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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.14.08 Work Session Minutes City Council Workshop Minutes January 14, 2008 Present: Soderberg, McKnight, Pritzlaff, Wilson, Fogarty (arrived 6:49 p.m.) Mayor Soderberg called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. MOTION by Pritzlaff, second by McKnight to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Boards and Commissions The Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority are two very influential boards. Council discussed the make-up ofthe EDA. Mayor Soderberg has heard from some people, including EDA members, that they are frustrated with the lack of movement on some issues. He felt if the EDA continues with a citizen advisory board, there should be a stronger business influence. When looking at candidates he will be looking at business or development background. Councilmember Pritzlaff noted no applications have been received for the EDA. He would like to be on the EDA as a Councilmember. Councilmember McKnight would like to see business owners, no agenda, common sense, and a team player before and after votes. Part of the struggle with the EDA is that Council has not assigned them tasks. Councilmember Wilson felt the EDA should be autonomous and separate from the Council. He would have expected more progress rather than Council directing them. Councilmember McKnight noted when an issue comes up all members look to the Councilmembers. Downtown is a priority, but we also have other commercial areas. Councilmember Pritzlaff noted the terms on the EDA are six years which is quite long. However, that is a state law. Mayor Soderberg noted the EDA has been given direction to work on an Economic Development Plan. Mr. Craig Rapp facilitated the meeting and that laid the foundation for the EDA. Councilmember McKnight stated they developed three priorities, the downtown, other commercial areas, and industrial. What is next? Does the EDA take it, Council, both, or staff. Mayor Soderberg suggested the Council should be the EDA. Councilmember McKnight could go both ways. Economic Development is so important and a Council priority. However, most Councilmembers are not business owners. Having a seven member board gives a chance for the business owner influence. Councilmember Wilson stated in the fall of 2006 there was a tour and the EDA had lots of energy and good ideas. Then it stopped, and the same process was redone with a consultant. He thought they had a time frame for seeing the Economic Development Plan. He felt it would have been constructive to come back to Council with an initial plan. Councilmember Pritzlaff attended a meeting with a SWAT process nine months ago and there has been nothing since. City Administrator Herlofsky stated in March they were going to have Mr. Rapp come back. The market study is done, the economic development plan was supposed to be a segment of the Council Workshop Minutes January 14,2008 Page 2 comprehensive plan and that was done. There is a loan program staff is working on that is available to the businesses. This will give some options for funding especially for the downtown. With the comprehensive plan finished, staff has designated where the next industrial park will be. A process will be started this year for purchasing options. Staffhas been visiting businesses, attending ribbon cuttings, and sends out a monthly update. It has been a year since the Community Development Director left and staffhas been encouraged to make improvements. Councilmember McKnight felt the Economic Development plan should be its own document, but understood how it fits into the comprehensive plan. Mayor Soderberg stated staffhas taken some of the steps identified in the information from Mr. Rapp. Mayor Soderberg would favor having five Councilmembers as the EDA rather than three Councilmembers as that would become a quorum of the Council. He has heard some compelling arguments from others that the Council should be the EDA. One proposal was to continue with seven members; the Council and two citizens. As the Council has already indicated support for the Economic Growth Committee that the Chamber has proposed, that would mimic the Burnsville model. In Burnsville, the EGC is an independent outside group that makes their own appointments. It is comprised of Chamber business owners. (Councilmember Fogarty arrived). Councilmember Fogarty was hesitant to put the majority ofthe voting block in the hands of Council. If it were the entire Council, she suggested eliminating all citizen seats. There was concern among Councilmembers that having a majority of Council as the EDA, it would drown out the citizens. Councilmember Wilson noted having three Councilmembers and four citizens did not concern him. From the decision making end ofthe EDA, there would be a majority of business people. He was not concerned that three Councilmembers on the EDA would try to push things through at Council meetings. Councilmember Fogarty noted the makeup of Council could change. Mayor Soderberg stated ifthe Council is the EDA, then the Council goals for economic development have consistency through the EDA and the EDA can be used to accomplish the economic development goals. Councilmember Wilson had the idea that the current EDA would take an idea and run with it. Instead they are taking small steps and checking ifthey can go further. Discussing boards and commission applicants in general, Council agreed if applicants do not fit the criteria, they should not be appointed and we should advertise again if there are vacant seats. Council reached a consensus to change the EDA to five Councilmembers. There would be three people losing their seats on the EDA. Councilmember McKnight noted the EGC will be very important. Councilmember Fogarty suggested coordinating EDA meetings with EGC meetings to spend time with them. She suggested asking these three members ifthey would like to apply for a position on another board. Council instructed City Administrator Herlofsky to check with the City Attorney on the process to change the EDA to five Councilmembers. Council Workshop Minutes January 14, 2008 Page 3 Councilmember Fogarty noted people have commented about boards and commissions stipends not being increased for a long time. This also lead to reviewing Council salaries. Council instructed City Administrator Herlofsky to check on this information. Cell Phone Allowance Council received a list of department heads with City cell phones. Staffhad agreed to receive an allowance for use of personal cell phones rather than having a City cell phone. City Administrator Herlofsky suggested starting with department heads and look at others in the future. Mayor Soderberg noted he would also prefer to use his personal cell phone and have a cell phone allowance. Council reached a consensus to allow a cell phone allowance. Minnesota Vallev Transit Authoritv Council received information from the MVTA regarding the MVTA's plans for service. In order for Farmington to receive service we would need to be a member of the transit taxing district which would cost approximately $250,000. A survey showed there are 250 riders that live outside the taxing district. Farmington is the third largest user. MOTION by Fogarty, second by McKnight to adjourn at 7:34 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, r~~ ynthia Muller Executive Assistant