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Home My WebLink About1971/05/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST . LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA May 10 , 1971 A special meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Howard at 6 ; 30 p . m . The following Councilmen were present : Frank Fleetham Murray Galinson Richard Graves James Heltzer Leonard Thiel Frank Howard Also present were the City Manager ) Assistant City Manager , Public Works Director , Planning Director , and Acting Secretary , Capital Improvements Program Mayor Howard explained that recent events in the City prompted him to ask for this meeting . He suggested that although the economy is in a current depression , inflation remains the prediction and suggested that the Council proceed in what they believe best for the community by determining and supporting its capital improvements priorities . Mr . Thiel stated that he had prepared his own personal list of capital improve - ments priorities and provided them as follows : 1 . Completion of storm sewer system 2 . Continuation of paving , curb and gutter program 3 . Completion of central garage facilities 4 . Completion of park improvements ( i . e . greening , landscaping ) 5 . Developing play areas in each of the City ' s precincts 6 . Development of an additional family picnic park to compliment the Oak Hill area 7 . Completed development around the community recreation facilities 8 . Completion of the Louisiana Avenue extension from 32nd Street to Excelsior Boulevard and Oxford to Highway 100 9 . Modification and upgrading of Cedar Lake Road from Louisiana Avenue to Highway 100 10 . Promotion of a grade separation at 36th Street and Trunk Highway 100 11 • Promotion of upgrading Highway 7 and CSAR 18 12 • Development of Westwood Hills Park 130 The mid - block lighting program 143 w �, . .. Gour_ci ; = leeti �1'� Ma � � -io y9 ? l. SpricLa _ y ery progressive but Mr . Heltzer stated that he considered the Counchlcurrento be vprograms could Possibly that increased constitutent c: issat :. siaction wit y the Council into an election which would reverse the thrust of the Council force its programs sufficiently to and suggested that the Council needed statedthathis priorities consisted of ; meet these demands . lvir . Heltzer then s 1 . Acquisition of the Republic Creosote property 2 . Development of low - cost housing for senior citizens and low - incotr_ e far11. ,lies 3 . Developme-ut of sufficient middle income housing 4 . Acquisition and development of Minnehaha Creek properties Mr . Heltzer than raised the question whether the City had reached its legal limit in bonded indebtedness . In response , the Finance Directomareinrofd $ 11e000u0001to was the 1970 Financial Report and stated that the legal debt g far above the present: debt level of $621 , 000 . He also indicated that the estimated mill rate on debt service for 1971 would be approximately 15 mills as opposed to 8 . 59 mills in 1970 . Mayor Howard stated that communications with the community would have to be improved to prove that capital improvement projects would eventually be needed and that present and proposed costs are important factors . He also indicated there was a seed to communicate the effects of rapidlyincreasing costs of the School District and Hennepin County to the residents of the community . Mr . Galinson stated that he thought it was very helpful to synchronize policies with the staff and suggested that policies and priorities be re - examined by the Council on a continuing basis . He also stated that many residents have been questioning the Council ' s actions and motives regarding the Capital Improvements Program and stated that although threats to re - election have always been a problem, he felt that opposition efforts were beginning to interfere in his actions and therefore indicated that he would not be running for re - election in November . Mayor Howard stated that the City has 2rogressed rather significantly in needed m nts and indicated that m d storm sewer require- capital imarove e municipal building an ments are virtually completes that paviqg , curb and gutteGOO r is continuing on a scheduled. basis , that park developmen is progressing very well although the City continues to spent ^lore for support of Hennepin County park systems than its own , that decorative street lighting and street "Landscaping programs have probably been postponed , and that pedestrian sidewalks and open space programs can be budgeted without a great deal of difficulty . Mr . Galinson suggestedthat the Council set its priorities on paving and determine deviations from the Capital Improvements Program for 1970 through 1974 . Mayor Howard then asked if any Councilman had changed his mind on the street paving policy . Councilman Fleetham responded that he could not support the policy ber without consideration of more than the serviceable life of the street . He furs ilman indicated that this did not mean he will not support paving projects . Counc Thiel responded that he did not like the policy but felt that it was expedient to adopt it and provide the Council with some experience in working witht Mayor Howard stated that Council ' s previous policy was for construction ofPa lman curb and gutter after the underground utilities had been completed . Counci 144 special City Council Meeting , May 10 1971 IWOAP ►. � Ei Suggested thatavi _ p ng , c. .:r ,; dnd gutter was not his to suggested that he would not support P priority and suSg pport such improvements in a ward if the ward counci man were oppose Mayor Howard then suggested that each Council draw up their priorities for exchange with other Councilmen and that man • at a subsequent meeting a designated to discuss these priorities . Westwood Hills Nature Interpretive Center Councilman Galinson indicated there was a need to discuss the Westwood P Hills Nature Interpretive Center with regard to ( 1 ) authorizing Mr . Chris Nelson provide consultative services , ( 2 ) to investigate federal fundingfor the to and ( 3 ) to determine costs and problems involving land acquisition . Councilmanpark , Fleetham questioned whether there would be sufficient funding available toeve this area in relationship to other capital improvements programming . Mayor develop ard responded that it would be a long range budget and could be changed fromy earo o year in logical progression , y to Councilman Thiel then moved to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agreement with Mr . Nelson for consultative services . The motion was seconded by Councilman Galinson , Councilman Heltzer indicated that he was concerned about the quantity of mill rate change for next year , especially being faced with the possibility of state lace prohibiting such increases and further stated that the City could no long er continue to rely on the heavily regressive special assessment procedure for improvements . Councilman Heltzer then asked when the Manager could provide a preliminary report on the 1971 proposed bud because of employee wage negotiations , pensiion • costs randgstateer sPonded that activities , such as environmental control costs etc , enforced tentatvery ive estimate and perhaps would be available in aboutt�a month .be Councilman Thiel requested that projected revenues and expenses for recreation facilityn operation be included in the proposed budget estimate . The motion was then carried by a 64 vote . Ad ' ournment moti ad on of Councilman Thiel , seconded by Murray Galinson , the meeting was adjourned at 7 - 55 p . m . /000 r I F ank J . Ho Mayor At hachard w • Schard , Actg . Secretary 145