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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.21.22 Work Session Packet CITY OF Meeting Location: FARMINGTONFarmington City Hall 430 Third Street Farmington, MN 55024 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA March 21, 2022 5:30 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVE AGENDA 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS (a) Approve Addition of Two Full-Time Parks Maintenance Workers (b) Discuss Appointment of the City Administrator Position 4. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE 5. ADJOURN CITY OF 0 43o Third St., Farmington, MN 55024 FARMINGTON © 651-28o-6800 Farmington MN.gov TO: Mayor, Councilmembers and City Administrator FROM: Kellee Omlid, Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: Approve Addition of Two Full-Time Parks Maintenance Workers DATE: March 21, 2022 INTRODUCTION The city continues to expand the number of parks, acres of land, open space, and outdoor athletic fields it maintains. This has resulted in more demand on the park maintenance staff's time. City council and staff discussed adding a Parks Maintenance Worker at the February 7, 2022 work session meeting. At that meeting, city council directed staff to come back with how many Parks Maintenance Workers are needed. Thus, based on the detailed information below, staff is requesting to add two full-time Parks Maintenance Workers as soon as possible. Requests will also be made in the 2023 and 2024 budgets for an additional Park Maintenance Worker in each year. This is subject to change based on the results of the 2022 referendum. DISCUSSION The last time a full-time parks maintenance worker was added was February 2006 and this position works six months in parks maintenance and six months in facility maintenance. However, since 2006 the following parks have been added: • Hillview Park (3 acres) • Jim Bell Park and Preserve (135 acres) • Distad Park and Greenway (54.8 acres) • Farmington Preserve Park (69.8 acres) • Marigold Park (0.26 acres) • Prairie Pines Park(12.88 acres) Sunny Hills Park (2.98 acres of parkland+22.1 acres of open space, Fairhill Estate at North Creek development) is finished other than park signs, benches, and trash and recycling containers. The master planning process for Flagstaff Meadows Park (approximately 3 acres) started in January with the park anticipated to be built in fall 2022 or spring 2023. 1 n total, approximately 304 acres of parkland and open space has been added to the system since 2006. 1 n addition, new parks in Sapphire Lake, Vermillion Commons, and Dakota Meadows will be added in the next two to four years. The city also continues to increase the number of miles of trails. I n January 2006, parks maintenance staff maintained 35 miles of trails and by January 2022 the number had increased to 52. The city will be adding approximately 4.5 miles of trails in the coming years. This includes Dakota Meadows (0.85 miles), Sapphire Lake (0.66 miles), Vermillion Commons (1.34 miles), Vita Attiva (0.78 miles), and Whispering Fields (0.85). Four boardwalks, Meadowview Park (two), Middle Creek Park, and Vermillion Grove Park, have been built since 2006 which staff need to maintain and inspect. With solid waste operations transitioned to DSI in January 2022, parks maintenance staff is now responsible for the collection and disposal of trash in downtown. I n addition, Dakota County, as part of the state's goal to recycle 75 percent of waste by 2030, now requires recycling containers paired within 10 feet of all trash containers. Thus, it takes staff more time as must dump more containers and at times have to make a second trip to the park(s) to dispose of the recycling. A benchmarking study of park maintenance staff was completed in fall 2021 with the results below. These are parks maintenance workers (includes supervisors, but not superintendents and above) based on population. Currently, we have 3.5 full-time(FTEs) Parks Maintenance Workers and the rest are seasonal staff. Jeremy Pire, Parks and Facilities Supervisor, is not included in the 5.5 FTEs for Farmington. Full-Time Equivalents ^ Population: Cottage Grove 12.0—36,600 Apple Valley 23.0—56,400 Burnsville 24.0—64,300 Eagan 24.0—68,900 Lakeville 19.0—69,500 Rosemount 9.0-25,700 Woodbury 29.5 —69,900 Farmington 5.5 -22,900 Hastings 9.0-22,800 During the summer, Parks Maintenance Workers are spending their time per week on the following tasks: • One FTE+two seasonal staff: 35 hours mowing and trimming; 5 hours maintaining equipment • One FTE:40 hours dragging ballfields and trash/recycling collection • One FTE:40 hours spraying pesticides,flail mowing, playground inspections, construction projects • One FTE+four seasonal staff:40 hours construction projects, adding engineered wood fiber to playgrounds, maintaining boardwalks and bridges When we have larger construction projects and need extra help, we stop service on daily tasks (i.e., mowing, weeding, trash collection, etc.) to complete in a timely manner. Resident comments like"The boardwalk looks great, now please mow the flag football fields." often happen. The two additional Park Maintenance Workers would allow us to continue with daily tasks while completing projects. This would also help with covering vacations,sick days,and appointments and maintaining the expected service level. During the winter,the three Parks Maintenance Workers plow trails, downtown sidewalks, and assist Public Works with other snow removal areas when needed. They are also making and maintaining outdoor ice rinks, cleaning the warming houses,trash and recycling collection, and completing other tasks when time permits. Covering days off in the winter during a snow event is a challenge and forces the staff to work additional hours (overtime)to complete the trails, sidewalks, and outdoor rink snow removal plan. The additional Park Maintenance Workers would take some of the burden off current staff and provide time to complete projects. There are several maintenance tasks that aren't getting done to the frequency they should be. Full playground safety inspections should be completed monthly and staff is averaging twice per year. Tree removals, trimming, and stump grinding is happening as time allows, which isn't enough as this list continues to grow daily. Staff doesn't have time to tend to the details (i.e., weeds around park signs, mulching, watering, etc.) which is often the park user's first impression. Regular inspections of trails and park facilities needs to be a priority as the system is showing its age and the results of being neglected for years. The growing park and trail system without additional Park Maintenance Workers is making it difficult to maintain these areas to the level of excellence, repair, and safety that is required, needed, and expected by the residents. BUDGET IMPACT The salary range for a Parks Maintenance Worker in 2022 is $54,330 to$67,808 (mid-point is $60,778). Benefits will be approximately$10,866 annually. Using the first step of the salary schedule, the approximate total cost benefits included is$65,196. By the time the recruitment process is completed, the anticipated start date is May 23, 2022. This would be just over seven months of wages (salary and benefits) for two workers for a total of approximately$80,256. The additional Parks Maintenance Workers would be funded out of the general fund. Please note this could result in the general fund exceeding budget at year end. ACTION REQUESTED Approve the hiring of two full-time Parks Maintenance Workers. CITY OF © 43o Third St., Farmington, MN 55024 FARMINGTON © 651-28o-6800 Farmington MN.gov TO: Mayor, Councilmembers and City Administrator FROM: Joshua Hoyt, Mayor SUBJECT: Discuss Appointment of the City Administrator Position DATE: March 21, 2022 INTRODUCTION As of March 12, 2022, the city administrator position is vacant. DISCUSSION City Council will discuss the appointment of Assistant City Administrator Lynn Gorski to city administrator. BUDGET IMPACT The position is a budgeted item. ACTION REQUESTED Discuss the appointment of the city administrator position.