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WORKSHOP MEETING <br />OF THE COUNCIL OF THE <br />CITY OF VADNAIS HEIGHTS <br />FEBRUARY 21, 2023 <br />OPEN MEETING <br />The workshop meeting of the Council of the City of Vadnais Heights was held on the above date <br />and called to order by Mayor Krachmer at 5:30 p.m. <br />The following members were present: Mayor Mike Krachmer and Council Members Erik Goebel, <br />Steve Rogers, Kelly Jozwowski, and Katherine Doll Kanne. The following member was absent: <br />None. <br />Also present were: City Administrator, Kevin Watson; Assistant City Administrator, Kaylin <br />Clement; Planning/Community Development Director, Nolan Wall; City Engineer/Public Works <br />Director, Jesse Farrell; Fire Chief, Chris Hearden; and Deputy Clerk, Peggy Aho. <br />FUTURE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS <br />Mayor Krachmer said he would like to review the various commissions for a number of reasons <br />including to clarify whether we are going to start a new committee/or commission for the Green <br />Team. He said he would also like to look at starting up the Community Engagement Committee. <br />He would like to discuss these at a future workshop. Council Member Doll Kanne agreed. City <br />Administrator Watson said that City staff can frame up a dialogue on how the commissions <br />function, what makes sense to have and what doesn't. Watson said this may take some time to <br />prepare for a Workshop. <br />Krachmer said he would also like to do a housing study and said perhaps the Planning <br />Commission could provide some input. Planning/Community Development Director Wall said <br />that Ramsey County will be at an upcoming meeting to discuss HRA grants. <br />GREENSTEP CITIES PRESENTATION <br />Kristin Mroz, MPCA, GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations Director, gave a PowerPoint <br />presentation on the Green Step Cities program. She said they have a 147 communities in the pilot <br />program. She reviewed the five steps of the program: 1) resolution committing to local <br />sustainability; 2) milestone demonstrating local commitment through actions; 3) achieved, <br />meeting statewide sustainability action standards; 4) quantification, measuring communitywide <br />impact of action; and 5) improvement demonstrating community wide success of actions. <br />EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT DISCUSSION <br />City Administrator Watson noted that this has no pending deadline, and that it is just food for <br />thought. He said that many cities are providing a match of sorts to incentivize employees to <br />