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WS 2012 01 09 CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 9, 2012 Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Furlong, Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ernst, and Councilman Laufenburger STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Paul Oehme, Kate Aanenson, Todd Hoffman, and Greg Sticha PUBLIC PRESENT: Joe Shneider 1035 Holly Lane Steve Donen 7341 Frontier Trail Laurie Susla 7008 Dakota Avenue Perry Forster 9505 Highview Drive, Eden Prairie Rick Dorsey 14215 Green View Court, Eden Prairie Mike McGarvey SRF Consulting Group Jeff Fox 5270 Howards Point Road, Excelsior Tom Devine 7640 South Shore Drive DISCUSS 2012 KEY FINANCIAL STRATEGIES. Todd Gerhardt thanked council members for coming to the Saturday work session before reviewing the proposed list of 2012 Key Financial Strategies and the category rankings of A, B, C and D indicating the time commitment required for each item. Mayor Furlong suggested taking the evaluation of being a member of Metro Cities off this list and incorporating it under the budget discussion, combining the review of all policies concerning emergency response, and taking discussion of the Environmental Commission’s charter off the Key Financial Strategy list and incorporating it in the City Council/Environmental Commission joint meeting in the spring Under discussion of ongoing items Mayor Furlong asked staff to look at making a main category with sub categories. Councilman McDonald asked for clarification on the Dinner Theater and fiber ring projects. Councilwoman Ernst asked staff to provide annual updates on variances and to develop a list of budget cutting ideas. DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. Todd Gerhardt reviewed the pros and cons of the following list of legislative priorities:  TH 101 from Flying Cloud Drive to Shakopee/Minnesota River flood mitigation study. Councilman Laufenburger asked who will be championing this cause, i.e. MnDOT, legislators, or staff members.  TH 5 West of TH 41  Highway 212 from CR 147 to the City of Cologne  Environmental permitting processes being too time consuming  Unfunded mandates. Councilman Laufenburger asked for a list of unfunded mandates and how much money is spent on complying with those mandates.  Local controls be maintained. Councilwoman Ernst suggested this is what Metro Cities should be helping with. City Council Work Session – January 9, 2012  Support Opt Out Suburban Transit Agencies  Voting regulations that require photo ID’s and eliminate voucher for same day voter  Develop policy and strategies for Aquatic Invasive Species to prevent continued spread across MN and ask the DNR to explain their policy and strategies.  Use of State bonding authority to help fund MnDOT’s turnback projects. Staff will set up a meeting with Representative Joe Hoppe and Senator Julianne Ortman to discuss these legislative priorities. REVIEW PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS, TH 41 TRAIL EXTENSION AND STAIRWAY CONNECTOR. Todd Hoffman provided background information before introducing Mike McGarvey from SRF who reviewed the details of the project. Mayor Furlong asked for clarification of the stairway design in conjunction with the neighboring properties and the crosswalk design. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked about buffering the stairway. Mike McGarvey discussed the potential for future crosswalk enhancements. The work session was recessed at 7:00 p.m. It was reconvened at 7:55 p.m. DISCUSS NO-FAULT INSURANCE OPTIONS. Mayor Furlong explained that this was a continuation of a discussion started in November with staff waiting to see how bids came in in December. Todd Gerhardt discussed the City’s general liability insurance and the fact that the League of Minnesota Cities bid came in lower than Traveler’s. He explained that no fault insurance is a supplement to the League of Minnesota Cities bid and can be added at any time. Traveler’s does not provide a plan for no fault insurance. Laurie Hokkanen provided a synopsis of what’s covered in the no fault insurance offered by the League of Minnesota Cities. Council asked for clarification of what’s being proposed, discussed differences in coverage for sewer and watermain breaks and a philosophical discussion on city government’s role in private citizens lives. Councilman Laufenburger explained his belief that it is the responsibility of the council to give staff tools to deal with citizens fairly and consistently. Councilman McDonald explained his belief that it is the City’s role to educate the public on what’s covered by the City’s insurance but is still troubled with the fact that it’s not the city’s responsibility that homeowners are covered adequately. Councilwoman Tjornhom stated she understood Councilman Laufenburger’s point for a private business but does not agree that it is the city government’s role to provide insurance for under covered residents. Mayor Furlong stated he would feel differently if homeowners didn’t have the option of buying supplemental coverage and stated he was not in favor of going forward. Councilwoman Ernst agreed with the city government’s role but stated she was still struggling with what was the right thing to do. As of tonight she could not support it but would like more information. Councilman Laufenburger asked how no fault insurance coverage would have helped previous residents claims (i.e. Patty Besser and Mr. Maxwell). He explained he does not want to spend more time discussing this item past tonight and will support the majority decision of the council. Mayor Furlong suggested staff not continue further on this item. Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session meeting at 8:45 p.m. Submitted by Todd Gerhardt City Manager Prepared by Nann Opheim 2