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Home My Public Portal About20070421 special and retreatSPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 1 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT CALL TO ORDER The Special Council Meeting / Council Retreat of April 21, 2007, was convened at 8:00 A.M. by Mayor John Landwehr. ATTENDANCE AND INTRODUCTIONS The following Council Members were present when the meeting convened: Present: Crane, Klindt, Koon, Layton, Medin, Penfold, and Smith Absent: Brown, Ferguson, and Harvey A quorum was present. Mayor John Landwehr asked each person in the room to introduce him /herself. He stated he would need to leave for a few minutes during part of this morning's session to attend another event but would return for the rest of the retreat. DISCUSSION Participatory Decision - Making Facilitator Stu Murphy explained the concept of participatory decision - making. He asked each person in the room to tell the group their own personal ideas regarding one of the three following: Primary interests in serving on the Council or staff How you see your primary role / responsibility as a member of the Council or staff How you believe City government can better serve the citizens Mayor John Landwehr left the meeting at 8:35. Update on Current Issues and January Retreat City Administrator Steve Rasmussen gave an update on the conference center issue. City Counselor Nathan Nickolaus gave an update on neighborhood improvement. Mayor John Landwehr returned at 9:30 A.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 2 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT City Administrator Steve Rasmussen addressed alumni Council priorities Assistant to the City Administrator Melva Fast reviewed the alumni Council "parking lot issues which were identified at the January retreat as follows: Neighborhood Associations - Small & Simple grants, Code Enforcement Initiatives Parking - key to downtown residential development - hang tag concept Property maintenance code - ordinances passed Landfill life span - 17.5 years Strategic plan review - last addressed in 2002 Open Prison for tours NOW - CVB & OA have met to make arrangements Elevator speech - develop short, focused responses to issues for Council Lincoln University interns - Interviewed several individuals this week Develop a Theme (HISTORY)for the City - CVB forming a Heritage Committee Economic Development Following a brief break, Mayor John Landwehr gave a presentation on economic development in general, and explained the issue as specifically contained in the Market Street Study. Needs Assessment - Council Input The following items were brought forward by the Council as their perception of their basic needs that the Council exists to fulfill: Integrity of neighborhoods Quality of life Point of communication to the citizens, but assuring communications are occurring in a certain tone Primary expectations of citizens that the Council serves: Problems resolved quickly Liaison Leadership & guidance Want someone to solve their problem Policy to enhance quality of life What do you want to do to identify, recognize, anticipate and respond to these needs and expectations? SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 3 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT Meetings of the public just to air issues (neighborhood meetings ?) Business associations need a Council Member present every meeting, and plugging into existing organizations to keep informed Mayor's coffees with Council Members Cyber world - electronic input Running polls on website Ward updates - elevator speeches Information Officer (public relations person) Procedures The one thing —only one thing —that tends to operationally diminish the Council's ability to fulfill its responsibilities and meet expectations? No operational budget for council No office for city council Infighting Don't take disagreement personally Committee structure: Handle at 10- Council Member work session level more instead of in smaller committees The very best improvement —only one thing —that would enhance the Council's operational ability to fulfill its responsibilities and better address citizens' needs Committees provide additional information Allow Council members to participate better Allows more council driven than staff driven Move actions along regardless of quorum How to get consistent quorums? Lunch break was taken from 12:00 to 12:40 P.M. Strategic Deliberations When you look at the City today, what do you personally see, feel, sense, or hear from others, that concerns you the most? SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 4 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT Downtown, quality of old central city - "Old Town" Zero percent growth rate in city - demographics - 2010 population decline Employment Affordable housing A negative reaction to annexation Concerns identified in the Market Street Study Technology as it relates to public safety and industries that would not have access to technological amenities if they came to Jefferson City Storm Water Transportation system Lincoln University Why are they considered of high concerns? What are the main economic, political, cultural, and social structures or considerations that directly contribute to these concerns? Downtown, quality of old central city - "Old Town ": A lengthy discussion was held regarding the staff's and Council's concerns and potential solutions as well as perceptions vs. reality. Demographics: Sprawl is a big problem, a greater number of building permits are being issued just outside the city More aggression on code enforcement - could it cause sprawl? Storm water: A lengthy discussion was held regarding the issue of storm water; who is affected the most, the best ways to distribute the responsibility for solving the problems Employment: How do we attract people to live here who work here but reside elsewhere? Transportation: How could the bus system be set up to serve the needs of the citizens more efficiently? Could some alternative public transportation systems be used to attract ridership such as trolleys? Affordable Housing: If we attract more people to the city, where would they live? Annexation: SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 5 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT How can you prevent the people from responding so negatively against the city when a voter - approved annexation is proposed? Lincoln University: The city and LU needs to continue implementing ideas and communications that have already begun. We have more LU professors sitting on boards and commissions, LU President planning to move back to the President's mansion. Market Street Need to read and familiarize themselves with the study. Technology The city's I.T. Dept. needs to become adequate before becoming proficient and proactive. Currently spend more time keeping inadequate hardware and software functioning rather than developing new and better methods of doing things Within the next 3 to 5 years what will be the one most critical issue or problem facing the City? Storm water Annexation Money Stagnant /flat growth in revenues and increased city operational costs Old Town / Central City issues - redevelopment Projecting a progressive image to outsiders Seeing the city as not just a capital city but also a university town Population growth Identifying and eliminating barriers to economic development Revenue enhancement A five - minute recess was taken at this time. Councilman Klindt left the meeting at this point. Meeting reconvened at 2:35. Present: Crane, Koon, Layton, Medin, Penfold, and Smith Absent: Brown, Ferguson, Harvey, and Klindt Appointments by the Mayor: SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 2007 6 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT CAMPO — Councilperson Cindy Layton nominated Councilmen Koon and Penfold, seconded by Councilperson Jane A. Smith, and approved unanimously. Mayor John Landwehr announced that Pursuant to Sec. 610.021 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, the Chair would entertain a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss the following: Legal Actions [Sec. 610.021.(1)] Real Estate [Sec. 610.021.(2)] Motion to go into closed session made by Councilperson Cindy Layton, seconded by Councilman Brian Crane, and approved unanimously by the following roll -call vote at 2:45 P.M. Aye: Crane, Koon, Layton, Medin, Penfold, and Smith Nay: None