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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.06.26 Council MinutesRegular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 6, 2026 Page 1 of 5 City of Farmington Regular Council Meeting Minutes Monday, July 6, 2026 The City Council met in regular session on Monday July 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, Steve Wilson, and Phil Windschitl Members Absent: None Staff Present: David Chanski, Assistant City Administrator Amy Schmidt, City Attorney Kim Sommerland, Finance Director Nate Siem, Police Chief Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director John Powell, Public Works Director Melissa Geis, City Clerk Others Present: Tammy Omdal, Northland Securities Bill Lauer, LB Carlson 4. APPROVE AGENDA Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Cordes to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMENDATIONS 6. CONSENT AGENDA 6.1 2026-2027 Labor Agreement and MOU between the City of Farmington and LELS: Police Captains Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 6, 2026 Page 2 of 5 6.2 2027 Apple Valley/Farmington (ALF) Ambulance Budget 6.3 Application for Gambling Event Permit for the Church of St. Michael- Bingo and Raffle 6.4 Minutes of the June 15, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting 6.5 Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for the Church of St. Michael, September 26-27, 2026 6.6 Payment of Claims 6.7 Staff Approvals and Recommendations 6.8 Agreement for Construction Services for City Hall Second Floor Project 6.9 Donation from Happy Harry’s Furniture to the Rambling River Center 6.10 Plans and Specifications and Authorize the Advertisement for Bids for the Jim Bell Park and Preserve Trail Project. 6.11 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 2025 ReLeaf Community Forestry Grant Contract Agreement Motion was made by Councilmember Cordes and seconded by Councilmember Bernatz to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7.1 Resolution 2026-061 Adopting the City’s Capital Improvement Plan and Authorizing the Issuance of CIP Bonds Finance Director Sommerland presented the Resolution Adopting the City’s Capital Improvement Plan and Authorizing the Issuance of CIP Bonds Chief Siem reviewed the Police Department Expansion project and the needs for this project including staff space, vehicle and equipment storage and building maintenance. Tammy Omdal with Northland Securities clarified the reason for this public hearing is to give the City the authority to call for the sale of bonds when ready to do so in the future. She explained there will be a 30-day period for the public to petition for a vote/referendum if they choose, once that has passed there is no expiration date to issue the bonds. This is a limited CIP relating solely to facilities. Councilmember Wilson asked if bond rating is affected by not using the full amounts requested. Tammy explained that there would be no implications on the bond rating. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 6, 2026 Page 3 of 5 Mayor Lien clarified that this item is only to give ability to call for the bonds in the future, this is not a vote to fund the Police Department being built. Mayor Lien opened the public hearing at 7:15 pm. The following citizen(s) made public comments: Nate Ryan – Farmington Motion was made by Councilmember Windschitl and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to close the public hearing at 7:19 pm. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Cordes to Approve Resolution 2026-061 Adopting the City’s Capital Improvement Plan and Authorizing the Issuance of CIP Bonds. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 8. AWARD OF CONTRACT 9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 11. NEW BUSINESS 11.1 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Related Audit Reports Director Sommerland introduced Bill Lauer, CPA of LB Carlson, who provided a financial overview of the City’s 2025 results and responded to questions of the City Council. Motion was made by Councilmember Bernatz and seconded by Councilmember Wilson to Accept the audited financial statements and independent auditor’s reports for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays 12. CITIZENS COMMENTS / RESPONSES TO COMMENTS The following citizen(s) addressed the Council:  David Pritzlaff, Farmington Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 6, 2026 Page 4 of 5  Caroline Kiefer, Castle Rock Township  Nate Ryan, Farmington  Maria Dauphin, Hampton 13. CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Windschitl thanked everyone for their time and effort in putting on the Top the Tater Days event. Councilmember Bernatz thanked everyone for their work with Top the Tater Days and congratulated the incoming Ambassadors for this year. She hopes everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. Councilmember Cordes also thanked the Top the Tater Days organizers and congratulated the Ambassadors. He then shared a personal story about the fire department responding to an emergency his son had, he thanked the fire fighters for their fast response, their professionalism and for what they do. Councilmember Wilson thanked everyone for donating to the “Kiss the Pig” and thanked them for the little extra that Ryan LaBrash received. He thanked everyone that contributed to the parade and event. City Clerk Geis shared that absentee voting has started and can be done in City Hall. Assistant City Administrator Chanski shared that Filing of Candidacy for the City of Farmington’s open seats of 2 City Councilmembers - 4-year term and Special Election Mayoral seat - remaining two years through December 31, 2028 is open from July 14th- July 28th. Assistant City Administrator Chanski discussed that they are currently in budget process for 2027. He then shared the starting of multiple new hires: Torey Christensen and Robert Chapman, full-time staff Farmington Municipal Liquors on July 7th and July 20th, Jacob Sepelt, Assistant Finance Director on July 15th, Ruiz Acosta, Accounting Specialist on July 20th, Jeremiah Bauman Public Affairs and Communications Manager on July 27th, 9 paid on call Fire- Fighters will begin Fire Academy in September and 9 current Fire-Cadets that should be full Fire-Fighters at end of this month. Director Powell spoke about the contract approved tonight with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 2025 ReLeaf Community Forestry Grant in the amount of $204,000, he thanked Natural Resource Specialist Ben Humlie and Kari Kubicek for their efforts in the grant. These funds will go to removal and replacement of diseased trees generally in the Dakota Estates area.