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Home My WebLink About1978/08/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular1. 2. Call to Order Roll Call NiI NUT E S pUNCIL MEET ING SPECY� CITY � MINNESOTA ST . LOUIS P� � August 1�� 19�8 A special meeting to order by Mayor of the City Council was called Stern at 7:30 p.m. The following Councilmen were present at roll call; Ronald Martha Backes Els trom I rvin g S t e rn Jerrold Martin Keith Meland A1so present were the City Manager and members of the St. Louis Park mi 1 De endency T ask Force. Che ca p 3, Chemical • Dependency Report Report oF the St. Louis Park Chemical Dependency Task Force. Mayor Stern City Council the Chemical Dependency Task Force explained the meeting was and consider intent of the special to dis cuss the report of i ts re commendation . Gale Held, chairman of the Community Relations Comm3.ssion, explained in September,. 1977, the Community Relations Commission began a study of the criminal j ustice system in Hennepin County to determine .whether the Comm_i.ssion may recoimnend action which could modernize this system. During its review o f the criminal j us tice sys tem, the Commis s ion dis covered St. Louis Park is experiencing a high level of drug and alcohol use among juveniles. Upon discussing this matter with members of the City Council, the Council authorized establishment of a temporary Chemical Dependency Task Force to further study this matter. Mr. He1d explained further that following several m�eetings with representatives from drug education and prevention programs, chemical dependency counselors, and school district personnel, the task force determined that chemical abuse in St. Louis park was not restricted to any particular age groupo Following a detailed description of the study process used by tihe ta�stiing force to evaluate chemical use in St. Louis Park and the number °f e programs providing chemical de endenc treatment and education in Henno�nds P Y County, Mr. Held explained that the Chemical Dependency Task Forche��al the St. Louis Park Cit Council hire a erson to coordinate all � dependency treatment programs available to St . Louis Park residentis �and eliminate duplication, provide impetus for available programs and exP emphasis on prevention of chemical abuse . � -306- � Special Council minutes, August 10, 1978 Dick Swenson and Paul Peterson of the School District summarized the chemical educational activities which are currently being conducted within dependencY y � • p y pro rams in a �he S�hool system. The e lained chemical de endenc g school system are of high priority; however, the school is under severe financial restrainti and is unable fo fund any further activities of this nature. e I,,�n t go� ry , rep res enting the S t. Louis Park S enior Ci,ti zen Chemical Georg program, stated there are currently over 1, 200 chemically dependent �pendency . senior citizens in the City and.while many agencies exist to provide services to these persons, ma.ny senior citizens in need are unaware of the programs. ��S Ringer, representing the RELATE counseling service, described the on-going youth outreach program currently sponsored by the City. He provided several statistics regarding chemical use among the youth in St. Louis Park. Councilman Martin stated he has worked with several of the agencies providing services for chemical dependent p�rsons within Hennepin County and he believes coordination currently exists among most service agencies. He added many chemical dependency prob lems are based in the f ami.lies and of ten members of such families are unwilling to accept assistance. � Gale Held explained many of the existing agencies which provide services to the chemically dependent react only in crisis cases fndhemicaltde endencyaprea. He exp1ained there is a need to expand the concept o P veation rathe r than cures . Councilman Ma.rtin agreed greater emphasis should be faileandnchemically�dependent prevention, however, often when prevention programs stem fails to provide �y persons are involved in crimes, u��th�eaPersonsctostheir previous environment adequate treatment and often ret with disfavorable results. He referred to the CommunitY Reso�rand sulgestedsition which currently exists in the St . Louis Park p°fill Dhearecommended coordination that such a position could be redirected to ful function. � erich described the recommended position as one Marilyn Hoeft and Margaret Ging romotin which would not be responsible for referral and treatmenamona�other commungtY chemical dependency p revention in the s chool s ss f ul chemicalgdependency p reven- groups. Such a person would be aware of succe tion programs and could serve as a planning resource. more appropriately be Councilman Elstrom e�lained that the recommendation maY ram. She explained funded throu h the School District or Community Education Pr�g p00 in its g roximately $35, the recommended coordinating program would cost aPPer of administration without . first year and may result in only an additional lay directly aiding