The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1978/09/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularMINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Se� tember 11, 19 78 �� speeial meeting of the C�ity Council was called to order by Mayor Stexn at 5; 35 p,m, The following Councilmen were present: .Also present Director. Ronald Ba�kes Martha Els trom Ly le Hanks Irving Stern Jerrold Martin Ke ith Meland John Ralles .. were the City Manager, Finance Director and Ass is tant Finance � It was moved by Resolution No . Councilman." Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Backes to adopt 6108 entitled "Resolution Appointing John Ralles Fourth Ward The motion passed 6-.0. It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Martin the regular meeting of October 2, 1978 to October 4, 1978 at 7:30 1979 PROPOSID BUDGET Councilman M�eland complimented the staff on its preparation of the 1979 Proposed Budget. He reminded the Council ttiat principal policy planning tool for the upcoming year and is as simply an expenditure plan. to reschedule p.m. and.presentation tlie budge t is Che no't �o be mistaken The City Manager reviewed several of the significant aspects of the osedoaed budget. He stated that although only one new employee has been prop , personnel cos ts have increased $ 355 , 715 f rom the adop ted 19 78 budge theo the Pronosed 1979 budget; $139, 347 of this increase is attributa�ueeto�atbuilt-in golice union arbi.tration award. The remaining increase is , 7 ercent increase into all �lepartmental budgets �or annual salary a000sandnts, P the actual dollar amount attributable to personnel increases ild indicate. is not as significant as the total personnel cost increase wou ase of 21.4 perc�nt or $346,397 has The City Manag�r explained that an incre du� to a$207, 11,1 increase occurred in supplies and other services primarily resents an 8.6 percent for pens ions and � insurance cos te . The remaining increas� rep lain t�e incre �ie continued tio exp ase in the more controllable cos ts f or 19 �9' o�t ions of the budget outlining S��ary information contained in the introductoxY P the estimated assessed evaluations, compar ative mill levies and tax collections . S ccial City Council rleeCing minutes; P September 1L, 1978; Page 2 � Gc neral. Fund - Tlie City ri�nag er explained the vario�_is revenue sources con- r� ibu nl g�o �he �eneral Fund. ast the Council has reviewed the fees C:�uncilman Backes stated tha�t i S�also asked for information regarding �or license s a n d p e r m i t s a n h a ermi t s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e C i t y. possi b le r e v e n u es from additional licenses or p Legislative - The City Manager explained that the principal modification in this budget is due to the reallocation of clerical personnel between the legislative and administrative functions. Councilman Martin stated that the ro�e of the Coun�slofeefforts approximately maker involves much community servlcivenaob.ny hou 25-30 hours per week to do an effect J It was moved by Councilman Martin, seconded by Councilman Meland to authorize increases in the Mayor and Council salaries to $4,800 per y ear f or Council members and $7, 200 per year for the Mayor. The Mayor reminded the Council that these increas es would not be paid until '� 1980. '� Councilman Backes said that an increase in Council salaries is ju�tified but -� doubl:tng the existing salaries would be an unacceptable inc:rease. . The City Manage.r presented a survey of current salaries for Mayor and Counci� �, members as compi.led by the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities. riayor Stern explained that higher salaries would attract a higher caliber of candidates to the City Council. It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Martin to offer a substitute motion stating that the Council members be compensated at $4,200 a year and the Mayor at $6,800 per year. The motion f.ailed 3-4 (Councilmen II.strom, Ralles, RacicPs �nd HankG opposed) • � It was moved by Councilman Martin, seconded by Councilman rleland to authorize a salary increase to $4,800 per year for Council members and $7, 200 per year for the Mayor to restore the Council salaries to the level at which they existed prior to 1959. Tfie motion failed (�ouncilmetl Fls trom, Ralles , Ti:��_l. c��. ��i��i il��rtk�- ��E?osf ,1) • It was moved by Councilman Backes, seconded by Councilman Ilstrom to authoriZe an increase in salaries from $2, 400 to $3,600 per year for the f ot�r War� a�'d at large Council members and from $3,600 to $4,800 per year f.or the rlaycx� The motion passed 6-1 (Councilman Hanks opposed). , \ � t� �_i�� Coutrcil i�te�ting minutes; Septembc�r 11, 1978; Page 3 ('il.�� `fanaf;�r , ,cil rat'-eting l 9 8� . stated that a resolution must b� to authorize the salary increase pr�Pared for the regular to go into effect January ; ;, Council asked for specific information as to what subscriptions and �% �, -��ersliips comprise the total allocation for this item. Lt was moved by �ouncilman Hanks, seconded bv Coiincilr�.