HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03-13-1999 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Plymouth City Council
Special City Council Meeting
March 13,1999
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
9:10 a.m. at the Reserve, 3155 Empire Lane, on March 13, 1999.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Joy Tierney, Councilmembers Bildsoe, Harstad, Johnson,
Spigner, and Slavik.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Lueckert, Public
Works Director Moore, Finance Director Hahn, Park and Recreation Director Blank,
Public Safety Director Gerdes, Community Development Director Hurlburt, City Clerk
Ahrens, and Jim Brimeyer, facilitator.
The purpose of the meeting was to establish the City Council's goals and priorities for
1999 — 2000. Jim Brimeyer facilitated the council -staff discussion.
Expectations. The Council discussed expectations for the meeting. These included
establishing goals and priorities, defining roles of council and staff, discussing the "top
ten" lists submitted by council and staff, sharing ideas, and time and work management.
Progress on 1997 —1998 Goals and Priorities. City Manager Johnson discussed the
progress made on the goals and priorities established for the 1997 —1998 time period.
Completed or substantially completed goals and priorities include the Activity Center and
Field House, northwest Plymouth planning, the water resources management plan, city
center planning and development, completion of West Medicine Lake park, and the East
Medicine Lake trail. The Fire Department made tremendous strides in reducing response
time through the duty crew program, and had a successful recruitment campaign. The
Public Safety Department managed the update of the animal ordinance, and has been
deeply involved in enforcing the liquor ordinance. Other capital improvements
completed or in progress include Zachary Lane, Schmidt Lake Road, Ferndale road, the
Peony Lane bridge, Armstrong Gym, Elm Creek Playfield, and the street reconstruction
program. City Manager Johnson also mentioned the establishment of the Youth
Advisory Council, Plymouth on Parade, a new format for the Plymouth News, Y2K
Preparedness, technology upgrades, transit system enhancements, low crime rate, low tax
rate, and maintaining a Aaa bond rating.
Discuss Possible New Priorities. The Council discussed those priorities receiving the
most votes from council and staff:
Comprehensive Plan update (13)
Comp Plan implementation
New Comprehensive plan booklet
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March 13, 1999
Page 2
Water resources plan implementation (11)
Water quality education program focusing on quality and conservation
Establish grant program for residents to implement water quality projects
Establish funding mechanism for water quality projects
City Center planning and development/Plymouth Boulevard streetscape (6)
Activity Center and Field House, on time, under budget, and on schedule (6)
Orderly development of northwest Plymouth (6)
Peony Lane Alignment
Fernbrook Lane Alignment
Identify site for 10`" playfield
Citizen Survey (4)
Y2K preparedness (3)
Continue enhancing information technology (2)
The Council then nominated other issues for consideration. These are as follows:
City-wide landscaping program—comprehensive approach
Citizen communications, involvement, trust -building
Public education on drinking water consumer confidence report.
Relationships among councilmembers, and between council and staff.
Undo some council policies and priorities that require too much staff time.
Emphasize Public Safety, and crime prevention.
Establish a city court to address zoning and nuisance issues.
Establish what the social and human service needs of the city are, and funding.
Focus on staffing and recruitment issues for city positions.
Governance Model. Jim Brimeyer discussed John Carver's Effective Governance
Model, including the appropriate roles of council and staff. A key question to ask before
implementing any major initiative is "what good, for what people, at what cost?"
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March 13, 1999
Page 3
Voting on Goals and Priorities. The City Council and staff voted on the suggested goals
and priorities, using the nominal group technique that forces prioritization. The results
are as follows.
Comprehensive Plan update and associated activities. (75)
Water resources plan implementation and associated activities.
City Center planning and development/Plymouth Boulevard streetscape.
Activity Center and Field House, on time, under budget, and on schedule (49
Orderly development of northwest Plymouth
Citizen Survey 52
Y2K preparedness
Continue enhancing information technology
City-wide landscaping program—comprehensive approach (7)
Citizen communications, involvement, trust -building 21
Public education on drinking water consumer confidence report. (4)
Relationships among councilmembers, and between council and staff.
Undo some council policies and priorities that require too much staff time. (2)
Emphasize Public Safety, and crime prevention.
Establish a city court to address zoning and nuisance issues.
Establish what the social and human service needs of the city are. (11)
Focus on staffing and recruitment issues for city positions. 17
The goals receiving the most votes are Comprehensive Plan udpate, water resources plan,
completion of Activity Center and Field House, orderly development of northwest
Plymouth, conducting a citizen survey, and council/council council/staff relationships.
Implementation Plan. The City Council and staff developed preliminary
implementation plans for the Comprehensive Plan goal and for the citizen survey goals.
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March 13, 1999
Page 4
Other Discussion. The City Council and staff discussed their relationship. The council
also discussed how to deal with suggestions for study session topics.
Time limits for items on study session agendas were suggested. Another idea was to add
to the regular council meeting agenda a separate discussion item for possible study
session topics. A councilmember could then raise an idea, and if it receives support from
the majority of the council, it would be placed on an agenda for a future study session.
The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m.