2014-01-08 CC WS Meeting Minutes - Approved

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City Council 01-08-2014 7:30 p.m. Minutes of Work Session Present were Mayor Tom Wilharber, Council members Jeff Paar, Steve King and D Love. Also Present were City attorney Kurt Glaser. Council member Fehrenbacher arrived during the meeting. E-Cigarette Regulation . City Attorney Glaser reviewed issues associated with e-cigarettes. He indicated that it is not illegal for someone under 18 to buy or use them, but most merchants are making that restriction on their own. Glaser also reported that a handful of cities have chosen to regulate e-cigarettes the same as any other tobacco product. The Council discussed options for regulating them. Consensus was that staff should prepare an ordinance that would regulate the sale and use of e-cigarettes by anyone under 18 years old. Centennial Fire District Joint Powers Agreement . Council was reminded that the Fire Steering Committee will meet again on January 15, 2014, to see what progress may have been made during the extension of time to withdraw. Lino Lakes’ Mayor Reihert has stated repeatedly that hey will withdraw if the JPA is not amended to provide what amounts to a veto authority. Council Member Paar reported that the Steering Committee agreed to bring back to the council for reconsideration, the possible amendment of the JPA as requested by Lino Lakes. Administrator Larson presented two options suggested by Circle Pines for amendment to the JPA voting. One allowed what amounts to two vetos per year for each city. The second option would require at least one affirmative vote from each city on four major areas of action. Council member Ben Fehrenbacher arrived during this discussion. Members expressed that they did not like the first option, but if Circle Pines supported the second proposal which limits the extraordinary voting to the major areas listed, Council would support that. Consensus was to support the second option and report that to Circle Pines. Mayor Wilharber will try to attend the Circle Pines Council meeting next Tuesday. Staffing . The Council discussed the planned September 2014, retirement of Administrator Larson. Larson indicated that he would be interested in a phased retirement if Council is open to that. Council discussed whether the city could get by for a few months with only the part-time administration hours. Some expressed doubt that the city could function properly under that scenario. Council consensus was that the city should consider hiring an assistant administrator, who could be trained to take over as administrator in a year or two. Consensus was that the city should use a search firm to assist with securing an assistant administrator with the right skills. Two search firms will be scheduled for a presentation to Council in February with the goal of completing a hiring process by about August 1. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Dallas Larson, Administrator