HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.06.13 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR
May 6, 2013
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OFALLEGL4NCE
Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Bonar, Donnelly, Fogarty
Members Absent: None
Also Present: Joel Jamnik, City Attorney;David McKnight, City Administrator;
Robin Hanson, Finance Director;Randy Distad, Parks and
Recreation Director;Todd Reiten, Municipal Services Director;
Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant
Audience: Marianne Feely, Kim Lomas, LeeAnn Lehto,Alexis Preese, Kevin
Robertson,Natalie Pellin, Dave Domack
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Mayor Larson added item 5c)Farmington High School Youth Development, Games for
Change.
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the Agenda. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) American Legion Auxiliary—Kim Lomas
Ms.Kim Lomas, American Legion Auxiliary Post 189, stated the poppy is a
national symbol of sacrifice. It is worn to honor the men and women who served
and died for their country in all wars. Poppies are handmade by veterans and
distributed across the country for donations to assist disabled veterans. Governor
Dayton has declared May as Poppy Month.
Michelle Leonard, past President of American Legion Auxiliary Post 189, stated
they will be distributing poppies on May 24, 2013, at several locations around the
communities. All of the money raised goes directly back to veterans.
b) Proclaim Historic Preservation Month -Planning
Mayor Larson proclaimed May as Historic Preservation Month.
c) Farmington High School Youth Development Group, Games for Change
Alexis Preese, Senior Member of Youth Development, stated this is a committee
that puts on Games for Change, which is part of Community Ed. Marianne Feely
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is the leader. For the past four years they have held a lock-in at the high school.
Teams of eight students pay$20 each and have a chance to participate in games.
Kevin Robertson, sophomore at Farmington High school, stated they raised over
$5,000 which was$1,000 more than last year. The Farmington Food Shelf can
spread this money out to $12,000. There were 36 teams this year and it is
growing every year. Students have fun playing volleyball, dodge ball, and floor
hockey. They also made 500 sandwiches for the food shelf.
Natalie Pellin, sophomore at Farmington High School, stated they also held a shoe
drive called Soles for Souls. Their goal was 500 shoes, but they collected 900.
Shoes were collected throughout the community. The shoes will be sent to Iowa.
They also collected 2,000 lbs of food.
6. CITIZEN COMMENTS
7. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
a) Approved Council Minutes(4/15/13 Regular)
b) Approved Agreements with Toro Company—Parks and Recreation
Councilmember Bonar noted we have had a longstanding arrangement with Toro
Company. He wanted to make sure the public is aware we have been doing this
for several years. It is an excellent opportunity for the private and public to work
together. He asked about purchasing one of the prototypes. Staff noted the
mowers being tested will be torn down to test the wear and tear and Toro
employees have first option to buy the equipment. Toro does make equipment
that operates with propane.
c) Approved National Recreation and Park Association Conference Attendance—
Parks and Recreation
Member Bonar noted this is a great opportunity for Parks and Recreation Director
Distad to attend a national conference and looked forward to Council receiving a
full report on the sessions and networking.
d) Approved Agreement with Dryland Hockey, Inc.—Parks and Recreation
e) Approved Easement Rother(Winkler Land Company)Access—City Attorney
fl Adopted RESOLUTION R26-13 Accepting Donation Farmington Fire Relief
Association-Finance
g) Approved Appointment Recommendation Finance—Human Resources
h) Approved Bid for Sale of Rescue 2 Fire Truck—Fire Department
i) Approved Bills
APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
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9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
a) Approve Recycling Contract Extension—Municipal Services
Staff has negotiated an extension to the recycling contract with Dick's Sanitation.
The recycling charge to the City will decrease from$3.93 to $2.65/month with a
4%annual increase. Any fuel charges to the City will be eliminated due to a new
compressed natural gas truck being dedicated to Farmington. Residents that do
not sign up for seasonal yard waste will be able to purchase stickers for$3/bag.
Dick's Sanitation will provide ten 8-yard dumpsters for the cardboard drop-off
locations and collect them weekly at no cost to the City. The recycling revenue
will no longer be shared with the City and Dick's Sanitation will keep the revenue
from recycling, but will also incur any commodity charges. This is a six-year
agreement. The incidental yard waste bags will start in 2014. The revenue
collected over five years from recycling averaged$2,000/year.
