Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Janet Brekke, Christine M. Erickson, Rick Kiley, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Pat Starr, Theresa Stehly Council Members Absent: Curt Soehl Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. Urbanized Development Commission (UDC): November 7, 2019 (Council Members: Brekke, Neitzert, Kiley, Starr) Council Member Rick Kiley provided a review of the meeting which included: appointments to the Citizens Advisory Committee; Coordinated Public Transit-- Human Services Transportation Plan Annual Progress Report; the annual list of obligated projects; the Maple St./Park St. Corridor Study Report; a revision and an amendment to the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP); and, the Long Range Transportation Plan Market Research Study. B. Siouxland Heritage Museum Board: November 7, 2019 (Council Member Starr) Council Member Pat Starr was unable to attend the most recent meeting of the board as he was participating in "Read for the Record" at Anne B. Sullivan and Cleveland Elementary Schools. 3. City Council Open Discussion Council Member Theresa Stehly spoke about the use of cell phones at City Council Meetings and the inability of the public to speak more than once on regular agenda items. She also commended Starr for his efforts in the expansion of the Glory House. Council Member Christine M. Erickson spoke about the ability of members of the public to contact Council Members. She also discussed Veterans Day programs and thanked vets for their service.  Kiley spoke about participating in "Read for the Record" at John Harris Elementary School and noted that the school received the first book vending machine in South Dakota as part of a grant. 4. Presentations A. Light Pole Corrosion Initiative by Nicholas Borns, Principal Engineer; and Jerry Jongeling, Superintendent for Light/Power/Traffic Presentation: Approximately 20 minutes followed by discussion Borns introduced the team working on the initiative--it consists of City staff, a representative from DGR Engineering, and a focus group. A major challenge has been corrosion of direct bury aluminum poles. Staff collected samples from across the city and found that soils tend to be corrosive on the buried aluminum poles due to a variety of factors. As a result, the City developed a two-part solution to addressing the challenge. First, a replacement program for existing poles was identified in partnership with DGR Engineering and SDSU. SDSU will provide a replacement program incorporating soil data, financial impact, and replacement efficiencies. Part Two consists of revising light pole materials and/or installation. The City hired DGR Engineering and jointly conducted research on materials, installation methods, experiences of other municipalities, manufacturers, and costs. The effort included discussions with a focus group. Borns identified the focus group and went on to discuss the various light pole options studied. In total, there were six options (which includes the current method) and the selected option was a concrete-based 25' pole. Selection of this was based, in part, on offsetting costs which include: the ability to avoid tree canopies (current poles are 30'), additional junction boxes, and the need for engineered fill around poles. The advantages of concrete bases are that they: can withstand corrosive soils; have reduced maintenance costs; are consistent with street light construction practices elsewhere in the city; there is greater competition for manufacturers leading to lower costs and greater availability; and, there is a smaller footprint without the additional junction boxes. Borns finished this segment of the presentation with a review of steps taken to-date. Discussion followed about: the impacts of road salting on light poles; the number of poles that may need to be replaced; the distance between light poles in residential areas; whether replacement is budgeted; the advantages of using concrete bases when replacing poles; the use of aluminum versus fiberglass poles; whether the poles we currently use are different from 5G poles; and how the City recoups money when a pole is damaged or requires replacement due to accidents. Borns explained that the purpose of the study is to identify the cause and scope of the problem. At this time, there is not an estimate of the number of poles that may need to be replaced. Once more information becomes available, the team will develop a replacement strategy which will not begin until after 2020. Borns reviewed proposed updates to the "Roadway Lighting Engineering Design Standards." Notable updates include: replacing the 30' pole with a transformer base and concrete footing; adding notes for the 25' poles to have a 2' diameter, 5' deep concrete footing within the Local-Residential Designation (all others shall be 2' diameter, 6' deep concrete footings). Precast concrete footings would be allowed in lieu of cast-in-place footings. Lastly, the standards would prohibit innerduct splicing.  Pending approval of the proposed standards, it is expected they will be implemented on January 1, 2020. B. 2020 Election Update by Tom Greco, City Clerk Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Greco reviewed the races that are expected to be on the ballot along with other potential contests or questions. He noted that the Sioux Falls School District will consider combining with the City Election later this month, after which the Council will consider an ordinance setting the election date. He also highlighted key dates for the public and candidates. Those dates include when petitions may be circulated, the election dates, voter registration deadlines, absentee voting, and the start of new terms. Greco then reviewed forthcoming precinct boundary changes in the northeast and southeast districts. The northeast changes are a result of a recent annexation and include extending the boundary of 4-11 south to 41st St., excluding all unincorporated territory and limiting the eastern boundary of precinct 2-7 to Six Mile Rd. The changes do not impact any registered voters or polling places. The southeast changes are a result of the growth in precinct 2-13 and included limiting precinct 2-13's eastern boundary to Southeastern Ave. and creating a new precinct (2-16) that would extend from Southeastern Ave. to the east city limits. The change results in adding a new polling place. Affected registered voters have been notified. Lastly, Greco reviewed the campaign finance reporting cycle and recommended to the council that the requirement to terminate municipal candidate campaign committees be eliminated and that municipal political action committees be placed on the same reporting schedule as candidate campaign committees. He noted this would not impact statewide PACs in that they would still report on the week prior to elections as they already report to the state earlier in the year. Discussion followed about the reasons for changing precinct boundaries, effects on districts, election costs, and important dates. The council also discussed the merits of removing the termination requirement and specifying the reporting requirements for municipal PACs. C. Parking Ramp Follow-Up Discussion Stehly reviewed the proposed Capital Program Amendments for the parking facility. She explained the purpose of the discussion was to provide additional information about the amendments and to discuss/clarify points made at a tour of the facility earlier in the day. She reviewed each line item; Kurt Peppel, Assistant City Engineer, provided additional information based on questions asked. The discussion covered: general changes in scope; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing modifications; civil modifications; infill development openings; and demobilization. Starr asked Peppel to explain his involvement in the project and asked about demobilization costs. Peppel explained that he has been on the project approximately a year and explained where the preponderance of demobilization costs lie. 5. Public Comment There was none. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Marshal Selberg adjourned the meeting at 5:42 p.m. Thomas M. Greco, City Clerk