HomeMy WebLinkAbout7C - Fire Safety & Service Info Plan
16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
July 17, 2006 ~
7C \
Frank Boyles, City Manager
FIRE SAFETY AND SERVICE INFORMATION PLAN
AGENDA ITEM:
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to apprise the Council and public of the
educational efforts to be undertaken to provide information about the Fire
Safety and Service Referendum for Fire Station NO.2 and the aerial platform
fire truck.
Historv
The City Council, at their June 26, 2006, meeting adopted a resolution
directing that a Fire Safety and Service Referendum election be conducted as
part of the regularly scheduled September 12,2006, Primary Election. The
Fire Station NO.2 Committee consisting of Mayor Haugen and Councilmember
Millar, together with representatives of the Fire Department and other staff,
has prepared a plan for sharing information with the public.
Current Circumstances
There are numerous elements to the plan to inform people about the
referendum. The information plan includes the following:
Wavelength Newsletter
The June, July, August and September issues will contain articles, columns
and information on this topic written by various persons including the Mayor,
Fire Chief and myself.
Website
The Website will offer an opportunity for persons to engage in two-way
communication to ask questions and receive answers on this topic. I will do
the same with my Slog.
Video/Cable TV
The Committee believes that many residents do not understand the value
we receive from the volunteer Fire Department. Accordingly, Inside City
Hall programs will be prepared on this topic. A 10-minute production will be
done specifically on the Fire Department as well. (This is part of a larger
long-term customer service effort to help the citizens of Prior lake to
become familiar with the City staff who serve them. More programs of this
nature are scheduled for other departments in the future.
Town Meetings
Two town meetings are scheduled. The first is for Tuesday, August 15,
www.cityofpriorlake.com
I.cO! t\C1L\C;t\II.PTS2()06/1717()t> l(ereretpiHOtWl~52?44ly1:4~ / Fax 952.447.4245
ISSUES:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
2006, at 7 p.m. in the Fire Station City Council Chambers. The second is
scheduled as part of the August 21, 2006, City Council meeting at 6 p.m.
Presentations
Presentations will be available upon request. We have already arranged
the following:
July 19, noon, at the Chamber meeting
August 2,7 a.m., at the Rotary meeting
August 7,8:15 p.m., at the VFW
August 14, 7 p.m., at the School Board meeting
Handouts
Handouts will also be prepared for distribution to provide information for
those who may not receive it through other means.
The Fire Station NO.2 committee believes that, collectively, these efforts will
make information available on this important topic. If the City Council has
suggestions for additional informational efforts or modifications to those which
have been proposed by the Committee, it would be appropriate to offer those
comments at tonight's meeting.
Attached is a letter from the City Attorney advising on the limitations of
remarks by the City Council and staff. All remarks by paid employees of the
City and its elected officials must be limited to statements of facts. City officials
are prohibited from lobbying for the passage of the referendum.
1. Approve the Information Plan by motion as recommended.
2. Approve the Information Plan with amendments.
Either Alternative #1 or #2.
706 Refereodu!'l lllfonnation
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halleland lewis
nilan & johnson PA
Attorneys at Law
600 US 8ank Plala South
220 SOJlh Sixth S:ree:
Minneapolis. MN 5'>402-4501
Olt,ce: 612.338.1838 Fax: 612.338.7858
www.haUeland.com
Suesau Ld Pace
Direct Dial: 612.573.2902
Email: IPlce@halldaad.com
July 7,2006
-VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL-
Frank Boyles, City Manager
City of Prior Lake
16776 Fish Point Road Southeast
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RE: Referendum
Dear Frank:
I am writing to you because the City Council has voted to put the question of a second fire
station and a platform truck to a referendum, and I know that you intend to put the subject of an
"information plan" on the City Council agenda for the July 17, 2006 meeting. It has been a
while since the City has had a referendum and there are also several new Council members, so I
thought I would suggest to you that you advise the Mayor and Council as to what they can
properly say about the referendum question.
Elected and appointed officials and the City staff are prohibited from lobbying for the passage or
defeat of the referendum. Statements of personal opinion regarding whether a new fire facility
and equipment are needed, are not permitted. However, there is not a prohibition against talking
about the fire station or platform truck. The limitation on their speech is that statements must be
factual in nature. Advocacy, pro or con, is not permitted. For example, one can say that "Prior
Lake is a natural impediment to getting from one side oftbe City to another. Therefore, the
response time of an emergency fire vehicle getting to an incident on the other side of the City is
longer than the response time would be if you were sending equipment that was located on the
other side of the City." What cannot be said is "therefore, if you value safety you should vote
'yes' for the construction of a second fire station on the northwest side of town." The latter is a
statement of opinion and advocacy.
Sincerely,
~~U
Suesan Lea Pace
SLP/mrg
DN: 292823