06/13/2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 13, 2005 APPROVED a405 Councilmember Carlson asked for a roll call on the vote. She stated she does not entirely believe the 06 minutes are correct as presented, and she did request verbatim minutes on the section involving the 407 League of Minnesota Cities' attorney. She indicated there are some grey areas, and she believes some 408 important points are missing that should be included. She commented that there has been a change in 409 the relationship between the City Council and the Charter Commission and she believes they would 410 benefit from having the complete statements from the League's attorney in the minutes. 411 412 Councilmember Reinert countered that if verbatim minutes are the only minutes that can be 413 considered complete than all of the City's minutes are incomplete. He stated to do all of the City's 414 meeting minutes verbatim would cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars. He indicated suggesting 415 there is a change in the relationship between the Charter Commission and the City Council is solely 416 Councilmember Carlson's opinion, and he believes it is an incorrect opinion. 417 418 Councilmember Stoltz stated he has been on the City Council for a year and a half, and indicated he 419 believes the public needs to know the minutes are not taken by any of the Council members or City 420 Staff members. He indicated the City uses an independent third party to record the minutes. He 421 stated minutes do not have to be political, but are meant to capture the essence of a meeting. He 422 indicated there are many quotes he has made, but he will not spend unnecessary taxpayer money 423 having them added for his political reasons. He noted $173 is not the full cost, as Staff as spent hours 424 on these minutes already, which costs the taxpayers money. He stated it seems ridiculous when there 425 are pressing issues. He noted there is also a tape of the meeting, and any resident can view that tape 416.426 at any time. He stated he is offended by the words incomplete and inaccurate, and commented that 427 the taxpayers receive no benefit from the Council approving minutes. 428 429 Councilmember Dahl commented that she received a comparison from TimeSaver Secretarial on the 430 level of service they provide to various cities, and for Lino Lakes it says full detail, staff report not 431 included. She indicated if that was changed she would like to know when, and would like to have it 432 reconsidered. She stated her concern is people reading these minutes will not understand the 433 conversation, and a better description could have been provided, or a summary of what happened. 434 435 Councilmember Carlson noted that the minutes have changed over the last eighteen months, and they 436 now have a lot less detail. She stated her concern is not whether or not she is quoted, but in her 437 opinion the minutes are incorrect and incomplete and for a small cost the City could clarify these 438 minutes. She noted when she was talking about the changing relationship between the City Council 439 and the Charter Commission she was alluding to comments and questions on what the role is of the 440 Charter Commission, and how that is changing. She indicated she is not saying it is right or wrong, 441 but the roles are changing, and discussion of why it is changing was covered in the comments of the 442 League's attorney, Rylee Retzer. 443 444 Mayor Bergeson stated he finds it curious that the April 6th minutes are characterized as inaccurate 445 and incomplete and other minutes prepared by the same group are not. He indicated he would like to 446 come to the defense of the professional minute takers, who do a fine job of providing minutes that are 447 accurate and complete. He stated the Council needs to look at the purpose of minutes, and for the . 448 City Council it is to document the actions of the City Council, not record words of City Council or 449 Staff members. He indicated this discussion is not about money, but he takes exception that some 10