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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-20 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019 5:30 P.M. Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. ROLLCALL Answering roll call were Members Brindle, Anderson, Fischer, Staunton and Mayor Hovland. Staff in Attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager; Tom Schmitz, Fire Chief; David Nelson, Police Chief; Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Kyle Sawyer, Assistant Finance Director, Don Uram, Finance Director; Andrea Rich, Financial Analyst; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Director; Tara Brown, Sustainability Manager; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development Manager; David Yanagisawa, I.T. Specialist; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk. Consultants: Michael Clark and Mark Windschitl, Five Bugles Design. FIRE STATION STUDY Scott Neal, City Manager, explained that several years ago, staff began discussing community growth and speed of service. The Novak Study was done that linked fire and police performance and their ability to serve. This was followed by today's study, Station Location and Space Needs, to understand the impact of traffic and community growth on response and call times. Fire Chief Schmitz said staff wanted to bring the study to Council's attention because of developments that are planned for the southeast and northeast quadrants of the city that will present more challenges for the department. Fire Chief Schmitz introduced consultants Michael Clark, Senior Project Architect, and Mark Windschitl, Emergency Service Specialist, from Five Bugles Design. Mr. Clark presented the following study objectives: • Analysis & Recommendations of performance standards and benchmarks for current and future response. • Assessment of how traffic patterns affects Fire & Advanced Life Support (ALS) response. • Analysis of the impact from large buildings and commercial/retail development on services. • Review of the effectiveness of current facilities to meet future demands. Some key findings in the study were: the road networks were adequate for emergency vehicles to get through, response time is 8 minutes with a desire to improve to 6 minutes, no available data for response time from curb to scene in large buildings, fifty-percent of Station 2 response area was in Richfield which was a loss for the department and there was more activity than the station was built to handle. Some challenges were increasing density and larger buildings that were already constructed and others being proposed. Specific recommendations were to continue programming at Station Nos. I & 2 and purchase 2-4 acres of land to build a station in the southeast and northeast quadrants. City Council asked questions of Mr. Clark and Mr. Windschitl. 2020-2021 BUDGET DRAFT Staff responded to questions and concerns that Council had after the Aug. 7 budget work session including definition of general finance terms, how tax rate was calculated, total debt outstanding, how total debt affects the City's credit rating, the biennial budget process, facilities management options, and public safety. A revised Budget Work Plan was handed out that eliminated a proposal to create separate building maintenance and replacement from CIP Levy within construction fund. City Council asked questions of staff including what could be done to reduce the debt levy. Finance Director Uram said a local option sales tax may help. Staff was also asked about Edina's debt compared to other cities ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:57 p. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Allison, City Clerk Minutes approved by the Edina City Council, September 4 ames Hovland, Mayor Edina City Council Work Session/August 20, 2019 and Manager Neal said other cities may have a higher levy and are saving cash, while Edina has always had a lower levy.