HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985/07/25 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
July 25, 1985
1. Call to Order
The study session was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
The following members of the City Council were present at roll call: Ronald
Backes, Thomas Duffy, Jerry Martin, Keith Meland, Larry Mitchell.
The City Manager and the Assistant to the City Manager were also present.
3. Budget Goals and Objectives
The City Manager reviewed all of the budget goals and objectives that
had been submitted by department heads. Council discussed proposals to
conduct a citizen marketing survey and to develop a Centennial report
that could be distributed in 1986.
One of the budget goals and objectives discussed by Council concerned
compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The City Manager commented
that a significant increase in overtime pay would be reflected in the
proposed budgetdueto FLSA compliance.
The City Manager also called attention to budget goals and objectives
concerning the development of an ulti-maps computer program, participation
in a domestic abuse program known as the Hopkins Project, and the possibility
of creating a new Naturalist position at the Westwood Hills Environmental
Education Center that would be funded by the School District. The City
Manager also noted that a new position had been requested for the forestry
program. He said that he believed that this request could be accommodated
through a personnel transfer from another department.
In reviewing the budget goals and objectives submitted by the Inspectional
Services Department, Council members also discussed the home inspection
program. Council members expressed concern that the inspectors conducting
this program sometimes used too much discretion. It was suggested that
Council members review reports from the last ten to twenty inspections
to identify areas where they believe discretion is occurring.
4. Strategic Planning
The City Manager and Assistant to the City Manager discussed staff efforts
to conduct a strategic planning program. These efforts date back to January
when the City became a participant in a strategic planning project sponsored
by the Government Training Service. To acquaint Council members with this
process, the Assistant to the City Manager illustrated how a similar process
had been used in order to design and implement the City's curbside recycling
program.
A draft Mission Statement was presented to the City Council. Council members
were asked to review this statement and to make comments and suggest changes
to it at the August 12 study session.
Council members also reviewed the five strategic issues that have been
identified as a result of the strategic planning process. The Assistant
to the City Manager explained that the strategic issues were developed
in response to opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses which
are believed to exist in the City's external and internal environment.
4. Fiscal Disparities
The City Manager told the City Council that Mayor Hanks had expressed
concern as to whether or not the City should take a position on Bloomington's
request to be exempted from the Fiscal Disparities Act in order to construct
a mega -mall and convention center. Council members agreed that it was
premature to take a position on this request. They asked staff to find
out if other cities had passed similar resolutions.
5. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
-Respectfully submitted,
to
Sharon G. Klumpp