Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986/12/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK December 8, 1986 Cell to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.ni. Roll Call The following Council members were present at roll call: Thomas Duffy, Keith lie Iand, Larry Mitchell, David Strand, Lyle Hanks. Allen Friedman arrived at 7:05 and Ronald Backes arrived at 7:10. Prosecutinj_Attorne Pat Ledr ay, an attorney with Katz, Davis b Manka, Ltd., was present to respond to the City Council meeting of November 3 at which time a decision was made to hire the firm of Colich & Wieland torovide services for the City of St. Louis Park. Mr. Ledray supplied Councilowithtial arcopy of a letter he then read to the Council. Staff was directed to bring back to Council proposed language to accomplish the goal of setting written policy relative to the prosecuting attorney. Recycling Councilman Meland asked wha', the Hennepin County ordinance on recycling included. Wally Wysopal responded that it would require by the year 1990 that the total waste stream be diverted at a percentage rate of 16 percent. He added that currently the City is meeting the 16 percent requirement on residential waste only and that there is a 5 percent diversion rate for the total waste stream. Councilman Friedman requested a matrix of the cost involved, the matching grants and the cost to residents. He also asked what other jurisdictions are going to do. The Mayor said the City is far ahead of other jurisdictions and that it would not be feasible to wait and see what other cities would be doing. Councilman Strand recommended taking action to endorse the county proposal and to state the City's intent to meet the goal&He added that marketing techniques such as declaring a recycling day or wee 0 using neighborhood groups would be of value to communicate the message to the community. Councilman Meland asked why use an ordinance as the vehicle. Wally Wysopal responded that the goal was for behavior modification and an ordinance best met that need. The City Manager requested feedback on leaf collection as it represents 6 percent of the total waste stream. Mayor Hanks responded he did not mind getting back into a program but not the same type the City previously had. Councilman Duffy suggested looking into the option of contracting out leaf Pickup collection. Councilialln Strand Suggested that cost options be reviewed. The City Council directed staff to pursue alternatives for leaf collection with cost figures attached to each option. Study session minutes December 8, 1986 Z. CIP The Council set review of the Capital Improvement Program for Dec. 15 at 6:00 p.m. The City Manager stated that at this time it would be a review of 1987 projects only and in March of 1987, projects for 1988-89 would be presented. Councilman Strand suggested that the Planning Commission interviews be moved to the first meeting in January. Gym Space The City Manager stated that there are numerous scheduling problems with the youth and adult basketball. He explained that the City is required to schedule through Community Ed and therefore the City does not have priority on gym times. He stated that the auditorium at the Central Community Center might be a viable option by removing the seats, raising the floor and installing a gym floor. He stated that if the City funded the project, the City would then have control over scheduling times for that gym. Mayor Hanks stated he supported this possibility. Councilman Friedman asked what the makeups of the teams are. The City Manager said the teams are recreation and group teams. Councilman Strand asked the source of funding. The, council directed the City Manager to discuss the possibility further with the Superintendent of schools and to identify a source of funding Ilstrup It was moved by Councilman Friedman, seconded by Councilman Meland that the decision of the City Council at its Dec. 1, 1986 regarding this issue was that the trash facility can be constructed in the setback and must be architecturally compatible. The motion passed 4-3 (Councilmen Backes, Duffy, Strand opposed). Legislative Proposals Councilman Strand commented that there wculd be a potential conflict of interest with Briggs & Morgan since they also represent the Coalition of Outstate Cities. Councilman Backes agreed. Mayor Hanks asked how this person would be utilized. Sharon Klumpp responded that it would be appropriate to meet with the potential candidates and have them describe a legislative program. Councilman Friedman recommended to set interviews and to find out what their process would be and what the benefit to the community would be. Councilman Mitchell recommended to narrow down the number of firms to be to two (11" I'l1es P. (.r C, lig) .