12-12-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION November 7, 2016 DRAFT 3 council has reviewed a park improvement plan that could provide more accessibility. 88 Mr. DeGardner said that one improvement that he could move on right away would be to 89 switch the pea gravel at Birch Park to wood chips and add some accessible play items in 90 2017. He noted a request at Lino Park recently that will result in a small change. 91 Overall, accessibility improvements have largely come as a reactive approach with 92 changes attempted when the city hears about needs. Council Member Maher noted the 93 importance of responding to the need to accessibility as a welcoming community. 94 Mayor Reinert suggested that Mr. DeGardner provide a response to Ms. Swenson 95 explaining what the city is practicably able to do and how that will be accomplished. 96 Director DeGardner said the work has been addressed as a priority and it will continue to 97 be included in budgeting priorities. 98 6. I-35W North Corridor Project – Community Development Director Grochala 99 remarked that while no action is required of the council on this matter, it is before the 100 council to finalize that no action response. Mayor Reinert said he’d like to eventually 101 see a resolution solidifying where the city ended up on this question. He would like to 102 say that municipal consent by non-action is just that and what the state gets – so 103 discussion remains open for the future (after the response period has ended). 104 7. Council Updates on Boards/Commissions - There were no updates offered. 105 8. Monthly Progress Report 106 Mayor Reinert called for discussion about plans for a City veterans’ memorial. 107 Administrator Karlson recalled that the last discussion on the topic in June involved 108 consideration of developing a park as a memorial site. Mayor Reinert suggested that 109 determining a location would be a first step, followed by a design, followed by a cost and 110 then finding necessary funding. He verified that the council still favors doing a project 111 and that the location would be the island at city hall. Council Member Manthey 112 remarked that he remains interested in a location by the new fire station and in 113 conjunction with park facilities. The mayor suggested that the council would then have 114 to look for funding for a park, possibility in the range of $8 million. Council Member 115 Kusterman noted that it may be a long range plan for that development. Council 116 Member Rafferty spoke in favor of doing the memorial at the city hall site; he feels that it 117 is appropriate especially because the city complex represents the freedoms and rights of 118 government that our veterans have fought for. Mayor Reinert said that location is his 119 number one choice as well. Budget wise it’s more feasible and more likely to be done in 120 the not so distant future. He also likes the idea of seeking grant funds. Administrator 121 Karlson remarked that he can envision the memorial on the city hall island but his 122 concern is that it wouldn’t work well for ceremonies because of traffic, etc. Council 123 Member Rafferty remarked that the idea is not to have regular gatherings but perhaps 124 more to draw people to the city complex. The mayor asked that the council consider the 125 matter further at the next regular work session. 126