Minutes - Council Work Session - 08/13/2013

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Mayor Pro tem Backous stated he also supports private property rights but the City has rules about conserving water and quality of top soil and if Ash Trees threaten the City's tree inventory, he would consider such an option. Associate Planner /Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated if you force a specific species to be planted that the property owner does not like, they may be less inclined to care for that tree. From that perspective, if someone has their heart set on some cultivar of an Ash Tree, the City would be hard pressed to prohibit it. Mayor Pro tem Backous stated it would be effective to educate the public about the threat of EAB. Councilmember Riley supported education and also to discourage planting of Ash Trees. The consensus of the City Council was to support the draft EAB Management Plan and direct staff to place it on a future City Council agenda for formal action. 3. FUTURE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION Noted. 4. MAYOR / COUNCIL / STAFF INPUT Acting City Administrator Lund read an email from Elwyn Tinklenberg, The Tinklenberg Group, providing an update on Mn/DOT's consideration of innovative funding options for the Armstrong Boulevard interchange. Councilmember Kuzma stated he will attend the August 15, 2013, LRRWMO meeting. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Mark Riverblood indicated that City Council Agenda Item 7.04, Adopt Resolution #13 -08 -136 Approving the Joint Powers Agreement and Accepting Bids for the Mississippi River Trail, was pulled from tonight's agenda because the funding relationship and JPA disbursements are not accurate. It will be rescheduled for consideration at the City Council meeting of September 10, 2013. . 5. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember LeTourneau, seconded by Councilmember Kuzma, to adjourn the Work Session meeting. The Work Session of the City Council was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. City Council Work Session / August 13, 2013 Page 8 of 9