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Home My WebLink About04.13.20 Council Minutes CITY OF FARMINGTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING APRIL 13, 2020 1. Call to Order Mayor Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. This meeting was a virtual meeting conducted on Zoom due to the COVID pandemic. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Larson shared that the pledge would not be conducted during virtual meetings due to issues with broadcast delays. 3. Roll Call Present-Larson, Bernhjelm, Craig, Donnelly and Hoyt Absent-None Staff Present-Administrator McKnight, Public Works Director Gehler, Communications Specialist Siebenaler and Attorney Jamnik. 4. Agenda Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Hoyt,to approve the agenda as presented. APIF, motion carried. 5. Announcements/Commendations None 6. Citizen Comments None 7. Consent Agenda Motion by Hoyt, second by Bernhjelm, to approve the consent agenda as printed: a) Approve Minutes of the March 16, 2020 Special City Council Meeting-Administration b) Approve Minutes of the March 16, 2020 City Council Meeting-Administration c) Approve Arbor Day Proclamation-Public Works April 13, 2020 Regular Minutes - 1- d) Approve Street Maintenance Services Through South Metro Joint Powers Agreement- Public Works e) Approve Joint Powers Agreement between Dakota County and the City of Farmington for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event-Public Works f) Approve Contract for 2020 Trail Crack Sealing-Public Works g) Award Contract for 2020 Pavement Rehabilitation Project-Public Works h) Adopt as Agreement with MnDOT and Adopt Resolution R23-2020 Related to a Turn Lane on TH3 at 209th Street-Public Works i) Award Contract Fire Station #1 Apparatus Door Replacement Project-Parks j) Acknowledge First Quarter 2020 New Construction Report and Population Estimate- Community Development k) Adopt Resolution R24-2020 Amending the 2020 Budget-Finance 1) Approve 2019 Interfund Transfers-Finance m) Approve Bills-Finance 8. Public Hearings None 9. Award of Contract None 10. Petitions, Requests and Communications None 11. Unfinished Business None 12. New Business a) COVID-19 City Response Update Administrator McKnight provided an update on the city's response the COVID-19 pandemic. McKnight shared the actions that have occurred to date. ✓ City council declared an emergency on March 16, 2020 ✓ City facilities were closed to the public on March 18, 2020 ✓ Service delivery changes were implemented, most notably in the following departments- April 13, 2020 Regular Minutes -2 - o Police Department o Fire Department o Solid Waste o Building Inspections ✓ PPE gathered, and continues to be gathered, for city staff ✓ We shared PPE with neighboring cities and some senior facilities in Farmington because we had extra ✓ Cancelled or postponed a number of city events ✓ Working closely with the federal government, State of Minnesota, Dakota County and our neighboring cities in a wide variety of areas ✓ Our days have been filled with Zoom meetings, daily and weekly updates from the state and Dakota County ✓ Asked for patience from the public as we implemented these changes ✓ We placed on emphasis on communication through our social media and webpage ✓ Main goal is to protect our staff members so they can provide the essential services like police, fire, solid waste, public works and more ✓ We closed both liquor stores and have reopened the PK liquor store after implementing protective measures for staff and customers ✓ Governor Walz issued a Stay at Home order originally through April 101h that was extended to May 4th ✓ Service delivery adjustments have continued, we have analyzed and tweaked our approach as well ✓ As of today, staff is either working normally (police, fire, public works), working from home and a few continue to work out of closed city facilities ✓ This week we have staff performing more traditional work as comparted to COVID work ✓ Work this week will include the completion of street sweeping so we!can start hydrant flushing on Monday, April 20 ✓ We will be advertising the hydrant flushing work in the next few daysi and likely daily over the two weeks it will take to complete hydrant flushing ✓ We will continue to adjust service delivery as we go but realize we will not make everyone happy ✓ We waived late fees for utility bills that were due on March 311t to help residents ✓ Thanked- • City staff for their willingness to change our approach to work and for their continued dedication to all aspect of Farmington o Residents for their patience as we do our part to develop our new normal when it comes to service delivery o City Council for your support as staff made quick decisions on',how to make this work as best as we could ✓ The city administrator has tried to communicate with the city council and city staff on a regular basis the past month April 13, 2020 Regular Minutes -3- ✓ As you know from my last communication, for the most part everyone seems to have settled into the new service delivery method and things have been relatively quiet the past week or so ✓ We will continue to monitor what is occurring with pandemic and address issues as needed Councilmember Bernhjelm shared that she is proud of city staff for the work they have done over the past month. Councilmember Craig thanked city staff for their work and for handling the changes. Councilmember Donnelly thanked staff for going above and beyond and asked about possible date changes for first half property taxes. McKnight stated that the state legislature sets the due date for property taxes and any change would have to be done at that level. The county has the ability to waive late fees and penalties. Mayor Larson thanked staff for the communication and for the work that continues to be done. b) Direction/Guidance/Action on City Related Issues Due to the COVIDPandemic Administrator McKnight presented a summary of actions that city staff has or will take because of the COVID-19 pandemic. McKnight asked the city council to formally approve the following actions- 1) The city will waive any late fees for utility bill payments for those bills that were due on March 31, 2020. 2) Caps will be temporarily removed for vacation, sick time and PTO for city staff for the time being but will be put back in place by December 31, 2020 at the latest. 3) Temporary wage increase of$2 per hour for liquor store for hours worked between Saturday, March 28, 2020 and Friday, April 10, 2020 with the exclusion of the liquor operations manager. 4) Waiver of all liquor license fees for April 2020 since these businesses cannot be open to sell alcohol. Councilmember Donnelly asked about the end date for the temporary wage increase for liquor store employees. He asked why the end date was April 10th and not May 4th. Councilmember Craig asked if the end date could be adjusted to align with the end of the stay at home order. McKnight stated the original date was the end of the first stay at home order. The city council agreed to adjust the date to the end of the stay at home order. Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Craig,to approve the elimination of utility bills late fees for bills due March 31, 2020; the temporary suspension of vacation, sick and PTO caps for 2020, April 13, 2020 Regular Minutes -4- the $2 per hour wage increase for liquor store staff through the end of the stay at home order and the waiver of liquor license fees for April 2020. APIF, motion carried. 13. City Council Roundtable Bernhjelm-Thanked residents for their support during this time. Encouraged residents to stay positive. Shared that a Zoom EDA meeting will be held on April 23rd. Encouraged residents to complete their census forms. Donnelly-Thanked residents for their support. Encouraged residents to stay positive. Craig-Thanked staff and the police department for their positive approach to this issue. Encouraged residents to stay connected. Hoyt-Encouraged residents to support local businesses. Reminded everyone to continue to touch base. Shared that May is mental health month and he asked the city administrator to bring forward a proclamation at the May meeting. McKnight-Shared that the city council meeting will return to their normal schedule with the next meeting on May 4th Larson-Thanked US Representative Craig for her support during this issue. 14. Adjourn Motion by Bernhjelm, second by Craig,to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 p.m. APIF, motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Dowa P. David McKnight, City Administrator April 13, 2020 Regular Minutes -5-