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• • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 4, 2011 DRAFT 179 Plan assumes the same level of city employees. Mr. Rolek reviewed each area of the 180 Plan. 181 182 A council member recognized that this Plan is a requirement of the city charter. It is 183 obviously a preliminary review with more information and consideration ahead. The 184 council asked about the city's level of property tax delinquencies and Mr. Rolek 185 explained that the city is collecting up to about 96% of taxes due, down just a little from 186 past years. There was a thorough discussion of equipment replacement. 187 188 4.1 Financial Accounting Software Upgrade - Finance Director Rolek reported that 189 staff has been demoing software in the last few years. The city's current system is 11 190 years old and while it is functioning now and is being maintained, there will be no 191 enhancements available in the future. There are reserve funds set aside for a new system 192 and staff will continue to search for the best option with implementation possibility in the 193 next year to 18 months. 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 The council discussed how many absentee ballots are generally cast in a municipal 208 election, some concerns about having a longer period of sign allowance and also the value 209 of having consistency in the voting period and the balloting period. The Mayor noted 210 that he supports a 30 day sign period. 211 212 7. Animal Control Ordinance — Police Chief Strege noted that the council has 213 received some amendments to the city's animal control ordinance prepared by the city 214 attorney. The amendments are proposed to upgrade the city's regulations in the area of 215 dangerous animals. 216 217 City Attorney Langel remarked that the ordinance appeared to need tightening so he has 218 proposed some amendments that would clarify procedures, add some costs to the animal 219 owner and include an option for a hearing officer (instead of the city council) to handle 220 the process. Designation of the hearing officer is up to the council; someone they feel can 221 handle the hearing process and could make a well- reasoned decision. The officer could 222 be appointed even at the time the services are needed. He reviewed the proposed 6. Sign Ordinance — City Clerk Bartell recalled that the council has recently reviewed the city's sign ordinance as it relates to regulations during periods before elections. The discussion included the odd year municipal election calendar, including the absentee ballot period. The council moved to amend the sign ordinance to allow for a 30 day period for absentee balloting and election signs prior to the city's municipal election. The city attorney has since reported that the city is required by state statute to include a 46 -day absentee balloting period prior to its municipal election. That 46 day requirement has been confirmed by the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office also. The sign ordinance amendment will be on the upcoming April 11 council meeting agenda for second reading and passage. It was noted that the city's sign regulation period does not legally have to be consistent with the absentee balloting period. 5 P24