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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971/01/25 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING S T . LOUIS PARK , MI NNE S OTA JANUARY 25 , 1971 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Frank Howard at 8 : 00 p . m . The following Councilmen were present at roll call : Frank Fleetham Murray Galinson James Heltzer Frank Howard Robert Reynolds Leonard Thiel Councilman Graves arrived at 9 : 00 p . m . Also present were E . F . Robb , Jr . , County Commissioner ; Herbert Klossner , Hennepin County Director of Public Works ; and Sam Fisher , Hennepin County Traffic Engineer ; City Manager , Assistant City Manager ; Planning Director ; Director of Public Works ; and Acting Secretary . City Classification and Pay Plan Adjustments RESOLUTION NO , 4135 It was moved by Councilman Thiel , seconded by Councilman Fleetham , to waive reading and adopt Resolution No . 4135 entitled , "Resolution Adopting Position Classification Assignment Table Effective December 23 , 1970 " . The motiion carried 6 - 0 (Councilman Graves absent ) . ( See Table IV . ) First Reading of Ordinance Authorizing the Transfers of Funds and Providing Appropriation for Salary Adjustments for Year Ending December 31 , 19710 It was moved by Councilman Theil , seconded by Councilman Fleetham , to waive first reading of proposed ordinance and set date for second reading for February 1 , 1971 . The motion carried 6 to 0 (Councilman Graves absent ) . ORDINANCE NO , 1134 It was moved by Councilman Thiel , seconded by Councilman Fleetham to waive reading and adopt Emergency Ordinance No . 1134 entitled , "An Emergency Ordinance Amending the Following Sections of the St . Louis Park Ordinance Code Relative to the Position Classification Plan , Compensation Plan , Basic Personnel Policy and Conditions of City Employment ; Section 1 : 1308 , Compensation Plan • Section 1 . 135 , Vacation Leave ; Section 1 : ' 321 , Rest periods and Holidays : The motion carried by a 6 to 0 vote (Councilman Graves absent ) . Hennepin County Discussion Matters Restricted Parking on Excelsior Boulevard - Mayor Howard explained that the County has requested the City to approve " no parking " signs along Excelsior Boulevard and that the Council had approved and later found that Coast to 19 Council Minutes , January 25 , 1971 g problems . The Council then amended Coast Stores were faced with parking certain times but that the County its resolution to restrict parking Fisher explained that the request refused to acknowledge this action . NIr . • emn� from a need for bus lanes and edeceleration for no parking haist } and exit visibility along the street and that acceleration to ee;. Mr . Fisher also explained lanes were needed for Coast - to - Coast emp Y parking restrictions in this location would encourage other that amending p g then to ask for this consideration . rlayor Howardmited parking -resericti businesses n estrn� 1 P ons � from the Coast - to - Coast Corporate Counsel sung Dd and suggested that the and reduced speed limits on Excelsior Baulevar solution to this problem & j respective City / County staffs work out ian Minnetonka Boulevard Safet - Councilman Heltzer exPla1Tonkaed hshoedingparea . 1 safety problems along Minnetonka Boulevard in the Tex r ! Mr . Fisher stated that a study had been completed in this area a fromthat they were proposing a sidewal:; on the south side of Ml to Utah Avenues and thTexas e installation of a pedestrian actuated traffic signal at Texas and Minnetonka . Mr . Heltzer asked about the removal of the ' ' free right turn " sign at Texas and Minnetonka . Mr . Fisher responded that he can see no problem with this sign and that its removal would not cause a significant change in traffic gaps on Texas Avenue . He suggested also that signalization for pedestrians at Texas and Minnetonka will lessen this problem somewhat . Councilman Heltzer stated that the City was beginning to recognize the needs for pedestrian safety and felt that the County must establish pedestrian warrants for consideration of traffic and pedestrian designations . Fisher explained that pedestrian warrants in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices were impractically high and hoped that they wnuld be adjusted downward in the forthcoming manual . Councilman Thiel stated that he agreed with restricting parking on arterial ' roads and with the installation of sidewalks on these roads and further requested that signals on arterial roads be synchronized in such a way as to facilitate crossings at unsignaled lightly traveled streets . Signal ization at Toledo and Minnetonka Boulevard - Councilman F leetham explained that he was very concerned about the problems of getting onto Minnetonka Boulevard from the Highway 7 off - ramp at Toledo and was requesting signalization of this intersection . Mr . Klossner requested that channelization of Minnetonka be completed to see how it works before consideration of signalization begins . Mayor Frank Howard expressed concern that the signals had been promised but never materialized . Councilman Galinson proposed that the Council go nn record in favor of signalization to reduce the existing traffic hazards . Mayor Howard suggested that the City staff provide a written report of accidents at that intersection to the County and that an appropriate solution be Worked out . Commissioner Robb stated that the conditions presented by this study may require installation of signals . 