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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/06/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota June 27, 2022 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano (arrived 6:35 p.m.), Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Larry Kraft, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: none Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Human Resources Director (Ms. Timpone) Guests: Astein Osei, St. Louis Park School Superintendent, Director of Business Services Patricia Magnusen and Tom Bravo, Construction Manager 1. St. Louis Park Public Schools (ISD No. 283) bond referendum and technology levy update Ms. Magnusen explained the two questions on the ballot. She noted the annual and monthly tax impacts per median valued homes, noting the monthly total tax impact is $18.92. Councilmember Kraft asked how long the bond levy lasts. Ms. Magnusen stated it a 20-year bond levy. She added there is no funding from the state, so the bond referendum assists with projects Ms. Magnusen stated the school district recommends a 10-year renewal to the capital project levy for technology. Councilmember Rog asked why only $500,000 is proposed as the technology levy, adding it seems this number should be higher. Ms. Magnusen stated there is already a $300 million annual levy in place that funds the ongoing costs of technology and infrastructure and the entire staff. She added this was the amount needed to continue to fund technology, noting it is a modest increase. Councilmember Rog asked if there is any limit to how frequently a school district can move forward with a bond referendum. Ms. Magnusen stated there is no legal limitation on this. Ms. Magnusen also noted the building bond projects with a project total of $135 million . She added part of this total is 2017 carryover projects of $35.1 million, noting that most of the upgrades were made in the elementary schools and there are still needs in the middle school and high school in building renovations, security, playground, and track and field. Mr. Bravo stated over the last few years the school district did the best they could and completed 85% of all the 2017 projects. He stated now the district wants to finish the high school. He presented drawings of the plans, pointing out that 100% of the material to be used are sustainable. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91 Study session minutes -2- June 27, 2022 Mr. Bravo also noted the expansion of the lunchroom, which will serve 500 students when completed, along with a new kitchen. He also showed the new storm shelter area and expansion of the band and orchestra areas. Mr. Osei commented on the importance of the arts in St. Louis Park and the district’s commitment to the arts in the schools. Mr. Bravo presented a new data center area which will be added onto the maintenance garage building. He pointed out the new gymnastics and sports courts areas as well as creating public gym space in the older gymnasium. Mr. Bravo stated the district worked closely with the Minnehaha Watershed District on the development of the new track and field, as well as new areas for buses to pick up and drop off students. He presented the new playground for the early childhood program, which had teacher input. Mr. Osei noted all school playgrounds are always open to the community for use at any time. He added equipment is developmentally appropriate on all elementary playgrounds, while PSI will have a new playground separate from the early childhood playground. Councilmember Rog pointed out there should be collaboration around city -owned lands. Mr. Bravo presented the upgrades coming to the middle school in the locker rooms and pool area. Councilmember Budd asked if all students take gym classes at the middle school. Mr. Osei stated all students do take physical education classes, which are required, except for swimming classes. Councilmember Mohamed stated she understands about the tragedy during the swimming class, but hopes that students are getting that curriculum, especially black students. Mr. Osei stated the district did look at a revision in the aquatics policy, but wants to be sure they are moving forward in a healthy place. He stated at this point he has not brought this back to the school board for discussion. Councilmember Rog asked if the high school or middle school will have single use restrooms. Mr. Bravo stated all the schools will have single use restrooms. He pointed out at the high school there will be single use restrooms. Mr. Osei added the district policy states that all students are welcome to use whichever restroom they identify with and to create a comfortable and safe atmosphere for all students. He added the single showers are of benefit to all students. Councilmember Rog asked about single use for restrooms and shower stalls. Mr. Bravo stated this would be very costly, so they looked at better separations between stalls . Councilmember Rog asked if there is consideration being given to the crossing to McDonalds. Mr. Osei stated there are some proactive things being looked at as well as securing doors. He DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91 Study session minutes -3- June 27, 2022 added we still have an open campus for lunch for seniors, so this can create some challenges . He stated the district will have to look at moving away from open campus to secure doors, entrances, and exits. Councilmember Mohamed asked about other security measures in place . Mr. Osei stated an 800-megahertz radio system is very important for added security, allowing emergency responders to act quickly. He stated more locked doors, card readers and additional cameras were added. Ms. Magnusen added there is also more partnership with police and fire, which will strengthen and renew that. Mr. Osei added there are two community resource officers at the high school and the middle school. Councilmember Dumalag asked about the $35 million for deferred projects and why they were deferred. Mr. Bravo stated they budgeted for the projects, but costs went up and when the bids came back, they were much higher than what was budgeted in 2017. Councilmember Dumalag asked if the district is now confident in these new construction figures. Mr. Bravo stated yes, noting they also have unforeseen costs built in. Councilmember Dumalag asked if there are other school districts going through this. Mr. Bravo stated yes. Councilmember Dumalag asked if they anticipate competition for contractors or general subs with other districts, and that St. Louis Park’s projects will be completed and on time. Mr. Bravo stated the way the district bids projects and the timing are done very carefully so the best numbers are received with the best contractors and projects are completed in a timely manner. Councilmember