HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.21.24 Joint School Board-Council Work Session MinutesCity of Farmington
Joint ISD 192 School Board and City Council Work Session Minutes
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
The City Council met in a Joint Work Session with the ISD 192 School Board on
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Farmington City Hall, 430 3rd Street, Farmington,
Minnesota.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Joint Work Session was called to order by Mayor Hoyt and Chair Simmons at
5:30 pm. Both Council and School Board Members introduced themselves.
Members Present:
City Council
Mayor Joshua Hoyt
Councilmembers Nick Lien and Steve Wilson
School Board
Chair Hannah Simmons
Board Members Kyle Christensen, Becky DeWilde, Melissa Gorman,
and Dr. Maggie Storlie
Members Absent:
City Council
Councilmembers Katie Bernhjelm and Holly Bernatz
School Board
Board Member Jacilyn Doyle
City Staff Present:
Lynn Gorski, City Administrator
Julie Flaten, Assistant City Administrator & HR Director
Deanna Kuennen, Community & Economic Development Director
Kim Sommerland, Finance Director
Matt Price, Fire Chief
Kellee Omlid, Parks & Recreation Director
Gary Rutherford, Police Chief
John Powell, Public Works Director
Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk
ISD 192 Staff Present:
Superintendent Jason Berg
Jane Houska, Finance Director
Dan Miller, Director of Operations
Lori Jensen, Executive Assistant
Joint ISD 192/Council Work Session Minutes of August 21, 2024 Page I of 3
2. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Lien to
approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays
Motion was made by Board Member Christensen and seconded by Board Member
Gorman to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays
3. DISCUSSION ITEMS
3.1 Joint Discussion with Farmington City Council and Independent School District
192 School Board Members
Superintendent Berg presented information on the School District's
demographics, enrollment update, and school finance.
Administrator Gorski and Director Kuennen presented the City's Community
Vision and City Priorities.
Mayor Hoyt — I propose that the School Board and City Council meet twice each
year, about March and August.
Chair Simmons — there was a lot of enthusiasm from the Board to get together
and collaborate and in a different and more meaningful way than we have in the
past.
Councilmember Lien — I appreciate and fully support the work being done by the
Board and am in support of the levy.
Councilmember Wilson — my daughter graduated so this is my first year without
a direct impact, but I'm still invested in the community just as much as I was in
previous years. Having lived in District 196, you unfortunately need to push that
pain button even though it can be uncomfortable. It's important for communities
to have that component as part of your overall funding. Whatever we can do to
help you out, and in our own conversations with others, I encourage the Board
to continue sharing information on the levy and try to get folks to listen. Also of
note, the City is just at the beginning stages of the proposed data center parks.
This project will have to go through the Planning Commission before it comes to
City Council.
Chair Simmons — the overall benefit that a school district provides to the
community, not just those who have learners directly in the curriculum, is so
important to highlight. You can look at the tangibles from rental space or the ways
that high school seniors are connected back to providing services and support
through volunteerism in the community, but it really is so important for all of us.
And when we're talking about the support and the importance of talking with our
Joint ISD 192 Council Work Session Minutes of August 21, 2024 Page 2 of 3
community members, I think it can't be overstated the importance of the
conversations as Steve mentioned. Last year, we all talked to as many people
as we could and then followed up with people after who said they didn't know
there was a referendum or a levy and asked where they would have heard about
it. We said we've been talking about it at the Board for months, the
Superintendent sent emails directly to families, principals put it in newsletters,
there was a direct mailing to everyone's home, and one of the things people said
was they didn't see any yard signs. That's a tangible thing that people didn't see
that we talked about as a district in terms of cost for those types of things. It
doesn't make a lot of sense, and the people who did vote and shared feedback
with us said the reason they did is because someone they cared about, whether
it was a teacher, friend, colleague, or a neighbor, told them this is on the ballot
and it's really important that you get out and vote for this. I appreciate your
support and the opportunity that you see with your friends, colleagues, and
neighbors to talk about it and to help raise awareness, recognizing that we can
do everything we have planned through our communication plans.
4. COUNCIL COMMITTEE UPDATE
No update.
5. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
No update.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Lien to
adjourn the meeting at 7:32 pm.
Motion carried: 3 ayes / 0 nays
Motion was made by Board Member Christensen and seconded by Board Member
Storlie to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 pm.
Motion carried 5 ayes / 0 nays
R spectfully submitted,
ey u ksler
City Clerk
Joint ISD 192/Council Work Session Minutes of August 21, 2024 Page 3 of 3