04-02-2012 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 2, 2012 APPROVED 180 always key in the area of water conservation and he knows that cities can't make rash 181 changes all at once. 182 183 7. Landscaping in Front of City Hall and Island—This item was put on the agenda by 184 Council Member Rafferty with support from another council member. Mr. Rafferty 185 attended the Environmental Board meeting the week previous to see how they were with 186 the landscaping plans and he did feel like there may be some disconnect. The mayor 187 noted that the council has had discussions about the landscaping and it seems there may 188 be some misconception about plans; he knows that the council doesn't want anyone to be 189 offended. Public Services Director DeGardner offered to give the council an update. 190 Currently the council has authorized staff to proceed with relandscaping the area adjacent 191 to the council chambers. An area garden club has offered to help with landscaping and 192 Mr. DeGardner will be talking with them soon about how they can help. The plans for 193 that area were reviewed by the Environmental Board. Regarding the island, it was a 194 separate topic of discussion about which the council reviewed two concept plans in the 195 past. Staff took direction to look at the more maintained type landscape plan for the 196 island. He mentioned then that he would return in the future with more detail on a plan. 197 The mayor clarified that the island and the area adjacent to the council chambers are two 198 separate discussions and the island plans have not been finalized. A council member 199 shared photos from a trip to Anchorage, Alaska visualizing what he finds to be a good 200 approach that he believes people would enjoy seeing. A council member noted that he 201 spoke directly with the garden club organizer and has heard that it is a multi-city group; 202 they are interested in donating items as well as services. It is a talented and ambitious 203 group and he hopes their services will be utilized under the guidance of a plan. 204 205 8. ACE Program Update—Police Chief Swenson gave a PowerPoint Presentation(on 206 file) outlining the city's Achieving Compliance Through Education(ACE) Program, an 207 educational alternative to the standard traffic violation citation that was implemented in 208 Lino Lakes in 2010. The presentation included survey results from participants indicating 209 that the program has had a positive impact. The council discussed the program and other 210 elements that could be considered such as a fully on-line version and the opportunity to 211 repeat. The mayor indicated that he is very supportive of the program and is also open 212 to discussing possible improvements. The Police Chief will continue to update the 213 council on the program. 214 215 9. Senior Center Hand Railing—The mayor noted that he received a request for 216 installation of a railing at the facility. The council directed staff to ensure that the railing 217 was installed. 218 219 11. Month Progress Report—Administrator Karlson updated the council on the 220 paperless packet project. Metro I-Net staff has researched the matter and are basically 221 recommending that cities proceed with what works best for them. Staff will be coming 222 back to the council with a program that allows council members to get the tablet or I Pad 223 type device that they want. Mr. Karlson also mentioned that an android alternative is `„, 224 being explored for some staff that would provide much better access. A council member 5