This transcript appears to be from the January 6, 2025, City Council meeting. Based on the roll call at [4:11] and the swearing-in ceremony, **Joshua Hoyt** is being sworn in as Mayor (notably, the context provided lists Nick Lien as Mayor, but the transcript shows the transition or a different term order where Hoyt is the presiding Mayor for this session). Here is the formatted transcript with speaker names: [0:13] [Music] [0:29] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Oh, [Music] we'll call the city council regular meeting to order for Monday, January 6th, 2025. Uh, we'll start with item 2.1, which is our swearing-in ceremony. Okay. And Joshua, if you can join me up front for the oath... you're good. [1:17] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** I, Joshua Hoyt... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I, Joshua Hoyt... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** And the Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** And the Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** And I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Mayor... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Mayor... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** In accordance with the law and to the best of my judgment and ability... **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** In accordance with the law and to the best of my judgment and ability. [Applause] [2:08] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** I, Steve Wilson... **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** I, Steve Wilson, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** And the Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** And the Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** And I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Councilmember... **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** And I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Councilmember... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** In accordance with the law and to the best of my judgment and ability... **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** In accordance with the law and to the best of my judgment and ability. [Applause] [2:54] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** I, Jake Cordes... **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** I, Jake Cordes... I will support the Constitution of the United States... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** The Constitution of the State of Minnesota... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** That I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Councilmember... **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** That I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of Councilmember... **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** In accordance with the law and the best of my judgment and ability... **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** In accordance with the law and the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Thank you. [3:36] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you. Welcome. All right, we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance at this time. [3:49] **All:** I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [4:11] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Call the roll, please. Mayor Hoyt? **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Bernatz? **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Cordes? **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Lien? **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Here. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Councilmember Wilson? **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Here. [4:11] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right. Any changes to the agenda? None? All right, unless there's any changes, I would seek a motion to approve the agenda. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** So moved. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Jake, second by Steve. All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers:** Aye. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right, we'll go to item 6.1 on our announcements and commendations, which is Dakota County update from District One County Commissioner Mike Slavic. Welcome, sir. [4:57] **Commissioner Mike Slavic:** Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, Councilmember, city staff, those in the audience, and of course those watching at home. Happy New Year to all of you and congratulations to those reelected and newly elected... [Continues update on County Manager, Pilot Knob, and CDA housing]. [14:56] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, Mike. No questions, I just want to return the gratitude. It takes a lot of time for you to make these out here all the time. I appreciate the feedback and transparency. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** No questions for me, just happy to see you again and excited for what this coming year has. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Yeah, Mike, you really do just an amazing job in being our partner. You are frequently at different events... [Continues praise]. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** I just want to echo what my peers said. Thank you for coming tonight, Mike. I look forward to working with you again. [15:58] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I'll add on top of all of that... you have absolutely been an advocate for Farmington. [Discusses Greenway partnership and cost savings]. I couldn't ask for a better commissioner to represent our community. **Commissioner Mike Slavic:** Well, I will add Mr. Mayor and Councilmembers and staff, thank you very much for the nice comments... [Closes]. [18:01] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, sir. We appreciate it. All right, our next item on the agenda is citizen comments. If there's anyone wanting to speak at this time, please come up to the podium. [18:48] **David Pitof:** David Pitof, 20255 Aiken Road. Welcome Councilmember Cordes, thank you Mayor Hoyt, Councilmember Wilson for being a councilmember... [Shows pictures of snow plow damage to his property]. [22:44] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** David, are you going to stay until after the meeting? **David Pitof:** Sure, I can. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Okay, thank you. Is there anyone else in attendance wishing to speak? All right, seeing none, we'll move on to our next item, item 8, which is the Consent Agenda. I'd seek a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Motion to approve. