09-08-2009 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 8, 2009 APPROVED 82 A council member recalled that at the joint meeting there was some discussion about creating .._ 83 some line items within the commission's budget so that funds would be reserved for operating 84 expenses. Perhaps a"guidelines and procedures" line item should be added. 85 Finance Director Rolek noted that the attorney has opined a very narrow scope of how public 86 funds can be expended by the commission. 87 Commissioner Sutherland reviewed the budget points. In regard to the outstanding bill to the 88 charter attorney and using funds to set up guidelines and procedures, City Attorney Langel 89 referred to the audit report and the interpretation in it that the statute doesn't allow for such 90 expenditures; the statute may be outdated but it is still the law. There could be some typical 91 expenses that go along with the activity of framing and amending that could be argued. 92 When asked if the council could authorize payment of the outstanding bill for attorney services 93 related to responding to the audit, City Attorney Langel said that, given the statutory language, he 94 does not believe that is a valid expense that can be paid by the City of Lino Lakes. 95 There was additional discussion in the area of what the city can and cannot fund with a 96 determination that costs relating to frame and amend are all that are allowed. A charter 97 commissioner indicated that they would review their outstanding attorney bill and determine 98 what is included that relates to frame and amend. 99 The council will consider the charter commission budget at the September 14, 2009 council 00 meeting. 101 4. Kraus Anderson development proposal—Mary Alice Divine introduced Matt 102 Alexander and development consultant, Kathy Anderson, both representing Kraus Anderson's 103 proposal to develop a grocery facility on the west side of Hodgson Road at County Road J. Mr. 104 Alexander explained that meetings on the proposal have been held with the neighborhood and the 105 county and the next step would be a traffic analysis completed at the expense of the developer. 106 Mr. Alexander showed display boards indicating the site plan and a head-on view of the 107 proposed development. They have spent a great deal of time looking at buffering the 108 development from area residences. The development concept includes the possibility of some 109 type of housing down the line. They are committed to clear guidelines with the development. 110 They have talked to the county about potential road improvements and while they are not 111 prepared to fully fund such improvements, they(the developer)want to do what they can to move 112 forward. Hence the need for a study and hence their request to hear how the council sees the 113 proposal. 114 Ms. Divine added that the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) has been 115 involved in the process and are recommending that the council support moving forward with a 116 concept plan for the project. 117 When a council member asked about the feedback the developers have received from the 118 neighborhood, Mr. Alexander indicated that response has been across the board from "it's about 3