the chem.ically dependent. roaches of app Coun ' d the need for the current Wiurrentlytseveral . cllman Meland questione Chere are c to chemical de endenc treatment, explaining or prevention • p y � arate methods of treatmenas been recognized lndependent agencies which provide SeP thar alcoholism h �d e usl . He stressed er �he��als is also considered g nerally work autonomo Y . as a disease and questioned whether addication �o o� a disease. _'�(l 7- � Special Council minutes, August 10, 1978 ,, SWenson and Paul Peterson of the School District summarized the chemical D�ck . . . dependency educational activities which are currently being conducted within S stem. They explained chemical dependency programs in a the S�h0o1 Y S�hoo1 system are of high priority; however, the school is under severe financial resCraint and is unable fo fund any further activities of this nature. e I„Iontgo�L-y, representing the St. Louis Park Senior C�tizen Chemical Georg pro ram, stated there are currently over 1, 200 chemically dependent Dependency g . senior citizens in the City and while many agencies exist to provide services �o these persons, many senior citizens in need are unaware of the programs. Chris Ringer, representing the RELATE counseling servi.ce, described the on-going youth outreach program currently sponsored by the City. He provided several statistics regarding chemical use among the youth in St. Louis Park. Councilman Martin stated he has worked with several of the agencies providing services for chemical dependent pe�rsons within Hennepin County and he believes coordination currently exists among most service agencies. He added many chemical dependency prob lems are based in the f ami.lies and of ten members o£ such families are unwilling to accept assistance. � Gale Held explained many of the existing agencies which provide services to the chemically dependent react only in crisis cases fndhemicaltde endencyaprea• He explained there is a need to expand the concept o P vention rather than cures . Councilman Martin agreed greater emphasis should be faileandnchemicallyodependent prevention, however, of ten when prevention programs persons are involved in crimes, the criminal justice system fails to provide adequate treatuient and often returns these persons to theResource�Officerrposition with disfavorable results. He referred to the Community ested which currently exists in the St . Louis Park Police Dhearecomme dedscoordination that such a position could be redirected to fulfill function. � erich described tihe recommended position as one Marilyn Hoeft and Margaret Ging romotin which would not be responsible for referral and treatma amonatother community chemical dependency p revention in the school essful chemicalgdependency preven- groups. Such a person would be aware of succ tion programs and could serve as a planning resource. more appropriately be Councilman Elstrom explained that the recommendation maY She explained Education Program•o00 in its funded through the School District or Community roximately $35, the recommended coordinating program would cost app • additional layer of administration without. flrst year and may result in only an directly aiding the chemically dependent. ot approaches . Co • d the need for the current WiUTrentlytseveral . uncilman Me�land questione there are c to chemical dependency treatment, explainieg�ethods of treatment or prevent�Oized lndependent agencies which provide separat �d generally work autonomously. He stressed that alcohollsm als isealsocconsidered as a dise onec� whether addication to o�her �hemi.� ase and questi a disease, � �T.� : _ ±S! In response to a Special Council minutes, Augus� 10, 1978 question from Councilman Backes regardin g the activities and Chemical Dependency Department, it was expla• functions of the Hennepin County most clients served by �his department are court referrals or that who do not qualify for other programs. Margaret Gingerich stressed the existing pro deal with the problem of chemicelwouldnfill recommendation of the task forc providing comprehensive coordination. grams in the St. Lo uis on a patchwork basis several of the service ined individuals Park area and the gaps by Councilman Martin expressed concern regardin g d io alsb asds rdsHehreferred to currently being promoted and/or allowed on a nat statements released by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare ident"i- fying chamical dependency as the third highest health p roblem in the nation, while several groups representing ,doctors and attorneys are suggesting decri�r inalization of certain controlled substances and most advertising media encourage the use of chemicals. � There being no further Task Force for all time reconnmendation would be � the 19 79 Annual Budget . discussion, and effort considered Mayor Stern applied to by the City thanked the s tudy Countil The Mayor declared the meeting adj ourned at 8: 45 p.m. Att��t: Marl� Re co the r — ng Secretary the Chemical Dependency and explained the p rior to adop tion of Mayor -308- � � � x