05-13-24-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 15, 2024 12 Mayor Grant drew the focus back to the topic at hand. He noted the role of the liaison was to liaise by providing Council with updates during Council Comments. He indicated liaisons do not vote on items at committee/commission meetings and they do not set agendas. Councilmember Rousseau questioned how the Council wanted to receive information from the PTRC such as on the buckthorn removal plan. Mayor Grant stated any items that need Council involvement could be brought to a worksession for comment and direction. Councilmember Holden stated in the past the Council liaisons sat back, let the committees move through their agenda and when plans came forward the Council could then vote the plan up or down. She reported the Council liaison was not interjecting throughout the committee/ commission meetings. Mayor Grant indicated he saw the role of the Council liaison as one that communicates from the committee/commission to the Council and from the Council to the committee/commission. Councilmember Monson explained she did not believe this was working very well for the Commissions. She was hearing that they want to do good work, but they don't want to have a no at the end. She questioned how the Council could engage with the committees/commissions to assist with their planning before projects get too deep. Councilmember Holden stated for the past year she has been trying to address the liaisons' responsibility to make sure the committees do not get ahead of the Council. She appreciated their great ideas, but she wanted to make it clear that work plans should be brought before the Council for discussion and input before work begins on projects. Mayor Grant asked if this meeting was to adjourn by 6:30 p.m. City Administrator Perrault explained he viewed the City's website calendar and a 6:30 p.m. end time was entered in error on the website. He indicated the special notice itself does not call for the meeting to adjourn at 6:30 p.m., nor does the agenda. Councilmember Holden reported when she responded for this meeting, she explained she could only attend until 6:30 p.m. She provided staff with her comments regarding proclamations and then excused herself from the meeting. Councilmember Rousseau asked if the Mayor wanted her to set an agenda topic at a future worksession regarding the PTRC's plans regarding rain gardens. She stated the PTRC was also interested in pursuing grants with Great River Greening for buckthorn removal. Mayor Grant believed these items had to come before the Council. Councilmember Monson agreed. She understood buckthorn removal was important to the PTRC, but when money started getting involved this matter should come before the Council. City Administrator Perrault stated the Great River Greening matter would be coming before the Council at the April 22 worksession.