HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-16 Council Work Session 1 MINUTES
OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT CITY HALL
DECEMBER 16, 2008
4:00 P.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in the Community Room of City
Hall. Answering rollcall were: Members Housh, Masica, Swenson and Mayor Hovland.
Member Bennett entered the meeting at 4:15 p.m. Staff present included: Gordon Hughes,
City Manager; Heather Worthington, Assistant City Manager; Wayne Houle, City Engineer;
Mike Sitarii, Police Chief; Marty Scheerer, Fire Chief; and Debra Mangen, City Clerk.
Mayor Hovland welcomed Sen. Geoff Michel, Rep. Elect Keith Downey, and Rep. Elect
Paul Rosenthal to the work session. He stated the purpose of the work session was to
allow the Council and Edina's legislative contingent to discuss important issues facing both
cities and the State.
Sen. Michel talked about the State's budget deficit stating that it was anticipated the
Governor would unallot the December Local Government Aid and Market Value
Homestead Credit payments to cities since no legislative budget solution would be
available until after the session began on January 6, 2009. Sen. Michel continued stating
the $426,000,000 shortfall was expected to grow. He said the next forecast would be
available in February of 2009 with the expected shortfall for the next biennium approaching
$4.8 billion. Sen. Michel said he believed work on the budget would consume the majority
of the legislative session.
The City Council, legislators and staff discussed: potential upcoming budget revisions,
transportation, bonding bill, education and health care. Mayor Hovland thanked Sen.
Michel and Representatives Elect Downey and Rosenthal for attending the work session
and briefing the Council on the upcoming session of the legislature. The Council invited
the legislators to attend the upcoming MLC meeting January 16, 2009 beginning at 7:30
a.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Plymouth.
There being no further business, Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, i"
Debra Man en, Yy Clerk