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Motion by Holly, second by Steve. All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers:** Aye. [23:31] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right. The next item on our agenda is item 9.1. This item is a public hearing for the petition to vacate a portion of a drainage and utility easement within Lot 4, Block 2, Sapphire Lake Third Edition. I'd like to open the public hearing at this time. Jared? [23:31] **Jaren Munson (Staff):** Thank you, Mayor, City Council members. So the city has received a petition from Eternity Homes to vacate a portion of a drainage utility easement... [Explains garage encroachment]. [25:35] **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Yeah, Jared, I actually do have one question. So the grading plan for this for this plat is going to be adjusted a little bit to acknowledge the fact that the easement... there has to be a grading adjustment, right? **Jaren Munson (Staff):** Um, not that I am aware of. John, if you want to comment on that? [26:00] **John Powell (Public Works Director):** Mayor and Council, there is a drainage and utility easement along the common lot line, but based on a two-foot encroachment, it's not going to impact the grades except right at that location. [26:37] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Any other questions or comments? Nick? Holly? Jake? **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** No questions. I guess my question is more for our attorney. If this vacation is approved, does this create a precedent... where we are in essence required to approve based on prior decision? [27:22] **City Attorney:** Mr. Mayor, no, you aren't creating a precedent. It's actually quite common these things happen. Each instance would be handled on a case-by-case basis. A variance is different than a vacation. This doesn't create a precedent that you're obligated to follow in the future. [28:08] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, ma'am. Jared, is the applicant present? **Jaren Munson (Staff):** No rep was here tonight. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Okay. Since the applicant's not here, are there any residents who would like to speak on the matter? [28:42] **Bob Richardson:** Bob Richardson. I just had a question... how does it happen? With current technology and GPS, trails and roadways are within inches. [Discusses concerns about future utility needs]. [31:03] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I appreciate that, thank you sir. Jared, how did this happen? **Jaren Munson (Staff):** The survey submitted showed a 5-foot drain utility easement. Eternity put in the foundation and realized it's actually a 10-foot easement. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Can I actually ask a question related to that? Is it just for the purpose of consistency that you would do a two-foot vacation along the entire property line rather than angling it? **Jaren Munson (Staff):** Correct. The rationale is to avoid any future issues down the line with that specific two-foot encroachment. [32:37] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right. I will close the public hearing at this time. Any other questions? Then I will seek a motion to adopt resolution 2025-06. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Motion to approve. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** Second. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** [Roll Call: Bernatz-Yes, Cordes-Yes, Lien-Yes, Wilson-Yes, Hoyt-Yes]. [33:23] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, Jaren. Next item is 13.1, designation of Acting Mayor for 2025. Shirley? **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** According to the council's bylaws, you need to choose an Acting Mayor... Councilmember Bernatz, serving her third year of term, received the most votes at the November 2022 election. [34:41] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** I would seek a motion to approve the appointment of council member Holly Bernatz as Acting Mayor for 2025. **Councilmember Nick Lien:** Motion to approve. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** Second. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** [Roll Call: Cordes-Yes, Lien-Yes, Wilson-Yes, Hoyt-Yes, Bernatz-Yes]. [34:56] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Next item is 13.2, which is the resolution approving 2025 city council committee appointments. [Mayor reads list of appointments including Airport, Ambulance, Dakota 911, and Fire Relief]. I would seek a motion to adopt resolution 2025-05. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** So moved. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Second. **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** [Roll Call: Lien-Yes, Wilson-Yes, Hoyt-Yes, Bernatz-Yes, Cordes-Yes]. [36:27] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All right, Round Table. You get to start. **City Attorney:** I know there's a lot of pressure to give a report about bison... I decided to find a little Farmington fun fact. Farmington was one of the first communities in the United States to offer free rural mail delivery in 1897. [37:50] **Councilmember Nick Lien:** I hope everyone had a good holiday and congratulations to Steve, Jake, and Josh. Looking forward to the next couple years. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Yeah, happy New Year everybody. [Discusses bird flu concerns and tells residents to contact DNR regarding dead waterfowl]. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** Again, Happy New Year. Thank you to the community and my peers... and my wife Bridget and son Oliver for staying out past their bedtimes. **Councilmember Steve Wilson:** I too would like to thank the community. [Mentions his father's recent passing and the election results]. Also want to call out Finch and Daisy for a generous donation to the Rambling River Center. [42:15] **City Clerk Shirley Buecksler:** Welcome back Mayor and Councilmember Wilson, and welcome Jake Cordes. Our regular meeting for January 20th will be changed to January 21st in observance of Martin Luther King Day. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Thank you, Shirley. [42:41] **Deanna Kuennen (CED Director):** Thank you Mayor and Council. We are collaborating with DCTC to do a business survey. Please look out for that link. [43:40] **John Powell (Public Works Director):** Mayor and Council, I want to highlight the EAB management plan... awarding a contract for removing 216 ash trees tonight. [44:11] **Kelly Hostetler (Parks & Rec Director):** Good evening. Outdoor rinks and warming houses are officially opened. Also, the Sons of the American Legion breakfast is this Sunday for the Rambling River Center. [44:57] **Kim Sommerland (Finance Director):** Thank you. We have our auditors on site beginning their review of 2024 data. [45:15] **Fire Chief Matthew Price:** January 13th we begin the process of hiring for our paid-on-call. Look at the website for informational open houses. [45:43] **Police Chief Nate Siem:** I have nothing tonight, sir. [45:43] **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Taking a page out of the City Attorney's book... Top the Tater is made right here in Farmington! [Discusses "Mountain Dew Days" transitioning to "Top the Tater Days"]. [47:17] **Councilmember Nick Lien:** I was just going to correct you for public record that it's "Top the Tater," not "Top of the Tater." **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** Top the Tater, I'm sorry. [Closing speech about transparency, public service, and city pride]. With that, I would seek a motion to adjourn. **Councilmember Jake Cordes:** I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m. **Councilmember Holly Bernatz:** Second. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** All in favor say aye. **Councilmembers:** Aye. **Mayor Joshua Hoyt:** We're adjourned at 7:51. [Music]