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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.21.15 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR September 21, 2015 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larson at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Larson led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Larson,Bartholomay,Bonar,Pitcher Members Absent: Donnelly Also Present: Joel Jamnik, City Attorney;David McKnight, City Administrator; Robin Hanson, Finance Director; Jim Larsen,Fire Chief;Adam Kienberger, Community Development Director;Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director;Brenda Wendlandt,Human Resources Director; Rick Fischer, Jim Schmitz,Mike Poot, Matthew Price, Fire Department Members;Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Audience: Marjorie Koski,Jim Schmitz,Rick Fischer, Sharon Kinard, Marlene Swantek,Mary Christensen,Don Summers,Nancy Bohn, Shelly Eldridge,Mr&Mrs Robert Vidas,Kay Bennett,Josh Hampsher,Jake Cordes,Melissa Sauser 4. APPROVE AGENDA Councilmember Pitcher pulled item 7h) Seasonal Wage Schedule for discussion and separate vote. Councilmember Bonar pulled item 7b)Joint Powers Agreement for Fire Marshal services with the City of Lakeville for discussion and separate vote. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to approve the Agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a) Update on Recent Farmington Fire Department Training The Fire Department received hands-on training and leadership training from Chief Craig Hauge of the Hanover Park, IL Fire Department. Fire Department members Rick Fischer,Jim Schmitz,Mike Poot and Matt Price spoke on various aspects of the training. 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS a) Rambling River Center Members Members of the Rambling River Center were in attendance to express their concerns regarding the part-time Rambling River Center position being tabled. Ms.Marjorie Koski has been a member of the Rambling River Center for five years. In March the assistant at the Rambling River Center moved to a full time position at City Hall. In the last six months there has not been a part time Council Minutes(Regular) September 21,2015 Page 2 assistant at the senior center. The recreation supervisor has run the center on her own with a lot of help from volunteers. Interviews were held for a senior center assistant,then at the last Council meeting the appointment was tabled for 90 days. Ms.Koski stated this is their busiest time and the supervisor's plate is overflowing. There was a period of time where the supervisor was absent and there was no one to take over. This is putting the seniors in a bad spot. Ms. Koski contacts volunteers to work at the center. Prior to six months ago, she needed to fill only three shifts in the morning. For the last six months every morning and afternoon she has to have a volunteer there. Ms.Koski asked Council to reconsider tabling this position. She felt bad for the candidate who had to be told the position was tabled. The seniors wanted Council to know how important this position is. They have met all their quotas. There are many people attending the senior center and they want to keep it going. Room rental is up this year and also new membership. It is amazing what is provided at the senior center. A lot of people have nowhere to go and they look forward to coming to the senior center. Everyone is working harder and they would like to have an assistant hired. Ms.Kay Bennett, member of the Rambling River Center, stated the center's actual cost versus budget is always lower. They do not spend the amount of money they are entitled to spend. They had over 15,285 people come through the center last year. The seniors support the town because they do not drive out of town. All their shopping is done in town. In 2005 they took over the former city hall building and cleaned and remodeled and had it paid off in less than the amount of time allotted. Mr.Roger Wood,member of the Rambling River Center, had two subjects. He commended the Council for getting McNamara to do the work in the Henderson Addition. They worked very hard and were very accommodating. Regarding the Rambling River Center,when the supervisor was hired she had an assistant,now she doesn't have that. That is like sending the snow plows out,but taking half of them off the road. It makes it difficult to get the job done. He knows the budget is not set yet, so he would like Council to reconsider the assistant position. Mr.Josh Hampshire, 1084 Pine Street,representing New Heights Christian Fellowship Church, stated they have been meeting at the Rambling River Center for the last four years. They are very pleased with the center and the staff. It has been a great facility and they have a wonderful relationship with staff. He asked that Council reconsider the assistant position. The supervisor has a lot on her plate and she does a good job. He would like to see her get more help. Mayor Larson thanked them for their comments. The city is under a tight budget and that is the reason it was tabled. Council is trying to keep taxes as low as Council Minutes(Regular) September 21,2015 Page 3 possible for everyone, including those with fixed incomes. Council will consider their comments. 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes (9/8/15 Regular)(9/14/15 Work Session)- Administration c) Adopted RESOLUTION R44-15 Accepting Park Bench Donation—Parks and Recreation d) Adopted RESOLUTION R45-15 Accepting Donation from Happy Harry's Furniture to the Rambling River Center—Parks and Recreation e) Approved Appointment Recommendation Fire Department—Human Resources f) Approved Appointment Recommendation Fire Department—Human Resources g) Approved Appointment Recommendation Fire Department—Human Resources i) Approved Bills-Finance APIF,MOTION CARRIED. b) Joint Powers Agreement for Fire Marshal Services with the City of Lakeville —Fire Fire Chief Larson stated they would like to enter into a joint powers agreement with Lakeville for fire marshal services. The city has been without a fire marshal most of this year. His certification in fire inspection services is not transferable to Minnesota. Lakeville has had to provide inspections of buildings for us. This agreement would allow Lakeville to bill us for these services. Council asked how we will