HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.13.16 Work Session Minutes City Council Work Session
Minutes
June 13,2016
Mayor Larson called the work session to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Larson, Bonar, Pitcher
Absent: Bartholomay,Donnelly
Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator;Robin Hanson,Finance Director;Adam
Kienberger, Community Development Director;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer;Brian
Lindquist,Police Chief;Brenda Wendlandt,Human Resources Director; Cynthia Muller,
Executive Assistant
MOTION by Pitcher, second by Bonar to approve the agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
2016/2017 City Council Priorities
At their goal setting session, Council discussed several issues which City Administrator
McKnight put into four categories:
- Financial—continue to take steps to make Farmington a city of fiscal excellence
- Development—support expansion of our residential, commercial and industrial
properties
- Partnerships—Forge opportunities with existing and new partners
- Service Delivery—endeavor to provide core government services at high quality
levels
Regarding service delivery, Council asked that this item be broadened to support staff with
additional resources to maintain all streets in the winter months, not just Flagstaff Avenue.
These priorities will be brought to the June 20, 2016, City Council meeting for approval.
Draft Code of Conduct
During their goal setting, Council discussed having a code of conduct. City Administrator
McKnight developed a draft using a model from the League of Minnesota Cities. Council agreed
with what was presented and also a statement for citizen comments. Staff will review Council
policies and by-laws.
Green Steps Program Update
The Green Steps program has 29 best practices in five areas:
1. Buildings and Lighting
2. Land Use
3. Transportation
4. Environmental Management
5. Economic and Community Development
Farmington is currently at step two. We are short of achieving step three in the following areas:
Building and Lighting—missing three actions
Land Use—done
Transportation—missing five actions
Environmental Management—missing one action
Economic/Community Development—missing four actions -
An action under Transportation would be to develop a streets policy that also addresses street
trees and storm water. It would require us to address issues when we develop or redevelop
streets that would increase the cost of these projects. Staff would not recommend putting this
into place currently. Therefore,the city would not be able to move forward to step three of the
Green Steps Program,but we would support the steps we have already taken. The City Council
will move forward with the Green Steps program step three keeping expenses in mind.
Wellhead Protection Plan Part One Update
There are two parts to the wellhead protection plan; delineate where the water comes from and to
inventory the contaminate sources. Part one is complete and part two will be done in the spring
of 2017.
Position Reclassification—Police Department
Police Chief Lindquist explained how the department has gone from 3.5 FTE administrative
employees to 3 FTE administrative employees. Two were hired in November 2015 as support
technicians. However,they have been trained and have been doing the work of support
specialists which is a higher level grade. Police Chief Lindquist and Human Resources Director
Wendlandt explained that these two positions should be reclassified to support specialists which
would be an$8,000 increase for the two positions if this were effective June 1, 2016.
At the time these positions were approved as support technicians,management intended them to
progress to support specialists. However, it was not communicated to Council that the intent was
to move these positions up a grade level. Council noted they were hired as support technicians,
but by training them as support specialists,management has forced Council's hand to approve
the increase. Council was concerned this was a sizeable increase when their probation was just
completed in May. Council supported the increase,but wants this process reviewed for the
future.
MOTION by Pitcher, second by Bonar to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant