City Council Work Session

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the work session to order at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Zach Tabatt, Jeff Phillips, and Mark Cross were present. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Public Works Director Trevor Walter, Assistant City Engineer Trevor Thompson, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, IT/GIS Director Todd DeBoer, Police Chief Jim Exsted, and Assistant Police Chief Matt Maier were present. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Review/Discuss Recent Accomplishments and Current/Future Workloads 2. Identify/Discussion of Possible City Priorities 3. Identify Goals/Objectives of Selected Priorities City Administrator Chapulis provided an outline of the meeting agenda. A list of accomplishments and current/future workloads for 2024-2026 for each department was presented to the council. The workload items were classified as either previously approved by the council, controlled by external factors, or identified by staff as a priority. A second document, an action plan, will be utilized by staff in preparation of a work plan for the goals and objectives identified for each of the priorities the council selects. Staff has identified potential priorities as a capital improvements plan and a new city hall building. Staff and council discussed the possibly of constructing a new building for the police department and moving city hall staff into the current police department end of the building. Potential changes to the city’s assessment policy were discussed. The city of Edina was referenced an example of a city that moved away from special assessments to funding improvement projects from levy funds. Other items discussed were potential changes to the garbage collection system, installing security cameras in parks to reduce vandalism, constructing a community center/activity field house, review and update city ordinances, review and update the Comprehensive Plan, residential development density, water usage, and providing municipal water and sewer service to unserved residential neighborhoods. After discussion, the council identified the following as their priorities: 1. Capital Improvements Plan, Pavement Management Plan, Special Assessments 2. New City Hall 3. Community Center 4. Security cameras for parks 5/16/2024 City Council Work Session Minutes Page 2 After further discussion the council identified the capital improvements plan, pavement management plan, special assessments and a new city hall are the top two priorities. The council confirmed direction was previously provided to work on developing the gateway district. The council also discussed charging developers a fee for staff time. City Administrator Chapulis explained staff will work on a city hall scope and will bring it back to the council in the next month. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to adjourn at 8:08 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator