HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/2005 Council Minutes•
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SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 13, 2005
APPROVED
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3 CITY OF LINO LAKES
4 MINUTES
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7 DATE : October 13, 2005
8 TIME STARTED : 6:45 p.m.
9 TIME ENDED : 10:08 p.m.
10 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson, Dahl,
11 Reinert, Stoltz, and Mayor Bergeson
12 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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15 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke
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17 CALL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER
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19 Mayor Bergeson called the special City Council Meeting, Joint Meeting with the Lino
20 Lakes Charter Commission, to order at 6:45 p.m.
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22 Mayor Bergeson noted there is a different agenda for the City Council. The words
23 "potential amendments" to each agenda item were added per legal counsel.
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25 POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER
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27 Road Reconstruction — Chair Trehus advised there are two road projects on the ballot
28 this year. He asked for City Council perspective on road reconstruction within the City.
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30 Councilmember Reinert provided a historical background regarding road reconstruction
31 and the City's Charter noting why the Home Rule Charter was established. He stated
32 today there are many more regulations regarding the decisions that are made for the City.
33 The current system pits neighbor against neighbor. It is a very difficult process with 110
34 guarantee a road project will move forward. It seems as though there are some problems
35 with the current process and possible amendments should be discussed.
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37 Commissioner Storberg stated the Charter was set up to reconstruct City roads without a
38 referendum. She stated she does not understand why that is not happening.
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40 Mayor Bergeson stated he believes the process needs to be reviewed after the referendum.
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42 Chair Trehus noted he believes the process for neighborhood meetings could be improved
43 upon also.
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SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 13, 2005
APPROVED
1 Commissioner Warrem stated properly informing the residents is key to making progress
2 in the City without referendums. The City may want to make amendments within the
3 Charter to make that process easier.
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5 Commissioner Storberg asked how the Council has informed the citizens of the
6 referendum.
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8 Councilmember Reinert stated the City did have a proposal from a company for a
9 communication plan. The proposal failed on a 2-2 vote.
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11 Mayor Bergeson suggested that if the City does not get everything done in time for a
12 referendum, the project be moved to a vote in the following year.
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14 Chair Trehus stated there is a time limit within the Charter relating to a failed referendum.
15 He stated the Commission might want to look at amending that portion of the Charter.
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17 Chair Trehus referred to the West Shadow Lake Drive Area petition that is now on the
18 ballot. He asked why there was not a survey done before ordering the feasibility study.
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20 City Administrator Heitke advised he knows of only one project where a survey has been
21 done. However, the City cannot continue to pay for feasibility studies if there is not
22 enough interest in the project. Surveys will be utilized more in the future.
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24 Chair Trehus stated he would like the City to do more surveys on projects as opposed to
25 residents or the City paying for feasibility studies without knowing if a project will go
26 through.
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28 Mayor Bergeson stated the Council should discuss when surveys are used as opposed to
29 ordering feasibility studies.
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31 Commissioner Storberg asked if the Charter Commission could call the City Attorney
32 with legal questions. She also asked if the Charter Commission's yearly budget could be
33 accumulated if it is not spent every year.
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35 City Administrator Heitke suggested the Commission request more dollars during the
36 budget process.
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38 Chair Trehus requested the Commission be copied on all surveys and petitions that have
39 been accumulated in the past year.
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41 Commissioner Storberg suggested the City have a more standard form for petitions.
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43 Pavement Management Report - Chair Trehus advised the Commission was expecting
44 an update and feedback during the meeting that was scheduled in April. He asked for any
45 comments relating to the Pavement Management Report.
SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 13, 2005
APPROVED
1 City Administrator Heitke stated the Commission has received a copy of the report and
2 there have been no changes.
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4 Five Year Plan - Chair Trehus stated the last update regarding the Five Year Plan was
5 that staff was waiting for the completion of the Pavement Management Report.
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7 City Administrator Heitke advised staff has been working on the Five Year Plan. There
8 have been many delays due to revisions, budget changes, etc. The draft Five Year plan
9 will be distributed at the second Council work session in November.
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11 Commissioner Montain stated the Commission has been hearing about the completion of
12 the Five Year Plan for five years. He asked when it would be completed.
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14 Councilmember Carlson requested the Council received the draft Five Year Plan at the
15 second Council work session in November even if it is not completed.
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17 Councilmember Stoltz requested the Five Year Plan be placed on the next Council work
18 session agenda for an update.
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20 Communication to the Residents — Chair Trehus stated communication to residents
21 regarding the Charter has been an ongoing concern for the Charter Commission.
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23 City Administrator Heitke advised the City is informing the public about the upcoming
24 referendums including mailings, web site information, meetings, etc. The City still needs
25 an independent firm to develop a comprehensive communication plan for the entire City.
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27 Mayor Bergeson stated if referendums continue to fail, the City might have to look at
28 changing the process so City roads can be fixed.
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30 Chair Trehus stated he hopes the City gets a plan going and put in place soon. The
31 Commission would be interested in meeting with a consultant and helping in any way.
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33 Councilmember Reinert noted the communication plan that was presented to the Council
34 failed by a 2-2 vote.
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36 Eminent Domain Information/Discussion — Chair Trehus read the state statute that was
37 distributed regarding eminent domain.
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39 Commissioner Bening stated Rylee Retzer has indicated any amendment to the Charter
40 would not be relevant regarding eminent domain. The state is trying to have uniform
41 rules regarding this issue.
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SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 13, 2005
APPROVED
1 ADJOURN
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3 Commissioner Storberg thanked the City Council for attending the joint meeting. She
4 noted the Commission would like answers to the questions that were raised this evening.
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6 City Administrator Heitke suggested the possibility of setting up a workshop for the City
7 Council and Charter Commission at some point in the future.
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9 Chair Trehus stated the Commission would like to schedule another joint meeting in
10 April 2006.
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12 The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 p.m.
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14 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
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24 Transcribed by:
25 Kim Points
26 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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November 14, 2005.
Acting
lerk
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Bergeson, Mayor