02-02-2009 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 2,2009 APPROVED 45 cover the cost for the related service(inspection)of issuing such a permit 46 47 The council concurred with the Chief's recommendation and directed staff to prepare the 48 necessary amendment to the 2009 Fee Schedule. 49 4. Comprehensive Plan Update—Community Development Director Grochala 50 reviewed his written report outlining the outcome of the council's joint meeting with the 51 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel At that meeting,the panel reviewed the Plan 52 changes proposed by the council and accepted those changes with some modification 53 relative to residential density and affordability. When the period for outside jurisdictional 54 comment ends,the comments and those from individuals will be reviewed and addressed 55 accordingly. The Plan,as amended,will then be presented at a public hearing held before 56 the Planning and Zoning Board tentatively scheduled for mid-May. The council would 57 then receive the Plan for preliminary approval before it is forwarded to the Metropolitan 58 Council for review. Staff is requesting that the council confirm the proposed changes as 59 recommended by the Advisory Panel and instruct staff on their desire for future review 60 meetings. 61 62 After discussion of the possibility of requesting additional change from the Metropolitan 63 Council guidelines,the council requested that the item remain on the work session agenda 64 for future meetings. At the next meeting,staff should present some information on how 65 the city's ordinance regulations could be amended to accomplish the council goals. 66 5. Strategic Planning Process—Administrator Heitke referenced recent economic 67 conditions that are and will impact city finances,including the unallotment of state funds 68 for 2008 and possibly the receipt of none of those dollars(approximately$237,000)in 69 2009. It is clear that the city will have a budget problem but the specifics are yet unclear. 70 There will definitely be some policy decisions requested from the council Each year the 71 council engages in goal setting as well as the required approval of a five-year financial 72 plan. In November,the council held off on the five year plan so as to engage in a 73 strategic planning process to determine how to best meet the needs of the city within the 74 current and pending financial changes. Staff is requesting that the council establish at 75 least two meeting times to embark on the strategic planning process;staff is 76 recommending use of a facilitator for those sessions and requests council concurrence. 77 78 The council concurred with the use of a facilitator and decided upon the following 79 tentative meeting dates: February 18,February 26,March 16,March 24,and March 26 so (all for 3:00 to approximately 7:00 p.m.) The council anticipates that meetings will be set 81 for two of those dates. Staff will present information on possible facilitators at a special 82 meeting to be held after the next regular council meeting on February 9. 83 6. Policy for Community Information Sign—Administrator Heitke noted that the 84 community information sign that was donated by the Lino Lakes lions has been installed 85 and will be functional soon. Since the sign is property of and will be maintained by the 86 city,a policy governing how it will be used is appropriate. Staff is in the process of 87 preparing a policy for council consideration and suggests that,until a policy is in place, 2 • —23—