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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, Apri120, 2009 <br />Page 10 <br />Ayes: Ihlan; Roe; Pust; Johnson; and Klausing. <br />Nays: None. <br />f. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Execute Grant Applica- <br />tions <br />City Manager Malinen summarized the Request for Council Action to seek grant <br />funding from external sources, when sufficient time was not available for City <br />Council approval. City Manager Malinen advised that this request would be for <br />only those grant applications not requiring matching funds, as staff is made aware <br />of those opportunities and within the best interests of the City. HRC as example <br />for grant funds. <br />Councilmember Ihlan expressed her preference, if the grant deadline was an issue, <br />that the City Council be notified, even when not requiring a vote, to ensure that <br />the City Council was aware of staffls contemplated actions. Councilmember Ihlan <br />opined that the City Council have as much unity and community as possible with <br />staff. <br />City Manager Malinen suggested that staff could provide regular reports to the <br />City Council on applications submitted; and noted that if there was any financial <br />obligation of the City, or before acceptance, the City Council would need to pro- <br />vide approval. <br />Councilmember Roe concurred with initial concerns of Councilmember Ihlan re- <br />lated to making sure a connection was in place between policy and budgetary <br />guidance provided by the City Council to staff and any grant fund applications <br />and awards. Councilmember Roe opined that he had no problem with staff sub- <br />mitting anapplication if no match was required; however, wanted to ensure that <br />those applications were within the policy parameters set by the City Council, and <br />expressed preference that such language be provided in the draft resolution, limit- <br />ing staff action. Councilmember Roe clarified that he didn't want to indicate any <br />distrust of staff, but wanted to ensure that City Council directive to staff and pol- <br />icy were not contradictory with grant applications, and that any third party review <br />of grant applications would be aware of the City's approval process; and sup- <br />ported regular reporting by staff to the City Council of applications processed. <br />Mayor Klausing expressed concern that this did seem to send a message that the <br />City Council didn't trust staff; however, noted that he would be willing to con- <br />sider revised resolution language and consideration of regular reporting by staff. <br />Councilmember Pust concurred with Councilmember Roe's observations and po- <br />sition in the context of budgetary restraints for specific projects and/or programs <br />and ensuring that City Council priorities remained in place and were at the discre- <br />tion of the City Council. Councilmember Pust spoke in support of revised lan- <br />guage in the resolution; providing for the full context for Council policy. <br />