Councilmember Bonar noted the plan for the savings on the recycling charge is to
use it for future equipment purchase so there would not be rate increases for the
residents in order to purchase vehicles.
Councilmember Fogarty was glad to see a solid plan for recycling costs and a
long contract.
Councilmember Bartholomay thanked staff for their work on this. He asked if the
incidental yard waste bag program could start this summer.
Mr. Dave Domack,Dick's Sanitation, stated it has been a pleasure working with
City staff. They would like to transition some of the programs as soon as next
month including the yard waste program. Residents will purchase stickers
through the City and residents would call Dick's Sanitation prior to their pickup
day to have the bags picked up. This will give residents some flexibility with
incidental yard waste. This contract also includes curbside clean-up.
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to approve the 2014-2019
Recycling Contract Extension Agreement with Dick's Sanitation, Inc. APIF,
MOTION CARRIED.
10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
a) Approve 2013 Arena Capital Projects Agreements—Parks and Recreation
At the March 11, 2013 Council workshop, staff discussed using the remaining
$111,744 from the 2010 arena improvement project. The bond counsel is
recommending the City spend this money. Staff received quotes for three
projects:
-Replace the heating system for the bleachers on the west side of the arena.
-Replace the furnace for team rooms five and six.
-Add a dehumidification system(the current system will also remain in place).
The work for this system was broken down into three sub-projects:
-Purchase the dehumidification unit.
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-Installation of unit including gas piping and ductwork.
-Electrical service for the unit.
The proposed cost is$119,181.37,which is$7,436.72 more than what is
remaining from the arena improvement project. The cost has increased because
of including electrical service, sales tax, and the heating for the bleacher and team
rooms were lower than the estimate. To cover the shortage of funding, staff is
proposing to use the money contributed from Farmington Youth Hockey
Association. The City received $10,000 in 2012 ($5,000 for capital projects and
$5,000 operating costs). In 2013 the City received another$10,000 (this will be
over ten years). So there is$10,000 to be used for capital projects. There would
still be$2,500 remaining from the Youth Hockey contribution.
The proposal for the team rooms five and six heating was from Metropolitan
Mechanical Contractors. The proposal to add the dehumidification system is
included to allow heating and cooling of these team rooms and remove humidity.
The cost is $25,600. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve
the agreement with Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors. APIF,MOTION
CARRIED.
The proposal for the bleacher heating system was from MK Mechanical Services.
The cost is $22,000. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to approve the
agreement with MK Mechanical Services. APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
The proposal for purchase of the dehumidification system was from Becker Arena
Products. The cost is$41,611.37. This system will allow for summer ice.
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to approve the agreement with
Becker Arena Products. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. The proposal for the
labor, gas piping, and duct work was from Yale Mechanical for$21,685.
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bonar to approve the agreement with Yale
Mechanical. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. The proposal for electrical service
was received from Helm Electric for$8,285. Councilmember Fogarty asked if
the power source could be accessible both inside and outside on the east side of
the building. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the
agreement with Helm Electric. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. The
dehumidification system will be installed in late summer.
b) 2012 Financial Operating Report-Finance
General fund revenues were$534,941 more than budgeted due to delinquent
property taxes being received. Intergovernmental revenues were higher than
budgeted. The City received $95,000 at the end of 2012 from the sale of the old
senior center building. Expenditures were$35,482 less than budgeted due to
conservative spending. Transfers out were higher than budgeted due to approving
$320,000 being transferred into the arena to eliminate the negative fund balance
in that fund and$51,000 was transferred into the private capital projects fund to
restore the cash balance in that account. Finance Director Hanson reviewed
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budgets for all the funds and revenues were slightly more than budgeted and
expenses less than budgeted. Liquor revenues at the downtown store increased
due to traffic from the grocery store. Actual expenses were less in both stores due
to a reduction in rent. There is a combined net income before transfers of
$281,000.
