12-03-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 3, 2012 APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : December 3,2012 5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 9:20 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, O'Donnell, 8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Director of Public Safety John 13 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; Economic Development 14 Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; City Engineer Jason Wedel; Finance Director Al Rolek; 15 Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson; City Clerk Julie Bartell 16 17 1. Joint Powers Agreement for Conduct of Elections—City Clerk Bartell introduced 18 Cindy Reichert, Anoka County Elections Manager who was present to explain and 19 answer questions about a proposed Joint Powers Agreement between the county and city 20 regarding equipment and services for conducting elections. Ms. Reichert explained that 21 the proposal before the council is the result of three years work among all elections 22 partners in Anoka County. The proposal includes participation of all cities and school 23 districts in the county, has been reviewed by a multi jurisdictional voting equipment task 24 force and was passed on to the Anoka County Board where it received approval. Ms. 25 Reichert explained that the year 2000 was the last purchase of equipment by cities (ballot 26 boxes and counters); there are actually many other areas of equipment involved. With 27 individual city ownership, it's more difficult to manage equipment services. She further 28 explained that within the last decade also, federal certification of equipment became a 29 reality. Voting equipment companies have also faced changes and challenges. The 30 capital cost of the equipment is about twice the previous purchase price and maintenance 31 services have increased in many parts due to more complexity in the equipment. 32 Council Member Stoesz asked if the new equipment will change the way that the city 33 transmits results to the county. Ms. Reichert explained that while a modem system will 34 still be used,the results will continue to be printed also and the modem system will be 35 updated. Council Member Stoesz received additional information on securities in the 36 system as well as equipment storage requirements. Ms. Reichert further explained that the 37 current equipment is declining with parts failing and while it still counts votes accurately 38 and is fully tested each year,the system relies on a DOS background that is no longer in 39 use or upgradeable. Council Member Roeser asked if the absentee ballot counting will 40 move to the precincts with the new equipment. Ms. Reichert explained that central 41 counting of ballots is required under law and in Anoka County that central location is the 42 county; the service is included in the JPA. The council discussed options and concurred 43 that participating in the JPA is the best course of action for the city. Council Member 44 Roeser suggested that precinct locations are a concern and indicated that he'd like to 1