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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988/07/25 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session 4c MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA July 25, 1988 Present: Bruce Battaglia, Thomas Duffy, Allen Friedman, Keith Melend, Larry Mitchell , David Strand and Lyle Hanks. Also present were the Acting City Manager, Assistant to the City Manager and Planning Director/Executive Director of the HRA. The Mayor introduced the background for the organizational study and referred the meeting to the Acting City Manager. She stated that the - Planning Director/Executive Director of the HRA was present to react to the report prepared by the consultant on the organizational study of the Planning Department/HRA and also to react to the relationship of the City Council to HRA responsibilities. The Director stated that he has discussed the report with the HRA and was requested to submit to the commission in, writing a response. He stated that it was a reasonable study given that the consultant was from out of state and had limited time to spend within the organization. He commented that the methodology of the study was by contacting a variety of people. 4111 He stated he received good feedback from staff and commission members and people from outside the organization in terms of the research process. He stated that he provided the consultant with a complete list of developers for an approximate 12 year timeframe. He stated he had discussed career development issues with all staff members and has participated in the career development committee. He cited a number of employees within his department who have either been promoted within the department or within the organization and outside the organization He stated that the one-stop location recommended in the report is essentially underway. He added that state law sets the procedure and a one-stop location may not always be feasible. He stated that with respect to the conflict of interest statement in the report that he replied to the consultant that he does not understand that premise. He stated thatif the person holding his position operates under a conflict of interest, he would not be competent in fulfilling his job. He also stated that there are built in checks and balances to alleviate this. He stated that he operates by management by objective practices and over the years those practices have been somewhat diminished. Over the last year or two an effort has been made to reinstate those. He provided a brief background on the HRA and stated that every goal and objective of the HRA has been met. He cited accomplishments of Section 23 housing, senior citizen housing and Hamilton House and the scattered housing program. He also stated that the HRA has secured 411/ funding for all projects with the exception of the On the Avenue project which is currently pending. He also stated that the HRA has undergone successful audits in the area of administration, finance and equal opportunity. Councilman Mitchell asked how many units the HRA manages. The Director stated that there are 400 units. Mayor Hanks asked the difference in managing the scattered housing program vs. other housing programs. The Director stated that approximately 10 times as much time is spent administrating the scattered housing program when the HRA owns the housing compared to when the HRA does not own the housing. He stated that all maintenance is contracted. Councilman Strand asked whether anything is going on with the Comprehensive Plan. The Director stated that currently a railroad land use study is underway. i•Mayor Hanks asked if there were any way to track discussions for development and inform the City Council . The Director stated that the Council has been informed when an application is filed but not when a conversation related to development is held. The Council discussed the merits of informing the Council of those casual discussions and felt it would be in the best interests of the City not to reveal those conversations. Councilman Strand asked about the status of the zoning ordinance. The Director stated that the zoning ordinance has been computerized, the map completed, the shoreline ordinance is being completed and half of the text has been completed. Approximately 70% of the parkingrequirenents have been completed. The residential design standards are near completion and approxi- mately 80% of the definitions are done. The Director asked for clarification of how the Council would like to receive the zoning ordinance for review. Council consensus was that it be presented in legislative script. Joint meeting with Housing and Redevelopment Authority The Mayor provided background on the organizational study commissioned 1111 by the City Council for the Planning Department/HRA. The Acting City Manager said the consultant had met with the Council recently to discuss the report. Comments from the commissioners were more towards their reaction to the report and the relationship of the City Council to the HRA in HRA matters. Commissioner Moylan stated that the HRA was designated to be distinct from the City Council . At the time the HRA was established, it was illegal for City Council members to serve on the HRA. He stated that it is not desirable to have elected officials involved in fulfilling housing concerns. He further stated that the separation for redevelopment should be protected. He gave a brief historical background on the Excelsior Blvd. redevelopment district in that it was first established as a development district and later changed to a redevelopment district due to fiscal disparities. He stated that