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Home My WebLink About07.20.15 Council Minutes JOINT FARMINGTON CITY COUNCIL/ SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES REGULAR July 20, 2015 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by School Board Chair Singewald at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OFALLEGIANCE Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL City Councilmembers Present: Larson,Bartholomay,Bonar,Donnelly,Pitcher School Board Members Present: Singewald, Beem, Cordes, Corraro, Lee, Sauser Members Absent: None Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator; Robin Hanson,Finance Director;Adam Kienberger, Community Development Director; Randy Distad,Parks and Recreation Director;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer;Todd Reiten,Municipal Services Director; Cynthia Muller,Executive Assistant Jay Haugen, Superintendent; Jane Houska,Finance Director;Lori Jensen,Executive Assistant Audience: Dakota County Commissioner Slavik,Jerry Rich 4. APPROVE AGENDA Councilmember Bonar pulled item 7e)Acknowledge Retirement Fire Department for comment. City Administrator McKnight moved item 12a) School District Levy Question Update to the end of the meeting. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to approve the Agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Cordes, second by Lee to approve the Agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes(7/6/15 Regular)(7/13/15 Work Session)- Administration b) Approved Temporary On-Sale Liquor Licenses VFW Post 7662-Administration c) Received Information Second Quarter 2015 New Construction Report and Population Estimate—Community Development d) Approved Amending Fire Department Capital Improvement Plan 2015-2019— Fire Department e) Acknowledged Retirement Fire Department—Human Resources Council Minutes(Regular) July 20,2015 Page 2 f) Approved Seasonal Hiring—Human Resources g) Adopted RESOLUTION R30-15 Approving 2015A G.O. Street Reconstruction Bonds Public Hearing Request-Finance h) Approved Bills-Finance APIF,MOTION CARRIED. e) Acknowledge Retirement Fire Department—Human Resources Councilmember Bonar noted it is not often a person serves 40 years in the fire department. This family has a long tradition in firefighting. Councilmember Bonar wanted to pay special recognition to Dan Thelen for his service. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS a) 195th Street Project Update City Engineer Schorzman gave an update on this project. Phase one was from Akin Road to Diamond Path and will be completed the end of August. Phase two is from Eureka Avenue to Flagstaff and will be completed prior to school starting. This phase also includes the pedestrian underpass to Meadowview Elementary. Phase three is the final phase. Pilot Knob will be closed from 195th to 190th Street including the 195th Street and Pilot Knob intersection. This will begin when the first two phases are complete. There will be a temporary modification at Flagstaff Avenue and Highway 50. b) Community Development Update Community Development Director Kienberger gave an overview of the department activities. There are currently 170 lots available. There have been 39 building permits issued this year. Staff will begin working on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update in 2016. This guides development in the city. Currently staff is working on selecting a consulting firm to work on the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. There are several sites ready for commercial development in Vermillion River Crossing. Community Development Director Kienberger also gave an update on EDA activities and new businesses. He spoke about creating an attractive environment for businesses and having a positive perception of Farmington. c) City Strategic Plan Update In 2014 the City Council and staff developed a strategic plan. This year that plan has been paired down to four priorities—organizational development,community development, communication/engagement and finance/operations. City Administrator McKnight highlighted activities under each of these priorities. Council Minutes(Regular) July 20,2015 Page 3 d) Economic Development Authority Structure/Membership The EDA structure currently is two Councilmembers and three residents. State statute states there must be three, five or seven members. The EDA has discussed including a school board member and a planning commission member on the EDA. The EDA felt the city and school board both have an interest in the success of the community. School board members felt it would be a great opportunity to enhance the relationship. City staff will move forward with the next steps for this to take place in 2016. It was also suggested that a school board member participate in the Comprehensive Plan update. e) Joint Partnership Opportunities Currently the city and school district meet monthly. They discuss major projects such as the 195th Street project and ways to help each other. There are also two councilmembers and two school board members that meet. The broadcast equipment for the school district is in need of upgrading. In these monthly meetings it was discussed that perhaps the school district could hold their meetings at city hall to use the city's broadcasting equipment. School Board Member Beem would like to see things go a step further such as bringing grounds keeping into the city as a shared service and possibly better coordination between parks and recreation and community ed. She would like to see strategic ways to save taxes. 1) School District Levy Question Update School Board Chair Singewald noted the school board met this evening regarding moving forward with a potential referendum. The school board unanimously approved bringing forward two questions to the November 3,2015, special school district election as follows: In question one voters will be asked to approve a facilities bond for$45,320,000 for the betterment of school sites and facilities which will include safety and security improvements such as secure entrances in the elementary buildings and a firewall for data security, deferred maintenance throughout the district,repair and replacement of roofs at elementary and middle school facilities,additional kindergarten classrooms in elementary schools to meet the growing enrollment and eliminate crowding, and pavement improvements. In question two,voters will be asked to approve an operating levy increase of $433 per student to maintain current class sizes by retaining teachers and programs. This amount maximizes the state's contribution to the school district, minimizes impact on local tax payers and may provide opportunities to slightly lower class size by adding teachers and programming. g) Potential Property Tax Impacts School Finance Director Houska stated for a home valued at$225,000 the school facility bond would cost the taxpayers$8.67 per month or$104 per year. The operating levy would cost the tax payers$15.25 per month or$193 per year. The Council Minutes(Regular) July 20,2015 Page 4 total tax increase for the school district would be$23.92 per month or$287 per year. City Finance Director Hanson stated the city is on a different calendar than the school district and is working on the 2016 budget and council will be asked to approve a preliminary tax levy in September. At this point on a$225,000 home, a 3.99%tax levy increase would be$41.48 per year or$3.46 per month. A 4.8% tax levy increase would be$51.13 per year or$4.26 per month. 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Pitcher: Thanked both administrations for arranging the meeting. He thanked the Fire Relief Association and the Fire Fighters Auxiliary for their donations so the fire department can have radios for each fire fighter. Councilmember Bartholomay: Thanked both administrations for the meeting tonight. The two groups have a great working relationship and also meeting outside of regular meetings. He thanked Dan Thelen for his 40 years of service on the fire department. Mayor Larson: Thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He encouraged residents to shop local. Member Cordes: Thanked the city council for hosting the joint meeting and the two administrations for arranging it. The only way for our two governments to succeed is to work together. Member Sauser: Was grateful for the opportunity to work together. They addressed some very important items tonight such as incorporating a board member into the EDA as well as being invited to work on the comprehensive plan. It shows one more step of the combined effort to work together. Member Beem: Thanked the administrations for this meeting. It will be good to be involved in the EDA and the comprehensive plan. Member Corraro: This is a great opportunity and looked forward to the partnerships. It has been a pleasure meeting with councilmembers outside of regular meetings. Member Lee: Appreciated the updates and the city hosting this meeting. Both groups have been working a number of years to strengthen the relationship and this shows the cooperation that is happening. Chair Singewald: Appreciated both administrations coordinating this meeting and the opportunity to come together as a village on how to best serve the community. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Lee, second by Corraro to adjourn at 8:11 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes(Regular) July 20,2015 Page 5 MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to adjourn at 8:11 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant