03-06-2023 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 154 identified a priority in having a larger-scale inclusive park, Anoka County would be the City's 155 first phone call to talk about the project. 156 Councilmember Cavegn thinks in the short-term the City should move forward with the plans for 157 existing parks as they are in need of repair. As Councilmember Lyden mentioned, it is a shift in 158 philosophy for the City and more discussion needs to take place on a more long-term plan for 159 inclusivity. 160 Councilmember Stoesz does not want to move away from neighborhood parks and wants to 161 move forward with that. He noted they are exceeding ADA requirements right now and they 162 cannot exceed dollars allocated for this year. 163 Councilmember Lyden does not disagree with his fellow Councilmembers. He appreciates 164 having been heard and hopes to have a different direction with support and money for a 165 destination-type park. He would like to see more detail on the park plans and how accessible 166 they are. Mr. Johnson showed 3D renderings of the play equipment to the City Council. 167 Mayor Rafferty said tonight they are looking at whether they can take the ideas on paper and 168 move forward to get bids. The other question is a lengthier future discussion regarding how the 169 City can work on all of the parks and playgrounds in the future. 170 Mayor Rafferty stated the Council would take a break at 8:30 p.m. Mayor Rafferty 171 reopened the meeting at 8:38 p.m. 172 Item 4—Organics Enclosure Location—Environmental Coordinator Nelson gave a summary 173 of his written Staff report noting the City has signed the contract accepting the grant with Anoka 174 County and construction began in October 2022 at Sunrise Park. He shared examples of organics 175 sites at Vadnais Heights City Hall and White Bear Lake Public Works facility noting the County 176 has extended the grant for one year through December 2023. Mr. Nelson gave history and 177 information regarding composting organics and benefits that go along with composting them 178 rather than sending to the landfill. He shared what the City was looking for in finding alternate 179 locations, and walked the Council through various locations within the City including Marshan 180 Park, City Hall Park, and Lino Park. 181 Mayor Rafferty thinks utilizing Marshan Park would be good as the City would be improving the 182 organics enclosure and making it more hidden. He also would like to eliminate the trash cans 183 along Lino Park. 184 Councilmember Cavegn is in favor of Marshan but would like to leave it at Lino Park due to the 185 people in the area that use it, there have not been issues, they already do recycling days there, 186 and it is the least populated with homes around it. 187 Community Development Director Grochala noted that the City could start with Marshan and 188 next they could look at Lino Park. 189 Item 5—Rookery Summer Camp Staffing—Activity Center Manager Lamey gave a summary 190 of her written Staff report, stating the City will have a summer day camp and are in need of 191 hiring two (2) Summer Camp Coordinators and up to twenty(20) Summer Camp Counselors. 5