HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.11.17 Work Session Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK SESSION
DECEMBER 11, 2017
Mayor Larson called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present-Larson, Bartholomay, Bernhjelm, Craig and Donnelly
Absent-None
Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Community Development Director Kienberger, Public
Works Director Gehler, Planning Manager Wippler, Assistant Fire Chief Albee, Municipal
Services Director Reiten and Municipal Services Coordinator Larson.
Agenda
Motion by Bartholomay, second by Bernhjelm,to adopt the agenda as presented. APIF, motion
carried.
Farmington Fire Relief Association 2018 Pension Contribution
Assistant Fire Chief and Relief Association President Albee presented a request to increase the
annual pension contribution the firefighters are awarded for their years of service. The Relief
Association is requesting that the annual benefit be increased from $5,500 per year to$6,500
per year effective January 1, 2018.
The city has been contributing$150,000 per year to the association for the past four years. The
relief account is currently funded at 142% and the pension increase request would reduce the
fund to 126%. The goal of the association is to be at or above 115%.
Albee spent time reviewing the history of the relief association,the financial history of the
organization and how the fund balance of the relief association has changed over time.
Councilmember Donnelly asked if there would be any immediate impact of firefighters leaving.
Albee stated he did not believe there would be.
Councilmember Bernhjelm asked if the increase would help with recruiting. Albee stated it may
help with recruitment but it would help even more with retention.
All of the councilmembers supported this increase and the item will be placed on the December
18, 2017 city council agenda for consideration.
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Solid Waste Policy Changes
Public Works Director Gehler, Municipal Services Coordinator Larson and Municipal Services
Director Reiten presented a variety of information on solid waste issues.
Farmington currently takes its waste to Empire and that waste is hauled to Newport. Due to a
number of issues the cost per ton to dispose of waste will increase from $70 per ton to $94 per
ton in 2018. This will cost Farmington about$200,000 in 2018.
Some of the other impacts that are and will impact Farmington in the solid waste area in the
future include:
• Collection of non-traditional recyclables
• Collection of organics
• Weekly residential recycling
• Organized collection programs
Discussion took place on our annual clean-up day program and the cost of this program, how it
could be adjusted to help address the increased tipping fee costs in 2018 and what this
program may look like in the future.
After much discussion the consensus of the city council was to continue the clean-up day
program as is for 2018 with the exception of not accepting mattress and have staff come up
with a plan for a new approach to the 2019 clean-up day program that will likely return to a
resident drop off type program.
The city council also discussed solid waste fees for the future and the consensus was that fees
would not be increased in 2018 but to start looking at gradual increases starting in 2019.
2040 Comp Plan Update
Public Works Director Gehler, Community Development Director Kienberger and Planning
Manager Wippler provided an update on the 2040 Comp Plan. The draft 2040 comp plan map
was reviewed with noted changes from the 2030 map in the following areas:
• 195th Street and Flagstaff Avenue area
• Flagstaff Avenue in the area of the high school
• Pilot Knob and County Road 50 area
• Akin Road restricted development area
• Downtown redevelopment plan area
The city council had discussion on many different points on the map. A number of issues from
the previous city council discussion on items to consider in the 2040 Comp Plan were discussed
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and how they will fit into our future development through other methods and at different times
in the future.
City staff reviewed the schedule for the plan. The city needs to have the preliminary draft of
the plan approved by the end of March 2018 to allow for the six month review period for
neighboring jurisdictions. The city will then approve the final version of the 2040 Comp Plan in
October/November 2018 so it can be sent to the Met Council for their approval.
The city council consensus was in support of the draft 2040 map as it stands today.
Update on Capital Water Projects
Public Works Director Gehler shared information on significant upcoming water projects.
The city has the following major projects scheduled in the next few years:
• Water Tower Refurbishing ($1.2-$1.6 million)
• New Water Tower Construction ($5.5 million)
• Well #9 Construction ($1.2 million)
Gehler reviewed the construction schedule of all three projects and how the schedules are all
interrelated. The current unrestricted fund balance is $6.4 million and the restricted fund
balance is $2.2 million.
City staff will continue to move forward with these projects and develop a financing plan for the
projects with the new finance director starting in January 2018.
City Administrator Update
Administrator McKnight updated the city council on a number of topics:
• The city council established their 2018 goal setting retreat for January 12, 2018.
• Updated the city council on the Fairhill development.
City Council Roundtable
The city council discussed organizational culture issues with the city administrator and asked
that a plan be developed to ensure the culture of the organization continues to improve and
that this issue be constantly reviewed.
Adjourn
Motion by Bartholomay, second by Bernhjelm,to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
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Respectfully Submitted
David McKnight, City Administrator
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