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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979/03/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Joint�� MINUTES JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SCHIOINNESOTA ST. LOUIS PARK, ' March 13, 1979 MEETING 1. Call to Order Mayor Stern called the meeting �o order at 7:30 p.m. The following Councilmen were present: Ronald Backes Martha Elstrom Jerrold Martin Lyle Hanks Irving Stern The following School Board members were present: Ken Daniels George Christensen LaDonna Reynolds Maher Weinstein Pliyllis MeQuaid Joyce Abramson 2. Meeting Councilman Elstrom and Phyllis McQuaid Schedule suggested the two bodies meet each date which occurs as the fifth Monday of any particular month. They explained this arrangement would provide an automatic meeting date approximaCely every three months on a day which neither the City Council or School Board has a regularly scheduled meeting. Ken Daniels stated inasmuch as neither body is meeting in an off icial capacity on this evening, that no action be taken. Following further discussion, it was agreed that the City School Board would continue to meet a minimum of two times 3. Joint Powers Agreement munity Education requirements for Council and per year. Mayor Stern submitted a proposed amendment to the existing joint powers agreement providing for Community Education. He explained the amendment would provide for operation of the Lenox senior citizen center through the Com- organization; adding this amendment would satisfy grant long-term use of the building. It was moved by Counci�man Hanks, seconded by Phyllis McQuaid, t intended approval of this amendment and place this matter on the Board and City Council agendas for specific approval by the two bodies. The motion passed 11-0. o indicate next School governing 4. Housin Policy City Council/School Board minutes, March 13, 1979 Mayor Stern explained the City Council and School Board, at their last joint meeting, discussed the impact of the City's housing policy on family size and school enrollment. Related to this subj ect, Mayor Stern explained theCity Council is currently studying methods of issuing �.ax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds for the purpose of providing home mortgage loans at an interest rate below the current market. He explained a special bill is being presented by local legislative representatives which would allow the City to issue such bonds for mortgage purposes. , In response to a question from Joyce Abramson, Mayor Stern explained specific minimum requirements would be incorporated into this mortgage program which would be designed to encourage use by young families. Ken Daniels referred to a report which had been submitted by the School Board. He stated statistics in this report indicated there are very few families with young children living in apartment buildings, suggesting that "no children" policies in apartment complexes may be seriously affecting the school enrollment. � George Christensen questioned the number of apartment units in St. Louis Park which have more than one bedroom. Mayor Stern explained the mortgage revenue bond program being considered by the City may also be used for converting apartments to condominiums which would address the "no children" policy of apartment buildings; however, Councilman Backes explained that many condominium owner associations may also restrict the age of occupants. 5. Chemical Dependency Mayor Stern briefly described the chemical Coordination dependency caordination program as proposed by the Community Relations Commission/Chemical Dependency Task Force. He stated this program was presented to tl�e City Council during its consideration of the 1979 budget; of the $35,000 requested, �he Council appropriated $17,500 contingent upon an equal. conCribution by the School District. He added the City Council believes this program is primarily educative and suggested it would be appropriate for the School Board to con- sider partial funding. Phyllis McQuaid explained the proposed program appears to have merit, however, the School District is currently conducting a chemical dependency prog'ram costing approximately $5,000 which the Board has found satisfactory and recognizes no need f or further involvement at this time. She stated this program should be funded by the City. Councilman Hanks explained that, as described to program would be heavily involved with the school program, would have a large education component. -75- the City Council, the system, and as a preventive City Council/School Board minutes, March 13, 1979 ro osed program. He Gale Held gave a detailed description of the P p� resentation from all Relations Commission has rep . . ex�lained the Community area s of the City and spent a significant amououisfParkeandUhownjuvenileal 'uvenile crime in St. justice, the levei of � He further explained invest gation crime is related to the use of drugs• uveniles become familiar with by the Commission/Task Forchabitlformingachemicals while in school sur- the use of drugs and other ro