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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980/09/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularMINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING St. Louis Park, Minnesota September 22, 1980 1. Call to Order Mayor McQuaid called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. 2. Roll Call The following Councilmen were present at roll call: Martha Elstrom John Ralles Jerrold Martin Mayor McQuaid Also present were the City Manager, the Finance Director, the Assistant Finance Director and the Planning Director. 3. 1981 Budget Review of the 1981 budget continued with questions from Council members pertain- ing to the Community Relations budget. Mayor McQuaid stated that she had not been present at the meeting during which the Corrmunity Relations budget was discussed. She comnented that in March 1980, a full time position for a Cor�nunity Relations coordinator had been approved by Council. Nowever, she said, this position had not been filled because of the former City Manager's resignation. She asked if the proposed Community Relations budget pro- vided for this position. The City Manager responded that there was some uncertainty as to the need for a full time position. He said that the budget provides suf- ficient funds to employ an intern for these same purposes. In this way, he stated that the actual need for a full time position can be assessed. He said that the intern would be responsible for developing and im- plementing various Cable TV programs. He indicated that if it became apparent that more time was needed to fulfill these duties, the hours required for this position could be increased. Councilman Backes entered the conference room. Councilman Ralles asked if the same concept could be applied to the Westwood Hills Environmental Education Center budget with respect to the naturalist aide position. He cor�nented.that attendance at this facility might not warrant a full time position. Councilman Ralles also asked if it was possible to obtain either a slide projector or a film projector from the schools. The Playor indicated that the schools should be contacted regarding any surplus equipment. -343- Special City Council meeting September 22, 1980 Councilman Ralles asked if the houses located on the Westwood Hills property could be used as compensation for the naturalist aides. The City Manager responded that such an arrangement was definitely being considered. In response to a question from Councilman Elstrom, the City Manager stated that the cost of rehabilitating these homes was contained within the Park Improvement Fund. Councilman Backes asked for an explanation of proposed park improve- ments contained within the Park Improvement Fund. He specifically wanted to know which projects represented new improvements as opposed to maintenance of existing facilities. The Finance Director explained that maintenance items were not in- cluded in the Park Improvement Fund. He said that the fund contains only projects constituting major repair or new park improvements. Councilman Martin commented that he felt that it would be appropriate to look toward phasing out some of the lesser used parks. He sug- gested that the Parks & Recreation Cor�nission begin a process whereby they would designate primary and secondary pa rks within the City. He said that as facilities in the secondary parks need to be replaced, decisions could be made as to the continued viability of that park. Councilman Backes stated that it was important to achieve a balance in the City's park facilities in order to remain attractive to fam- ilies with young children considering St. Louis Park as a home. It was agreed that the dollar amount of the Park Improvement Fund should be accepted as presented. Council did, however, express its desire to review the specific projects proposed in the Park Improve- ment Fund at a later date. In response to a question from the Council regarding the proposed legal budget, the City Manager stated that Mr. Popham will be able to establish office hours weekly at St. Louis Park without increas- ing his retainer fee beyond the amount requested in his earlier letter. It was moved by Councilman Martin, seconded by Councilman Backes, to approve an additional $400 per month to Popham's retainer as requested. The motion passed 5-0. Councilman Hanks entered the conference room. Council reviewed the proposed schedule for License and Permit Fees. -3�4- Special City Council Meeting September 22, 1980 Councilman Ralles questioned why a 30-day waiting period was needed for licensing a taxi cab driver. He said that this might be to the disadvantage of students trying to find sumner jobs. Councilman Hanks responded�that it probably required that period of time to fully investigate an individual's background. Councilman Backes asked if any changes were being recommended to the City's licensing of towing services. Following Council dis- cussion of this matter, staff was requested to further review the licensing procedures and regulations for towing services and to consider whether o�r not all towing services should be licensed. Councilman Martin comnented that the increase in the housing inspect- ion fees seemed high. He wanted further clarification as to the actual costs of conducting a housing inspection. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Ralles, to authorize staff to prepare an ordinance establishing the new arrounts for license and permit fees. The motion passed 6-0. Council recessed the special City Council meeting in order to convene for the public hearing on the City's use of federal Revenue Sharing money. The Westwood Hills Environmental Education Center budget was again discussed. Councilman Hanks suggested limiting the personnel costs for the naturalist aides and receptionist to a total of $10,000. He said that if demand for Westwoo� Hills pro�rams warrants an adjust- ment at a later date, he would be willing to consider increasing the personnel costs. