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City Council ~Vfinutes <br />May 24, 2004 <br /> <br /> Barriers · Turf (commission feels Council stepping on toes) <br /> · Current staff organizational structure <br /> · Staff discussion is incomplete <br /> <br /> Strategies to pursue to overcome barriers <br /> · Develop procedures <br /> o train new board/commission members <br /> o Council adopt expectations <br /> · Check/balance system <br /> o at staff level <br /> o between Council/staff <br /> · Phase out commission role in policy formation <br /> <br /> Mr. Brirneyer concluded the session by asking the Council and staff to process the <br /> information received in the three ~vorksessions for a couple months and see how different <br /> suggestions work for the city. Mr. Brimeyer stated that if needed, he would be willing to <br /> come back in the fall for a follow-up session. <br /> <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing expressed her thanks to staff for participating in these worksession. <br />Other Business <br /> <br />Consider Koehler Proper .ty Proposal <br /> <br />City Administrator Pat I~daers stated that a letter ~vas distributed to the Mayor and Council <br />from Mr. and Mrs. Koehler requesting $185,000 for their home and property located at 1221 <br />5th Street. Mr. I~daers stated that although he does not like having the city pay more than the <br />appraisal value ($178,000), he believes in this case the city should accept the Koehler's offer. <br />Mr. Klaers explained that if the city does not act quickly, the Koehlers may decide to stay in <br />their home for a number of years and this would make acquisition in the future more <br />expensive than the offer currently on the table and would make also future library expansion <br />plans difficult. <br /> <br />Discussion took place on whether or not it is in the city's best interest to purchase the <br />property now and tie up $185,000 for several years before the library expansion actually <br />takes place or if it would be better for the city to wait until the expansion is ready to take <br />place and then either purchase it or exercise its eminent domain rights. <br /> <br />Mr. I~aers stated that there is no long-term master plan for the library expansion but it is <br />expected to expand in its current location. Mr. Fdaers stated that if neither the Koehler nor <br />the Peterson property is purchased, the library would be "boxed in" and expansion would be <br />difficult. It was noted that eminent domain could clearly be used to obtain the surrounding <br />properties but using eminent domain for the expansion or construction of pubhc buildings <br />isn't viewed favorably with the public. <br /> <br />MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY <br />COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER TO ACCEPT THE OFFER FROM MR. AND <br />MRS. KOEHLER TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT 1221 5T~ STREET FOR <br />$185,000. MOTION CARRIED 3-1. Councilmember Motin opposed. <br />Councilmember Dietz abstained. <br /> <br /> <br />