09/22/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT T-i-e,sw 11 CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES : August 18, 2008 . 7:50 p.m. . 8:40 p.m. : Council members Gallup, O'Donnell, Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson : None Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Finance Director, Al Rolek; Community Development Director, Mike Grochala; Director of Public Safety, Dave Pecchia; Director of Public Services, City Clerk, Julie Bartell Citizens' Petition for Charter Amendment - City Clerk Bartell reported that the city received a petition from the Lino Lakes Citizens for Safer Roads requesting that the cit charter be amended regarding procedures for special assessments. A letter was also distributed that had been received from members of the former Citizens Task Force to Review Public Improvements supporting the amendment proposed by the petition. Ms. Bartell explained the process used to review the petition for legal form and validity and number of signatures. That process is underway and staff will report on the sufficiency of the petition within the statutory time line (by August 22, 2008). Official action of the council is not requested at this meeting. If the petition is found to be sufficient, it would be placed on the ballot this fall with the council having the responsibility of setting the ballot language. The council initiated charter amendment by ordinance is still on the table. The mayor noted that the council will be faced with the question of what they will send to the ballot. If this petition is found sufficient, it must be forwarded but the council can also decide to forward on the amendment initiated by the citizens' task force. It was recommended by a council member that the entire story be included in the communication plan that is presented to the public. Another council member questioned the viability of discussing in the communication plan an amendment that isn't on the ballot (possibly the council/citizen task force ordinance). The council discussed the difference between the petitioned amendment and the council/citizen task force ordinance amendment. The major difference is that the citizen task force /council ordinance amendment includes an allowance for the affected property owners to stop a project. Under Chapter 429 (the petitioned amendment), the decision basically rests with the council.