08-25-14 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 4, 2014 DRAFT 46 city council. The courts do not want every action of a city council to be considered by the 47 public. Mr. Langel said that regardless of the technical sufficiency of the petition, it is 48 not a proper question under state law and therefore it is not legitimate for the council to 49 forward the matter to the ballot. 50 51 There were questions from those present in the audience as to how a citizen group could 52 receive the assistance of the city attorney in preparing a question. Mr. Langel noted that 53 it would be a conflict for him to assist. Connie Sutherland, Chair of the Lino Lakes 54 Charter Commission, asked if there hasn't been a situation whereby a citizen group in the 55 city received the services of the city attorney in a petition. The mayor indicated that is a 56 matter of record that could be checked. 57 58 Mayor Reinert explained that meetings were held with representatives of the other CFD 59 member cities. Based on decisions that occurred in that process, the city council moved 60 to withdraw from the district. Attorney Langel confirmed that withdrawal from the joint 61 powers agreement that covers the CFD required only an administrative action. When 62 members of the audience asked if there is any way for citizens to impact that decision to 63 withdraw, Mr. Langel said there is no power of the people to deal with that type of 64 administrative action. When members of the audience asked about the reason for the 65 withdrawal, Mayor Reinert explained the joint powers agreement provides that at the 66 seventy percent threshold, a city can call for a change in the form of governance. This 67 city reached that threshold, was snubbed on its efforts to achieve a governance structure 68 change and now there is a good alternative solution to this city's public safety needs. 69 Mr. Reinert said the council supports the efficiency of the public safety department 70 model. A citizen asked, what was the issue that came up at seventy percent? Mayor 71 Reinert said that in the long term the seventy percent threshold as always been seen as not 72 a fair scenario to that city. An audience member suggested that the citizens want more 73 explanation because they see the city losing two fire stations. Ms. Sutherland noted the 74 two year withdrawal period and asked if the city can rescind its decision to leave during 75 that time? Mayor Reinert responded that is a less like situation every day that passes; he 76 added that you can only come up with a solution when the two sides can work toward 77 agreement and that wasn't the case. Audience members expressed concern about the 78 right to vote on the matter, wanting more information on the change itself, and concerns 79 about enough information to the public. Mayor Reinert answered questions about how 80 the city will deal with fire pension situations for individual firefighters, assuring those 81 present that the city is cognizant of the need for portability. Further Mayor Reinert said 82 he is certain that mutual aid will be extended and confident that firefighters will answer 83 the call when needed. An individual in the audience explained how mutual aid works - 84 sometimes it is automatic and other times it is decided by department. 85 86 Administrator Karlson indicated that he has prepared a resolution declining submission of 87 the petition question to the ballot, for consideration at the regular council meeting on 88 August 11. 89 90 2