January 17, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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AMEN DEDIAPPROVED: 01 /03106 public wishes to comment, they should do so prior to the January 17, 2006 Council Meeting where the decision will be made. He provided summary data from the League of MN Cities for 40 cities and said that 20 of those 40 statutory cities have gone to four year terms. Data gathered from clerks in other cities revealed that about half those mayors had four year terms. The mayor said a mayor should have the same term as his or her peers on the City Council when in a Statutory City and a Plan A City, and also because of consistency in leadership. Councilmember Conlin said she is against it because every two years the voters have the ability to dramatically change the dynamics of the City Council. Councilmember Johnson said she asked other Councils and those with four year terms said it was easier on city staff and those queried mentioned no negatives. Councilmember DeLapp said not very many cities have done it. If we do so, we should be a much bigger city than we are. The last election was won by only 28 votes. The mayor encouraged the public to let staff know what they think about four year terms for mayor. It will be discussed at the second meeting in January. C. Change Council Committees to Council Workshop Administrator Rafferty said Council Committee Meetings are work sessions. He suggested that instead of several committees meeting, the council could conduct a workshop during that time period with a rolling agenda of subject matter for information, education, issues, etc. He recommends the restructuring and would like to have the authority to restructure at the Organizational Meeting in January. The Councilmembers agreed they would like those meetings to begin at 6 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. for better councilmember attendance and improved public participation. M/S/P, Johnson/Conlin, to change the Council Committee structure to a Council Workshop to be held the second Tuesday each month beginning at 6 p.m. MOTION TO AMEND: DeLapp/Conlin, To televise the monthly Council Workshops. VOTE: 2:2, MOTION TO AMEND FAILED. VOTE: 4:0. D. Animal Control Contract Staff reviewed the Animal Control Contractor and her performance. The mayor said many residents stopped reporting animal problems because the timing of response for our current animal control contractor resulted in virtually a non -response. Councilmember Johnson said timing of response should be part of the contract. Some sort of performance standard should be set and candidates should have to meet a reasonable response time. M/S/P, Johnson/Conlin, To direct staff to include response time and performance standards as part of the animal control contract and to put the contract out for request for proposals. Staff should evaluate other cities to get their response times. Results should be provided the Council by the end of January. Councilmember Conlin said that people who are endangered by animals should receive a quicker response time. Lake Elmo City Council Meeting Minutes of December 20, 2005