the HRA has been approached to establish redevelopment districts, specifically north of Bass Lake; however, they have been turned down because the lack of complication did not necessitate their involvement and because it was felt that development could occur without public-_involvement. Commissioner Musolf stated that even if things are not perfect, there are many accomplishments that the HRA has achieved. She stated that the lack of communication between the HRA and the Council occurs when a new City Council member is elected. She stated that overall she thinks the1110 relationship between the HRA and City Council works very well . She stated that totally restructuring the department may not be the solution for the deficiencies outlined in the report. Commissioner Thiel stated that he was Mayor when the HRA was formed. He said that at that time, the Charter was not considered and maybe it 411/ ought to be reviewed in terms of legalities. He said that the current Planning Director/Executive Director was appointed partly out of economy and partly out of his competence and ability to do both jobs. He stated that it was never the HRA's intent to hire someone who would not report to the City Manager or be in conflict with reporting to the City Manager. He said that the redevelopment of the HRA is very important today in terms of future financing for the City. He added that whoever serves on the HRA - should it be the Council - then all seven members should serve. Otherwise he felt a problem would be created. He also added that with two City Council members now serving on the HRA, there is much better communication. Councilmen Meland stated that the Charter was reviewed at the time that the Economic Development Director position was hired in 1979. At that time, the position reported directly to the City Manager. Councilman Strand stated he felt the issue was not dedication, enthusiasm or competency; rather, the main question in his mind was accountability and in the abstract of how things ought to happen in government. He reiterated Commissioner Thiel 's emphasis for redevelopment and stated that was an issue of great importance in the next 10-15 years. The Mayor thanked all of the HRA members for their time and input. Councilmember Strand presented a proposal for reorganization of the HRA* 4111 The proposal recommended that the City Council establish itself as an Economic Development Authority while leaving btedi �� in existence with its responsibilities directed solely towards/ Ausing. he existing members of the HRA would remain on the Authority, and the Council members would be replaced with citizens. He added that pay and staff issues would need to be addressed. Councilman Mitchell stated he was most concerned with accountability and supported the proposal . He also supported the proposed time schedule. Councilman Meland suggested that the consultant be contacted with respect to his opinion of leaving the Planning Director as Executive Director of the HRA. He inquired as to how the EDA would gain the assets of the HRA. He said that money would have to be allocated for inventory and an audit. He also stated that for timing purposes it may be best to take over at the end of a quarter. Councilman Strand recommended that staff pursue the proposal and that Council signify its intent to begin the process of establishing an Economic Development Authority and setting a timeframe. He also recommended that staff seek input from the City Attorney to ensure consistency with state statutes and the City Charter. The Council then recommended that staff be given direction to prepare 01// an implementation plan for the August 1 City Council meeting. Nortel Cable The Acting City Manager highlighted the City' s position for negotiations with Nortel Cable. The Council directed staff to proceed with the process. Vescio's liquor license Councilman Battaglia requested that Vescio' s liquor license be placed on the August 1 City Council agenda as the item was tabled in July of 1987. The meeting adjourned at 9: 15 p.m. VirtfAi armen Kaplan - Recording Secretary *A proposal for reorganization of the HRA and City Council is attached. PROPOSAL FOR REORGANIZATION OF HRA AND CITY COUNCIL The following is offered as a proposal for the reorganization of the HRA and the City Council: 1 . City Council forms itself as Economic Development Authority. 2 . The present Housing and Redevelopment Authority remains in existence except that its authority is limited to dealing with the various subsidized housing programs it presently administers; all other authority of the HRA would be transferred to the new Economic Development Authority. 3 . The existing members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority would remain on the Authority with the exception of the Council members. The Council members would be replaced with citizens chosen by the Mayor pursuant to the present selection procedure. 4 . Planning Director remains the Executive Director of the HRA. 411 5 . City Manager becomes the Executive Director of the newly formed Economic Development Authority. 6 . All Council members serve on the Economic Development Authority. 7 . In order to insure the active commitment of the City Council members, the following new proposed EDA/Council Schedule is suggested. First Monday: EDA meeting at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. Council meeting at 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. Second Monday: Long Range Planning Third Monday: Study session 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. Council meeting at 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. Fourth Monday: No meeting of the Council