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ARDEN HILLS CITY COLTNCIL WORK SESSION - May 20,2019 <br />Councilmember McClung said he didn't agree with moving Mounds View High School's <br />planning case to the first meeting of the month as it wasn't complete. <br />City Planner Mrosla explained why that planning case was moved to the first meeting of the <br />month. <br />City Administrator Perrault commented that the school district wanted to move as <br />expeditiously as possible and so they agreed to have the item earlier than it would have normally <br />been presented. Cancelling the second meeting of the month lined up with the holiday and with <br />no other pressing cases it was thought the second meeting could be cancelled. <br />Mayor Grant said the item was to focus on upcoming meetings, not what has passed. <br />Councilmember Holmes said perhaps she or staff misunderstood about cancelling meetings but <br />she felt Council isn't doing their job by only having one meeting a month. <br />Mayor Grant recalled that Council said if the first meeting of the month doesn't have any <br />pressing business that it can be cancelled, assuming planning cases are on the second meeting of <br />the month. <br />Councilmember Holden wondered what "pressing" business was. <br />Mayor Grant replied that Council can decide what that means. But he doesn't want to gavel in <br />and out in ten or 15 minutes. <br />Councilmember Holden agreed. <br />Councilmember McClung said perhaps what is allowed as a consent item has been expanded to <br />include things that shouldn't be on the consent calendar, as the consent calendar should be non- <br />controversial items. But he wouldn't want to have a meeting with only consent items and not have <br />any new business. He felt if that's the case, maybe some things should be moved to new business <br />for a briefintroduction, discussion and vote, versus having them on the consent calendar. <br />Mayor Grant noted sensitivity to consent items but there seemed to be somewhat of a consensus <br />that if the first meeting of the month is gavel in, gavel out they don't necessarily want to have it. <br />He requested staff to make sure every item has the cost and how much is budgeted. <br />City Administrator Perrault said staff will add a few sentences clarifuing amounts going <br />forward. <br />Mayor Grant summarized that staff should be careful on what is a consent item, the first meeting <br />of the month could be cancelled, and requested staff to give more information on consent item <br />memos. <br />Councilmember McClung requested that when writing a report, they ask themselves what <br />questions the Council may ask and try to address them in the report.