20 Council Minutes , January 25 , 1971 Intersection Improvement at Texas Avenue and Virginia Circle North - Councilman 400 Galinson explained that this particular intersection was a problem and requested additional stop signs on Cedar Lake Road and that the City staff work out a solution with the County on stop sign installation . Median Strips - Mr . Klossner suggested that Minnetonka Boulevard was in need of corrective action because of its high accident rate and heavy traffic volumes . He proposed that Minnetonka would need four lanes of traffic , sidewalks separated from the curbs , and traffic channelization , and that additional right - of -way would be required . Councilman Reynolds stated that he would oppose any sacrifice of neighborhoods , as for example , Minnetonka Boulevard upgrading , until the State and County had established their future traffic patterns for this area . Special Election Costs - Mayor Howard questioned that the City should be absorbing costs of County special elections such as the hospital bond issues . Commissioner Robb responded that at present there is no alternative under State law and that the County is proposing legislative amendments to this procedure . County Remittance of Tax Collections - Commissioner Robb explained that the Resolution of Schedules distributed in the municipalities resulted from the problems of favoritism and administrative difficulties experienced under the previous distribution system . He felt that this was a reasonable compromise between School District and municipality needs and the County resources and mentioned that the County gets caught short by delays in remittance of State funds . He further stated that any proposal drafted by the municipality be sent to the County for consideration of chanties in this procedure although he foresaw no action this year . The City Manager stated that the problem was not limited to merely withholding of funds but' that the City was losing interest earnings , estimated at $ 19 , 000 in 1970 , from funds retained by the County . He further suggested that the City should receive at least 90% of collections within 30 days or receive the interest currently earned by the County . Methodist Hospital Entrance and Signalization - Mr . Fisher reported that this had been studied and preliminary plans had been drafted for improvement of Excelsior Boulevard from Monk Avenue to Highway 100 including channelization , signalization , and bus turnout lanes . He further suggested that this might be incorporated in the TOPICS Program and that as a part of this improvement , the left turns at the Methodist Hospital entrance would be eliminated requiring such access at Louisiana Avenue . Commissioner Robb stated that the signals at Methodist Hospital entrance are temporary contingent upon the completion of the Louisiana Avenue /Excelsior intersection . P-2ayor Howard requested that a copy of the Minnetonka Boulevard / Utah Avenue pedestrian report be submitted to the staff . Councilman Thiel requested that a proposal be submitted on signalization of Minnetonka Boulevard and a schedule for synchronization of signals . Commissioner Robb responded that this would be done . Commissioner Robb further stated that the list of items discussed would be most helpful in determining their priorities and that he would welcome another such meeting . 21 Council Minutes , January 25 , 1971 - ouncilman Reynolds moved approval of the revised Lighted School Program C Education Program Agree ment • The motion was seconded resolution on Community E suggested that he had several by Councilman Thiel , Councilman Heltzer reservations about the agreement structure in rerneededs of itoabelgreaterlciment and operations . He further suggested that the izen involvement than was presently designed . Councilman Fleetham responded that fficiently to establish it at the neighborhool this program has not progressed su level . Councilman Heltzer suggested that the agreement specify construction and neighborhood powers . Mayor Howard responded that the objections were valid but that money control is assured and feels that the program must get started . Mr . Heltzer responded that he would support this resolution with the understanding that the City would not commit funds to this until the establishment of Neighborhood Advisory Councils could be established . He indicated that he would draft a proposed amendment to the agreement for future Council consideration providing for neighborhood councils . The motion was then carried by a 6 to 0 vote (Councilman Galinson absent ) . Stop_ Signs at Wooddale and 41st - Councilman Reynolds moved that the school stop signs at Wooddale Avenue and 41st Street be replaced by temporary stop signs pending completion of a traffic report on this intersection . The motion was seconded by Councilman Graves and carried by a 6 to 0 vote (Councilman Galinson absent ) . Lighted School Committee - Councilman Reynolds moved that a letter of ; commendation be prepared recognizing the efforts of the Lighted School Delegation to Flint , Michigan . The motion was seconded by Councilman Heltzer and carried by a 6 to 0 vote (Councilman Galinson absent ) . Adjournment Councilman Thiel moved adjournment at 10 : 30 p . m . r 4 I yor , FranVOo o and Attest : e t Richard W . Schrad , Acting Secretary 22 TABJ . f; f V CONFIDENTIAL DIVISION & DEPARTI EiNT BEAD SATARIE 1970 and 1971 Code Range Current: Proposed Number POSITION Number 1970 1971 City Manager 25 , 000 279500 033 Director of Finance 74 209357 22 , 500 050 Asst , City Manager '69 15 , 515 172715 040 Director of Public Works 59 17 , 554 18 ) 903Woo 035 Assessor 62 15 , 134 15 , 903woo 045 Planning Director 62 15 , 134 16 , 708 395 Public Health Director 62 149767 15 , 903 207 Police Chief 61 149767 16 , 300 t04 Civil Engineer II 61 15 , 134 163300 118 Supv , Zoning Inspection 60 14 , 407 15 , 134 516 Director of Parks Recreation 60 143407 15 , 134 217 Fire Chief 60 12 , 44un 13 , 713 039 Ass t . Director of Finance 59 14 , 407 15 , 515 342 Water Sewer Superintendent 59 142056 15 , 515 ` 323 Street Superintendent 58 12 , 120 13 , 052 103 Civil Engineer I 52 12 , 423 13 , 052 046 Asst . Planning Director 52 129423 13 , 052 036 Deputy Assessor 50 10 , 90 11 , 825 032 Administrative Assistant 47 91671 10 , 451 �� 2-Ierit Review Pending