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City Council Minutes <br />March 6, 2017 <br />Page 5 <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 Ctvall 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 />NATURE <br />