HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.08.16 Work Session Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK SESSION
AUGUST 8, 2016
Mayor Larson called the work session to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present-Larson, Bartholomay, Donnelly, and Pitcher
Absent-Bonar
Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Finance Director Hanson, Human Resources Director
Wendlandt, City Engineer Schorzman, Community Development Director Kienberger, Fire Chief
Larsen, Assistant Fire Chief Elvestad and Assistant Fire Chief Albee
Agenda
Motion by Bartholomay, second by Donnelly to approve the agenda as presented. APIF, motion
carried.
Fire Department Staffing
Fire Chief Larsen and Assistant Fire Chiefs Albee and Elvestad presented a request to increase
the number of volunteer firefighters. Currently the department is allotted 50 firefighters but
currently only have 46 members.
The last time the number of firefighters was increased was in 2007 when the department went
from 48 members to 50 members. Between 2008 and 2015 the department has seen a 213%
increase in emergency incident calls. The number of calls increased from 230 in 2008 to 720 in
2015.
The department regularly has members out on military, personal and illness/injury leaves. Of
the active 46 members in the department today, only 42 are available to respond due to some
members being out on leave.
Chief Larsen proposed increasing the number of department personnel to 60 members. The
department just went through a recruitment effort and has four candidates with previous
firefighting experience. In addition,there are another six candidates that they would like to
start the background and move into the academy.
The city council was in support of increasing the number of firefighters in the department to 60.
This item will be placed on a future city council agenda for formal approval.
August 8, 2016 Work Session Minutes -1-
Fire Department Apparatus Committee
Fire Chief Larsen requested authorization to begin the work on the planned purchase of a new
fire engine in 2019 as a part of the fire department capital improvement plan. The work
involved in this process takes a significant amount of time and the department wants to start
the planning and design phase. The members of the apparatus committee include Chief Larsen,
Captain Fischer, and Firefighters Martin, Donnelly, Nielsen and Budrow.
The fire chief requested authorization for this committee to begin their work and estimated
that they may have expenditures up to $2,500 to cover the cost of fuel, meals and
miscellaneous items as they review vehicles in other fire departments.
The city council was in support of this work getting underway.
2017 Draft Budget Update
Finance Director Hanson reviewed the updated draft of the 2017 budget. The current draft
includes:
2016 2017 Draft Increase/(Decrease)
Revenues $3,051,055 $3,119,737 $68,682
Expenditures $11,798,225 $12,247,443 $449,218
Fiscal Disparities $2,104,764 $2,077,080 ($27,684)
General Fund Levy $6, 42,406 $7,050,626 $408,220
Debt Levy $2,970,848 $3,037,903 $67,055
Farmington Net Levy $9,613,254 $10,088,529 $475,275
The changes from the draft budget the city council reviewed in July 2016 are summarized
below:
• Proposed Net Tax Levy on July 11, 2016 $10,088,529
• Increase in LGA to 2017 amount $2,548
• Decrease in HR costs, refined ($6,999)
• Increase in LOGIS costs, added E-Permits $1,680
• Decrease in IT costs, refined ($7,464)
• Increase in transfers to Building Maintenance Fund $11,020
• Other ($785)
• Proposed Net Tax Levy August 8, 2016 $10,088,529
Community Development Director Kienberger reviewed the status of the Heritage Preservation
Commission funding. The current draft of the budget does not include any funding for this
function and staff recommends that this function not be performed. The entire program costs
August 8,2016 Work Session Minutes -2-
around $8,000 per year to operate. City staff feels we should either fully fund this program or
not perform the functions at all.
The city council discussed the Heritage Preservation Commission issues at length and had a
number of questions. The consensus of a majority of the city council was to not fund this
program and have city staff spend their time on higher priority issues.
Human Resources Director Wendlandt reviewed the reasoning behind the request for an
additional Information Technology(IT) position in 2017.
The city added its first IT position in 2005. Since that time the organization has continued to
grow and vast changes in technology have provided the city opportunities to accomplish goals
more productively and efficiently. The city currently has in service 103 desktops computers, 22
mobile computers, 11 ipads, 16 switches, nine networked copiers, nine printers, six UPS units
with five more scheduled to be installed this year, one plotter, three scanners, a surveillance
system with 96 cameras in 13 locations, a card access system at six locations, a VOIP telephone
system across all locations and a fiber optic network.
Staff shared a schematic of the city network system with the city council. The issues of PCI
compliance, software maintenance and maintenance agreements, areas where a new position
would spend time including network and security duties,the amount of work other current
staff members currently spend on IT issues, costs of outsourcing additional assistance and the
city website.
The city councilmembers understand the need for additional IT assistance but do have concerns
about the impact on the tax levy. The consensus of the city council was to include the position
in the 2017 budget.
Snow Fence Installation-Flagstaff Avenue
Engineer Schorzman presented cost estimates for the installation of snow fence along Flagstaff
Avenue. City staff put together an estimate to install snow fence along approximately 1,500
feet along the west side of Flagstaff Avenue just north of 190th Street West.
The cost estimate from staff was approximately$10,000. Discussion occurred on how to lower
this amount. The dollars for this project will come from the General Fund Snow Removal
budget.
The city council supported the installation of snow fence for the 2016/2017 winter to see if it
makes a difference on road conditions. The city council thanked city staff for their efforts in
this area.
August 8, 2016 Work Session Minutes -3-
City Administrator Update
Administrator McKnight presented an update on the following items.
• Discussed the Vermillion River Crossings development and the intent of the city council
in regards to assessments that were placed on properties in that area in 2005. The
intent at the time was for the property owner to pay the assessments through tax
abatements.
• Long Term Disability Insurance is provided to city employees. McKnight discussed
changes to the program in regards the city PTO program. The city council supported
continued efforts in this area.
Adjourn
Motion by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m. APIF, motion
carried.
Respectfully Submitted
David McKnight, City Administrator
August 8, 2016 Work Session Minutes -4-