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City Council Minutes Page 5 <br /> March 6,2017 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> Healthy engaged community <br /> Mr. Portner indicated both staff and the Council scored this high. He added it may <br /> not have to be identified as a goal if the Council feels good about it. Council <br /> consensus was to continue to grow a healthy, engaged community and to continue to <br /> work on infrastructure projects and encourage community engagement. <br /> Community preservation, infrastructure maintenance <br /> Mr. Portner stated staff and the Council scored this about the same. Council <br /> consensus was for this to remain a priority but it doesn't have to be identified as a <br /> goal. <br /> Beautification <br /> Mayor Dietz believes weeds in the medians and junk around town doesn't make a <br /> good impression of the city. He added he believes Mr. Hetrick is doing a good job <br /> enforcing codes and educating residents. He is in favor of continuing the complaint- <br /> based code enforcement. <br /> Mr. Portner questioned if the Council wants to revisit prairie grass in the medians. <br /> He explained planting alternatives will be a higher investment initially and <br /> maintenance would require additional staff time and funding. Mayor Dietz indicated <br /> he doesn't think medians are the appropriate place for prairie grass and would like to <br /> find a cost effective alternative. Councilmember Westgaard concurred with Mayor <br /> Dietz. <br /> Councilmember Wagner noted the prairie grass concept is good but the grass gets <br /> tall and obnoxious. She is in favor of identifying a couple locations in the city to <br /> create the "wow" factor for people living and visiting the city. Councilmember <br /> Westgaard commented Maple Grove has committed to the Arbor Lakes area and <br /> stated if the city isn't willing to commit funding and resources to maintenance, then <br /> it should not be done. <br /> Mayor Dietz questioned if medians could be maintained by volunteers. Mr. Portner <br /> indicated a volunteer group would have to be established. <br /> Councilmember Ovall explained he struggled with this question because he has <br /> issues with the city legislating their way to beautification. He agrees with complaint- <br /> driven code enforcement. He added he agrees the corridors in to Elk River should be <br /> maintained. <br /> Mr. Portner indicated the Housing and Redevelopment Authority is working on <br /> enhancing beautification by issuing rehabilitation loans and by purchasing homes <br /> identified in future redevelopment areas. <br /> Consensus was to maintain beautification as a goal and the expectation is to work <br /> towards a seven. <br /> UREJ <br />