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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.14.18 Work Session Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES WORK SESSION MAY 14, 2018 Mayor Larson called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call Present-Larson, Bartholomay, Bernhjelm, Craig and Donnelly Absent-None Also Present-Administrator McKnight, Community Development Director Kienberger and Public Works Director Gehler. Agenda Motion by Bartholomay, second by Donnelly, to approve the agenda. APIF, motion carried. Community Solar Subscription Community Development Director Kienberger presented an update on community solar subscriptions. The city previously looked at the solar issue in 2015 and decided against participating in the Met Council led program at that time. The city has been approach by Nokomas Partners with a new approach to this topic that includes fixed savings. Kienberger reviewed potential benefits and risks to the 25-year program and clarified that this is for the city facilities in the Xcel Energy territory within Farmington. Councilmember Bernhjelm asked if there are opt out options. Kienberger stated there are some in the draft contract and they will be reviewed with the city council in detail if a contract is brought back for consideration. Administrator McKnight asked if becoming more energy efficient penalizes the city in terms of future savings. Public Works Director Gehler stated that it does not penalize the city. Councilmember Donnelly asked if the variance of power usage each month locks us in. Kienberger stated that it does not because the program looks at the city power use over a 12- month period when determining our potential amount of power to purchase from the solar garden and the potential savings. Gehler clarified the process and that it is easier to understand if you separate the past 12 months of energy use that helps determine how much of a solar garden we purchase and the amount of savings that are applied to future monthly city electric bills. May 14, 2018 Work Session Minutes - 1- The consensus of the city council was to have city staff continue to work on this issue and have the city attorney review the draft contract before it is brought back to the city council. Councilmember Craig reminded staff to review the opt out options. Dakota County Cost Share Policy Update Public Works Director Gehler updated the city council on work that has been occurring on the Dakota County Cost Share Policies in terms of street construction projects. Gehler shared that this work has been occurring over the past year with input from public works directors, city administrators and others. Gehler reviewed the draft proposal and how it impacts different road classifications within the county. Councilmember Donnelly asked if this new approach would have had a different cap on the 195th Street project if it was in place a few years ago. Gehler stated it would have. Councilmember Craig asked what the capped percentage of projects was based on. Gehler stated that those are defined within county policy, what type of work receives what percentage of pay. Mayor Larson asked how much the county has taken in under the CTIB program because it seems there is now more money to spend since that was dissolved. Administrator McKnight stated that would be a good question for Commissioner Slavik to answer when he visits with the city council in June. After additional discussion, the city council wanted the message sent to the county that they appreciated the participation in county projects but that it would be appropriate for the county to have more participation and that some consideration be given for the smaller tax bases in some of the Dakota County cities. Councilmember Craig asked how often these policies are reviewed. Gehler stated that they are reviewed as needed. Alley Improvement Policy Discussion Public Works Director Gehler presented information on two potential alley paving projects. One is related to a new daycare being opened in Farmington and one is related to a building sale and potential new renters. There may be times when the city may participate in some of this work. After discussion, the city council consensus was that if these projects, or potential future projects, were going to be done they should be paid for by the property owners. There was May 14, 2018 Work Session Minutes -2 - some discussion about possible city participation in these projects in they were economic development related. The city council wanted to be as consistent as possible. Gehler brought up the issue of private streets and their impact on the city. There are about 5.5 miles or private streets in the city. City staff will do some additional research on this issue and bring it back for more in-depth city council discussion. Pavement Management Program Public Works Director Gehler presented information on pavement management efforts in Farmington. A video on pavement management efforts in the metro area was presented. Gehler reviewed information on the efforts performed in Farmington on pavement management including crack sealing, seal coating and street reconstruction. Gehler reminded the city council that a pavement condition index system should be in place by the end of 2019 that will place a score on the condition of each street to help determine future street maintenance and reconstruction schedules. Gehler reviewed how maintenance projects like seal coating, crack sealing, overlays and reconstruction extend the life of a road and lower overall costs compared to doing nothing. Gehler reviewed that we currently perform 11.4 miles of crack sealing and seal coating, 0.42 miles of reconstruction and 0 miles of mill and overlay each year. The annual benchmarks we should be meeting are 6.8 miles of crack sealing and seal coating, 1.7 miles of reconstruction and 3.4 miles of mill and overlay each year. The city council was in support of these projects and asked city staff to continue to try and work them into future budgets and capital improvement programs. City Administrator Update 2019 Budget Discussion Administrator McKnight shared with the city council that the 2019/2020 budget process has started at the staff level and the city council will start to discuss the budget in June. McKnight wanted to provide the city council with an opportunity to provide input on the budget and levy before they have information in front of them. Some direction was provided that a conservative approach would be taken with the budget. Other Updates Administrator McKnight presented updates on the following items: May 14, 2018 Work Session Minutes -3- 1. Discussed the Vitals program that a resident raised with the city council at the May 7, 2018 city council meeting. This issue will be considered as a part of the 2019 budget process. 2. Discussed with the city council a bill that was pulled from the May 7, 2018 list of bills. City Council Roundtable Councilmember Craig brought up the issue of Express Auto who plan to develop in the Farmington Business Park. Concerns have been expressed that this is a salvage or junk yard and neighbors to the south are concerned. Staff reviewed the business and clarified that it is an auto transfer of damaged vehicles. The city will require that a fence be installed to help with the existing trees as a part of the screening process. Councilmember Bernhjelm inquired about cancelling the July 2, 2018 city council meeting. The city council agreed to cancel this meeting. Adjourn Motion by Craig, second by Bartholomay,to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. APIF, motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Daisa David McKnight, City Administrator May 14, 2018 Work Session Minutes -4-