02-17-2004 CC MIN - SPECIAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes Page 2 FebruaU, 17, 2004 Councihnember Modn stated that Elk River has already completed its visioning process through the Comprehensive Plan, the Transportation Plan, and other plans the city has created. He stated that staff needs to bring any goal conflicts to the Council. He stated that the worksessions scheduled to begin in April will help resolve the issues regarding lack of staff direction from the Council and lack of staff information brought forth to Council prior to decisions needing to be made. Councilmember Tveite stated that guidelines need to be established to assist staff in determining how to prioritize resources. Councilmember Kuester stated that individuals have different pnonties on which goals are most important. She stated, as an example, that when an applicant has to come before the Park and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission, and then the Council, they may get three different answers or comments from these boards, which creates confusion to staff and the applicant. Councilmember Motin-Cides of Plymouth and Minnetonka Councilmember Motin stated that the vision plan for these two cides were, for the most part, identical. He stated that any city could agree with either of these plans and adopt them. He stated that the plans were altruistic and that a city can't follow all of them or lived up to them. Councilmember Motin stated that staff needs to follow the various plans already adopted by Elk River and if there are any conflicts; bring them to Council attention. Mayor Klinzing-Ci~, of St. Louis Park Mayor I~dinzing stated that the vision plan for St. Louis Park would not apply to Elk River as St. Louis Park is an established city with no growth issues. Councilmember Dietz-City of Willmar Councilmember Dietz stated that Willmar worked with the school district and the county on their visioning plan. He stated that they did not prioritize their goals and the plan is basically common sense statements about what is good or beneficial for the city. Councilmember Kuester suggested that each Councilmember 1/st some of their goals for the city. Mayor Kdinzing suggested that staff compile and present to the Council the city's current goals from the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan, Financial Plan, Economic Development Strategic Plan, Annual Reports, etc. She also suggested that staff respond to questions regarding what goals and visions they would like to see for Elk River and what additional direction they need from the Council. Mr. Klaers stated that city boards and commissions also need direction from Council. Mr. Klaers offered some examples of issues that staff would like clarified by the Council. Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf stated that some of the goals can be conflicting with each other and staff needs direction on how to prioritize them. He stated that the city needs to determine what it needs to do before considering the budget rather than looking at the budget first and determining what can fit into it. City ClerkJoan Schmidt suggested that Council and staff get together for an all day Saturday worksession to brainstorm a comprehensive list of ideas for city goals and vision and then