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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975/06/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularMINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCMINNESOTAG ST. LOUIS PARK, JUN i11 ed to order at 10:22 p �m. Iilmen were present: by Mayor Frank Fleetham, Seymour Druskin Richard Graves Keith Meland Lyle Hanks Rose -Mary Griak Others present at the meeting were Robert Hanson, chairman of the Community Education Policy Advisory Committee, Richard Duthl er, School Finance Director Bruce Johnson, Community Education Director, and Reva Gould, Shirley Landstrom and Karen Reeves, representatives of the Policy Advisory Committee. Community Mayor Fleetham announced that the meeting was called to continue ucation the Council's discussion and review of the 1975-76 Community Budget Education budget. He welcomed two senior citizens present, Clyde Alberg and Don Sprague. He then briefly reviewed the status of the Community Education budget and acknowledged the receipt of revised budgets received from the Community Education Director with alternative plans for the Senior Citizens Account. Robert Hanson then outlined the revised budgets for Community Education and the Senior Citizens Account and explained the variations between Plans A through D. In response to a question raised by Councilman Hanks, Bruce Johnson gave a brief description of the duties of building aides. He stated that these positions have the responsibility of planning and supervising programs of a social nature, such as crafts, games, classes and other activities. Mr. Alberg indicated that these Aides were very important because they coordinated and organized special events for seniors. Councilman Hanks questioned the, necessity of having the number of Aides budgeted inasmuch as other Community Education activities do not have such paid personnel but instead utilize volunteers. In reply to a question asked by Councilman :Druskin Bruce Johnson stated that Ov the past four years, all of the federal and state programs (i.e. adult high sch� adult basic education, pre-school and latch key, etc.) have been funded. He , stated, however, that he did not know what the future success would be in rec°'' such funding because of the increasing number of cities now partici pati ng in s�`r programs. Dick Duthl er indicated that the school district is reimbursed for t"= actual expenditures for such programs and that the schools have not always achieved the full budget requests in terms of actual participation. Councilman Hanks stated that he would favor a budget plan that would recogni"` the federal and state grant reimbursements as art oftheestimated income w'r' the understanding that if such monies were notreceivede City and Schools would make up the difference needed to fund ee that th the Community Educatj0n Councilman Griak indicated her agreement with this budget approach. s 172 Special Council Minutes, June 17, 1975 BruCe Johnson then outlined the senior citizens budget and a proposal to employ an outreach" coordinator He stated that this person would be the principal Y contact for elderly people with the a b i 1 i ty to assess problems and refer p needy individuals to appropriate agencies for assistance and follow-up care, Clyde Alberg stated that he would support such a new position but that he felt the senior program is reaching many more persons outside of the Senior Center now that it ever has,. He referred to the recent plan involving the Methodist Hospital which provides medical aid to senior citizens, In reply to a question from Councilman Hanks, Mr. Alberg indicated that he and many seniors objected to the Brookside School as the new Community Education Center because of its inaccessibility, lack of parking and public transportation. Robert Hanson presented the background of why this school was designated by the School Board for Community Education use. He stated that in making this decision, the School Board was being receptive to the appeal of Brookside residents and that the facility was designated as an experimental project to determine what value and acceptance it would have as part of the over-all Community Education Program. He stated that any programs originated at this Center should be transferable to other locations should the Brookside School facility be discontinued. Mayor Fleetham then questioned the desirability of having the senior program operate exclusively out of the Senior Center, He stated that it was his feeling that Community Education should be a total part of the community and should utilize all resources available and, therefore, should operate in every available facility such as apartments, nursing homes, etc. and not just neighborhood schools or the Senior Center, He indicated that he was concerned about the lack of success and program efforts in the Aquila School neighborhood. Clyde Alberg stated that the northwestern part of the City is not sufficiently served and that lack