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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980/05/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular (2) MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNNESOTA flay 19, 1980 • 1 . Call to Order A special meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Phyllis McQuaid at 5:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call The following Councilmen were present at roll call : Ronald Backes Martha Elstrom Jerrold Martin Phyllis McQuaid Keith Melan John Ralles Also present were members of the Policy Advisory Committee: Tom Duffy, LaDonna Reynolds, Helen Nelson, Reva Gould, and Betty Bothereau. In addition the City Manager, the Superintendent of Schools for District 233 and the Assistant Director for Community Education were present. 3. Community Education Betty Boehereau, Director of Community Education, Budgets 1920-d1 reviewed the recent direction of the Community Education program in St. Louis Park. She stated r that Community Education has attempted to structure its programs in a manner that will respond to the needs expressed by the community survey that was conducted in 1978. She felt that following a period of rapid expansion for Community Education, that the year 1930-81 would be a time of refinement for Community Education programs. Councilman Martin asked the Director whether the Community Education program would have any difficulty with the former City Manager's recom- mendation that the City's contribution be limited to a 10% increase. The Director responded that it would be a problem for the program. She explained although City Staff's report shows a 30% increase in the City's actual contribution, that the allocation increase is only 19% for 1980-81 over 1979-80. In response to a question from Councilman Martin, the Director stated that there is a user fee system now in place for many Community Education programs and that these fees are scheduled to be increased for the fiscal year 1900-31 . In response to a question of Councilman Martin's concerning the accounting procedures used by the Community Education program, the Director stated that the Business Manager for the School District insisted that the Community Education fund use the accounting system shown in the Community Education budget documents. Councilman Backes asked whether the City has made a commitment to continue funding for the Time-Out program. In response, Councilman Meland stated that the Council increased funding for the Time-Out program in 1979 so • that the program could expand city-wide. -14^- Special City Council Minutes, May 19, 1930 Councilman Backes stated that the City should allocate a lump sum figure for Community Education and that the Council should not become involved in determining which programs should be cut or added. In response to a question from Councilman Ralles , the Director stated that the school 's increase in its general fund contribution to the Community Education program for 1980-81 was 13%. There was a general discussion of the figures used to calculate the City's and the School District's contribution to the Community Education program. In response to a question from Councilman Elstrom concerning funding for the Senior Outreach and Chemical Dependancy Programs, the Director stated that some efforts had been made to find alternate sources of funding for the programs but that the Community Education staff had been busy with other projects, such as the remodeling of the Lenox Community Center. In response to a question from Councilman Ralles concerning the posi- bility that the Senior Chemical Dependancy Program is overlapping with other chmeical dependancy programs , the Director stated that the program has been reduced but feels that there is a real need for the program. She stated that senior citizens quite often are reluctant to become involved in programs that are orientated towards youth groups. Councilman Ralles expressed concern that the Council was not seeing clearcut results from a number of the Community Education programs. Councilman Meland stated that evaluation of the results of human service programs is often times a difficult task. He felt that in comparison to private programs for such things as chemical dependancy and parenting, the Community Education programs were more cost effec- tive. In response to questions from Councilman Elstrom, the Director stated that Special Education funds can be used for a block club coordinator because this individual often is involved in screening for problem children. The Director also stated that the VIP program is mainly a school program. Mayor McQuaid stated that in the past she has had a strong commitment to Community Education and feels that it is some of the best money spent. She further stated that she is now seeing the program from both the perspective of the School District and the City and agreed that a different means of budgeting for the program should be found. She concluded by saying that she has seen what the monies for the programs buy and likes what she sees. -149- . li Special City Council Minutes, May 19, 1980 The Superintendent of Schools noted that he was sympathetic to the idea of the City making a general allocation to the Community Education Fund, but felt that there could be some difficulties given the nature of Community Education. He further stated that this could cause some problem in deciding where the emphasis of Community Education would be, K through 12 programs or community service programs. Councilman Meland thought the recommendation for a joint meeting to explore the future direction of Community Education was a good idea. It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Backes, that the proposed Community Education budget for 1980-81 be adopted as pre- sented by the Policy Adivsory Committee. There was a discussion of whether or not to postpone a vote on the Community Education budget until the regular meeting. Councilman Elstrom expressed a desire for Community Education to coordi- nate its budget more with the City. The Director of Community Education stated she welcomed the opportunity to work closer with City staff on budget issues. Councilman Meland accepted as a friendly amendment to the main motion, Councilman Backes' suggestion that City staff's recommendations No.1 , calling for a joint meeting of the Council , School Board and PAC to review the role of Community Education, No.2, that review of the Community Education budget be adjusted in the future to coincide with the review of the City's budget and No. 4, to authorize the sale of the City owned bus that was previously used for senior bus transportation, be incorporated into the main motion. Councilman Martin expressed the hope that Community Education will look at the fiscal year 1981-82 as also a year of refinements without major expansions. . The motion passed by vote of 6-0. 4. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor McQuaid adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. • •/ //• A/SO; Phy Mc uaid Mayor Attest: I • - mot y . ill .n Recording Secretary -150-