budget for this and estimated costs. The agreement appears to be open ended and how long would Council want to have these services. Is there a long-term objective for fire marshal duties? Fire Chief Larson stated there is no closure date for the agreement. He has submitted a recommendation for the addition of a fire inspector position,but that position is not funded as of this time and he does not know when it will be. The costs for the services will come from fire department professional services. The cost in the last two months has been$1,000. The objectives will depend on the needs of the businesses and construction. The objective long term is to have a fully funded full time position. Short term we will try to find classes for some part time personnel who can be certified as fire inspectors,but they work full time jobs during the day. It has been some time since we have performed annual fire alarm inspections in the community. We need to find a way to fund this position. Currently Lakeville is only providing time and material. We have no one that is certified in the plan review process for fire items. A fire marshal would do home daycare inspections, commercial inspections for buildouts,and pyro technique inspections. Council Minutes(Regular) September 21,2015 Page 4 Council asked if there could be a cap amount. Staff stated we are billed for the work performed so a cap cannot be determined. Council asked if the fire inspector position would be full time or part time and would there be enough work for full time. Fire Chief Larson envisions a full time combined position to handle fire prevention,public education and fire investigations. There has been federal aid available from time to time and staff would look for any available grants. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to approve the joint powers agreement with the city of Lakeville for fire inspection services. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. h) Approve Seasonal Wage Schedule—Human Resources Councilmember Pitcher noted there are some positions that we are bringing up to minimum wage which is good, but there are some with a large percentage increase. He would be okay with a nominal increase. He asked what the approximate dollar amount is for the difference. Human Resources Director Wendlandt stated straight costs amount to an increase of$13,800. If you look at keeping in place the current seasonal wage schedule, adding the cost of living adjustments, move people to the next step,that cost is $8,500, so the net increase to the budget is$5,300. The seasonal wage scale has not been reviewed since 2007. Last year the minimum wage went up to$8 and those below that were adjusted. The wage schedule for seasonals was not adjusted. This year compared to the market in both the public and private sector we are behind the market. There has been a significant decline in seasonal applications. The new seasonal wage structure has been set so next year we only have to bring some positions up to the next minimum wage increase. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to approve the seasonal wage schedule. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) City of Farmington Rating Upgrade-Finance The city has received a debt rating upgrade from Standard and Poor's from AA- to AA. Council and staff have been working on this for five years. This upgrade is due to work to improve the city's financial performance, strengthen management's oversight,update and improve the city's financial policies and practices and improve the city's debt position. This will lower the cost of future borrowing. The last upgrade was in 2008. City Administrator McKnight thanked all staff for the work that resulted in this significant achievement. Council also thanked staff for their work on achieving Council Minutes(Regular) September 21,2015 Page 5 this. This will help us greatly with future borrowing and will help to keep taxes down. b) Approve Resolution Awarding Sale of$3,050,000 General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds,Series 2015A-Finance The 195th Street project will be paid for through MSA funds, an internal fund loan and bonds. Ms. Shelly Eldridge,Ehlers&Associates, stated eight bids were received. The low bidder was Piper Jaffray&Co,who submitted a premium bid. We were able to lower the amount of borrowing by$160,000. Interest rates were also half a percent lower than estimated. We received$136,000 in premium. The bond amount is now$3,050,000. This results in a total savings of$206,000 over the life of the bond which is 14 years. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Bonar to adopt RESOLUTION R46-15 awarding the sale of$3,050,000 General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds, Series 2015A to Piper Jaffray&Co. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. c) Approve Appointments to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan Task Force— Community Development Community Development Director Kienberger recommended Council appoint members to a Downtown Redevelopment Plan Task Force. Members are: Kris Akin—Downtown Building Owner Heidi Cunningham—ISD 192 Director of Community Education Ed Endres—Pizza Man/Downtown Business Owner John Franceschelli III—Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Nicole Gorman—Rambling River Center Chris Kulus—Farmington Business Association President David McMillen—Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Dirk Rotty—Planning Commission Chair Barb Svoboda—Farmington Library Manager Janie Tutewohl—Janie's Home Team/Market on Oak Downtown Business Owner Steve Wilson—Economic Development Authority Megan Richards—Student Representative Farmington High School MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to appoint the above people to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan Task Force to assist and guide the creation of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEW BUSINESS 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Pitcher: This is Homecoming week. He encouraged everyone to be safe and make good choices. Shop and dine local. Council Minutes(Regular) September 21,2015 Page 6 Mayor Larson: This is Homecoming week. Watch for kids and be safe. Shop local. 14. ADJOURN MOTION by Pitcher, second by Bonar to adjourn at 8:17 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant