HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-2009 Council Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 2,2009
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 WORK SESSION MINUTES
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4 DATE : February 2,2009
5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 8:55 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Conncilmember Gallup,O'Donnell,
8 Reinert,Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
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9 MEMBERS ABSENT
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12 Staff members present City Administrator,Gordon Heitke;Community Development
13 Director,Mille Grochala;Chief of Police,Dave Pecchia;City Planners,Jeff Smyser and
14 Paul Bengtson;and City Clerk,Julie Bartell
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16 1. Approval of Invoice for Services to Charter Commission—Administrator
17 Heitke reported that the Charter Commission has submitted an invoice for payment for
18 some 2008 services however their 2008 budget has been overspent. Staff is seeking
19 council direction prior to processing the expenditure since it is outside of the approved
20 budget.
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22 In response to a council question,Mr.Heitke explained that the funds to make the
— 23 requested payment would come from remaining overall fund balance or,if there is none,
24 fund reserves.
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26 The council identified that the submitted bill was not itemized and requested that staff
27 obtain an itemization of the charges;the council will consider the bill with that additional
28 information at work session on February.
29 2. Fire Department-Lease Agreement with North Ambulance—Centennial Fire
30 Chief Jerry Streich reported that in the course of a liability survey by the League of
31 Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust it was discovered that although a North Memorial
32 ambulance is currently providing services out of Fire Station No.2,there is no contract
33 over that situation. The League identified some potential issues with this uncontracted
34 situation related to potential liability,financial considerations and employee standards.
35 Staff is seeking council direction on the development of a contract
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37 The council directed the City Administrator to work with Chief Streich to initiate
38 development of an appropriate contract to address the aforementioned issues and to report
39 back to the council with a recommendation.
40 3. Fire Department—Standardization of Burning Permit Fees—Centennial Fire
41 Chief Jerry Streich explained that permits for open burning are issued by the Fire District
42 Since the District includes three municipalities that independently set fees,the fee amount
43 is not consistent He is recommending that the three cities,Lino Lakes,Circle Pines and
44 Centerville,all adopt the same fee amount for this permit His recommendation is$50 to
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 2,2009
APPROVED
45 cover the cost for the related service(inspection)of issuing such a permit
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47 The council concurred with the Chief's recommendation and directed staff to prepare the
48 necessary amendment to the 2009 Fee Schedule.
49 4. Comprehensive Plan Update—Community Development Director Grochala
50 reviewed his written report outlining the outcome of the council's joint meeting with the
51 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel At that meeting,the panel reviewed the Plan
52 changes proposed by the council and accepted those changes with some modification
53 relative to residential density and affordability. When the period for outside jurisdictional
54 comment ends,the comments and those from individuals will be reviewed and addressed
55 accordingly. The Plan,as amended,will then be presented at a public hearing held before
56 the Planning and Zoning Board tentatively scheduled for mid-May. The council would
57 then receive the Plan for preliminary approval before it is forwarded to the Metropolitan
58 Council for review. Staff is requesting that the council confirm the proposed changes as
59 recommended by the Advisory Panel and instruct staff on their desire for future review
60 meetings.
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62 After discussion of the possibility of requesting additional change from the Metropolitan
63 Council guidelines,the council requested that the item remain on the work session agenda
64 for future meetings. At the next meeting,staff should present some information on how
65 the city's ordinance regulations could be amended to accomplish the council goals.
66 5. Strategic Planning Process—Administrator Heitke referenced recent economic
67 conditions that are and will impact city finances,including the unallotment of state funds
68 for 2008 and possibly the receipt of none of those dollars(approximately$237,000)in
69 2009. It is clear that the city will have a budget problem but the specifics are yet unclear.
70 There will definitely be some policy decisions requested from the council Each year the
71 council engages in goal setting as well as the required approval of a five-year financial
72 plan. In November,the council held off on the five year plan so as to engage in a
73 strategic planning process to determine how to best meet the needs of the city within the
74 current and pending financial changes. Staff is requesting that the council establish at
75 least two meeting times to embark on the strategic planning process;staff is
76 recommending use of a facilitator for those sessions and requests council concurrence.
77
78 The council concurred with the use of a facilitator and decided upon the following
79 tentative meeting dates: February 18,February 26,March 16,March 24,and March 26
so (all for 3:00 to approximately 7:00 p.m.) The council anticipates that meetings will be set
81 for two of those dates. Staff will present information on possible facilitators at a special
82 meeting to be held after the next regular council meeting on February 9.
83 6. Policy for Community Information Sign—Administrator Heitke noted that the
84 community information sign that was donated by the Lino Lakes lions has been installed
85 and will be functional soon. Since the sign is property of and will be maintained by the
86 city,a policy governing how it will be used is appropriate. Staff is in the process of
87 preparing a policy for council consideration and suggests that,until a policy is in place,
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 2,2009
APPROVED
88 the council may want to direct that messages be limited to information on official city
89 meetings and activities. Staff is also requesting council input for the formal policy.
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91 The council suggested that there should be some consideration of what the Lions
92 envisioned when they donated the sign. They understand there must be limitations and
93 suggest the city attorney opine on some parameters such as messages of religious
94 organizations.
95 7. City Code Project-The council posed no questions regarding their independent
96 review of portions of the updated code. City Clerk Bartell provided the council with
97 updated pages reflecting changes reviewed and/or requested at previous review sessions
98 and amendments approved by counciL The clerk then reviewed with the council Chapter
99 216 regarding Campaign Regulations. Staff explained the process,state and local,
100 associated with reporting campaign contributions and spending. The city will be using
101 the regulations as included in Minnesota State Statutes with a$750 threshold for
102 reporting. The clerk fully reviewed proposed updates to Chapters 701 and 702 regarding
103 Liquor and Beer Licensing,noting that staff will be returning to council with fee
104 recommendations probably in March.
105 8. Review of Regular Council Meeting Agenda-February 9,2009—The
106 following items were discussed:
107 -Annual Advisory Board Appointments: Administrator Heitke noted that relative to
— 108 appointments to the Economic Development Advisory Committee(EDAC),there are two
109 new members for two seats,however,one of those is a one-year term filling a vacant
110 position. The council indicated that the appointee who got the most votes should get the
111 longer of the terms.
112 -Subdivision Ordinance—Planner Smyser explained that staff is presenting an
113 updated ordinance in conjunction with the Code Update Project It is mainly procedural,
114 housekeeping items based on legal recommendations.
115 -Street Maintenance Projects—Community Development Director Grochala noted
116 that there are some figures outstanding and he would expect the City Engineer to have
117 those on Monday. The council will delay this item on Monday if there are any questions.
118 The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
119 These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council meeting held on February 23,
120 2009.
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125 Julianne B ell,City. Cl John gesorRay oCor�G
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