Councilmember Bonar asked about the depreciation model for infrastructure.
Staff noted it depends on the fixed asset and the depreciation policy does need to
be reviewed. Councilmember Bonar asked if we have a good sense of the cost of
borrowing each year to make up for the negative balances. Finance Director
Hanson stated we don't because we pool funds, but she has been working on this
item. City Administrator McKnight noted there is a cost to pooling funds because
we are unable to invest that money because we have to use it to pay the bills.
Councilmember Fogarty noted at the end of 2012,our fund balance is at 31%of
budgeted. City Administrator McKnight stated we have a$10 million general
fund budget for 2013, if we had $2.7 million at the end of 2012,the fund balance
would be around 25%. Councilmember Fogarty asked if we get closer to the 35%
the state requires,will we eliminate the negative fund balance. Finance Director
Hanson stated if we truly reach 35%,yes. However, in January we had to write
off$566,000 of that for the fire truck due to governmental accounting rules as that
money is no longer available to spend. We have cleaned up all negative balances,
and all interfund loans have been paid.
Councilmember Bartholomay noted the arena has a positive balance rather than
negative. Parks and Recreation Director Distad commended Supervisor Jeremy-
Fire for operating the arena and holding down costs without compromising safety
and cleanliness. Councilmember Bartholomay asked that a thank you be extended
to all staff for their role in the budget.
c) 2013 First Quarter Financial Report-Finance
Through the end of March revenues and expenses should be at 25%of the 2013
budget. General fund revenues are at 3.2%due to the timing of tax payments.
General fund expenditures are 28.4%.of budget. This is ahead of budget and
more than 2012 expenditures at this time. The reasons are because of the fire
truck for$566,000 which results in a decrease in the general fund balance. The
loan to the water fund for this truck will be repaid over the next five years. The
second reason is due to the harsh winter and increased snow removal expenditures
and utility costs. So staffing is more transparent,more time is charged to the
general fund which is offset by operating transfers from specific funds. Finance
Director Hanson reviewed revenue and expense line items. Both liquor stores met
their gross profit margin benchmark of 25%for the year. The combined profit for
the two stores totaled 3.6%of sales, less than the 6.5%benchmark. This is due to
the dram shop insurance premium in the first quarter. Depreciation will be
allocated to each of the stores monthly. The first quarter includes three months
rent for 2013, rather than only two months in 2012. Revenues and expenses for
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the enterprise funds are all in line with budget. The fund balance drops
dramatically from the end of December 2012 to the end of March 2013 due to
writing off the new fire truck.
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
12. NEW BUSINESS
13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Councilmember Fogarty: Dew Days is coming. On May 10, 2013, at 6:00 p.m.there
will be a Farmington Royalty float unveiling at the high school. Following that there will
be a meet the candidates event and after that there will be an ice cream social. Dew Days
buttons are for sale. Superintendent Jay Haugen will be co-hosting the pageant with
Councilmember Fogarty this year. She is advocating that a City vehicle be used to pull
the float in parades throughout the season. City Administrator McKnight will be
providing information on the insurance. Councilmember Fogarty noted this is a
promotional piece for the community.
Councilmember Bartholomay: Curbside clean-up is being held and residents
should check the website for their pickup day. Hydrant flushing is taking place this
week. He attended a Yellow Ribbon enlistment dinner tonight.
Councilmember Bonar: Spoke about the citizen-led EDA he and Mayor Larson are
part of. There is a considerable amount of activity occurring regarding business incentive
programs. There is also an outreach group that is working on business retention and
attraction. On a future agenda will be the design of Vermillion River Crossing. We have
a good group of citizens on the EDA.
Mayor Larson: He and Councilmembers attended a Yellow Ribbon enlistment
dinner tonight where recruits going into the military were recognized. It was well
attended by the City, school and residents. He asked everyone to shop local. He thanked
Family Fresh Market and liquor store staff for the cross-marketing they are doing through
advertisements. It shows good teamwork between the City and private industry. He
encouraged residents to show up for the float unveiling on Friday.
14. ADJOURN
MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adjourn at 8:07 p.m. APIF,MOTION
CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant
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