04-25-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 25, 2011 APPROVED l CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : April 25, 2011 5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 6:00 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member O'Donnell, Gallup 8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : none 10 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Director of Finance Al Rolek; 13 Economic Development Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; Director of Public Safety John 14 Swenson; City Clerk Julie Bartell 15 16 A Strategic Planning—Mr. Dave Unmacht of Springsted, Inc. was introduced as 17 the consultant who will assist the council with their strategic planning sessions. 18 Administrator Karlson noted that the sessions will be held on May 16 and 17. Mr. 19 Unmacht noted his 26 years of experience in local government, including as a city 20 administrator. He is passionate about his work assisting governments and wants to assist 21 this city in producing a good product through these sessions. He reviewed his basic plans 22 for the sessions. The mayor noted that the council has done this type of planning in the 23 past but the process has sometimes lacked in the area of implementation; he is confident 24 after speaking with Mr. Unmacht that his assistance will include that important element. 25 26 C) Review Regular Agenda 27 28 Regarding Item 1A, the expenditures list, a council member questioned bills paid to 29 Northern Air Corporation, and Mr. Rolek explained that the costs relate to an HVAC 30 upgrade at the fire station and city hall; the city received a grant for the work. A council 31 member also asked about the replacement of computer printers and noted that that type of 32 equipment is needed to the extent it is being purchased; many jobs can be performed on a 33 copier at less cost. Mr. Rolek explained that the need for the printers was determined 34 based on a replacement schedule and special printing needs that can't always be met by 35 the copiers. The council member also asked about water/well services and related costs 36 and Mr. Rolek explained the maintenance program for the well system. Another council 37 member noted payments to Press Publications for publishing costs and requested an 38 update on staff's review of those charges to see if publishing could be done other ways 39 (on-line) to save money. 40 41 Administrator Karlson noted that Item 3B, Hiring of CSO position, should be pulled from 42 the agenda. Staff feels it is inappropriate to fill a third CSO position until the new chief 43 has reviewed the police department staffing levels. The council concurred that the item 44 would be pulled from the agenda. 45