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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSept 12, 1984OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER i~ 1984 The Special Meeting of the Columbia Heights City Council was called to order by Mayor Nawrocki ~t 8:00 P.M.. Roll Call Hovland, Carlson, Peterson, Nawrocki - present Councilmember Petkoff was out of town. Petkoff - absent Purpose of the Special Meeting There were three items of business to be considered at this special meeting; a citizen appointment, a license approval, and the major item on the agenda was the discussion of the 1985 budget as proposed by the City Manager. Regarding the budget, the Mayor advised those in attendance that this meeting is for informational purposes and one at which residents are afforded an opportunity to see how city revenues are proposed to be used. The following is a summary of the questions asked, the answers given, and the dis- cussions regarding items in the proposed 1985 budget: Q. How did the development along Central Avenue affect our taxes ? A. The amount of taxes presently being paid is the same percentage of taxes paid before the area was developed. The Mayor noted that the freezing of the level of taxes was most likely an advantage to the taxpayer. Q. An expenditure in the 1985 proposed budget is for the purchase of cable television equipment for use in City Hall. A resident questioned the source of the monies for this equipment. A. The costs for this equipment will be paid out of the 5% franchise fee the City re- ceives from Group W Cable. Approximately 45% of the residents in the City of Columbia Heights are Group W subscribers. Q. Isn't it true that last year all of the money appropriated for the installation of a computer system in the city offices was not spent ? A. The Mayor advised the resident that approximately $25,O00 of the $100,000 budgeted was used this year. The funds that were not expended stayed in the City's bank ac- count and drew interest. Q. Why aren't Community Development Block Grant monies being considered for use in the renovation of Murzyn Hall, and why can't the City use some of these funds for the pur- chase of new squad cars as was done in the City of Anoka ? A. It is not known if the City of Anoka did use CDBG funds for the purchase of squad cars. Each application for use of these funds is carefully reviewed and the proposed use must meet certain criteria. A resident quoted from an article in a local newspaper which stated that public park- ing is being provided by the downtown businesses. This resident felt that accuracy would have been better served if the article stated that the parking is being provided by the businesses and the City. It was noted by the City Manager that all of the benefitting businesses in the Downtown Development District were assessed for the municipal parking in their area. Another resident questioned how beneficial cablecasting of Council meetings would be. The City Manager stated, that drawing on the experiences of other cities, who have been televising their meetings, it has been very advantageous. He also noted that a portion of the 5% franchise fee the City receives must be spent on access channels. Filming of the City Council meetings would meet this requirement. Special Council Meeting September 1~, 1984 page 2 The $1,500 budgeted for weed control was discussed. The Mayor stated that the hiring of a Weed Inspector and an organized plan for control of noxious weeds was a program mandated by the State. A resident expressed a concern with the potential pollution problems that ~ould result from the lawn care and weed treatments that some citizens have had done commercially. There was some discussion regarding the soon to open warehouse-type liquor store in the City of Columbia Heights. A resident had heard that this type of operation in the City of St. Anthony was experiencing some losses in sales and profit. Mayor Nawrocki advised the resident that the St. Anthony liquor warehouse was one of the top three establishments in the State in sales and profitability. He also noted that two referendum votes had been held in the City and by a margin of nearly seven to one in both votes, the City residents had opted for the City to stay in the municipal liquor business. The agreement the City has for the space being leased for the liq- uor warehouse has a clause that will free the City, if and when, the residents vote to not continue in the municipal liquor business. A resident had some concern with the $20,000 budgeted for a consultant's fee. This consultant would address the comparable worth issue and is a study mandated by the State. The study is to review the City's job classifications to determine if there are any discriminatory clauses relating to salaries by gender. This study is a joint venture with a number of other municipalities. A resident questioned if any of the computer and word processing equipment that is presently being used, has or will, eliminate any jobs. The City Manager stated that no jobs presently have been eliminated, but more efficient use of time and skills has been one positive result. This same resident felt that the money budgeted for hiring a Community Service Officer could be saved if a staff member were assigned the duties of this position as she felt most of the work related to the position were routine. $7,000 was budgeted for Dutch Elm Disease. A resident noted that replacment trees were purchased from a nursery. She inquired if the trees could be purchased from the County. She was advised that purchases have been made from a nursery as the firm gives good service on trees purchased as well as a year's guarantee on each tree. The nursery selected was done on a bid basis. A resident was opposed to any funds being budgeted for fireworks. Another resident requested information on the proposed expenditures of Community Development Block Grant funds and of Revenue Sharing monies. She also inquired as to the timeframes for repayment of the Downtown Development bond money. Rice Creek Watershed District Citizen Appointment Motion by Peterson, second by Carlson to appoint William Land to represent the City of Columbia Heights on the Rice Creek Watershed District Task Force. Roll call: All ayes Food Handlers License Motion by Carlson, second by Hovland to approve an itinerate food handlers license for Bob Otis and a donut stand to operate at the Columbia Heights Celebration on 'Special Meeting September l~, 1984 page 3 Saturday, September 15, 1984; subject to the approval of the Permit Department and receipt of an application as well as payment of the proper fee. Roll call: All ayes It was noted that Mr. Otis' donut stand has already received approval of the Anoka County Healt-h Department. Mayor Nawrocki requested that the City Manager gather additional information on the City's insurance coverage for the next work session. A budget work session was sche- duled for Monday, September 17th at 8:00 P.M.. The City Manager will be out of town and in his absence Stu Anderson, Chief of Police, will be the Acting City Manager. Adjournment ~ Motion by Hovland, second by Peterson to adjourn the Sp 9:50 P.M.. Roll call: All ayes ocki, Mayor Bruc~'G. Naw~ S~udent~ Council Se~cretary