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ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Rosemount City Council was held
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on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 2875 145
Street West, Rosemount.
Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members DeBettignies, Shoe-Corrigan,
Weisensel and Demuth attending. Staff present included City Administrator Johnson, Community
Development Director Lindquist, City Attorney Tietjen, Director of Public Works Brotzler, Finance
Director May, Chief of Police Scott and City Clerk Hadler. The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA
City Administrator Johnson noted that the license agreement to item 6h has been emailed and set
before the Council.
Motion by Droste. Second by Weisensel.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda.
Ayes: DeBettignies, Shoe-Corrigan, Droste, Weisensel, Demuth
Nays: 0. Motion carried.
PRESENTATIONS
Two members of the American Legion Riders presented Chief Mitchell Scott and the Rosemount
Police Department with a saber in honor of their service and assistance with their annual ride and
fundraiser.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Tom Fahey, lifelong resident of Rosemount area, stated that one of the comments by Mr. Lindahl
referring to the term “interim use” was offensive to farmers. He is a third generation farmer on his
land and would ask that the wording be changed.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by DeBettignies. Second by Shoe-Corrigan.
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda.
a.Minutes of the November 18th, 2014 Regular Meeting Proceedings
b.Bills Listing
c.Waive requirement for Public Hearing for Liquor License Renewals
d.Joint Powers Agreement for Emergency Management Services
e.Joint Powers Agreement for Dakota County Drug Task Force
f.Request Turnback of a Portion of Clark Road from MnDOT to Flint Hills Resources
g.Approval of Host Agreement with Geronimo Energy
h.Approval of Fiber License between the City of Rosemount and Arvig
Ayes: DeBettignies, Shoe-Corrigan, Droste, Weisensel, Demuth
Nays: None. Motion carried.
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2014
PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.a. Adoption of the 2015 Budget
City Administrator Johnson introduced the topic and gave an overview of the proposed budget and
levy. Finance Director May gave a presentation in which he reviewed the budget and levy in detail,
including funding sources, general fund, and capital improvement budgets.
Council Member DeBettignies suggested changing the wording of the armory resolution to reflect
that it is continued funding. City Attorney Tietjen agreed with his suggested wording.
Mayor Droste asked where the extra money would come from, given the increase in operating
budget is 3.77% and the increase in the levy amount is only 1.94%. Mr. May explained a lot of that
difference comes from internal revenues, such as building permits, gravel taxes and enterprise
revenues.
Mayor Droste asked that staff clarify in our presentation of budget documents the term “enterprise
funds”. Mr. May responded he would work with the Communications Coordinator Cox to clarify
this.
Mayor Droste opened the Public Hearing at 7:26. The hearing was closed at 7:27.
Motion by DeBettignies. Second by Weisensel.
Motion to close the public hearing.
Ayes: Shoe-Corrigan, Droste, Weisensel, Demuth, DeBettignies
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by DeBettignies. Second by Shoe-Corrigan.
Motion to Adopt the a resolution approving the 2015 General Fund operating budget, the
2015 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets, the 2015 insurance budget, the 2015
Port Authority operating levy and the 2015 levy required by the City of Rosemount; and a
motion to adopt a resolution levying a tax for continued financial support of the state
armory building in Rosemount.
Ayes: Shoe-Corrigan, Droste, Weisensel, Demuth, DeBettignies
Nays: None. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
9.a. Rezoning and Interim Use Permit to Allow a Solar Farm
Community Development Director Lindquist provided a summary of the staff report regarding the
potential solar farm. One concern of staff is the length of time associated with the project. Staff
expects that the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) will continue to grow into the future and
wants to be sure a future collector road is able to be installed at a later date. The applicant has
agreed to provide 40 feet of right-of-way for a collector road and pay a fee should the road be
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2014
necessary. Applicant has also modified the Interim Use Permit (IUP) permit to be only 25 years
instead of 30, in addition to 2 years to get the project up and running.
Also, a resident is concerned about maintenance of Donnelly and the applicant has agreed to take on
all of the maintenance of that road.
Mayor Droste inquired about the chart on setbacks. Ms. Lindquist responded that the measurement
may not be appropriate for this one due to the low coverage of the development.
Council member Demuth inquired about the cost for Donnelly Avenue at $180 per foot. Ms.
Lindquist replied that is for the later construction of the road and that it would be adjusted if and
when the road was built.
Council member Demuth inquired whether Rosemount allows wind power in the MUSA. Lindquist
responded that she doesn’t believe wind power is allowed. Mayor Droste stated the turbine on the
University property is outside the current MUSA.
Mayor Droste inquired what conditions would precipitate a road being installed near the solar array.