ram would be roundings and strongly believes an effective prevention p g far more beneficial than the current emphasis on Creatment of the chemicaTly dependent. � Jim Jones ex lained the Commission/Task Force reviewed existing conditions P He indicated approximately 95 and programs which exist in Hennepin County. programs currently exist; however, most PeO�p�amawouldaaidethistproblemobyams and what they provide, and the proposed pr g providing full-time coordination. George Montgomery stated chemical dependency is not confined to the young, it affects adults and senior citizens to an equally great extent. He descriUed the senior citizen chemical dependency program and questioned the effectiveness of the current program provided by the School District. He explained the School DisCrict program provides chemical dependency prevention training to teachers; however, these individual cannot teach full-time and also perform chemical dependency counseling and training. �. Margaret Gingerich stated the critical issue found by�the Commission/Task Force is prevention. Most existing programs are treatment- or crisis-oriented, and by preventing youth from becoming chemically d�pendent, the need for treatment programs would be greatly reduced. She described many successful programs wltich are being operated in other ci-ties. - Phyllis ricQuaid and LaDonna'Reynolds further described the chemical dependency prevention efforts of the School District and estimated the number of youths being reached by this program as quite high�. They explained that while in agreement with the Commission/Task Force .recommendation, the School District cannot become further involved in the provision of human services as it has insufficient funds to do so. It was suggested� the Community Education P-rogram may be the appropriate framework through which further chemical dependency prevention activities may be conducted. Councilman Elstrom agreed that such a program may best be provided through Community Education, but questioned the potential benefit to be derived by hiring one additional person when 95 programs alrea�y exist. There was general discussion regarding the pvssibility of acquiring state or federal grants to conduct such a program. Councilman Backes explained the City's appropriatian fpr this program was made through federal revenue sharing funds; adding such funding may not always be available. Mayor Stern stated there is no question regarding the need for such a program, indicating that everyone present appears to support the concept. He added that due to the seriousness of this problem, funding should not be an issue when the large budgets of both the School District and Cit are considered. He stated the use of drugs is extremely high in the schools, and the need f°r a prevention program is urgent. -76- � City Council/School Board minutes, March 13, 1979 Maher Weinstein supported the current chemical dependency efforts of the School District, stated this program is cost-effective and has achieved desirable results. He does not believe the School District can obligate further funds intended for education to solve broader community problems. He added health and welfare are a City responsibility. Mayor Stern stated inasmuch as the School Board and City Council appear to favor the program, and the only unpassed obstacle is funding, a joint committee of both bodies should be f�rmed to explore alternatives and seek available f unding. Maher Weinstein said he does not agree a joint committee would be appropriate and the issue of chemical dependency is not a School� District mandate. George Christensen suggested a solution to the problem may be greater cooperation between the City and the School. District. With trained persons on both staff s, many of the existing problems could potentially be resolved with existing resources. . Councilman Hanks stated that due to the need of coordination with School activities, he does not see how this program could be operated under control of the City administration, if it was funded only by the City. He added he does not have a concise understanding of how the proposed program would function. Councilman Elstrom explained there is currently some consideration by the Community Education Program to increase the per-capita levy from $2 to $3. This increase in revenue may provide a method to fund additional chemical dependency prevention activities. Following further discussion, pursue this matter further at 6. Community Education Director 7. Community Education Award 8. Adj ournment A e t• Mark S� Recor ng Secretary it was agreed a later date. that the City Council would Reva Gould, City Council representative to the Policy Advisory Committee, presented the newly appointed Community Education Director, Betty Bothereau. Betty Bothereau presented an award to the St. Louis Park Recreation Program which had previously been awarded�to the City by the National Community Education Program. The award was accepted by Councilman Hanks. Ther being no further discussion, the meeting was a�ljourned at 9:10 p.m. Irvi Mavo _ .� , M. Stern -77-