HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986/01/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
St. Louis Park, MN
January 13, 1986
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
The following Council members were present at roll call: Mayor Lyle
Hanks, Councilmembers Ron Backes, Thomas Duffy, Allen Friedman, Larry
Mitchell and David Strand.
Also present were the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Administra-
tive Assistant.
3. Licensing of bicycles
Per a request from Councilman Meland, this item was deferred.
4. Workers compensation insurance
The Director of Finance, Don Johnson and John Simacek of American Risk
Services, Inc. were present to answer any questions. The Director of
Finance reviewed the City's claim history and stated what the payments
would have been if the City had been on a retrospecting program which
is as follows: 1982: $136,000; 1983: $70,210; 1984: $61,227.
He stated that given a standard premium of $200,000, the City would
have realized a substantial savings. The City Manager stated that the
contract would be on an annual basis; however, he would recommend a
commitment beyond one year in order to realize a savings.
The representatives of American Risk Services noted a number of legislative
revisions:
1. Minutes to be kept the same as the State;
2. Eliminate natural hazards from negligence, i.e., snow and ice;
3. Negligence based on percent of fault;
4. Exclude punitive damages;
5. Exempt self-insurance pools from State regulations
It was moved by Councilman Strand, seconded by Councilman Duffy, to
authorize staff to prepare a resolution on retrospecting for the January
21, 1986 Council meeting. The motion passed 6-0.
The Finance Director stated that police professional liability insurance
will not be renewed in March and that he is currently working on finding
a replacement.
5. Legislative issues
Senator Phyllis McQuaid and Representative Sally Olsen were present
Study session minutes
January 13, 1986
W
to discuss the 1986 legislative session. They commented that because
it was a six week session, they weren't sure how many issues would be
addressed.
Insurance - Sen. McQuaid discussed the recommendations of the Governor's
committee regarding insurance as follows:
1. Local government liability
2. Harmonize the language of Chapter 466.1 to avoid equal protection
problems
3. Exclude liability for snow and ice
4. Indemnify local governments from the State when acting as a State agency
5. Liability for percent of damage in negligent cases
6. Exclude local government from punitive damages; however, employees would
not be excluded
7. Seek voluntary mediation
8. Exempt local government self-insurance pools from the State
Rep. Sally Olsen discussed the following issues that would be pertinent
in the House:
1. Protect Parks and Recreation from liability
2. Deduct workers compensation payments from the award
Local Government Aid - Rep. Olsen stated that a six percent increase
probably would not occur and that the current formula would be reinstated.
She added that should cuts be approved, it would be in the amount propor-
tionate to the aid.
Tax Increment Financing - Sen. McQuaid stated there is a movement towards
taxable on s. Rep. Olsen commented that the House intends to make changes
in tax increment financing. She stated the potential changes as:
1. Require school districts to approve tax increment financing districts
2. Prohibit the capturing of levies for school districts
3. Shift the portion of payment as follows:
- the State would pay 50%; school district 25%; tax increment financing
25 %
She stated that State-wide, school districts currently pay 40%.
Councilman Duffy recommended not requiring the approval of a school
district for the establishment of a tax increment financing district.
Port Authority - Rep. Olsen stated that a port authority would provide
a means of funding for development. She listed a few of the advantages:
1. Bonds without a referendum
2. Maintain a toll bridge
3. Industrial development
4. Develop sites
5. Defer property taxes during development
6. Separate the debt
Study session minutes
January 13, 1986
3.
She stated that a bill may be presented for a State-wide port authority.
The consensus of the Council was to proceed with the establishment of
St. Louis Park as a port authority.
A meeting was scheduled for Feb. 18 with State legislators. The time
will be contingent upon the schedules of the legislators.
6. Adjournment
The study session was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Carmen Kaplan
Recording Secretary
COUNCIL MINUTES WORKSHEET
Date 1/21/86
Item: 9a. Study of public need for property located south of water
treatment plant on Cedar Lake Rd.
Action: Motion finding there is a public need
Motion finding there is no public need
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NOTION 1 f MOTION 2
"lade by: Seconded by: Made by: Seconded by:
Backes �Ba kc es Backes Backes
Duff Duffy Duffy Duffy
Friedman Friedman Friedman Friedman
Meland Cleland Meland Meland
Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell
Strand Strand Strand Strand
Hanks Hanks Hanks Hanks
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