1996-01-16MINUTES- COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE- JANUARY
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Members present: Acting Mayor Mark
Hanus, Councilmembers Andrea Ahrens and Liz Jensen. Absent and excused: Mayor
Bob Polston and Councilmember Phyllis Jessen. Also present: Hal Freshley of the
Metropolitan Council and Ed Shukle, City Manager.
METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT- HAL FRESHLEY
Hal Freshley of the Policy Development Office of the Metropolitan Council was present
to inform the City Council concerning the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. The
Metropolitan Livable Communities Act was enacted in June 1995 and is the
legislature's attempt to address various issues facing the seven county metropolitan
area. The Act established a Metropolitan Livable Communities Fund which consists
of three accounts: 1. Tax Base Revitalization Account; 2. Livable Communities
Demonstration Account; 3. Local Housing Incentives Account. Freshley explained
that the Metropolitan Municipalities are not required to participate in the programs
under the act, but the act provides incentives and funding to those municipalities that
do participate. It was noted that the City of Mound recently applied for ISTEA Funds
for a streetscape project along the proposed realignment of Auditor's Road. Hennepin
County also submitted an ISTEA grant application for the relocation of County Road
15. Both projects award 50 bonus points if the municipality they are located in has
agreed to participate in the Livable Communities Act. After some discussion about
goals under the Act and the City's index as it relates to housing affordability,
availability, etc., the Council asked that this item be placed on the January 23, 1996
agenda for action.
VEHICLES FOR SALE ORDINANCE
City Manager Ed Shukle presented information from the Planning Commission related
to the Vehicles For Sale Ordinance. This is an ordinance that was proposed during
1995 that would regulate the sale of vehicles on public and private lands. The City
Manager noted that initially the complaint about vehicles for sale in public lots came
from an area car dealer. Other complaints have arisen over time related to aesthetics
and the use of public parking areas for this purpose. The Council reviewed the
Minutes of the Planning Commission and their discussion and their consensus was to
set this ordinance aside for further discussion at a later date.
PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS
Councilmember Ahrens expressed her concern with regard to recent actions by the
Parks and Open Space Commission as it relates to preparation for Commission
meetings, viewing of sites related to agendas for the Commission, etc. The consensus
of the Council was to suggest that the staff send out the packets earlier to
Commission members so that they can spend more time reviewing the material. Also
Minutes - (2ommittee of the Whole - January 16, 1996
page 2
discussed was the possibility of changing the meeting date from the second Thursday
of each month to the third Thursday of each month, which would allow the staff to
get the packets out in a timely manner.
OTHER BUSINESS -
DOCK ISSUES
Discussion with regard to the review of dock issues by the Parks and Open Space
Commission. Councilmember Hanus asked the Council to think about the possibility
of creating a separate committee whose only purpose was to review dock issues and
remove the Parks and Open Space Commission from having to deal with dock issues.
Hanus also brought up the fact that he will not be present at the February 20, 1996
Committee of the Whole Meeting. One of the agenda items will be the Commons Task
Force discussing in more detail the recommendations that they have presented to the
City Council. He wanted to ask the Council to seriously consider directing the Task
Force to identify the two most problematic commons areas. Then, after a study of
these two specific areas, offer specific suggestions to mitigate the problems
experienced.
There being no other business, it was moved by Jensen, seconded by Ahrens and
carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ed Shukle
City Manager
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