Here’s my Friday Report to the City Council for Friday, December 14, 2007:
Friday Report
1. MLC Legislative Program is Approved – The Municipal Legislative Commission Board of Directors unanimously approved the draft 2008 legislative program at the board meeting in Shoreview yesterday.
2. Joint Meeting with Planning Commission – Our Workshop for Tuesday, Dec. 18 is a joint meeting with the Planning Commission. The purpose of the joint meeting is to discuss the future of the Major Center Area. Staff and Planning Commission are hoping to receive affirmation that our current policy direction on the MCA, and specifically the Town Center, still has the general support of the City Council.
3. Joint Meeting with Legislative Delegation – I have invited Representatives Paulsen and Ruud and Senator Hann to join the City Council for a pre-session joint meeting during the City Council’s Jan. 22, 2008, workshop.
4. Transitional Housing Proposal – Housing and Community Services staff are working with Pax Christi Church on a proposal to establish a “transitional home”. In this proposal, the City would purchase a home with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The Church would manage the transition home functions. The City Attorney’s office has researched the use of CDBG funds for this type of function and determined that it is an eligible use. Further, this meets HUD’s objective to work with faith-based initiatives. A transitional home is one in which a family is provided a place to live for a period of time, while receiving supportive efforts to achieve education and employment goals in order to thrive in the community. This project will be formally presented to the City Council early in 2008.
5. MLC Legislative Breakfast Meetings – The annual MLC Regional Legislative Breakfast Reception for the west metro MLC cities and legislators has been scheduled for Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Plymouth.
6. Proposed City Council Meeting Schedule for 2008 – The Council normally approves its schedule of official meetings for the year at its first official meeting of the year. Because the first Tuesday of the year is Jan. 1, 2008, the Council’s first official meeting of the year is scheduled for the second Tuesday of Jan. 8, 2008. There are also several anomalies in the 2008 calendar which make the standard 1st and 3rd Tuesday meeting schedule difficult to attain. I am proposing a modified Council meeting schedule for 2008, which adjusts the standard schedule during several months. I also intend to raise the issue with the Council at the Dec. 18 Council meeting.
7. Annual Holiday Meal – Council Members are welcome and invited to join staff for our annual holiday meal on Thursday, Dec. 20. The meal is served in the Garden Room. It runs from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. In addition, we do a slightly scaled down version of the meal for night shift employees from 8 – 9 p.m., also in the Garden Room.
8. Customer Thank You Cards – Liquor Store staff are distributing customer thank you cards again this year.
9. Flag Lights – Appropriate lighting has been installed to light the flags at the Veterans Memorial in Purgatory Creek Park.
10. Town Hall Meeting Follow-up – I have sent a follow-up letter to every speaker from the Nov. 27 Town Hall Meeting.
11. City Center Holiday Schedule – City Center will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and also on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We have posted the holiday hours for other City facilities on our Web site.
12. 2008 Council Planning Session – At the Dec. 3 Council meeting, the Council set Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, as the date of the annual Council planning session. We have reserved a meeting room at Olympic Hills Golf Club for the day.