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Ralles, to limit the personnel costs for the naturalist aide and receptionist to �10,000 and to add g10,690 to the Westwood Hills budget for sup- plies, contractual services, and capital outlay items. The motion passed 4-2 (Mayor McQuaid and Councilman Plartin opposed). The Fire Department budget was discussed. Councilman Hanks said that he was supportive of the concept of volunteer fire fighters to supple- ment the City's professional, full time fire fighters. Ne indicated that he was in support of the Fire Marshall position. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Martin, to approve funding for the position of Fire Marshall. Councilman Backes asked what the boundaries of authority would be between the Fire Marshall and the Building Inspector. -345- Special City Council meeting September 22, loBq The City Planager replied that jurisdiction would belong to the Build- ing Inspector. Councilman Elstrom asked if the FirnnelrshThe C�tyt�1anagerlr�spondede the number of Fire Department perso that the position would be filled through a promotion. He added that one new fire fighter position would be added to the Department to com- pensate for the Fire Marshall position. The motion approvinq the position of Fire Marshall passed 6-0. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Backes, to direct staff to begin recruiting volunteers tor the Fire �epartment. The motion passed 5-1 (Councilman Martin opposed). The Council reviewed the City Manager's rep�rt on establishment of a conference and workshop policy for City employees. It was the consensus of the Council that the policy should be developed and administered by the City Manager. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Co�nc�lman Martin, to delete acQuisition of an alley swreper fr•om the Municipal Maintenance Services budget. The City Manager explained that an alley sweeper will be rented next year in order to assess its performance. The motion to delete acquisition of an alley sweeper passed 6-0. Following discussion of the Municipal Service Center budget, it was moved by Councilman Martin, seconded by Councilman Hanks, to make the 1982 budget for this fund se�f-sustaining through adjustments to the hour•ly rates of departments using its services. The motion passed 6-0. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Backes, to accept the Administration budget as presented. The motion passed 6-0. It was moved by Cour;cilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Martin, to appropriate �,4,125 to the HELP Line. Counc�lman Elstrom objectEd to the motion on the ground� that the proposed appropriation was greater than the amount requested by the Chemical Dependency Task Force. The motion passed 4-2 (Councilmen Backes and Elstrom opposed). -346- Special City Council meeting September 22, 1980 The deficit in the Recreation Center budget was discussed. �he �ity Manager indicated that $93,000 should be shown as the total amount of the deficit. He said that he was not opposed to sub- sidizing the Recreation Center f��nd hut �elieved that the actual amount of the deficit should be f�nded. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Backes, to transfer $93,000 from the General Fund to fund the deficit in the Recreation Center fur,d. The motion passed 6-0. Councilman Elstrom moved to transfer the $500 ap�,ro;�riated to STEP to help finance part of the Recreation Center deficit. The motion died for lack of a second. It was moved by Councilman Han!:s, seconded by Councilman Kalles, to approve funding for the second floor remodeling. The motion passed 6-0. The City's funding of the Community Education Program was discussed. Councilman Hanks said that the City's share for the Comnunity Education Program had tripled since 1978. He questio�ed how much the program should be expanded. He said that the City programs were unable to maintain such increases and he did not feel that it was in the City's best interests to continue supporting Comnunity Education in this fashion whi�le City programs did not always enjoy the same level of support. Councilman Plartin said that at the Community Education's present3tion last summer, Council was assured that the program would not grow and expand at the same rate as that in the past few years. Councilman Hanks said that the City has been told this each year that a budget request has be�n submitted from Community Education. Councilman Martin suggested that the Community Education budget be freezed at �112,000. Councilman Hanks indicated that he had talked earlier in the day with Councilman Meland who had indicate�i that the Community Education budget has also been affected hy State budget cust. He stated that there was a difference of $5,410 between what has been proposed for 1980 and 19g1, He recommended settin� the 19E1 budget appropriation at �107,200. Councilman Backes was agreeable to this and stated that it would help the Comnunity Education proqram to know what to expect next year. -347- � ».-., Special City Council meeting September 22, 1980 It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Backes, to establish the 1981 appropriation to the Community Education program at 5107,200. Counciiman Elstrom asked if the Community Education program was charging increased fees for non-residents. The Mayor indicated that to her knowledge this was not being done because of the accounting problems that it would cause. The r.ation to decrease the Community Education appropriation by �5,410 passed 5-0 (Councilman Martin opposed). 4. Budget Ordinance It was moved by Councilman Hanks, sec- onded by Councilman Elstrom, to Haive first reading of the ordinance adopting the budget for fiscal year 1981 and amending the 1980 budget as adopted by Ordinance 1453 and setting second reading for October 6, 1980. 7he motion passed 6-0. 5. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Attest: � �'�7J'--�''�-.� V aron Klumpp Recording Secretary � � . Phylli McQuaid, Mayor -348-