09-06-2016 Council Work Session Minutes

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION APPROVED September 6, 2016 177 178 The council recommended that staff allow the connection since there is very little cost (it 179 will be borne by the property owner). It is evident that the connection fee for this single 180 property would be higher and it is recommended there be full disclosure of possible costs 181 to the interested party. 182 183 4. Public Safety Committee Structure —Mayor Reinert said he's calling for a 184 discussion of the structure of this process/group. One suggestion was to have the 185 meetings covered on the city channel and another was to have them after a regular council 186 meeting. He fears that the formality of those situations means it's not a round table 187 discussion that he'd like to see. 188 189 Council Member Manthey asked if it is meant to be more than just an update and he 190 wonders how often the group would meet. Mayor Reinert said that is part of the 191 discussion he'd like to have — he sees having the meetings as an opportunity to discuss 192 the whole department with information. 193 194 Administrator Karlson remarked that if the whole council is involved, there doesn't seem 195 to be a reason to televise it. The discussion has been to have it quarterly or less if that's 196 appropriate. 197 198 Council Member Rafferty explained that he called for this because it seemed like the 199 requests were coming every meeting and there simply isn't time to follow the information 200 closely enough to make those important decisions. 201 202 Mayor Reinert said yes, this would encapsulate more of the process and discussion. 203 204 Council Member Maher said she thinks quarterly makes sense. Mayor Reinert said it 205 can be cancelled if not needed. 206 207 Council Member Manthey suggested that they may be called for more frequently now at 208 the onset of the fire operations. If not needed, the meeting could just serve to update. 209 210 Mayor Reinert suggested, if there is a matter of urgency, it could be called. 211 212 Public Safety Director Swenson clarified that the department wouldn't have to hold its 213 regular requests to the council, such as donations, data practice resolution. Mayor 214 Reinert said no, the concept is to have a meeting to focus on items connected to council 215 direction (expenditures) that are part of the annual activity. 216 217 Administrator Karlson remarked that the meetings could be held in conjunction with 218 budget discussions, after a regular council meeting. The mayor suggested a tentative 219 plan and see how it goes. 220 5