02-01-2016 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 1, 2016 DRAFT 179 Charter Co -Secretary Bretoi remarked that the purpose of bringing the request to the 180 council is not to debate the merits of the ward system but to get necessary assistance in 181 case the Commission wants to send forward an amendment. 182 183 Commission Member Howard Juni noted that he received some background information 184 on the Charter Commission as a new member. Within that information is a resolution 185 that clearly states the reason the ward amendment was declined for the ballot. The 186 commission can get advice based on that and have their discussion with information the 187 should have. He also noted that, since the matter of the ward amendment was discussed 188 in 2014, there are new members on both the council and the commission so it's 189 discussion that needs to occur. And the groups need to be able to understand if it's a 190 legal possibility and then discuss the merit of sending it forward as a policy matter. 191 192 Council Member Manthey noted that he thinks this matter provides a good opportunity 193 for the council and charter commission to work together. He thinks the LMC is an 194 appropriate place to go for this assistance. 195 196 The council and the commission members present discussed the neutrality of the 197 assistance. It's not about whether the amendment is a good idea but how to write a legal 198 amendment. 199 200 Administrator Karlson remarked that he believes that the LMC is in the position to 201 provide the assistance the commission is requesting. 202 203 Mayor Reinert asked that the question be put into a report and sent to the council for an 204 official vote. He also suggested the possibility of a joint meeting between the council 205 and commission. 206 207 3. I-35W North Managed Lanes Project — Noise Wall — Community Development 208 Director Grochala reviewed a project planned to expand I-35W south of Lino Lakes. The 209 project will include some resurfacing to the portion of the highway that runs through the 210 city and the addition of a noise wall on the south side of the freeway. The city has the 211 opportunity for input and can decide how that process of receiving input from the public 212 will be handled. Mr. Grochala said he recommends that input be received through 213 informational meetings followed by a vote (areas can opt out of noise walls). He'd also 214 like to know if the city council would like to schedule presentation to the council by 215 MnDOT. 216 217 Council Member Maher noted that she recently attended some training through the 218 League of Minnesota Cities and engaged there with other council members from cities in 219 the area. She heard comments that the roadway widening improvements stop at the 220 border to the city because the city didn't get involved in the process. Community 121 Development Director Grochala explained that MnDOT didn't include the Lino Lakes' 222 portion in the roadway expansion project from the onset but the city was invited to 5