02/07/2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 136 The council noted that the group's recommendation for on-site mapping for trails is an 137 excellent suggestion; staff indicated that the improvement is already underway. 138 139 On behalf of the CVC, Chair Gallup stated that the participants felt the process was a 140 learning experience and were pleased to be involved. The report will be presented at the 141 upcoming council meeting for acceptance. 142 143 The council thanked all those who participated for their time and effort. 144 145 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS UPDATE 146 147 Ciara Schlichting, DSU, Inc., consultant to the city's comprehensive plan update process 148 presented a PowerPoint report. She explained the purpose of a comprehensive plan, the 149 topics included in a plan and how an update fits into the city's current process of 150 surveying and visioning. She provided a compilation of the proposed planning process, a 151 timeline incorporating visioning, the comprehensive plan update and the Rice Creek 152 Watershed District Resource Management Plan. An advisory panel will be established 153 comprised of 9 visioning committee members, the 7 members of the Planning and Zoning 154 Board, 3 members each from the Park Board, Environmental Board and Economic 155 Development Advisory Committee, and 5 at -large citizens appointed by council 156 members. The group will hold mostly monthly meetings with regular reports to the city 157 boards. 158 159 The council will consider approval of the comprehensive plan update process and 160 establishment of the advisory panel at the next regular council meeting. 161 162 SEWER ACCESS CHARGES (SAC) REFUND UPDATE 163 164 Finance Director Rolek provided the council with a report on the process and results of 165 the council's directive to refund SAC charges that have been held in escrow since 1990. 166 As directed, checks were mailed and cashed with the exception of several checks returned i67 to the city, two with letters requesting retention of the original arrangement. The legal 168 opinion remains that the city has the right to refund the charges since there was no formal 169 contract in place and the program was based only on policy that can be amended. Staff is 170 seeking direction on how to handle the returned checks. 171 172 The council affirmed the direction they have in place and directed staff to continue to 173 follow the directive. Staff should return the checks with a letter that clarifies what will 174 happen if the check is returned again. 175 176 The council requested that the minutes of the council meeting of August 9, 2006 177 (Financial Retreat) be corrected to clarify the intent of the council by amending the text as 178 follows: 179