HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996/06/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES
STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL
111
June 24, 1996
The meeting commenced at 5:30 p.m.
Present were Councilmembers Mayor Gail Dorfman, Jeff Jacobs, Jim Brimeyer, Sue Sanger, Robert
Young, Jeff Appelquist, and Ron Latz.
Also present were the City Manager(Charles W. Meyer) and Deputy City Manager(Joanne Kutzler).
The City Council discussed roles and responsibilities for Councilmembers, City Attorney and staff.
The following roles and responsibilities were identified for Council by various Councilmembers.
• Determine desired ends and set direction, allow staff to determine means
• Demonstrate positive value of government to/for residents
• Provide two-way communication (i.e., represent the voice of constituents and vice versa)
• Provide a long-range perspective (look forward and backward)
• Maintain objective perspective
• Recognize temporary trustee responsibilities
• Facilitate good government process
• Keep expectations, activities at high level (funnel overflowing)
• View Council/staff as a team relationship
• Be ombudspersons, manage expectations and respond quickly to constituents
• Oversee City's budget
• Represent constituents and represent City to community
• Make community a better place to live and work
• Proactively look at improving policy
• Provide sounding board for public opinion
• Be mediators of diverse opinions and arbitration of public disputes
• Facilitate public debate, build Council consensus and build public consensus
• Lead public opinion
The following summarizes the roles and responsibilities discussed for the City Manager's Office:
• Ensure efficient operation of the City
• Communicate between Council and staff
• Understand important policy issues
• Provide leadership to staff
• Represent the City with outside agencies
• Provide objective support to Council for informed decision making
• Implement Council actions and directives with vigor
ii • Identify and communicate policy issues that need to be addressed
111
111 Councilmembers indicated that assurances of staff follow-up are needed. Council needs to trust that
direction is being carried out. The use of voice-mail and E-mail were discussed for that purpose. Staff
was directed to follow-up with connecting Councilmembers on E-mail.
Usage of the John Carver model was also discussed by Councilmembers. It was decided that
Councilmembers shall bring desired new issues to Study Sessions. Council will allow 15 minutes each
Study Session for Council issues/communications. Streamlining Study Sessions was discussed and it
was suggested the Council evaluate each Study Session at the end. Councilmembers indicated that staff
spends too much time during the Study Sessions giving background and too much detail. Staff can
assume Council read the materials. It was indicated that staff needs to frame the broader issues(e.g.,
Rec Center as part of Livable Communities, not toilet design).
Council discussed the possibility of establishing in Architectural Standards Committee to enforce
aesthetic standards. Council could identify the broader sense of what the community should look like
and let the committee enforce. The need to tell developers up front of City requirements was
emphasized -not change as we go approach.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
NI _IA
ayor Gail Dorfman
Recording Secretary