Agenda - Council - 01/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Strommen, Elvig, Dehen, Jeffrey, and Look. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmember Olson. Motion by Councilmember Strommen, seconded by Councilmember Jeffrey, to adopt Resolution #08-01-017 authorizing signatures for financial transactions. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Strommen, Jeffrey, Dehen, Elvig, and Look. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmember Olson. Case #4: Consider Resolution Affirming City's Effort to Seek Technical and Financial Assistance with Researching and Evaluating the Potential of a Land Conservation Measure Councilmember Strommen stated that she is in a position, outside of the Council that she will have a vote on dispersing funds associated with the Case and because of this, she would leave the Council Chambers to allow for discussion of this item without her presence. Councilmember Strommen left the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Environmental Protection Board (EPB) Chair Joe McDilda stated that the Council has had a few discussions around this subject and there seems to be some confusion from the Council and frustration from the EPB. He stated that he wanted to reaffirm the role of the EPB. He stated that the EPB submits an annual work plan to the Council for approval. He stated that their current work plan was approved on May 2, 2006 and included an item that would explore the possibility of a referendum on the ballot regarding open space. He stated that the EPB has talked with experts about polling residents and doing a feasibility study to see if a referendum would possibly be supported. He stated that there is no obligation on the City's part and noted that Embrace Open Space would provide up to $20,000 for the study and the polling of residents. He stated that the EPB believed that they were working under the Council direction because their work plan was approved by the Council. He stated that this Case has been tabled a few times and he would like the Council to take action tonight. He stated that the approach that they are suggesting has been used with success by other surrounding communities. Councilmember Dehen stated that he is not opposed to open space, but opposes a survey that would only address open space issues. He stated that this would be confining the survey to a vacuum and he would like to see other City issues included to see where residents prioritize things. He stated that other issues he would like to see on a survey would be the possible train station, parks, RTC, and a community center. He stated that the Council will not know how residents feel about these issues if it doesn't ask about all of them. He stated that he feels a global survey should be done. He asked what the frustration has been coming from the EPB. EPB Chair McDilda stated that the frustration has been that they have gone through a lot of effort to put together their work plan and this was something that was specifically called out in their work plan and the Council now has problems with it. City Council /January 8, 2008 Page 10 of 23