HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996/12/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF Minutes
ST. LOUIS City Council Study Session
P``l December 23, 1996
The Study Session commenced at 7:40 p.m.
Present were Mayor Gail Dorfman and Councilmembers Jeff Jacobs, Sue Sanger, Ron
Latz and Jim Brimeyer.
Also present were the City Manager(Charlie Meyer), Deputy City Manager(Joanne
Kutzler), Finance Director(Mac McBride), Director of Parks& Rec (Cris Gears),
Planning Coordinator(Janet Jeremiah), Director of Community Development(Tom
Harmening), Admin Asst/City Clerk(Ms. Larsen), Economic Development Coordinator
(Mr. Anderson) and Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin).
1. Council Policy Issues -Report from National League of Cities Conference
Discussion postponed due to time constraints.
3. Wolfe Park Design -Presentation by Consultant
Cris Gears, Director of Parks and Recreation and Bob Close of Close Landscape
Architecture presented to Council a proposal for the Town Center East Master Plan and
Wolfe Park Renovation. Mr. Close was a member of the design team for the Excelsior
Boulevard Charrette and as such is familiar with the process as well as special
circumstances to consider in the design proposal. Council asked several questions of
Mr. Close regarding time line, community involvement, soils and how problems
encountered at Wolfe Park could be dealt with. Following discussion Council directed
staff to prepare an official proposal, including costs, to be presented to Council for
approval at a future City Council meeting.
4. NSP Substation Location
Mike Rardin, Public Works Director and Jim Rhodes of NSP met with Council to
discuss location of the proposed NSP substation. Mr. Rardin presented maps of the
boneyard site which is used for storage of City-owned materials and as a staging area
for City projects. This site had been considered as a possible location of the substation.
Mr. Rhodes brought pictures of existing substations and encouraged Council members
to go look at other substations in the area to get an idea of the impact this structure
would have on the site.
Discussion about the suitability of several sites and ramifications of their use ensued.
Staff expressed concern at the possibility of losing the boneyard site for City use. No
alternate location exists for the type of use the boneyard site provides and loss of that
site would drastically impact public works operations. Council pointed out that there
will be neighborhood opposition regardless of the site chosen for NSP's use. At the end
of discussions Council reached the consensus that there is no alternative other than the
originally proposed Edgewood site. This issue will require further discussion and
debate.
5. Strategic Plan for Economic Development
At its meeting of August 5, 1996, Council accepted the work of a Strategic Planning
Task Force and directed staff to solicit additional comments form various organizations,
commissions, and city staff. Dave Anderson and Tom Harmening presented the
revised plan for Council's review and asked for further direction. Council provided
comments related to the language used,particularly in reference to the use of the term
"stable employment"as opposed to"livable wage". Discussion of this topic also raised
the question of the City's relationship with the Business Council and how
improvements could be made in that relationship.
6. Franchise Agreement
Kathleen McBride, Finance Director,presented ordinance amendments to the Franchise
Agreements with NSP and Minnegasco to allow for an alternative franchise fee
structure. These changes are intended to modernize language to reflect changes brought
about by federal deregulation. She explained that the City's intent at this time is not to
impose franchise fees,but only to have a usable ordinance in effect should the City wish
to do so in the future. A public hearing notice has been published for hearing to take
place on January 21st. Council expressed a desire to discuss this issue again at the
January 6th Study Session.
7. Supervisory Benefits
Council was asked to consider a proposed Flex Leave program for supervisory
personnel and to provide staff with a preliminary indication concerning their level of
support. Wally Wysopal outlined the basics of the proposal to Council and answered
their questions about the program. Council members indicated preliminary support,but
questioned why this was being offered only to supervisory personnel. Mr. Wysopal
indicated that this option would be offered to all employees later in 1997. The plan
itself was designed by a task force made up of supervisory employees and they consider
the timing to be an important issue. Councilmembers also expressed concern over the
fact that a different benefits package is provided for supervisory personnel than for
others in the organization. It was pointed out that this is the cultural norm and accepted
by most employees as standard. Council asked that the plan's budgetary aspects be
clarified and indicated that they would like to see the plan take effect for all city
employees as soon as possible.
Meeting adjourned.
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Gail Dorfman, Mayor ,
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Indy Larsen, Recording Secretary