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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />MARCH 11, 2015 <br />allowing the voter to place his/her ballot directly into the vote tabulator. <br />This will allow voters the opportunity to immediately correct any errors <br />that they may have made on their ballot. The Clerk noted that under the <br />early voting system, absentee voting through the mail would follow the <br />existing process. It was the Clerk's opinion that in-person early voting <br />would be more efficient for the voter and the City and would be less costly <br />to administer. <br />Fischer asked if City staff will be able to handle increased numbers of in- <br />person early voting. The Clerk indicated that if there is a dramatic <br />increase in the amount of in-person early voting, the City can have some <br />of its election judges in to provide assistance. She also pointed out that <br />front counter staff is trained as election judges. <br />Torkelson pointed out that the political parties are already referring to the <br />current system of "no -excuse" absentee voting as "early voting". <br />Torkelson stated that it was his feeling that in-person early voting would <br />result in increased voter participation and less paperwork. <br />Montour introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: <br />RESOLUTION NO. 2015-3-50 — DECLARING SUPPORT OF THE <br />LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING AN EARLY VOTING PROCESS <br />FOR VOTERS IN MINNESOTA <br />The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Torkelson. <br />Ayes (5). <br />Nays (0). Resolution declared adopted. <br />STATE The City Administrator reported that the cities of Shoreview, Vadnais <br />TRANSPOR- Heights, and Little Canada have joined efforts to pursue the Governor's <br />TATION support for including the improvements to the Rice Street <br />BILL Bridge/Interchange at Interstate 694 in his Transportation Plan. Currently, <br />this project is not included. The Administrator noted that this <br />improvement should have been done as part of the Unweave The Weave <br />Project, and then Ramsey County Commissioner Bennett had a <br />commitment from MnDOT for this work. Now with funding approved <br />through Corridors of Commerce to add freeway lanes between Rice Street <br />and Lexington Avenue, the Rice Street Bridge/Interchange will be the last <br />major bottleneck in the area's freeway system. <br />The Administrator indicated that part of the problem may be the fact that <br />MnDOT will have to repay the City of Shoreview for the former County <br />garage site if the improvement moves forward. <br />11 <br />