Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, January 21, 2020 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, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl, Pat Starr, Theresa Stehly Council Members Absent: Rick Kiley Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Staff Report A. Dave Bixler, Budget Analyst Dave Bixler, Budget Analyst, explained what the Council did in 2019 to prepare for the 2020 budget. He said that they would be following the same exercise process. The Councilors will be providing Bixler with a list of items that they would like to have considered for the 2021 Budget, by January 31, 2020. He will compile the list and give it to the Councilors, who will then select which items they would like to have considered. Bixler will then compile and rate the items and will have a Budget Working Session on February 26, 2020, to discuss the results. He spoke about the benefits of the Council's budgeting process and its upcoming timetable. Discussion followed regarding: last year's list and rankings; encouraging Councilors to participate in the process; providing results of the ranking; what they want to accomplish at the Working Session; and budget costs. 3. Committee/Commission Reports A. Operations Committeee: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (Council Members: Neitzert (Chair), Erickson, Selberg, Starr) Greg Neitzert, Operations Committee Chair, reviewed the meeting notes. He said, they reviewed the Council's Policies and Procedures Manual, section by section. The manual was last reviewed in 2018. Items covered included: their travel policy; flying out of Sioux Falls; reimbursement of gas versus mileage when using a personal vehicle; training and education; and trips to the National League of Cities. Neitzert said they will address amendments and possible policy changes at their next meeting; which will occur next quarter. Discussion followed regarding a request to have the manual ready, in preparation for the possibility of new Council members.  B. Urbanized Development Commission (UDC): Thursday, January 16, 2020 (Council Members: Brekke, Neitzert, Kiley, Starr) No report was given. 4. City Council Open Discussion Council Member Theresa Stehly shared two comments from citizens being thankful for snowgates. She provided a brief history of snowgates and the need for trained snowgate operators. 5. Presentations A. Weber Avenue Corridor Study by Sam Trebilcock, Senior Planner; and Jeff Schmitt, Planning Projects Coordinator Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Jeff Schmitt, Planning Project Coordinator, said that this overview was a quick study that they did over the past year. He explained the purpose of the study was for citizens, stakeholders, developers, and residents, to understand that development can take place along their corridor and what to expect when that occurs. Schmitt said that there were two public meetings, an online survey and a website was built to explain how development takes place. He added that it is nice to get the dialogue started and that they would like to do more of these types of studies. Schmitt said that there were no changes recommended for Weber Avenue, but people enjoyed learning about the process and being informed. Sam Trebilcock, Senior Planner, reviewed recommendations that were brought up during the study. They are: follow the recommendations of the corridor influence area for redevelopment projects; maintain corridor as an urban core corridor; implement Weber Avenue streetscape as the corridor is reconstructed; continue to involve and educate the stakeholders in the development process of the corridor; facilitate the development of an art colony as a preferred land use; improve signage along the corridor to include wayfinding to amenities; and street design standards consistent with complete streets concepts. Trebilcock reviewed a map showing the Corridor Influence Areas for Weber Avenue. He mentioned that East Eighth Street and Minnesota Avenue will be having corridor studies. Trebilcock spoke about the webpage showing; the process, tool-kit and plans for corridor studies. Discussion followed regarding: a former substation; the transition of businesses along Weber Avenue; the purpose of the study; the possibility of forming a business district; and planning for future streetscapes. B. Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan Update by Kelby Mieras, Park Operations Manager Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Kelby Mieras, Park Operations Manager, began by explaining it was an uphill battle, due to the various weather events, for the crews working the response plans. He noted that the work that was done was commendable. Mieras spoke about tree  mortality and how there hasn't been a lot of it. He said that 250 were initially infested and some of them were treated and have come back better than they originally were. In 2018, there were 84,900 ash trees. In 2019, the number was reduced to 79,630. Mieras said the infestation has not been detected past the boundaries of the original delimiting survey. Monitoring continues through traps and visual inspections. As of September 1st, there were 19,777 ash trees in the city. He said more than 8,000 tags have been issued to licensed arborist to track treated trees. So far, 2,967 ash trees have been removed. In 2019, there were 2,405 ash trees removed from the street. Mieras provided a 2020 Street Tree Removal plan, which includes 2,078 ash street trees that have been marked for removal. Tree removals have begun in 46 of the 80 developed city parks, with the ash trees being removed from 24 parks. Mieras said 1,020 park ash trees have been removed. He spoke about the Planting Plan, which includes: 109 street tree permits were issued for suitable replanting; funding was provided for by property owners and neighborhood grants; and they are hoping to plant 500 trees in parks and public spaces. Mieras said they are hoping for a volunteer planting day. Discussion followed regarding: the ReLeaf Program; who runs the program; the total number of trees involved in the program; and the State's plans for their trees. C. Project TRIM Assistance Program by Kelby Mieras, Park Operations Manager Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Mieras said this was an initiative that was placed in the 2020 Operating Budget. The application for the program is designed to mirror the Single Family Rehabilitation Program application, which is run through Housing. This is a City funded program, for people in owner-occupied single family homes, and the household income is below 80% of the median household income. The funds would not be dispensed to the household. Once a person qualifies, the money would be given to whomever is able to bring the home into compliance, like a contractor. Mieras said that this is a trimming assistance program. Discussion followed regarding appreciation to those involved in this project, and notification of the assistance program. D. Project TRIM Pilot Project by Kelby Mieras, Park Operations Manager Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Mieras presented the results of the pilot project. He spoke about the history of local tree trimming, which began with an ordinance in 1957; tree complaints; and the Forestry District Map, which consist of five geographically areas, each district is divided into two areas which are inspected once every five years. Mieras spoke about the scope of the project, which was to set up and determine the time and cost necessary for city forces to trim trees in a sample neighborhood, and to bring those tress into compliance with city ordinance. He said that VueWorks, an asset management software, was used by the crew to log their time and equipment costs. This allowed data to determine an average cost per parcel in the project area, which will help estimate the total cost for the City to perform trimming annually. In the Pilot project area, it took crews about 44 hours to work on 172 parcels for a total cost of $9,918. The cost per parcel was $58. If the City had trimmed the entire 11,940 parcels at $58 per parcel it would have cost $668,527. Mieras explained the  additional project steps, which included windshield surveys, letters to property owners, inspections, and trimming. The current annual cost for Project T.R.I.M. is $41,600 and the estimated cost for year of the City providing the crews would be $1,880,000. Discussion followed regarding ways to cut costs. 6. Public Comment There was none. 7. Executive Session A. Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters pursuant to SDCL 1-25- 2(3) A motion was made by Council Member Erickson and seconded by Council Vice- Chair Neitzert to enter Executive Session at 5:12 p.m. Roll call vote to enter Executive Session. 7 Yes: Brekke, Erickson, Neitzert, Selberg, Soehl, Starr, Stehly; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. 8. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Vice-Chair Neitzert and seconded by Council Member Soehl to exit Executive Session and adjourn at 5:37 p.m. Voice vote to exit Executive Session. 7 Yes: Brekke, Erickson, Neitzert, Selberg, Soehl, Starr, Stehly; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk