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Mounds View City Council February 24, 2014 <br />Regular Meeting Page 7 <br /> <br />Council Member Mueller explained the Festival in the Park Committee would meet again on <br />March 18, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. She encouraged those interested in volunteering for <br />this event to attend the next meeting. She discussed the events planned for this year’s <br />celebration, which would be held on August 16, 2014. Parade and crafter registration <br />information was located on the City’s website. <br /> <br />Council Member Mueller stated Citizen of the Year nominations were being taken through <br />Friday, February 28, 2014. She reported residents, community volunteers and business owners in <br />Mounds View were eligible. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty explained there would be several controlled burns in Arden Hills over the next <br />three days. He discussed a recent article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press noting there was a <br />growing need for day-time volunteer fire fighters. He encouraged those interested in learning <br />more about the local fire department to visit the sbmfire.org. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty commented the City’s Town Hall meeting would be held on Monday, March 31, <br />2014. He encouraged residents to read the recent edition of Mounds View Matters. <br /> <br />6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS <br /> A. Dialogue with Senator Bev Scalze <br /> <br />Senator Bev Scalze discussed the actions taking place at the State. She discussed the cities she <br />represents noting her public service began as a councilmember for Little Canada. She explained <br />the legislature would have a very compressed session this year. The data privacy bill was <br />reviewed along with the passing of the municipal sales tax exemption. <br /> <br />Senator Scalze reviewed the two bills she was working on for this year. These bills included the <br />replacement of the Rice Street Bridge over I-694 and infrastructure improvements surrounding <br />TCAAP. She reported she would also be working hard on water issues as the aquifers in the <br />metro area were being affected. <br /> <br />Senator Scalze believed there would be action on the minimum wage during this legislative <br />session. She reported the February forecast would be available on Tuesday. After this <br />information was available, further decisions could be made regarding infrastructure <br />improvements. She thanked the Council for the information that has been provided to her <br />regarding the need for sound walls in Mounds View. She discussed the difficulty of working <br />with MnDOT on these issues and noted she would be introducing a bill on the Senate floor <br />addressing the sound walls. <br /> <br />Council Member Mueller thanked Senator Scalze for her work on the sales tax exemption bill. <br />She recommended joint power agreement entities be considered for this same sales tax <br />exemption. She discussed the popularity of e-cigarettes and asked if the State would be <br />legislating these products. Senator Scalze did not anticipate the State would be passing <br />legislation on e-cigarettes. She reported the legislature would be reviewing sales tax exemption <br />status for joint power agreement entities.