Agenda - Council - 04/27/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Deputy City Administrator Gladhill reviewed the staff report and stated that staff recommends adoption of Resolution #21-096 approving Donation Agreement and acquisition of Outlots C and D, Sweetbay Ridge as presented, subject to City Attorney review. Motion by Councilmember Riley, seconded by Councilmember Woestehoff, to Adopt Resolution #21-096 Approving Donation Agreement and Acquisition of Outlots C and D Sweetbay Ridge subject to City Attorney review. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Kuzma, Councilmembers Riley, Woestehoff, Heineman, Howell, Musgrove, and Specht. Voting No: None. 7.07: Follow -Up Discussion and Questions Surrounding Resolution #21-067 City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the staff report and stated that Councilmembers Howell, Heineman and Musgrove have requested that this item be on the agenda to allow additional discussion. Councilmember Heineman commented that the resolution passed on March 9th and since then there have been questions on both sides of the issues and he continues to receive questions related to the legal counsel that was received during the meeting. He asked the role and purpose of the City's legal counsel. City Attorney Langel replied that the role of the City Attorney is to provide legal advice to the Council and staff as requested. Councilmember Heineman asked if that legal advice is intended to be in the best interest of the City. City Attorney Langel commented that the legal advice is intended to protect the City. He commented that he is not present to make everyone happy but to provide the advice that protects the City of Ramsey and recognized that can make people happy or not happy. Councilmember Heineman appreciated that the goal of legal counsel is to provide an unbiased opinion. He stated that the resolution did pass and asked what steps the City Attorney has taken since that time to defend the decision and what case law has been studied to support the decision of the Council. City Attorney Langel replied that he has not been asked to do specific research on this matter by the Council since the March 9th meeting. He stated that at that time he discussed at length his understanding of the law with respect to this resolution. He stated that he does not undertake legal work on behalf of the City unless it is directed, as that is work he would need to bill the City for. He noted that he had stated his positions at the March 9th Council meeting and the resolution did pass. He stated that since that time he has not been requested to do specific work on this matter. Councilmember Heineman stated that when the group last spoke, legal counsel stated that there is no precedent that would allow a City to not put resources towards enforcing laws, whether City Council / April 13, 2021 Page 12 of 20