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response times are being reviewed with a goal of reducing response time, so <br />that they are at the same level as other area response times. This is an item for <br />ongoing discussion between the city and ambulance service provider. <br />• The Interim City Administrator and Community Development Director met with <br />the Forrest Lake School District. The School District is working on future growth <br />estimates and busing numbers. <br />• The City continues to work with our legal counsel on current litigation. <br />Council Consensus <br />It was the consensus of the City Council to schedule the presentation of the Citygate report <br />for the April 28th regular meeting. <br />4. Even -Year Elections <br />The City Clerk presented information on the option to move to even -year elections for <br />municipal offices. She reported that the City Council, Charter Commission or citizens <br />through a petition could carry a request to amend the City Charter to establish even - <br />year elections for municipal offices. Furthermore, the effective date for the change from <br />odd -year to even -year elections could be set for a future date. <br />The City Clerk reviewed that voter engagement and cost savings are two factors to <br />consider in reviewing the change to even -year elections. In 2024 Lino Lakes had 15,322 <br />registered voters at 7 a.m. on the day of the General Election and 14,135 people voted <br />that day. By comparison at the 2023 municipal election 1,785 people voted. There is <br />also a cost to hold a stand-alone municipal election separate from the even -year general <br />election. Currently there are 18 cities out of 856 that are scheduled to hold an odd -year <br />election in 2025 according to the Secretary of State's office. <br />Council Consensus <br />It was the consensus of the City Council to forward this matter to the Charter <br />Commission at the April 10, 2025, Joint Meeting and to defer to the Charter Commission <br />to sponsor any amendments to the Charter. <br />The City Clerk noted that the Charter Commission will have two procedural options for <br />processing the amendment, if supported, including the option to place the question of <br />moving to even -year elections on a future ballot as a question for the voters. <br />The City Attorney stated that she would prepare a memo for the Charter Commission <br />regarding the legal steps for their review. <br />5. Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission Overview <br />The City Clerk reviewed the agenda for the Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission. <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />