10-24-2011 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 24,2011 APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : October 24,2011 5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 6:30 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Gallup, O'Donnell, 8 Rafferty,Roeser and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development 13 Director Michael Grochala; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Finance Director Al 14 Rolek; Economic Development Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; City Attorney Jay 15 Squires; City Clerk Julie Bartell 16 17 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS- CITY COUNCIL AGENDA OF 18 OCTOBER 24,2011 19 20 4A) Resolution No. 11-111, Contract for Prosecution Services with Geck,Duea & 21 Olson,PLLC—Public Safety Director Swenson explained that staff has looked at the 22 city's contract for prosecution services to ensure that we are getting the best price. They 23 looked at three possibilities(outlined in staff report) and determined that Geck, Duea& 24 Olson has the best option. He added that staff did not review this because of poor services 25 on the part of the current provider but only to possibly save money. He introduced 26 Attorney Robb Olson who would be providing services to the city through his firm as of 27 January 1, 2012. Mr. Olson told the council that he has lived in Lino Lakes for 20 years, 28 he is currently serving the City of White Bear Lake as prosecutor and he feels that he has a 29 lot to offer to this city. He plans to bring an assistant on board to help with the additional 30 duties and he promises to do top level work at all times. He is interested in getting to 31 know the police officers to better provide representation. He asked that the council feel 32 free to contact him at any time with questions or concerns. A council member asked about 33 the possibility of service sharing with other area cities and Chief Swenson said he'd have 34 to check further on that possibility. 35 36 4B) Resolution No. 11-112,Acceptance of grant funds from Citizen Corps Program— 37 Public Safety Director Swenson reviewed the staff letter noting that the council asked, in 38 their planning session this year,that staff seek addition grant money and encourage 39 additional volunteerism in the community. The opportunity for this grant funding has 40 arisen and it would not only provide for additional CERT training materials but could also 41 add hours to the time that department's Community Relations Coordinator can recruit and 42 use volunteers for the city. He reviewed the outcomes that are required for the grant. A 43 council member confirmed that the full time status of the department position is not 44 guaranteed in the future but is contingent upon this grant money. When the Mayor asked if 45 there is an optimum number of volunteers the city should seek, Chief Swenson suggested 1