HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988/12/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Joint MINUTES
JOINT COUNCIL/LEGISLATORS MEETING
ST LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
1111 December 19, 1988
1 . Call to order
Mayor Lyle Hanks called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present were Bruce Battaglia, Tom Duffy, Larry Mitchell , David Strand
and Lyle Hanks. Also present were the City Manager, Senator Phyllis
McQuaid and Rep. Sally Olsen. Representatives from Popham, Haik and
the Assistant to the City Manager were present as well .
2. Discussion of City's lejislative priorities
Mayor Hanks briefly discussed the format for the meeting and said that
each legislator would have an opportunity to remark on the City's legisla-
tive priorities, a copy of which had been furnished to the legislators
in advance of the meeting. He introduced Susan Shapiro of the Popham,
Haik law firm who would be working as legislative liaison during the
1989 session.
Senator McQuaid introduced a number of issues that the Senate staff
perceived as important for the upcoming legislative session. Those
issues included comparable worth, land use planning, light rail transit, --
gravel tax, open meeting law, airport noise and property tax. She stated
411 that the land use planning and gravel tax would most likely not affect
St. Louis Park. She also stated that the open meeting law would be
proposed to apply to the State Legislature. Referring to the City Manager's
letter which requested the legislators' position on various priorities,
she stated her preference would be to react to the City Council ' s position.
Councilmember Strand responded by saying that the Council ' s position
on the issues is laid out in the attachment to the letter and the Council
would like to get the legislators reactions to the positions as presented.
Mayor Hanks said he did not believe that Truth in Taxation and the
levy limit restrictions both needed to be in force. He stated a preference
for one or the other.
Rep. Olsen stated that the effective date for Truth in Taxation was
postponed to 1990 to get any procedural changes in place. She added
that she anticipates procedural changes to occur in the 1989 legislative
session. She requested that the City provide calendar dates which would
make Truth in Taxation a workable program.
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Rep. Olsen stated that in response to the City' s concern that 60-65% 'q
of its budget is labor costs, the intent of the Legislature is not to
control wages; rather to impose restrictions on escalating costs related
to bargaining units. The intent is to force bargaining units and arbitrators
to limit increases as a result of the restrictions placed on the levy
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limits. The Mayor raised a ccncern cver binding arbitration which is
Joint Council/Legislators meeting
December 19, 1988 2.
out of the City' s control .
Both Sen. McQuaid and Rep. Olsen believed there would be efforts to
restore the homestead credit.
Rep. Olsen stated that the disparity aid legislation is based on how
much a City is spending and stated that she did not support this but
supported allocations based on need.
Sen. ' McQuaid stated that the Governor has indicated that nothing will
change until 1992 after redistricting has occurred which will shift
the majority from out-state to the metropolitan area.
Rep. Olsen stated that the mood of the Legislature is to further continue
tax increment financing. She added that there is concern about the
impact on counties and school districts.
Rep. Olsen requested more information relative to the City' s position
on investment earnings. She informed the Council that she has approached
by the police union for legislation that would continue pension payments
to the spouse of a deceased police officer should the spouse remarry.
Councilmember Meland arrived at 7:00 p.m.
Rep. Olsen stated that celative to comparable worth, the Legislature
is looking for some assurances that pay equity has been implemented.
Sen. McQuaid said that she is not hearing the outcry that occurred a
few years ago.
Sen. McQuaid stated that the state is planning on closing 6-8 institutional
facilities and relocating their residents to group homes throughout
the state including the metropolitan area. Rep. Olsen added that the
issue is a shift from regional treatment centers to group homes by 1992.
She said it is estimated approximately 1500 people will be affected.
She stated it would be helpful to gain the City' s input in terms of
the kinds of notification and appropriate controls to be incorporated
into the legislation.
Councilmember Strand stated that from his perspective he is concerned
about the notification procedures to neighborhoods.
Sen. McQuaid stated there would be a push this year for the adoption
of a Code of Ethics. Rep. Olsen stated she supports ethics at all levels of
government.
Sen. McQuaid stated she anticipates the introduction of a bill related
to waste management and recycling as a result of the Governor' s Score
Committee. She indicated that she would send a copy of the legislation
to the City Manager.
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Councilmember Battaglia asked whether or not there would be an adverse
impact to programs which have proven to be successful such as the one
implemented in St. Louis Park. Sen. McQuaid responded that there would
Joint Council/Legislator meeting
December 19, 1988 3.
be no impact to St. Louis Park in that respect, but she is worried about
the establishment of a mandatory deposit.
Sen. McQuaid said that continued communications with the City Council
is beneficial in order for the City' s interests to best be represented.
She stated that the legislative delegation will continue to meet with
Hopkins and Minnetonka at monthly breakfast meetings and extended the
invitation to St. Louis Park staff and officials.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
6p //
armen Kaplan
Recording Secretary