�n rie)and to withdraw the Cit�►'s ��hership from the National League of Cities. il�c ��>ti�n failed 2-5 (Councilmen Hanks and Meland in favor) . lt 4�as moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman rleland ta withdraw the City's membership from the AssociaCion of Hetror�lir.an Mimicipalities. Thr City rtanager explained the history and function of �he AriM and suggested ttl;�t the Council may want to proceed with a study ��i�ti other coffinunities as to the continued need of the organization. Cowlcilman Backes stated that even if the City were to withdraw from member- ship, the City would benef it from the lobbying ef f orts of the AMM. He also explained that the AT�iM provides necessary input into Metropolitan Council issues prior to the f ormal public hearings and thus aids in shaping relevant �olicy. ' Councilman Hanks stated that the membership fees for the �NII� have increased drastically over the past few years and explained that the AI�i cannot take �a posit�on in opposition to a position held by the Piinnesota League of riunicipali ties . Therefore, he said he questioned the necessity of the AMP1 if the City already holds membership with the Minnesota League of Cities. Council Els trom s tated however, each city is ship withdrawal. that if the membership fee is deterntined by population entitled to only one vote, she would support the �aember- The motion passed 4-3 (Councilmen Backes, Martin and Mayor Stern opposed) . (.ouncilman Elstrom suggesCed that the City send a lett�r to the AMri explaining the City's dissa�isfaction tiTith the organization and reasons for withdrawing membership . � Councilman Backes It was moved by Councilman Hanks , seconded Uy . review of the legislative budget. The motion failed 2-5 (Councilmen Hanks and Backes in Fa��or) . to table final seconded by Councilman riSetancredenzaoande It was moved b Counc�ilman Backes, � an additional $750 in capital outlay expenditures to purcha the t��ephone to be laced in the third floor conference room for use by Mayor during City Hall office hours. ; T�e motion passed 6-1 (Councilman Elstrom o�posed). � - � • . .. � . .,...� r Speci�l City Council r'[eeting minutes; September,ll, 1978; Page 4 ' trative - Mayor Stern suggested that the review o� the administrative Ad;;unis — � be ostponed untzl. he and Cvuncilman Backes liad completed the City 'b��dge P . M��tager's performance review. Cl�rk/Treasur �- No change. Assessin - The City rianager explained the necessity for providing new base � Planning, Engineering and Inspectional Ser4i�es maps for use by the Assessing, Pe�artments and shocJed the Council the conditions of the existing maps . riayor Stern wondered if the Council is interested i� l.etting the County do all assessments for the City and eliminating the Assessing Department. Councilman Meland stated � that this is an area of controversy in that the County is of the opinion that the City's valuat ion of property is too low and if it were to do the assessments, this valuation would probably increase. He continued that the City should continue with tts assessing procedures to ��determine a somewhat stable face valuation to allow for the Council to levy tax as appropriate for City services. The City Manager stated that the City would still have to do all special assessments if the County provided property tax assessment . In response to a question from Councilman Hanks, the City Man�ger explained that an appropriation for temporary employees is necessary during periods of heavy assessment notice, and for the conversion to thc LUGIS property file system. .Councilman Hanks stated that with the implementation of the computerized pr��erty file system, there may be room for reduction for personn�l.; he st,��Pd :that in review of the budget for 1980, . staff should be addressing possible persor►nel reductions in this department. Accounting - Nb change. Legal - Councilman Meland stated that for several years Ghe City Attorneys have not received any real compensation adjustments; a sligl�t ad,jt��tment w�s granted in 1978, however, this did not cover the actual increase in cost the attorneys have been experiencing over the last several years . He explained that the City Counselor, in his memo to the Council, made a good case for a retainer increase. It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Backes to increase the City Counselor's retainer to $3,500 per month and the rate of compensation for the City Prosecutor to $43 per hour. Councilman Meland stressed that the City must be wllling to pay the attorne}"S appropriate compensation in order to retain the quality of legal sc�rvices St. Louis Park deserves. The motion passed 7_p, R S�,eCia1 City Council Meeting minutes; September 11, 1978; Page 5 �� cvas moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Martin tv set t.i►e Revenue Sharing hearing for October 4, 1978 at 7:30 p.m. The motion passed 7-0. It was moved by Counciltpan Backes, seconded by Councilman Meland to adjourn until September 13, 1978 at 5:00 p.m. The motion passed 7-0. At t es t : Wendy Bor Recording ecretary � �� - �