2015.10.06 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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lirWBROK'Aff ON the city that works for you Council Worksession October 6, 2015 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Dave Jacobsen Councilmember Brian Strub Councilmember Paul Jacobsen Absent: Councilmember Gina Bauman Councilmember Mary Burg Staff in Attendance: Dean Lotter, Janice Gundlach, Joe Hatch Guests in Attendance: Strategic Priorities Plan Lotter provided comment on the City's strategic priorities plan with the Council. He discussed the results from the internal employee survey and commented he was very pleased by the results. The City's fund balance levels and bond rating was reviewed. The key performance indicators were commented on. The preferred methods of communication with the Council was then reviewed, along with the increasing ways the City was communicating with the public. He was proud of the City's continued success with National Night Out. The expansions on NBE were discussed, as well as the impact these projects would have on the City's tax base. Councilmember Jacobsen questioned what items were not addressed by the Council in the past year. Lotter discussed the four items that had not been resolved or addressed by the Council to date in 2015. Mayor Jacobsen was interested in having the EDC review housing programs to assist New Brighton residents with improving and investing in their homes. Councilmember Strub asked how the Northeast Bank and Cowboy Jack's projects were coming along. Gundlach provided the Council with an update on each project. She then discussed other market trends in the City. She was surprised to report that duplex values were on the decline in the community. She stated all other multi -family housing value was down 10%. It was noted that the multi -family housing values hinged greatly on buildings maintenance and upkeep. She explained New Brighton was not hit hard by the foreclosure crisis and its single-family housing remains strong. Further discussion ensued regarding property values in New Brighton. Councilmember Strub reported that the main concern with the single-family homes in the City were the homes built from 1960 to 1965. He was interested in learning more about how to improve and invest in these homes in order to attract Millennials into the community. Lotter was proud of the community survey results as they showed the City was providing excellent or good City services to its residents. The results were discussed further with the Council, along with employee cross training and job satisfaction rates. He requested the Council consider additional development, education and training needs for staff.