Photo by Wanda Hanson
After extensive discussion at their August 4 meeting, the Lanesboro City Council decided to post recordings of their monthly council meetings online.
According to Mayor Alicia Pearson, the League of Minnesota Citites recommended the posting of public meetings in a recent issue of its magazine, Minnesota Cities. Joe Cullen expressed his concern that posting all city meetings would overburden office staff and suggested trying just the monthly city council meetings at this time.
While Pearson suggested using both the city website and YouTube, City Attorney Joseph O’Koren cautioned against using a third party such as YouTube.
Chase Bakke asked what the cost would be to have the meetings posted both in dollars and staff time. He noted that there is nothing budgeted for added expense. Currently, there are one or two requests per month for meeting recordings that need to be responded to by staff. In an effort to keep expenses down, it was suggested that the meetings would only be available for one year after the meeting date.
Joe Cullen suggested they try putting the meeting online next month to see how it goes and volunteered to help with doing so. Cullen mentioned that there could be a link between the city website and a private YouTube website.
Mindy Albrecht-Benson rescinded her earlier motion to table the issue indefinitely, and the council voted to try posting the meeting on the city website, lanesboro-mn.gov next month.
Volunteer Policy Proposal
A volunteer policy was proposed by Pearson. She suggested that creating a volunteer database would help when opportunities to volunteer arise.
Chase Bakke opined that the policy was too cumbersome. City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge stressed that it was important to recruit volunteers for things the city actually needs.
Mindy Albrecht-Benson asked if the city has used volunteers for anything other than watering plants and helping at the library. She pointed out that often it is the Chamber or other committees that need volunteers and felt that people should volunteer through those entities. Cullen agreed that the council should encourage people to volunteer by contacting the appropriate board.
Ultimately, Pearson moved to table the proposal indefinitely.
Remote Meeting Participation
Since the state legislature changed the law regarding remote meeting participation for members, the council took a look at the city’s policy. According to state law, there is no longer a requirement to add the location of the remote participant; there is also no limit on the number of times a member can attend remotely from the state.
The city policy limits the remote attendance to three per year with the option to extend it in special cases on a case-by-case basis. By having face-to-face meetings with the attendees actually present, consensus was that the meetings are more effective.
Resolution on Local Soil Health
A resolution was considered regarding supporting local soil health practices and groundwater protection through a partnership with Fillmore County SWCD. Apparently grants and monies are available to help plant vegetation to slow rushing water and catch nitrates. Farmers and industries are subsidized to do such plantings.The matter was brought up after a SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) presentation in Lanesboro.
Albrecht-Benson commented that this was something the county should apply for rather than the city to best use the funding. Bakke agreed, noting he’d be more comfortable partnering with Fillmore County SWCD as they do this work.
After asking Walbridge for nitrate data, the council was informed that the city currently has no issues with nitrates. The resolution was tabled indefinitely.
Public Comments
In public comments, Peter Torkelson asked about a recent issue at a library board meeting. When an audience member attempted to speak, they were reminded that only the board could speak. After that Walbridge responded to the person. A board member pointed out that Walbridge was not to speak either. The board member, who was also a city employee, was disciplined with a document added to the employee’s personnel file. Torkelson felt this was inappropriate.
Another citizen spoke to ask the council why Lanesboro looks to see what other cities choose to do before they take action. He suggested that rather than doing what others do, Lanesboro should explore ideas and think creatively.
Sarah Pieper appeared virtually to ask that the city webpage be rearranged to place the council right after the city administration so people can find the link easier. Pieper thought a PDF form listing city needs for volunteers should be added. She commended the council for considering adding meeting recordings to the website.
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