of transportation is one of the problems in the implementation of any successful senior citizen program. Don Sprague stated that without a program assistant, membership in the Senior Center could very well diminish. Councilman Druskin stated that he would like to see funds appropriated for a position of counselor and referral work for senior citizens. He stated that given the proper directions such an individual would serve a most useful purpose and meet one of the urgent needs of the community and its senior citizens. He then suggested that if Plan C were selected, that the surplus amouon nt of $and36 be earmarked to help staff the new HRA senior citizen Y Cedar Lake Road. Mayor Fleetham indicated that he would I'zedliikkefto see builds gies aides continued in the budget but that such aides be uti as well as assisting at the MRA housing facil ity� Clyde Alberg stated that he would not want to see the rl�citizen losprogram cut and does not want to reduce any staff that mayesultn some mber el that if the City Council desired, that a more concerted membership, ship, He did feel rogram to service the elderly outside ort could be made by the Senior citizens p Of the Senior Center, Ma � agreed that the senior citizen C�rOgnam should outreach/not yor Fleetham stated that he 9 by cut but he would refer to see it re -directed in elt that afredirection r��unsel or or ref errs program, Councilman Dans kwoul d provide many benefits `�f the program would strengthen the program 173 Minutes, June 179 1975 Special councilthat do not now participate in 1 n the community events to those seniorsthevSenior Center.. and programs Councilman Graves moved, sec° After a lengthy discussion, 4 that the alternative Senior C1tizeh Nd S&uTnior Citizen Council man Hanks, ° Buds roved ��by rove 0 ons that . (1) the ending ye, et Plan D" be adopted with p 9 1 471 be used; (2) a federal grant (WIN) be balance of $1,471 ° 1 ar expense; (3) that an additional onal $700 of Community y 76 Senior Citizens Accou t• solicited to ald in sa n , ent funds be utilized to fund the 197 - Developm ilding aides, as proposed, be eliminated and that an outreach and (4) that two bu osition be established) Councilman Hanks stated that or referral (counselor) pof or referral counselor would be Coun lman Druskn stated he felt an outreachthat aides and therefore the motion should tawoul d reduce the senior program but he did not want to vote for a budget would its additional benefit with the new that he support this motion because of position., Karen Reeves, chairman of CWAC, stated that she tatedmore thatvolunteers agreeshould that used i n lieu of bu i 1 ding aides .. Bruce Johnsons 1 i ed to finance the position of building aides could be eliminntDduskand infunds stateduthat he felt a skilled counselor outreach counselor* Councilma should be employed and that such individual should work W dedeffortyinnassisting Director of Community He cation to stated thatnherwould prefer to review the Community all senior citizens* He Education budget at a later date before any commitment i s made for additional community development funds over the initial rehemcouldtion of not see$an�OdiffHculty then stated that if the program is successful, in providing funds to carry out the program objectives. Mayor Fl eetham stated that he felt that approving the budget is getting away from the basic philosophy of Community Education and involvement of the citizenry. He felt that some programs are probably over -staffed and that there are higher priorities of service, He stated that funds should be applied to needed programs rather than additional staff, He then stated that he felt Community Education has not done enough in the neighborhood area and that too much emphasis is being placed on activities at the Senior Center. Councilman Mel and stated that if the motion is carried, the Senior Citizen Budget should be flexible enough to allow the Community Education Director to carry out the objectives of the Community Education Program. Councilman Graves then called for the question. The motion carried 5-1 (Mayor Fleetham opposed, Councilman Thiel absent), Consideration of Councilman Meland moved, seconded byCouncilman Graves, Joint Powers that the Council consider setting adate to consider greement mod' f icati on of the joint powers agreement to provide for the City Manager or his designee nee to be included i n future Community Education budget preparations The motion carried 649 174 After discussions Councilman Graves moved, seconded by Councilman r `�' Nanks, that the City Council approve the proposed 1975.76 5_76 Comniunity Education budget, as amended in the senior citizens A%e account, and in accordance with previous directives by the 1 relative to senior citizen program and transfer of funds. The motion led5.1 (Mayor Fl eetham opposed, Count I loran Thiel absent -0ire being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was �� Durned at 12:46 p.m. 10 .Attest Cm Secretary nk G. Fleetham, Jr.. Mayor 175