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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 09-17 CCM Special Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE-01` MINNESOTA SPECIAL SESSION ,SEPT EMBER,17, 1975 CITY :HALL Call to Order The Brooklyn Center City Council met in special session and was called to order by Mayor Philip Cohen at .8,:00 p. m. Roll Call Mayor Cohen-, Councilmen Fignar,., Jensen, and Kuefler,. Also present were City Manager Donald Pons 'Director of Finance Paul -Holmlund, and Administrative Assistants Ron Warren and James Lacina. Mayor Cohen noted that Councilman Britts earlier requested and is excused from the meeting. 1976 Budget Hearing Motion by Councilman Kuefler, seconded by Councilman Jensen to reconvene the 1976 Budget hearing. Voting in favor were: Mayor Cohen, Councilmen Kuefler, Figriar and Jensen. Voting against: none- The motion passed uniand- mously. The,Citv Manager then -proceeded with a continued review of the Budget accounts- lie stated that the TraffIC. Signals account was a new operational account and it cornpr the addition of signals, at Logan Avenue and Northway Drive along County Road 10. He next reviewed the Street Llghtinig account noting that it reflected increases in elect.,i_­ r-3-t-e-1 as the major reason for -the :increased amount budgeted. He then reviewed the Weed Control, Health Regulat]"MI W_Yl Inspection Program, and 'Home Nursing accoountz�. He next proceeded with a.lengthy review of the Health Regulation and Inspection Trogram, stating that thi service was contracted for through a joint powers agreement with the Cities of Crystal and Brooklyn Park. He -stated t1lat the recent agreement had been amended as 'per earlier Council deliberations- He then reviewed recent legisiati,:)y_t plropcsed in the State Legislature regarding health care noting the deficiencies of the proposed .1egislation- A brief discussion ensued relative to the Home Nursing account. The City Manager noted that these services were provided for through a contract with the Suburban Health Nursing District. He stated'that the cost of this program is supported by municipalities on a per capita basis and that this year's allocation reflected a 50� per capita charge to provide these services-. Mayor Cohen then noted the recent - State legislation on shade tree disease control, commenting relative to Brooklyn Center's participation in the program. The City Manager stated that the recent legislation provided for a match of 25% or $50 maximum by the State and a like amount by Local Government for the cost of removing diseased trees on private property. He stated that he felt the amount of money allocated was insufficient to do an adequate job and that much of the time and money would be spent in stringent administrative pro- cedure. He noted that the proposal was not to eliminate or find cures for shade tree disease but only to retard the spread of it. He informed the Council that a complete report was being prepared for the Council in response to Councilman Kuefler's earlier request. -1- 9-17-75 The Brooklyn Center City Council recessed at 9:00 p.m. and Recess resumed at 9:15 p.m. The City Manager then proceeded with a review of the Parks and Recreation accounts. He noted the various changes in the account structure stating that these accounts lend them- selves very well to the computerized management system. He stated that the 1976 proposal comprehended a continuation of recreation programs warranted by participation experience and continues the emphasis on user's charges to finance the programs. He noted that the 1976 program expenditures are expected to recover 77% of the cost of operation of the pro- grams. He stated that the only additional personnel recommended for 1976 was that of a CETA position for a landscape technician funded through June 30, 1976. A lengthy discussion then pursued relative to the Community Center programs, adult programs, teen programs, children's programs, general programs, and the parks. The City Manager noted a major change in the program area was that of classifying the instructors under professional services rather than part -time or temporary employees. Councilman Jensen inquired as to how self- supporting the Community Center programs were. The City Manager then presented a review of the Community Center 1974 operating statement. He noted that unlike most co: n; ilia: who operate recreational complexes the City of Brooklyn Center's philosophy has beers to include all allocable expenses against the operation of that facility. He stated that the revenue in excess of direct expense for 1974 totaled $26,174 while the operating costs after the inclusion of allocable expenses such as heat and electricity, o -Yser utilities, repair and maintenance and adminis- trat.ivE services exceeded revenues by $84,364. He stated that this comparative figure last year was approximately $92 , 000. Councilman Fignar inquired as to the need for tiling the swimming pool. The City Manager responded that the improve - rrment was probably inevitable, but he recommended including it in a capital project program. Mayor Cohen left the table at 10 :30 and returned at 10:35 p.m. The City Manager referred to the strict scrutiny in reviewing programs under the program accounts stating that extensive effort was made to make sure that programs could be justified by user participation. Councilman Kasefler expressed a concern for the upkeep of the t',rf in the Grandview Park football fields. A brief discussion ensued relative to the maintenance of the turf. The Mayor stated that he felt a major deterrent to maintaisning a viable turf in Grandview Park was the excessive use of the area. Various alternatives were discussed regarding the rrsaintenance of athletic field turf. Th e City Manager then continued with a review of the detail of capital outlay for the Parks account. He noted that this account contained many items which he had deferred to a capital projects program in conjunction with the recent Park and Recreation Commission study. 9 -17 -75 -2- Councilman Kuefler reported that the Park and Recreation Commission suggested that the Willow Lane garage remodeling be authorized by the 1976 Budget. A brief discussion ensued relative to this proposal. in response to Councilman Kuefler, the City Manager stated that the garage has been functionally converted to serve warming house purposes and that it, therefore, did not appear to be a high priority item at this time. He stated that the $12 , 000 proposal was for exterior "cosmetics" and, therefore, fell more into the "nice to's" category. , It was the consensus of the Council to support the exterior remodeling of the Willow Lane garage as a capital outlay item for the Parks account. Councilman Kuefler left the table at 11:45 and returned at 11:50 p.m. The City Manager then proceeded with a review of the Unallocated Labor account and the Contingency account. The next accounts considered were that of Police Department and capital outlay portion of the Fire Depart- ment. The City Manager referred to the report justifying additional personnel in the Police Department and the fact that the first six months of that additional police officer would be paid for under the CETA funds. He. then reviewed the capital outlay items for the Fire Department. He re ground ladders were recommended despite no department request because the depart.rn,- had substituted the 1975 ground ladder appropriate ms fcr other purposes. The City Manager also referred to a pick-up truck acquisition by the Fire Department c oar ln3ry to budget authorization. He noted that the services detail would be deferred until the Council meeting of September 22. Adjournment of Motion by Councilman Fignar, seconded by Cou',n-cilTnan Budget Hearing Jensen to adjourn the 1976 Budget hearing until September 22, 1975. Voting in favor were- Mayor Cohen, Councilmen Kuefler, Fignar and Jensen. Voting aga"r none. The motion passed unanimously. Adjournment Motion by Councilman Kuefler, seconded by Councilman Fignar to adjourn the meeting. Voting in favor were: Mayor Cohen, Councilmen Kuefler, Fignar and Jensen. Voting against: none. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center City Council adjourned at 12.15 a.m. Clerk Mayor -3- 9-17-75