City Council Meeting Date: August 5, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Consider Resolution Approving the Third Amendment to Northfield Area Fire & Rescue (NAFRS) Joint Powers Agreement.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers approving the attached Resolution Approving the Third Amendment to the NAFRS Joint Powers Agreement and Authorizing the Execution of the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement.
Summary Report:
The NAFRS Board at its July 25, 2019 meeting adopted NAFRS Resolution No. 2019-03 recommending a third amendment to the Agreement as shown in Exhibit A attached to the Resolution (attachment 1). The NAFRS Coordinator was tasked with finding and bringing forward inconsistencies in the founding documents. Board Chair Scherer and NAFRS Attorney Maren Swanson reviewed the inconsistencies in the documents and brought forth the proposed edits to the NAFRS Board as shown in the Third Amendment.
The City of Dundas has expressed some concerns related to the proposed amendments (see attached). However, these were addressed at the NAFRS Board meeting and NAFRS representatives are planning to present to the City of Dundas at their next meeting to address their concerns. Related to the Dundas concerns on disbursements, this JPA section does not relate to the one of the stated and practiced NAFRS internal financial controls relating to the NAFRS Board reviewing all cash receipts and disbursements. Such cash account detail activity is reviewed and approved by the NAFRS Board at each meeting and such has been the practice since NAFRS inception. The change simply is clarification of the presentation of financial statements provided throughout the year (which are “interim” in nature). Related to the concerns related to fire chief duties and succession planning, the three sections were modified for only internal consistency within the JPA document and with the prudent personnel customs and practices in place since the inception of NAFRS. The NAFRS Board has authority over the employment of the Fire Chief as well as policies. However, other management duties including employment (hiring/termination) and disciplinary actions as well as implementation of procedures is ultimately the responsibility of the Fire Chief.
The Northfield City Council approved Resolution 2018-049 approving the First Amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement on May 1, 2018 and Resolution 2018-065 approving the Second Amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement on June 19, 2018. These amendments as well the proposed Third Amendment have been incorporated into the JPA with Attachment 2 showing tracked changes of the respective amendments 1-3 and Attachment 3 showing the final copy for execution.
Staff recommends approving the Third Amendment and authorizing the execution of the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement as shown in Attachment 3.
Alternative Options:
None recommended by staff.
Financial Impacts:
None.
Tentative Timelines:
Per the JPA agreement, all parties must act to approve, modify or deny the proposed amendments within 90 days after the NAFRS Board issues its report concerning the proposed amendments.