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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973/12/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular (2)SPECIAL MINUTESCITY COUNC ST. LOUIS PARKIVDecember 3 IL MEETING MINNESOTA 1973 The special meeting of theCity Council was called te order Pucci at 7:05 p.m. for a joint meeting with the former members Mayor Environmental Improvement CoII,mission, of the The follo•.iing Councilmen were present: Lyle Hanks Frank Fleetham Jim Heltzer Frank Pucci i Councilman Thiel arrived at 7:13 p,m, Also present was the City Manager. The following former members of the Environmental Improvement Commission were present: Mattie Peterson Theona Von Lorenz Thomas Heenan Clarence Moe Tom Thomas Everett Janssen Charles Griffith Sandra Brown The Mayor opened the meeting by citing the background and reasons for the recent Council action vacating Commission positions. He referred to two letters sent to all advisory commissions on February 10, 1972, and on October 19, 1973, indicating to commission members the policy of the City Council regarding actions by advisory commissions. He stated that the seats on the Environmental Improvement Commission were vacated on November 19, 1973 because a majority of the City Council felt that the Cocrnission was not abiding by this established policy. Mattie Peterson, former Environmental Improvement Commission chairman, stated that it was never the EIC's intention to make policy, and they never felt that they had done this. The Commission members viewed the EIC as an advocate for the enviroL.ment, as well as z commission to react to requests from the City Council regarding environmental matters. She stated the EIC has tried to function in both of these roles. Everett Janssen requested the City Council members to address themselves to the following questions• (1) What has the Environmental Improvement Commission done that does not conform to City Council policy? (2) Does the Council feel that the past efforts of and nrecommendations by the EIC have been of value? (3) What does the City Council of the Environmental Improvement Commission0 1 335 ; I Council Minutes, December 3, 1973 The Mayor stated that when citizen commissions communicate with other governmental bodies or agencies, the governmental bodies tend to accept the position of the Commission as the policy of the City. He stated that the Council felt this type of situation occurred when the EIC position of I-394 was submitted to the State Highway Department's Citizen Advisory Committee. This tends to create problems as well as conflicts in official policies and can often times be embarrassing to the City or to the City Council. Councilman Hanks paraphra;,ed the original -resolution establishing the EIC and stated that the scope of the Commission is to advise the Ci:7y Council, the City Manager, and on request other boards and commissions or agencies. Councilman Heltzer stated that problems may arise when a commission views itself as an advocate agency, as well as one that is dedicated to citizen involvement. This position may cause the Commission to make value judgments on ito own and possibly lead citizens to support a position that may eventually conflict with that of the City Council. He stated that this type of action sometimes can be interpreted as formation of policy, and that policy making should only be done by the elected representatives. Councilman Fleetham stated that he felt many times the Environmental Improvement Commission may have concurred on a topic without knowing the entire picture. He felt that the City Council has been rather lenient in allowing the EIC to study any topics they wish; however, he did not feel that the communication between the City Council and the Commission has been adequate. Councilman Thiel stated that he feels all citizen boards have valuable contributions and do a very good job of advising the City Council. However, he feels that at no time should a "straw vote" or polled by telephone, and it is hi: understanding that some of the recommendations put forth by the ETC were not voted on at their regular meetings. He felt that on both the I-394 issue and the Hannan Lake storm sewer issue the Council gave the EIC sufficient time to properly evaluate the proposals within the scope of their regular meeting times and communicate them to the Council. Mrs. Mattie Peterson stated that as far as the Hanna:z Lake storm sewer project was concerned, the EIC did not feel that it was dictating policy, but rather calling to the attention of the City Council certain pertinent facts. She stated that their recommendations were not shown to any one othetrthan City Council members. Everett Janssen stated that from the discussion at the Lakes and PondsCommittee meeting, residents within the storm sewer area may have interpreted the personal feelings of the EIC members ?s being against this storm sewer, however, no copies of the EIC recommendations on the project were distributed to the residents. Theona Von Lorenz stated that although she no longer wishes to serve on the EIC, she hopes that all of the former members will be reappointed by the City Council, as they are very dedicated and enthusiastic in dealing with environmental problems. 336 Council Minutes, December 3, 1973 Mayor Pucci summarized the various feelings of the Council as discussed at the meeting, and stated that the new CitY Council should evaluate the role of the Environmental Improvement Co ss and its relation to the City Council and that appointments t�haion � Commission will be deferred until the new Council takes office, t The meeting was adjourned at 7f54 n m Susan wortcman, Actg. Secretary 337