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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
DATE
TIME STARTED
TIME ENDED
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
MINUTES
February 25, 2008
: February 25, 2008
. 5:30 p.m.
. 6:22 p.m.
: Councilmember Gallup, O'Donnell,
Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
: None
Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Director of Public Safety,
Dave Pecchia; Community Development Director, Mike Grochala; City Clerk, Julie
Bartell.
REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
There were no changes to the regular Council agenda. There was some discussion of the
following items.
Animal Ordinance - Community Development Coordinator Grochala reviewed the
proposed animal ordinance. There may be some language added relative to hunting dogs
depending on the advice of the City Attorney. The sugar glider is not exclusively dealt
with but would most likely fall under the category of domesticated pet at this time.
On the question of how the ordinance compares to regulations of surrounding
communities, staff noted that it is fairly consistent in the areas of leashing requirement
and number of dogs allowed without a kennel license.
Police Department Administration Reorganization - Public Safety Director Pecchia
reviewed the proposed restructuring within the Police Department administration area.
He explained the proposed salary rate for the new Community Volunteer Coordinator
position and noted that the salary for the upgraded clerical position would be negotiated
with the labor union (AFSCME). It was clarified that the Community Volunteer
Coordinator would not be asked to serve as an operations leader.
OPEN MIKE POLICY
Several years ago the open mike portion of the council session was taken off the camera.
There is a council request to reopen that discussion.
A council member recalled that that portion of the council meeting was taken off the
camera for more than one reason. One was to provide a more comfortable situation for
those wanting to address the council (off the camera). The other reason had to do with
misuse of the air time — grandstanding, political speeches, etc. Although there hasn't
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 25, 2008
APPROVED
1 been much of that of late, looking back there were abuses. Looking at other
2 communities, there appear to be positives and negatives to on air time. A negative is that
3 sometimes there are shots taken at staff for which they can't be prepared.
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5 A council member commented that a change to on air would allow residents to voice
6 opinions openly to the community and, vice versa, for the community to hear other's
7 concerns. The decision to go on air or not shouldn't be based on a desire to maintain
8 control. There have been a couple of citizen requests to put this back on the air.
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10 Another council member recalled that historically the council's decision process for on
11 air or off air was made with information on best practices and process and with much
12 discussion at a retreat. This isn't a question of removing the option of speaking to the
13 council but only the question of on air or not. The current situation seems to be working
14 well without complaints. With the current process, the mayor has always followed
15 through, or asked staff to follow through, on concerns that are brought forward.
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17 There was a suggestion that people be given a choice of being on camera or not.
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19 The council will discuss the matter at their upcoming retreat.
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21 If a decision is made to go back on camera, the mayor would like the council to review
22 that decision after a period (six months or a year).
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24 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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26 The Mayor noted that the pledge was removed from agenda but not with discussion of the
27 full council. He's open to that discussion.
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29 The council concurred that the Pledge should be kept on the agenda. The pledge itself
30 could be put on the screen for others to join in as well as a visual of the flag to avoid a
31 camera shot of the council's back.
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33 The meeting was adjourned at 6:22 p.m.
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35 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
36 March 10, 2008.
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41 . . e Bartell, Cijy Cler
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2
olm Bergeson, Mayor