HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-07-1997 SpecialMinutes
Special Council Meeting
May 7, 1997
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
5:35 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on May 7, 1997.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Bildsoe, Black, Johnson, Preus,
and Spigner.
ABSENT: Councilmember Wold.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Community
Development Director Hurlburt, Public Works Director Moore, Public Safety Director
Gerdes, Finance Director Hahn, Park Director Blank, and City Clerk Ahrens.
Mayor Tierney announced that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss a visioning process
for the City.
Assistant City Manager Lueckert presented information on programs conducted by other
governmental entities including Minnetonka's Strategic Framework, Vision St. Louis Park,
and Prince William County Visioning. She said that these programs have various levels of
complexity, effort, and citizen participation.
Mayor Tierney said that a visioning process can entail a great deal of time and effort. She
suggested that a low-key process be considered following completion of the Northwest
Plymouth planning.
Councilmember Bildsoe said it is not his intention to initiate a lengthy process. He prefers
the term "strategic planning" to "visioning", and believes that this planning would help the
Council know where the City is headed. He said that the development of the new Zoning
Ordinance was a part of strategic planning for the City. The future of the City's finances is
one issue that is unresolved, and he suggested that the Council needs to establish priorities
for allocation of what will likely be more limited resources in the future. He suggested that
the strategic plan could be developed with staff, the City Council, and a facilitator, rather
than a complex citizen -based program as some cities have done. It would be helpful for the
members of the City Council to understand what issues the Council as a group believes are
important.
Mayor Tierney said that recent City Council established a list of priority projects which
they wanted to accomplish. She would support conducting a planning session with a
facilitator in early 1998.
Special Council Meeting
April 7, 1997
Page 2
Councilmember Bildsoe said that he feels responsible for the outcomes achieved during his
term in office. He wants to be productive and would support an earlier planning effort.
Councilmember Black stated that she views her service on the Council as a temporary
steward of the City. She believes that the vision for the City comes from the residents, and
it continues beyond the Council's term of office. She would like participation from
residents in the process.
Councilmember Johnson suggested that resident input can be achieved by Councilmembers
discussing issues with them. She said that informal conversations with residents can
sometimes achieve more than an elaborate, expensive process.
Councilmember Preus cautioned that a visioning process could take a significant amount of
time and money and could result in nothing more than the existing goals and objectives.
Councilmember Bildsoe supported the comments by Councilmember Johnson. He believes
that it would be beneficial for the Council to discuss each member's ideas and priorities for
the City. He said that citizen input is received through phone calls and correspondence,
and the City's boards and commissions are comprised of residents who solicit input from
other residents. He believes that the City Council needs to clarify where it is headed so
that efforts aren't wasted on unimportant matters. The Council has not defined well how to
accomplish the goals and objectives that have already been established. He feels as though
the Council spends much of its time dealing with micro issues, and there is little available
time to discuss major issues. He believes that understanding the priorities will help the
Council make better decisions.
Assistant Manager Lueckert noted that there are various planning tools the Council uses
including the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Annual Budget. The Council
should enter a strategic planning process with a clear outcome in mind. For example, an
outcome could be tied to how well the City allocates limited resources in times of levy
limits or to create community identity. She suggested that when considering issues,
Councilmembers could ask themselves "Why are we doing this?" and "What does it mean
to us as a community?"
Councilmember Johnson said it would be helpful to understand what each Councilmember
feels the role of government should be.
Councilmember Preus said that the Council has not yet identified the desired result from a
strategic plan or visioning process.
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April 7, 1997
Page 3
Mayor Tierney said that perhaps more discussion time is needed on major issues such as
the budget, Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Program, and ward meetings in
order to understand the philosophy of Councilmembers toward the direction of the City.
Councilmember Spigner said she favors setting a specific goal, a plan to achieve the goal,
and an outcome. She believes it is important for the Council to consider what Ward 3 will
look like ten years from now. Perhaps a goal is that "The Ward 3 area of the community
will continue to be a certain way ten years from now," and revitalization may be needed to
achieve that goal.
Councilmember Black supported a similar goal. She said the Council should determine
what is needed to retain residents in the City. She believes that a goal is to have greater
diversity (i.e. people, income levels, housing) in the City.
Councilmember Bildsoe said that another consideration for the Council is how members
perceive their roles as ward and at -large Councilmembers and how best to work together.
Councilmember Preus suggested that another study session be held for further discussions
on this issue. Prior to that meeting, each member should list and submit to staff for
compilation the outcomes they want to accomplish. For example, one outcome could be
that the Council operate consistent with the form of government. Under this outcome, the
Council could explore the workings of the form of government and ward system. Another
outcome could be to ensure that the City is running as financially efficient as possible.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
aurie Ahrens
City Clerk