HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.10.19 Work Session Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK SESSION
JUNE 10, 2019
Mayor Larson called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present-Larson, Bernhjelm Donnelly and Hoyt
Absent-Craig
Also Present-Administrator McKnight, Public Works Director Gehler, Finance Director Malecha
and Municipal Services Coordinator Larson.
Agenda
Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Hoyt,to approve the agenda. APIF, motion carried.
Solid Waste Operations Review
Public Works Director Gehler provided a regulatory review of solid waste management,
reviewed processing options and the limitations available to Farmington.
Councilmember Hoyt asked where private haulers take their waste. Gehler stated they landfill
it.
Councilmember Donnelly asked why GRE is no longer an option and closed. Gehler is expecting
a correction in the industry but this is yet to occur.
Gehler reviewed open and organized collection options. Farmington is an organized collection
city with one collector. Organized cities must process their municipal solid waste.
Gehler reviewed rate comparisons of cities completed last year and we are competitive. She
reminded the city council of the 2019 and 2020 solid waste fee increases because of processing
requirements. Farmington will still be competitive.
Gehler shared information on how solid waste provide other city functions an estimated
$330,000 per year that would need to be replaced.
Gehler reviewed the Dakota County Master Plan requirements that Farmington must meet.
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Councilmember Bernhjelm asked if private haulers would fare better with changing regulations
on where they dispose of their waste. Gehler stated the regulations are more on us, where
they landfill their waste is a bigger issue for private haulers.
Bernhjelm wants to ensure we are planning for larger capital purchases in our waste rates.
Gehler stated the fleet plan already accounts for these purchases.
Bernhjelm is in favor of a business model approach of solid waste helping the city when
possible.
Councilmember Hoyt is looking 10 years down the road on disposal options and want the city to
fall behind.
Mayor Larson asked if the playing field will level out once everything needs to be processed.
Gehler stated she believed that would be the case.
Donnelly asked about the status of clean up days. Gehler stated the plan was to transition this
program in 2020 to a pick up for a fee type of program with residents working directly with a
contracted service provider due to the continued increasing cost to dispose of solid waste and
the desire to use the money from cleanup day to offset some of the increase in solid waste
disposal costs. The consensus of the city council was to switch to this type of program in 2020.
Hoyt asked if we are looking at increasing recycling to every week. Gehler stated that our
current recycling contract expires at the end of 2019. The county wants to see weekly recycling
but a recent county survey showed that recycling containers are not full for the most part using
every other week collection. A 10 to 12-month lead time will also be required when this change
is made. The consensus of the city council was to work to extend our current contract by one
year and share with the recycling haulers that weekly collection will be our goal soon.
Water Board Vacancy
Public Works Director Gehler shared that a vacancy currently exists on the Water Board. The
city council discussed options including leaving the position vacant for the remainder of the
year, appointing a councilmember, eliminating the water board and more.
City staff was directed to research with the city attorney the steps to eliminate the water board
and the options to make the city council the water board. More information will be brought
back for continued discussion.
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Flagstaff Snow Fence Review
Public Works Director Gehler reviewed the Flagstaff Avenue snow removal process from the
past winter and the impact of the snow fence. The cost to install the fence in 2018 was just
over$17,000. The amount of plowing needed on Flagstaff Avenue was not reduced with the
fence being in place but there were other benefits.
Gehler reviewed the cost to purchase a medium sized blower to mount to a tractor. The city
council was in support of budgeting for this purchase for the benefit of snow removal in a
number of areas of the city.
The consensus of the city council was to apply the dollars from the snow fence project to the
equipment purchase and have staff discuss options for additional plowing on Flagstaff Avenue.
2020 Budget Discussion
Finance Director Malecha asked the city council for any direction they had on the 2020 budget
and tax levy before discussions begin on this project. The direction of the city administrator
was to aim for a 0% levy for 2020.
The city council discussed the options that are available with the reduced debt payments for
2020, the dollars available over our 40%fund balance goal at the end of 2018 and increased
revenues projected in 2020. The city council wants to see a conservative budget and tax levy
for 2020 and would like to see the draft budget along with potential projects as a part of the
July work session.
City Administrator Update
Updated the city council on a personal matter.
Adjourn
Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Hoyt, to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m. APIF, motion
carried.
Respectfully Submitted
23) 7P101(014jr/e
David McKnight, City Administrator
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