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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974/09/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST . LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA SeWeMber 2 t , 19 .74 t special budget meeting of the C ' ty Council was called to order by Mayor Franx �'leetha-'r� at 8 : 08 a • rr to cor_&act a public hearing on the proposed City B -ad - 40 ^ 5 . The follow n Council :.members were het for ! q ; , g present . Rose - Mary Griak Seymour Druskin Lyle Hanks Leonard Thiel Keith Meland Frank Fleetham Ca , ;GciLnzan Graves arrived at 8036 ti * me kl � o present were the City Manager , Assistant City Manager , Director of Finance , ass sant Finance Director , and Acting Secretary , 19 '+' 5 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET Civil Defense - The City Manager presented a brief description of the composition. and vities of the Civil Defense Police Reserve and listed those items for which the City can receive matching fu.ndso At the request of Councilman Druskin , the City Manager explained the.. fwiction and activities of each of the personnel covered by this accol�mt , He noted that the City receives matching funds only for money that is actually expended , no funds are received in advance . Mxnicipal Park Fund . The City Manager explained that this budget was included for the Council ' s information to show incorporation of this budget into the Mainten - ance Servicer Department , Public Ass stance and Welfare� - No changes , Organized Recreatiors - CounciLman Thiel noted the changing neighborhood and Population characl. er3" stica� throughout the community of supervisorssoggac ltiesthat such asuncil may v�! ish to cons : der reducing the numberparticularly now that the Recreation di supervised pYs. ygr" o '�nds and ice rink- s , P y - Center is available for tbse by all citizens , Councilman Griak noted that interest in skating is continuing to increase and that since transportation and cost factors I exclude same citizens frorn beirLg able to participate in skating activities I , feels that the number of ice rinks should not be reduced , at the Recreation Center Councilman Dr -askin stared that he believes a comprehensive recreation program is Unportant for the comrnI,.rsoty and commented on the management of the parks and + and the rrainrng gY�reri to the supervisors . He mentioned that recrea � i, on rc, raxn all facilities need adeq�•ate supp ° rt in the way xt tra1oCouncilman uHanks mer_t in order to be 3ji;il. ized to the -maxip imum e possible . er' ienced in hiring personnel. to fill warming house atten noted the difficulty eXP - dant positions doe to hoax ani d . : age factors , He suggested that some playgrounds Could have the rw nber of s ;apervisors reduced , 225 � Cnc :� l. Ma. nuteb� , September 219 1974 r ' n a discussion. regarding hiring and training of temporary recreation Foll. ovc i g seconded by Councilman Meland , personnel , it was moved by Co '�.nc11m of Tossible revisions and adjustments in that staff prepare a proposal or st'�;dy P the r..- unber of s14pervisors , fac __ lities , etc . for recreation program for the 7b b :.d et which will still be adequate to meet the needs of the community . As 9 g Councilman Thiel confirmed that a point of information for Co-,=cilman Meland , ssibility of combining or eliminating certain this rnot?or� wo -! A.ld also incl -�de the po playgrotin.d programs . The :*;'lotion passed 7 - 0 . State Ald - Street Maintena,ce - No changes . z -al Rever� ae Sharing - it :vas moved by Councilman Hanks , seconded by Fede_ Councilman Thiel , to defer . The motion carried 7 - 0 . Manicipal Buildings - Following a question by Councilman Hanks , the City - Manager cor_firmed that this budget includes funds for 'finishing the modification of the first 'and third floors . Park Lrnprovement Fund - The Finance Director explained that approximately six years ago $450 , 000 from the sale of G . O . bonds was transferred into this fund to carry out needed park land acquisition and improvements . The City Manager noted that the City has now submitted approved applications for approximately $ 244 , 000 in gran: monies in 1975 , and has in prior years , received approximately $ 285 , 000 & hovxrever , no L.znds are available to match these grants at the present time . Cozuic: iLman Thiel stated that he believes revenue sharing monies should be used onjy for major city - wide parks rather than being used for small neighborhood parks . Mayor Fleetham. alio noted that the City May be able to use some of the anticipated Community Development Funds for park improvements . The City Manager related that the regulations for application for these funds have not yet been promulgated , but that conceivably , priorities for expenditure of these funds cot:ld apply first to low and moderate income neighborhoods . Councilman Hags stated that this may very well apply to Elmwood Park . It was moved by Councilman Hanks , seconded by Councilman Griak , to defer discussion on this matter to a later date . The motion passed 7 - 0 . State Aid - Street Cor ; truction - No changes . Debt Service - General Obligatior_ and Special Assessment Bonds - The Finance Director noted that November 20 , 1974 has been suggested as the target date on which to sell bonds . He noted that $ 2 million are needed now to finance the special assessment portion of projects which have been completed / approved , and $ 1 . 5 million. to finance the City ' s share of improvement costs , in addition to approximately $ 112 million for matching Federal and State grants in the Park Improvement Fund . 226 MilrUtes , September 21 , 1 ? 