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02-17-2004 CC MIN - SPECIAL flEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL LUNCHROOfl flONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2004 Members Present: Mayor Ktinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Kuester, Motin, and Tveite Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Pat Klaers, Finance Director Lori Johnson, City Clerk Joan Schmidt, Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf, and Recording Secretary Tina Allard 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeUng of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 5:10 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing. Consider 2/17/2004 Agenda MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Discussion on Citw, vide Goals and Continue Planning on Work Program for Council and Staff Development Each Councilmember was assigned a different community's visioning process, mission statement, and goal setting plan, to reviexv and then to report on that plan during this xvorksession. Councilmember Kuester-City of Becker Councilmember Kuester discussed the process used in the City, of Becker to create their visioning process. She discussed the definitions of the terms: vision statement, mission statement, and goals. Overall, Councilmember Kuester liked Becket's visioning plan. Mayor I~Linzing stated that she liked the visioning ideas in the fzrst plan but felt that the follow up plan was too detailed. Councilmember Tveite-City of Mounds View Councilmember Tveite stated that he liked d~e City of Mounds Viexv's vision plan. He stated that the plan discussed long term/short term goals, ci ,tywide/departmental goals, and yearly action steps/long term action steps. He stated that the prioritization of goals was missing from the plan and that staff needs direction in this area. He also stated that dais visioning process needs to determine the city's target market. He stated that the target may not always be the citizen, but could include staff, developers, etc. City Administrator Pat Fdaers stated that staff presents goals in their annual report and is looking for feedback from Council regarding priorities and how these goals fit into the city,vide vision of Council. City Council Minutes Page 2 FebruaU, 17, 2004 Councihnember Modn stated that Elk River has already completed its visioning process through the Comprehensive Plan, the Transportation Plan, and other plans the city has created. He stated that staff needs to bring any goal conflicts to the Council. He stated that the worksessions scheduled to begin in April will help resolve the issues regarding lack of staff direction from the Council and lack of staff information brought forth to Council prior to decisions needing to be made. Councilmember Tveite stated that guidelines need to be established to assist staff in determining how to prioritize resources. Councilmember Kuester stated that individuals have different pnonties on which goals are most important. She stated, as an example, that when an applicant has to come before the Park and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission, and then the Council, they may get three different answers or comments from these boards, which creates confusion to staff and the applicant. Councilmember Motin-Cides of Plymouth and Minnetonka Councilmember Motin stated that the vision plan for these two cides were, for the most part, identical. He stated that any city could agree with either of these plans and adopt them. He stated that the plans were altruistic and that a city can't follow all of them or lived up to them. Councilmember Motin stated that staff needs to follow the various plans already adopted by Elk River and if there are any conflicts; bring them to Council attention. Mayor Klinzing-Ci~, of St. Louis Park Mayor I~dinzing stated that the vision plan for St. Louis Park would not apply to Elk River as St. Louis Park is an established city with no growth issues. Councilmember Dietz-City of Willmar Councilmember Dietz stated that Willmar worked with the school district and the county on their visioning plan. He stated that they did not prioritize their goals and the plan is basically common sense statements about what is good or beneficial for the city. Councilmember Kuester suggested that each Councilmember 1/st some of their goals for the city. Mayor Kdinzing suggested that staff compile and present to the Council the city's current goals from the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan, Financial Plan, Economic Development Strategic Plan, Annual Reports, etc. She also suggested that staff respond to questions regarding what goals and visions they would like to see for Elk River and what additional direction they need from the Council. Mr. Klaers stated that city boards and commissions also need direction from Council. Mr. Klaers offered some examples of issues that staff would like clarified by the Council. Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf stated that some of the goals can be conflicting with each other and staff needs direction on how to prioritize them. He stated that the city needs to determine what it needs to do before considering the budget rather than looking at the budget first and determining what can fit into it. City ClerkJoan Schmidt suggested that Council and staff get together for an all day Saturday worksession to brainstorm a comprehensive list of ideas for city goals and vision and then City Council MSnutes Page 3 February 17, 2004 prioritize these ideas. Finance Director Lori Johnson stated that she agreed and felt that this would help to set the tone for helping eye,thing fall into place afterwards. Mayor IClinzing stated that it would be appropriate to have consultant Jim Brimeyer facilitate this worksession. Staff will try to set up a meeting on Saturday, May 15, 2004. Mayor [adinzing requested that the new City Council schedule be held off to begin in May so that Council can have a special worksession on Monday, April 5, 2004 to discuss the city, organizational structure. NEt. Iadaers stated that the Cha~-nber's State of the City address will be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 in the Publ/c Safety facility in the EOC. 4. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor K~inzing adjourned the meedng of the Elk River City Council at 6:45 p.m. Minutes prepared by Tina Allard Joan Schmidt, City Clerk