03-02-2015 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 2, 2015 DRAFT 1 2 Community Development Director Grochala said he will seek some type of indoor 3 storage and report back to the council. 4 5 The council concurred that they would consider an appropriation of $6,000 for the float; a 6 formal action will be brought forward at the next regular meeting. 7 8 3. Recycling Update (from February Work Session) - Environmental Coordinator 9 Asleson explained that the city receives funds from Anoka County each year that are to be 10 used to develop programs for waste reduction, recycling and solid waste management. 11 Those funds are received annually but are not guaranteed year to year. A couple of years 12 ago, the funds were raised substantially and that allowed additional efforts such as 13 monthly recycling days, adding more items to recycling day, and a billboard and an ad at 14 the movie theater promoting recycling. The council has discussed the possibility of 15 receiving mattresses at recycling day for free and staff is reporting back. The city 16 receives funding to promote recycling and could do mattresses for free for city residents 17 with the understanding that the county funding that supports that could disappear. 18 Council Member Roeser requested that staff make an effort to inform city businesses of 19 recycling availability. 20 21 The council directed staff to provide mattress and furniture recycling free of charge to city 22 residents. 23 24 4. Tree Planting Program — Environmental Coordinator Asleson noted that the city 25 requested a discussion about city reforestation in light of the threat of the Emerald Ash 26 Borer (EAB). Staff has provided information on the Twin City Tree Trust Program that 27 provides trees with a city subsidy as well as other possible sources of trees available to 28 city residents. 29 30 Mayor Reinert reinforced that the city will be losing trees due to the EAB and must plan 31 ahead on replacement. Knowing the number of trees that will be lost, he would like a 32 program such as a "10,000 Tree Program" initiated, advertised and implemented with city 33 residents very soon. When the council discussed funding of a program, the mayor 34 suggested he'd like to see free trees first and then look at special purchases to get more 35 trees out there. 36 37 Staff directed to work on options to provide trees with and without costs. 38 39 Item from Regular Agenda of March 9, 2015- 40 41 Item 6B - City Planner Larsen noted that the city has received a request from the owners 42 of the property at 6966 and 6970 Lake Drive for a rezoning that would allow the keeping 43 of farm animals. She showed maps indicating the site location and zoning of the 44 property in the vicinity. The property in question is made up of two 4 acre parcels. Area 45 residents did attend the Planning and Zoning meeting and support the rezoning. The