Lindquist responded that it would be development of a neighborhood in that area.
Nathan Franzen, Director of Solar for Geronimo Energy, thanked the City for the clarity of the
solar ordinance. Mr. Franzen gave an overview of the project. They are looking at a 2015 finish
date. The project is approximately a $45 million investment and will create 4 full-time jobs. He
stated the solar farm will have a relatively low impact on city budget.
Mayor Droste asked Franzen about the changing economics of solar. Mr. Franzen explained the
costs of construction of solar have declined significantly in the last few years.
Council member Weisensel asked in what way the array would be built. Mr. Franzen replied it
would start in the northwest corner where the connection point is.
Council member Weisensel asked how high the array would sit and whether it would be a tracking
system. Mr. Franzen explained that the array would sit at about 30 inches about the ground. The
company has not decided if it would be a fixed or tracking system.
Council member Demuth inquired how it will be decided whether it would be a tracking or fixed.
Mr. Franzen replied it will depend mostly on construction costs.
Council member Shoe-Corrigan asked for clarification about the easement and the driveway of the
resident. Resident replied he wanted to recommend the road be blown rather than plowed.
Mayor Droste asked about the underground construction of the array. Mr. Franzen replied they are
a metal post that is vibrated into the ground approximately 8 – 10 feet into the ground.
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2014
Council member Shoe-Corrigan asked for clarification about the type of fence. Mr. Franzen replied
that the fence will be 6 – 7 feet with an additional foot of barb on top, which is required for
insurance purposes.
Council member Demuth inquired about the landscape buffer being installed on the south side of
the project. Mr. Franzen replied they have proposed 12 foot spruce trees.
Council member Demuth inquired about how the power is distributed. Franzen replied it will be
connected to Xcel.
Mayor Droste invited the public to comment.
Brent Fox, from Emery Avenue just east of the property, asked whether the buffer would be
installed on the East side. Mr. Fox also asked about how the grass will be controlled and about the
decrease in the recreational use of his property. Mr. Fox stated that wildlife will not be using the
property, other than those we don’t want. Mr. Fox also stated that he doesn’t believe that the
property around the solar farm would ever be developed into homes. Mr. Fox also stated that there
are other areas that would be better placement for this project, which are currently less productive
than the proposed property.
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Kenny Schindeldecker, 4485 160 street east, has reservations about what the development will do
to the value of his property. Mr. Schindeldecker would like it on the record that the developer has
promised to do the maintenance on the road. Mr. Schindeldecker also has concerns about future
cleanup efforts. Mayor Droste inquired how large his property is. He responded it was 5 acres.
Nathan Franzen replied to a number of the inquiries from residents. The fence is on the property
line on all sides, except for the south side, which has a 30 foot buffer with trees. Maintenance
underneath the array would include occasional mowing of the native grasses to keep out
overgrowth. Mr. Franzen stated that this type of solar array does not have the reflective properties
of some other types of technology. The purpose of the fence is to keep out the wildlife.
Council member Demuth asked whether Geronimo had approached Mr. Shindeldecker and Mr. Fox
to purchase their property. Mr. Franzen replied they had not.
Council member Demuth asked whether they would be able to push the fence back. Mr. Franzen
replied that it may be possible to push it back by a foot or two. Council member Shoe-Corrigan
inquired why it would matter if the neighboring property is farmed and asked Mr. Fox to clarify his
argument. Mr. Fox replied that over time there will be trees that grow up into the fence. Council
member DeBettignies pointed out that the ordinance allows fences to be placed on the property
line. Kenny Shindeldaker stated he would prefer the fence to be right on the property line.
Mr. Franzen replied that he would be happy to work with the neighbors.
Motion by Weisensel. Second by Shoe-Corrigan
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2014
Motion to Adopt an ordinance rezoning the subject property from AGP – Agricultural
Preserve to AG – Agricultural.
Ayes: Droste, Weisensel, Demuth, DeBettignies, Shoe-Corrigan
Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Motion by Weisensel. Second by Shoe-Corrigan
Motion to adopt a resolution approving an interim use permit for the Rosemount
Community Solar Garden, subject to the conditions listed in the Interim Use Permit.
Ayes: Weisensel, Demuth, DeBettignies, Shoe-Corrigan, Droste
Nays: 0. Motion carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Droste reviewed the calendar of events. The next City Council work session will be held
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December 9, at 6:30 pm. The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 16,
2014, at 7:00 p.m., with a reception prior to that meeting at 6 p.m. to honor Council member Kim
Shoe-Corrigan.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste,
second by DeBettignies, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Clarissa Hadler, City Clerk