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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - February 25, 2008 <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />policy change as it relates to major Council decisions. She asked if the Council could adopt a <br />two tier system for approving consent calendar items versus major items. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated the City Council could adopt a policy without changing the Code <br />where there is an understanding of this body that it will not take action on a specific item unless <br />and until a specified number of Council members are present at a meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung stated he shares Councilmember Holden's concerns and felt it was <br />important to have the full City Council present for votes on major decisions. He added he would <br />support having an agreement among the City Council that if only three Councilmembers are <br />present at a meeting, it will defer taking action until the next meeting. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated if a Councilmember states at the beginning of a meeting that he or she <br />wants to defer action on a particular item, that would be appropriate. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated the City Council has previously discussed with the City <br />Attorney the issue of a Councilmember voting over the phone. She stated the City Attorney has <br />indicated this is permissible. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung noted a Councilmember's vote by phone will count, but will not <br />count towards a quorum. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated the important thing is that a Councilmember express that he or she <br />feels that more people are needed at a meeting in order to vote on a major issue and to request <br />that the action be deferred unless the City Council is under a time constraint. <br /> <br />It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to summarize the City Council's <br />conversation regarding majority voting and to determine if an appropriate policy regarding <br />majority voting can be implemented. <br /> <br />8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS <br /> <br />A. TCAAP Update <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Willis presented a memo from Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & <br />Associates and stated that nothing substantive has occurred since the City Council's last meeting. <br />He added that he heard today that the February 27th meeting with Barr Engineering and the <br />consultants has been postponed. He explained that representatives from Ryan have expressed <br />concern about the information to be exchanged and made public at this time. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked how this will impact the timeline with GSA. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Willis stated this will have no material effect. He added that Mr. <br />Collins, of Ryan Companies, indicated that the meeting currently scheduled for sometime in early <br />April has tentatively been moved to the first week of June. <br />