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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988/09/26 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION St. Louis Park, Minnesota September 26, 1988 1 . Call to order Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were Bruce Battaglia, Allen Friedman, Keith Meland, Larry Mitchell . Also present were the Acting City Manager, Finance Director, Assistant Finance Director and Assistant to the City Manager, and Director of Public Works. 2. Pumping of St. Louis Park well No. 4 to Lake Calhoun The Director of Public Works briefed the Council on the meeting held with the Minneapolis residents co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Park Board and Minneapolis City Council held on Sept. 19, 1988. He stated that approximately 8,000-10,000 residents received notice of the meeting and approximately 90-100 attended the meeting. He stated that the majority or approximately 50 individuals were against the proposal ; 30 were present to gather further information; approximately 12 were supportive of St. Louis Park' s proposal . He said that the position of the 4111 Minneapolis City Council and Park Board representatives was to basically gather more information before making a finding. He suggested that the Council consider forming a task force between St. Louis Park Council members, Minneapolis Council members and Park Board members. Councilmember Battaglia asked why the watershed district was supportive of the proposal to direct the water into Lake Calhoun. The Director stated that under the concept of diverting the water into Minnehaha Creek would result in the water ultimately landing in Lake Nokomis and thereby considers it a regional lakes issue. Secondly, the politics of adding water to the creek given the flooding last July was not positive. Third, adding water to the creek could potentially create safety problems given ice floes in the winter. After further discussion, Council concluded that the City staff should maintain contacts with the staff of Minneapolis, direct letters to the members of the Minneapolis Park Board and City Council members who were present that indicates the City' s support for their interest in this project and for staff to informally 1 identify the political reading of the City of Minneapolis. 3. Review of 1988 revised/1989 proposed budgets 1 The City Council recommended that the internal computer services and computer operator be noted with asterisks which would indicate those items would be required _ to come back to the Council . 41// Council consensus was also to place an asterisk on all interior office furnishings so that those items come back to Council for final consideration. With respect to the legal budget, it was recommended that the City Counselor be increased to $250,000 and that the Prosecuting Attorney be increased to $177, 140. Councilmember Meland inquired as to the cost for messenger service, Federal Express, etc. in relation to using a fax machine. Study session Sept. 26, 1988 2. Councilmember Friedman said there is a possibility that a disc for the existing computer system be incorporated to minimize costs. The consensus of Council was to budget $3,000 for a fax machine with the potential of adding an additional machine should the economics prove positive. Councilmember Friedman asked what the role of the Housing Managers are. The Acting City Manager stated that the Housing Managers provide assistance for elderly housing, scattered site housing and low- to moderate-income housing. Councilmember Mitchell asked how many units within the City are provided with assistance. The Acting City Manager stated she would provide that information at a later date. Councilmember Friedman inquired about the Sick Leave for Fitness program. After discussion, the Council recommended that the program be reviewed after6-12 months of being in existence. The Council discussed the lead dispatcher position and as a part of that discussion, discussed making the position part-time. After further discussion relative to overtime hours, the hours of the position, the hours of Sergeants and officers involved in serving as dispatcher, it was recommended that the lead dispatcherremain in the budget as it was proposed. The Council discussed the Luverne fire pumper and recommended that it be incorporated into the 1989 budget. Councilmember Friedman proposed theinstallation of opticom signals at six key intersections within the City. The Acting City Manager stated that the proposal would incur costs of approximately $24,000. The Acting City Manager was asked what the Fire Chief's position was on this issue. The Acting City Manager stated that it was proposed as a decision package but was not incorpor- ated into the budget due to priority rationale. Council recommended that $12,000 be budgeted in 1988 and $12,000 budgeted in 1989 for the implementation of this program. With respect to the Fire department budget, Councilmember Battaglia asked why the changes in the severance pay from the adopted 1988 budget of $50,000 to the revised 1988 of $12,000 and the proposed 1989 of $50,000 occurred. The Acting City Manager stated that the severance pay is based on retirees and the 1988 budget has been revised downward due to the lack of retirements but the 1989 budget reflects the potential cost to the City given the number of employees eligible for retirement. Councilmember Battaglia questioned the increase in general supplies from $13,325 to $33,600. The Assistant Finance Director stated that the increase in cost was a result of new turnout gear which included boots, coats, etc. With respect to the Inspections department, the Council discussed the sanitarian position and recommended that it be incorporated into the 1989 budget. The City Council made no changes to the Engineering department budget. The City Council discussed the street maintenance department with respect to the allocation for the placement of street sweepings. The Acting City Manager said the City could realize a savings of $100,000 over two years if the street sweepings were placed in an area near Carlson field. The City Council recommended Study session Sept. 26, 1988 3. 