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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWkspMin 10-6-10 Falcon Heights Council Workshop Minutes October 6, 2010 Members present: Mayor Lindstrom, Council members Long, Harris, Gosline and Mercer-Taylor Others present: Administrator Justin Miller, Finance Director Roland Olson, Kari Logan, Sharon Brown, Haudy Kazemi, City Forester Andy Hovland Emerald Ash Borer Update Administrator Miller recapped the city’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) efforts for the year and informed the council about some resident’s desire to chemically treat their boulevard ash tree. Kari Logan presented the council with public information campaign documents from other cities that she had worked with through her company. The council directed Miller and Logan to continue to discuss various methods to better communicate urban forestry benefits to the community, and they affirmed the previous policy decision of not allowing chemical treatments on city owned boulevard trees. Environmental Initiatives Strategic Plan Miller introduced Sharon Brown, who was representing a graduate student team from Minnesota State-Mankato. Their project is to assist the city council in formulating a strategic plan to focus the city’s efforts towards environmental and sustainable initiatives. Key ideas that were discussed were carbon emissions, recycling and waste reduction, water conservation, and transportation. Miller and Brown will continue to work together and will be bringing back a draft plan later in the year. 2011 Special Revenue and Debt Service Budget Discussion Miller and Finance Director Olson outlined the proposed budgets as presented in the council packet. Discussion focused on the proposed recycling rate, which staff is proposing to increase from $1.46/month to $2.50/month. Staff also indicated that due to the higher amount in the new recycling contract, future increases may be necessary. The council did not have any suggested changes to the proposed budgets. The workshop concluded at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Justin Miller City Administrator