74 ,-* `vn lhnan Thiel ovatlined the various advantages and disadvantages of splitting tht proposed bond 4ale by selling a portion of the bonds in 1974 and the remai -< : r g ..MCx4t needed ir: 190705 , The Finance Director noted that one - half a million dollar .' sholld be rn, ade available in order to match the federal grants , to stabilize the park :-Mprcvement fund and to permit the Council to do many of the things they would like to do thro . tghout. city parks . The City Manager noted that every day the City operates its parks the deficit is increasing . Funds are needed for capital improve - mects , as well as to match authorized grant monies . He noted that revenue sharing cannot be used to match federal grants . CO Icilxnan Thiel stated that he favors selling $ 2 million in bonds this fall and aril ' =g t ' -. e rern air:der it^ 1 'j 7 5 . He then. recommends that the City wait until 1977 @iDie i s zing holds again , if necessary . Mayor Fleetharn felt that half a million dollarz , � , r pa, rkb sho �ld r_ of be sold until next year in order to realize the impact cif the r "Tullunity devel. opmeiit fwr_ ds . it respo ! , se to a question. frons Councilman Graves , the Finance Director stated that the City i ; approximately $ 15U , 000 below its statutory mill levy limit . Counci )zrian Graves Mated that. he does not want to cut the mill levy this year and then be forced to raise it: substantially in 19760 He cautioned the Council to be aware of what, effects .adding car c ..-ttirlg various costs will have on future budget *! ,was Moved by Coancilrnan. Thiel that the City sell $ 2 million Special Assessment 1,nd G • O , bonds this fall and sell bonds for the balance of monies needed in 1976 . The motion failed for lack of a second . Councilman Drl: skin expressed the desire to discuss this matter further with the it a Finar_ce Director and cunmented that he would like to 5 budget * v matter In response to al fter the Council has a better picture of the entire 197 conCe rnthe Finance Director stated that the expressed by Co .r�ci. l_man Graves , 015 budget will have some i-rnpact on revenue sharing funds received for 1977 if it is drastically reduced , ;3.nd that these reductions could also affect some of the It would not affect the local aids received frown the state , in subsequent years ' er capita- limitation for or'. which was established according to a levy liir- td- - •tl the batt- year , and modified annually thereafter . Thr Cit Manager al ;ao roted than. the City does not yet know the full impact of the questions from Councilman Mcland , Fic . 31 ` P rides Act , Following several q the F' ir� - zce Director eXplaired the process that is anticipated will be used icy calculacto L ; redistribt;.* ion of t •-Ax snonies according to the Fiscal Disparities ,Ll lie noted Thai- the City does r_ ot certify shill levies ; only actual dollars , so th << r Act ' -the bud � t.• t will rot have to be readjusted in line with the ,�'i. se �cl Disparity Act ' - � � inist, rdfion . 7.4 L L 7 Council MI .,a_tes , Septeznber 21 , 1974 Sidewal" Re7;toval. The, Mayor stated that he has been contacted by Grace ,�� 2---G odr �: h As` er�� e , regarding her desire to remove the sidewalk. Dowr..+ng , 57 of her proper rather than having it repaired , Cowe e drawn -in f ror. _ . p � guidelines thatwn up reminded the Co ° ;ncl of. the sidewalk re�novalthe sidewalk in front of Ms . to cover' these types of req��ests . He noted that guidelines , cannot be removed . The City Dovvni.ng ' s home , according to adopted g . Manager also drew the Council ' s attention to a letter rwhlch was s the is Ms . g guidelines , notify ing her that sidewalk Downing tollowir g adoption, of these b cannot be removed and requesting her to contact the City if she had any further questions . No acti. orn as tar. er._ . Council Compensation - it was moved by Councilman Graves , seconded by Counnclimar_ Me ? a. nd , `o cancel_ the public hearing on Council compensation scheduled for September 30 , 1974 . The motion passed 7 - 0 . The Mayor read the report of the Council Compensation Committee recommending That an increase of $ 25 per month for each Councilman and $ 50 per month for the Mayor . The report further stated that this appeared to be a reasonable increase in comper_ satior_ due to increased costs for gas and postage and the fact that Co ,3ncil compensation has remained stationary since 1960 . Councilman Dru kin stated that he feels that he is being adequately compensated for his expenses at the present tix"ne and does not feel the need for an increase . Covincilbnan Griak stated that she does not feel the Council would be using good „ 1�. dgment in raising Council co_npensation at this time . She further stated that the Council may Irish to give some thought to compensating Councilmen for attending rneetings other than those called for in the Charter and that this compensa - ti. or_. could also act as an incentive to participate . Council Druskin stated that he believes some t�Te of reimbursement could be used to encourage other citizens in the coxn= -sznity ` o become !Wore active in City affairs by helping to defray their expenses . Councihna. r . Griak and Councilman Druskin agreed that it is difficult to place citizen participator within the proper framework of the decision - making process and felt that the Council should discuss the policy behind any type of compensation program before discussing the mechanics . Councilman Harks reccr= ended that a letter be sent by the Mayor to the Council Compensatior. Connznittee thanking the =n for their efforts . Con=unications from City Manager - The City Manager noted several times that the Council shovsld disc .:. ss as ; son as possible for staff guidance : 1 . Louisiana Avenue Assessment / Methodist Hospital 2 . West 36th Street Parking Area - Hoover and Eide Land 3 . Westling Pond - Proposed Donation of Land 4 . West�Jrood Hills - Status of Negotiation and Condemnation . 228