4111 that item be removed from the budget and further recommended that the cul-de-sac at Webster St. come back to Council by the notation of an asterisk. Councilmember Friedman asked why the slurry coat process was discontinued. The Acting City Manager stated that she would provide him with that information. Council reviewed the request for an additional Laborer position for the Central Building Maintenance department and recommended that an asterisk be placed on this item. The Acting City Manager requested that $5,500 be added in the re-estimated 1988 budget as a result of costs incurred to the compressor which was out of * order during the summer. This was approved. After discussing the general unallocated account, the Mayor stated that STEP is having difficulty in maintaining expenses and recommended that it be increased from $5,000 to $10,000. There were no objections raised by the Council . The Acting City Manager recommended that the line item, interviews for the City Manager which was budgeted at $25000 be revised to $29,000to reflect actual costs. This item was approved. The Acting City Manager recommended that the insurance policy for inverse condemna- tion be budgeted for $4000 for both years 1988 and 1989. This was approved. 4111 The Acting City Manager communicated a request from West Hennepin Human Services to increase its budget from $5581 to $5637 This was approved. Councilmember Meland recommended an additional $5000 be budgeted to Community Education to pay for a half yearly salary to fund a position for senior/low-income programs. He added that the requested amount would not be funded should a grant application be approved. This item was approved. Under the Forestry budget, the Acting City ltr. noted that the horticulturist position be relocated from the Park Maintenance budget to the Forestry budget. Under the Central Building Maintenance budget, the Council recommended that the Police communication console be placed on reserve and so noted with an asterisk. Council also recommended that the work station upgrades be placed on reserve and so noted with an asterisk. In a recap, those items that would be returning to Council after being placed in the reserve account and so noted in the budget with an asterisk were: internal computer and computer operator at $190,000; work stations at $185,000; Central Building Maintenance laborer at $20,000; cul-de-sac at Webster at $33,000; and Police (communication console at $75000. In reviewing the Park Improvement Fund, the Council recommended placing the 41// electronic message board at $20,000 on hold and so noted in the budget with an asterisk. The following items were also recommended to be placed on hold and so noted in the budget with an asterisk: Ainsworth Park, $16,000 for playground equipment; Oak Hill Park, $14,000 for building shelters; Westwood Environmental Center, $ 26,000 for parks, trails, plantings, materials, grade fill , landscaping and miscellaneous; Pennsylvania Park, $12,000 for landscaping and lighting, and Bass Lake of $15,000 for trails and parks. Study session Sept. 26, 1988 4. The Acting City Manager asked whether or not the Council was comfortable with a 96% levy rate. The consensus of the Council was that it was comfortable with that but would like staff to bring back a list of items that during the budget process were noted with an asterisk. 4. AMM request The Acting City Manager presented a proposal for a voluntary $2000 allocation to the AMM to provide funding for a computer model to provide information on tax legislation. The Council approved a $2000 allocation for 1988. 5. Minnesota Cellular Telephone The Acting City Manager provided the City Council with information on Minnesota Cellular Telephone's intent to sue the City and also that Minnesota Cellular has applied for a building permit to construct a 100-ft. transmitter tower. She noted that under the ordinance a tower not exceeding 112 feet is permitted without a special permit. 6. I-394 The Acting City Manager reminded the Council of its joint meeting with Golden Valley City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Golden Valley Council chambers. 7. Treehouse 11/1 The Acting City Manager updated Council on her recent discussion with Mark Tucker regarding the treehouse. 8. RTB transit survey The Acting City Manager brought to the attention of the City Council the RTB transit survey which was distributed to the City Council approximately two weeks prior under which the recommendation by the RTB involved $50,000 to provide additional transportation services for the City of St. Louis Park. It was recommended not to proceed with that proposal . t