Brausen stated he is supportive and asked what might happen if the levy did not pass. Mr. Osei stated there would then need to be some tough decisions around deferred maintenance and if operational dollars would need to be used. He added they would re- evaluate then and come back to the community at another time . Mayor Spano stated he would encourage some basic FAQs if they are not on the website currently, especially related to budgeting and pricing of projects and breaking that down into basic answers to help validate voters trust in the school district . Mayor Spano asked if there is any interest by state-wide organizations looking at changing the way school districts are financed. Mr. Osei stated the three largest education organizations the Association of Public School Districts, the MN Association of School Administrators, and MN School Board Association, plus others all are very intentional about their legislative platforms and how they use lobbyists. He added that he has not seen specifically anything about funding school districts the same way local governments are. He stated funding for special education and multi-lingual learning are being funded at the levels needed and ensuring they are keeping up with the cost of inflation. He added there is data to show where the gaps are and how it makes it difficult for school districts to sustain their programs. He also pointed to this being a time of the great resignation of teachers, which has been a byproduct of COVID, making it additionally difficult. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91 Study session minutes -4- June 27, 2022 Ms. Magnusen stated community members are encouraged to join the school district’s finance advisory committee, adding she especially hopes communities of color join, and stated more information is on the website. Councilmember Kraft thanked the school district for their work especially over the last two years with COVID and commended them with their decisions being faced related to open campus. Councilmember Kraft asked about putting solar on all the schools and if that project relates to these coming upgrades. Mr. Bravo stated that is a separate project, adding it is still planned for and the district is working to get plans finalized. Councilmember Rog asked about the rules around advocating for the referendum. Mr. Osei stated as employees of the district, they can only encourage people to vote, but not which way to vote. He added as city councilmembers they can do that. Mayor Spano stated he is proud of Mr. Osei, his team, and the school district’s teachers and students, adding the last two years have put so much strain on the district . He stated these referendums are excellent investments in the city and these children are the community’s collective future. He stated these improvements are necessary and overdue investments. He appreciates all the school district does for the kids. Mr. Osei thanked the councilmembers for their interest and concerns in the school district and commended the council for their support of the school district . 2. Discussion with city attorney on department head hiring procedures Mr. Mattick and Ms. Timpone presented the hiring procedures on the city charter and the history of these procedures. Mayor Spano noted when Mr. Harmening was city manager, he had authority to make these decisions and hiring was left to him. Ms. Timpone stated yes, the hiring decisions were always typically made when brought forth to council and then council basically congratulated the newly hired individual and welcomed the new department head to the city. She stated it was exactly as Mayor Spano noted, pro forma. Councilmember Kraft added this language is not appropriate for a city manager form of government, so he is in support of the resolution. He asked if questions were raised when Ms. Keller joined the city. Ms. Keller stated questions did arise when she read the city charter and investigated it with different cities. Councilmember Kraft stated he is supportive and asked how it can be corrected permanently. Mr. Mattick stated by charter amendment, which is the base document. Councilmember Kraft stated he would be in support of the charter commission looking further into this. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91 Study session minutes -5- June 27, 2022 Councilmember Mohamed agreed and stated she supports this and would just like to know if or when a new department head has been hired . Councilmember Dumalag added she is also supportive of this and a separate discussion on the charter. Mr. Mattick stated the council will decide what ongoing consent means and how to administer the charter. Councilmember Rog stated this will be simpler and quicker with the same outcome. She stated if this takes care of the problem and saves time and money, it is the way to go. Councilmember Brausen stated he is supportive and asked about the process to amend the charter. Mr. Mattick stated it does go to the charter commission first and then an ordinance is presented to council. Mayor Spano stated he also is supportive of the ongoing authority and reinforces the practices that are conducted. He added he is also agreeable to asking the charter commission to review this and noted if there is a clean-up that needs to be done, that can happen, even while the charter commission does not need council authority to do so. Mr. Mattick stated a resolution would be brought back to council for review, discussion , and approval, so it is very clear as to what is being done. Councilmember Budd stated she would support the resolution but is uncertain about the charter amendment. Councilmember Rog asked if there is an expense related to this. Mr. Mattick stated most likely staff time. Councilmember Rog asked if this is a priority for the council. Councilmember Kraft added this would be fine to address in a few years for the city’s future. Ms. Keller thanked the council for their support of the city manager form of government. Mayor Spano appreciated Mr. Harmening’s practice of bringing new hires to the council for welcoming. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) Ms. Keller stated the city’s July 4 celebration is at Aquila Park from 4-7 p.m. and fireworks start at 10 p.m. She added she is going to be on vacation July 5-15 and Ms. Walsh will be available as deputy city manager. Ms. Keller stated there is no council meeting on July 5, 2022. Councilmember Mohamed added Somali Independence Day is Saturday, July 2, 2022 with celebrations on Lake Street. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91 Study session minutes -6- June 27, 2022 The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 3. May 2022 monthly financial report 4. City facilities solar energy briefing ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 2AB6CCDA-AF82-4E54-A3F6-C7D63BC8FC91