•
Dave Akin, Castle Rock Township
•
Nate Ryan, Farmington
•
Sarah Fry, Farmington
•
Nikita Klochan, Farmington
•
Nancy Aarestad, Castle Rock Township
•
Terrie Pearson, Castle Rock Township
•
Denise May, Castle Rock Township
•
Mark Pearson, Castle Rock Township
•
Carolyn Kiefer, Castle Rock Township
•
Jeff Schottler, Farmington
•
Dove Mitchell, Farmington
•
Tiffany Ryan, Farmington
13.CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Councilmember Cordes thanked the 13 applicants who interviewed for the
vacant Council seat.
City Administrator Gorski congratulated Shawn Scovill on his retirement and
wished him well.
City Administrator Gorski also thanked the City Council for adding the
Communications & Public Affairs Manager position. She also thanked Assistant
City Administrator Chanski for taking on these duties until the position is filled.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 4 of 6
City Administrator Gorski shared a letter from Tract and read portions of it in
hopes that it will answer some of the questions received during public
comments tonight. The letter is in regard to release of City employees from the
October 2023 non -disclosure agreement. This letter will be on the City of
Farmington's website and included with the Project Information. It's important
for people to read it in its entirety. Also, in spirit of transparency, Tract stated in
the letter that they have created a website containing information describing
project plans, which can be found at:
Farmington Technology Park(https://www.mnlcofarmington.com). She
strongly encourages everyone to go out and look at it. If anyone has questions
about information on Tract's website, you can email Connect@Tract.com.
Assistant Administrator Chanski thanked Shawn Scovill for a career well done
and his service to Farmington and wished him the best in retirement. On
April 20th there will be more retirements from Team Farmington to celebrate. City
Clerk Shirley Buecksler will be officially retiring April 23rd, with Melissa Geis taking
over as City Clerk on April 20th. And Payroll Specialist Patti Ridley will be retiring
on May 1st, with Cory Blauvelt taking over as our new Payroll Specialist on
April 27th.
Director Powell said we started our spring hydrant flushing today, which will
continue this week and through next week. The dates for which various
geographic areas are flushed is on the City's website at Hydrant Flushing I
Farmington, MN.
Director Omlid thanked various individuals and businesses for their very
generous donations to the Rambling River Center and the Parks & Recreation
Department.
Director Omlid mentioned that April is National Volunteer Month and she
thanked all of the volunteers who make the Parks and Recreation Department
go. We couldn't do it without our volunteers at the Rambling River Center,
volunteers who adopt and clean up our parks, and our volunteer coaches.
Thank you to all those volunteers who contribute their time to the great park
system we have.
Police Chief Siem thanked everyone for their words for Detective Scovill. He also
thanked Council for the approval of CSO Claire Kennedy's promotion to
Officer. She starts next Monday.
Police Chief Siem said the application is still open for the Police Officer position.
We haven't had an open position since May of 2025. As of this afternoon, we
are up to 30 applicants for this posting, so the market is improving and we're
doing good.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 5 of 6
Mayor Lien thanked Chief Siem for his touching speech about Detective Scovill
and said he couldn't be happier for people making it all the way to the finish
line.
Mayor Lien said the information shared by City Administrator Gorski is hopefully
big news and provides information on what the next step looks like and start
seeing, with a little more clarity, what might be coming in the future. He said he
hopes people will continue to come up and speak- I'll listen to you all day long.
I'll come to you, talk to you, I'll listen to you - as best I can, as best as my
schedule can. The one thing I want to try and strive to do is at least hear you
and feel listened to - even if we do continue to disagree, I want you to feel
listened to and feel heard. That's one thing I do have in my power to change
through all of this. I'll keep doing my best.
Mayor Lien thanked the 13 applicants who did want to raise their hand and
step forward. We have to say no to 12 people and yes to only one. I hope the
other 12 people realize the impact that they make by at least making their
opinion known, showing up as champions for their community, and saying, "I
want to help, I want to be part of this, I want to help guide the decisions."
Whether you're up here or not, you can do that to the best of your ability. You
don't have to be up here to be a champion for Farmington. Keep talking, being
present, and being involved. I appreciate everything you're doing.
14.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by
Councilmember Bernatz to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 pm.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
R spectfully submitted,
S ley OVsI
City Clerk
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026 Page 6 of 6