The minutes of the Fairmont City Council meeting held on Monday, January 28, 2008, in the City Hall Council Chambers

Mayor Quiring called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  Councilmembers Anderson, Clerc, Kallemeyn and Lucas were present.  Councilmember Gorath was absent.  It was determined a quorum was present.  Also in attendance were City Administrator Zarling, Assistant City Administrator Humpal, City Attorney Bloomquist, Finance Director Hoye, and City Clerk Olson.

It was moved by Councilmember Clerc, seconded by Councilmember Lucas and carried to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2008, City Council meeting as presented.

City Administrator Zarling presented the 4th Quarter 2007 Investment Report.  No Council action was required.

It was moved by Councilmember Clerc, seconded by Councilmember Anderson and carried to authorize the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Agreement, Agreement No. DTFAGL-08-L-00097, between the Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Fairmont .  This agreement covers the navigational, communication and weather aids the FAA has constructed and continues to maintain at the Fairmont Municipal Airport.  This will extend the current agreement another twenty years.

It was moved by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by Councilmember Kallemeyn and carried to approve an agreement for professional services with Bolton & Menk, Inc. to provide engineering services for the realignment of 220th Avenue, a township road, in the vicinity of the Fairmont Municipal Airport.  

It was moved by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by Councilmember Lucas and carried to approve the Mayor?s board and commission appointments as follows:  Police Civil Service Commission: Thomas Mahoney; Public Utilities Commission: Jeff Ziemer and Joe Kurtzman; Planning Commission:  Tom Hawkins and Reed Gethmann; Safety Council:  Steven Roesner and Dr. Paul Carlson.

It was moved by Councilmember Lucas, seconded by Councilmember Kallemeyn and carried to authorize an agreement between Springsted, Inc. and the City of Fairmont to assist in the recruitment of a Public Works Director/City Engineer for a fee not-to-exceed $7,985.00.

Councilmember Clerc introduced and moved for the adoption of Resolution No. 2008-07, Ordering the Preparation of a Report on the 2008 Improvements.  Councilmember Anderson seconded the motion for its adoption.  On roll call, Councilmembers Clerc, Kallemeyn, Lucas and Anderson voted aye and no one voted nay.  Mayor Quiring declared said resolution to have received the affirmative vote of the majority of the Council and he then declared the same to be passed, approved and adopted.

 Assistant City Administrator Mike Humpal presented a summary of a Zoning District Setback Analysis, which he prepared for the City Council to assist in their review of zoning setbacks in our ?B? (Business) zoning districts.  He gathered information from eleven communities around the state in regard to their front, rear and side yard setbacks.  The analysis concluded Fairmont?s front and side yard set back requirements to be consistent with most of these communities.  However, the required rear yard setback of 30 feet is excessive compared to the average 20 foot setback in almost all other cities where the business zone abuts a residential district.  In conclusion, Mr. Humpal recommended the City Council consider the following two issues in their attempt to reach a decision in this matter:  1) the distance from one structure to the next; and 2) allowing enough room between two structures to screen a commercial structure from a residential structure.  His staff recommendation to the City Council would be a new rear yard set back to be 15% of the lot depth but not more than 30 feet.  The City Council accepted Mr. Humpal?s report and recommended this 
ordinance change be directed to the Planning Commission for their consideration.  

During their goal setting sessions in 2007, the City Council chose to include a $75,000 line item in the 2008 budget for a Dilapidated Housing Clean Up Program.  City Administrator Zarling presented a list of proposed guidelines to use to assist staff in selecting which residential properties should be demolished each year.  Following Council discussion, Mr. Zarling was directed to begin the selection process resulting in a presentation to the Council of the properties to be demolished in 2008 for their approval.

It was moved by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by Councilmember Kallemeyn and carried to approve the payment of the January, 2008 bills in the amount of $1,056,721.83.

Mayor Quiring adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.


ATTEST:						_______________________________________
							Mayor

_____________________________________
City Clerk