(i1, �u , i i (i•"el— t i.o NIt h•' irrl '1+(?Irl I.r ; , i fly study session pectmber 8, 1986 3. i' Ta+i6n1 --.VA Th! City Manager stated that he was informed as of Dec. 8, Dick's Towing does not have insurance or bonding. Councilman Mitchell stated that he would want to extend the same courtesy to Dick's Towing as the City has to Graham's Towing in the past. Councilman Friedman suggested that the insurance agent be cor:tacted. Councilman Mitchell recommended that the City Manager review the contract in three months and report back to the City Council. It was also recommended that this item be placed on the Dec. 15, 1986 Council agenda. Temporary liquor license Councilman Friedman stated that certain institutions have approached him about serving/selling liquor and stated that state law allows the City to issue temporary liquor licenses. He recommended that staff prepare a report and come back to the Council. Councilman Strand was opposed to this recommendaticn. Taping of Council meetings Councilman Strand recommended not releasing the minutes until they are adopted by the City Council. Mayor Hanks raised a potential problem with the private meeting law and recommended that staff check with the City Attorney on this issue. Councilman Strand suggested that if the minutes must be released prior to approval, they be stamped "not approved" or "draft." He asked about the procedure for adjournment and then returning to Chambers to meet. He raised concern due to the allegations of "bizarre' meeting. ':Ouncilman fieland stated that a resolution was adopted in the late 1970s that established the procedure which states that if it is not on the agenda, it must be placed on the agenda prior to the approval of the agenda for that evening. Mayor Hanks recommended review of the resolution for procedure. Councilman Hitchell inquired as to what actions can be taken at a work session. Mayor Hanks stated they are public meetings and that in the past, no major actions have been taken but rather to provide direction and guidance to staff. Mayor Hanks requesedchat the City Attorney look into what is allowable at study sessions and what is not. Pa Periods The City Manager stated that in 1988 there will be 27 pay periods instead Of the normal 26. He stated this issue comes up every 11 years. He stated that the City cannot utilize 27 pay periods because it would lower the hourly rate and would be conflict with the Fair Labor Standards Act. He stated the City will incur an additional funding of $190,000. IL was suggested that. the first and 15th be possiole pay days for the year 1968. Study session 4. December 8, 1986 Councilman Strand directed staff to cone up with alternatives to avoid expending the S190.000. Prosecutor's Report Councilman Friedman recommended that monthly statistics be provided by the new prosecutor as follows: J. Number of cases referred; 2. Number of cases arraigned. 3. !lumber of cases settled; 4. .lumber of trials; 5. Time from arrest to arraignment; 6, Tice from arrest to plea: 7. Time from arrest to trial B. Types of cases 9. Most frequent offenses 10. Time spent in: a. Arraignment b. Settlement c. Pre-trial d. Trial 11. Time spent with police 12. Types and dates of calculated meetings with police he stated that the Council ought to know the allocation of time spent. Councilman Aeland recommended a quarterly report could prove more valuable. Councilman Strand also supported a quarterly report. Councilman Mitchell added that the report include: 1. Nunber and type of cases at the beginning of the month; 2. dumber and type of cases added; 3. Resolutions a. Guilty b. Trial and results c. Plea bargain he also stated that a report from the current prosecutor be submitted to include the following: 1, (lumber and type pending as of Nov. 3, 1986 2. Number and type added since that date 3. Number and type prosecuted since Nov. 3, 1986 (along with results) or scheduled for prosecution 4. Nuober and type resolved with guilty plea since Nov. 3, 1986 S. Number and type resolved by plea bargaining since Nov. 3 6. Number and type since Nov. 3 where defendant has asked for continuance past .'an, 1, 1987 7. Number and type since Nov. 3 where City Prosecutor has asked for continuance and the reasons for doing so. Councilman Strand stated that he would like to see a policy on the prosecution of cases. The City Manager stated that he would work on that. Study session winutes December 8, 1986 5. Councilman Strand asked who was the City liaison working with the civil