02-12-07 Minutes for Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—January 22,2007 • Mr. Greg Hoag stated that the City has two certified MnIMS instructor's (Assistant City Administrator and Public Works Director)on-staff. Councilmember Holden asked if the City is required to participate in mutual aid requests from other cities. Mr. Judd Freed noted that the City is not obligated to participate in a mutual aid request. The City controls its own resources. Councilmember Holden asked if Ramsey County has compiled a list of available generators. Mr. Judd Freed stated that Ramsey County has compiled a partial list of generators. The problem that the County is experiencing is that each generator has a different connection and is not compatible with each other. Mayor Harpstead thanked Mr. Freed and Ms. Reuter for attending the work session meeting. City staff will be scheduling NIMS training for new City Councilmembers and City staff in the near future. Comprehensive Plan Update Karen Barton, Community Development Director,provided the City Council with an overview of the comprehensive plan schedule and process. The City last updated the comprehensive plan in • 1998; therefore, our next update is due in late 2008. Staff began the update process in late 2006 and will proceed with the update process in 2007. The anticipated completion date for the comprehensive plan is late 2007 or early 2008. Because staff anticipated the need for a consultant to assist with the comprehensive plan update process, City staff has included $40,000 in the 2007 budget for the hiring of a consulting firm. Additionally, as part of the TCAAP redevelopment process, the Met Council will require an amendment to our comprehensive plan. Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGi)has been contracted by CRR to prepare the amendment for the TCAAP redevelopment. City staff was included in the selection process and concurred with the selection of HKGi as the master planning consultant. Because of the timing of both the comprehensive plan amendment and the update, staff is recommending that a dual-track process would be the most efficient method to complete both projects in a timely manner. Depending on the timing of the TCAAP project, the City may end up with two separate processes (an amendment and the update), or possibly combining both processes into one process. Since HKGi had already been contracted by CRR to complete the amendment, staff believes it would be cost effective and provide economies of scale for the City to contract with HKGi to assist with the comprehensive plan update. Staff has met with HKGi and has requested that they prepare a scope of services and estimate to assist us with the preparation of the comprehensive plan update. City staff anticipates bringing • a contract to Council in the next month for approval. 9