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