attorney's office. The City Manager responded that he was. He asked when the City Council would be receiving its status report. The City Manager said it would be distribu- ted on Thursday, Dec. 11 along with their agenda packet. Councilman Strand requested that a copy of the Open Meeting Law be distributed to the City Council. Single family rental homes Councilman Strand referred to the memo that was distributed in October. He recommended that the recommendations in the memo be pursued with an evaluation of the pros and cons and the impact to city and residents. He stated he identi- fied two loopholes: (1) the definition of family and (2) the number of unrelated people residing together. Councilman Meland referred to group homes which permit up to six unrelated people. A motion was made to refer this item to a future s.tudy session after the City and City Attorney had researched the matter. Off-duty Employment The Council recoamnended acopting a policy for all City employees and avoid singling out classifica.ions. The Council also recommended Lo define an approval process for off-duty employment. Staff was directed to pursue znis item and bring it back :o the City Council in January or February. 37th b Dakota Ave. The Planning Director revie:;ec :ne 4 options and stated .ia; options 1 and 2 do no. prevent the Council froz. eventually getting in.o options 3 and 4. He reco;a.iended that it would be oes. -.o .ear down the di l ipa; a;,ed City -owned bui1dinc and to make 1andscap.n: improvements. COL'nc:li:+an Duffy asked if any of the building should be preserved for any historical purposes. The ?lann:ng Director responded .hat is not econo,:11cally feasible and there are o.:)er homes in the c_eneral area for which thal would be more feasible. The Council recommended this i;.en be placed on zhe Dec. 15 agenda. Sign Ordinance Councilman Strand asked why, are signs displayed illegally. Sharon Klumpp responded that citations have been issued and action has been taken. Councilman Strand asked why aren't billboards designated as a principal use. Ms. Klumpp responded that it wouldn't eliminate very many billboards. Mayor Hanks stated that improvements with respect to billboards have made on Excelsior Blvd. and that the goal of the ordinance was to remove rooftop signs and to reduce the dimensions of billboards. r Councilman Strand recommended evaluating the changes in the number of billboards Study session minutes 6. since the recent ordinance. He also recommended reviewing other cities' ordinances that prohibit portable signs, and report those findings back to Council. Governance seminar The City Council recommended that the City Manager approach John Carver and discuss with him alternatives that would be lower in cost than the $17,000 proposal previously submitted. Year-end meeting The Council set its year-end meeting for 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 31, to be confirmed Dec. 15. The Mayor thanked everyone for their year of service on the Coucil. Councilman Mitchell added that he would be interested in dealing with the City Attorney's office on developing language for a dog ordinance. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Carmen Kaplan Recording Secretary It LEGAL SERVICES INTERIUM PROSECUTOR 1. Number and type pending as of November 3, 1986 2. Number and type added since that date 3. Number and type prosecuted since November 3, 1986 (along with results) or scheduled for prosecution. 4. Number and type resolved with plea of guilt since November 3, 1986 S. Number and type resolved with plea bargin since November 3, 1986. 6. Number and type since November 3, 1986, where Defendant has asked for Continuance past January 1, 1987. 7. Number and type since November 3, 1986, where City Prosecutor has asked for continuance and the reasons for doing so. PROSECUTOR Monthly report with every 3rd report in person to Council, City Manager and Chief of Police should be present at personnel report. 1. Number and type of cases 2. Number and type added 3. Resolutions: a. Guilty Plea b. Trial and results c. Plea Bargin CITY ATTORNEY at beginning of month Report on monthly bases with personnel report every 3 months 1. Number and type of legal actions pending at beginning of month 2. Number and type of legal actions added during month 3. Number and type of legal actions resolved and results 4. Natire of change of status of any cases during month. MOT The Chief of Police shall recommend prosecutorial policy and any future changes to that policy for the City of St. Louis Park through the City Manager with review and comment by the City Procesutor to the City council for approval.