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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-1996 CMW COUNCIL/MANAGER WORKSHOP OF THE CITY OF MAPLEWOOD 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 5, 1996 Maplewood Room, City Hall MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER The Council/Manager workshop of the Maplewood City Council was held in the Maplewood Room, City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bastian at 5:02 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mayor Gary Bastian. Present Councilmember Sherry Allenspach Present Councilmember Dale Carlson Present Councilmember Marv Koppen Present. Councilmember George Rossbach Present Others Present: City Manager Michael McGuire Assistant City Manager Craig Dawson Community Development Director Melinda Coleman C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Bastian asked that Item Jl be added: Mayor's Update. City Manager McGuire requested that the following item be added: (J2) City Manager's Update. Councilmember Carlson moved approval of the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allenspach and approved.. Ayes: All D. COMMUNITY SURVEY Dr. Bill Morris and Jim Rose, of Decision Resources, Ltd. (DRL), made a presentation of the many findings from the community survey conducted in late Fall 1995. The firm polled 400 residences randomly by telephone, a sample that would yield a ±5% variance 95% of the times the survey was conducted. In general, Maplewood residents were very pleased and satisfied with their community, and with its City government and the services it provides. Satisfaction levels on many indicators were among the highest in the metropolitan communities that DRL has surveyed. Among the highlights: * The most frequently-mentioned images of Maplewood were the Maplewood Mall, home, and parks and lakes: * Most liked about Maplewood--location and quiet. * Least liked about Maplewood--"there's nothing wrong" (at 38%, this is four times the metro norm; in reality, these are boosters), and taxes (at 15%, this is one-half the metro norm). * Most important future issues--crime, taxes (in general, not the City's), and schools * 85% thought the City was going in the right direction (metro norm is 65%). * The sense of community is strong, stronger than in 1992, and stronger than the metro norm. Residents feel a stronger tie to their neighborhood than to the community as a whole, but this is a metro-wide trend. * In rating city services, overall dissatisfaction is low. Only one area of concern would be street maintenance (which includes City streets, County roads, and State highways), but the dissatisfaction level is one-half the metro norm * In property taxes, by a 2-1 margin residents would be willing to pay more taxes to maintain current array and levels of services; by a 3-1 margin, residents would not want to have their property taxes decreased if it meant that the array and levels of services would be reduced. * Knowledge about City Council members and their actions is very high. By a 57-9 margin, residents approve of the Council's work. A nine percent disapproval is extremely low. _ ' * Evaluations of City staff rated in the top quartile in the metro area, and the vast majority of residents who had interacted with the staff were satisfied with their experience. Customer service in City Hall had high ratings, although there was some dissatisfaction expressed about waiting times. - * The Conununity Center has had many positive effects--for the users of the Center, for the image of the community, and for the sense of the community. About half of Maplewood residents have used the Center, and the swimming pool and gymnasium are the top facilities in popularity. Some residents expressed concern about membership fees and daily admission fees. Most (68%) residents don't want further property tax subsidies for Community Center operating costs. * Organized solid waste collection is favored by 56% of respondents; 20% indicated strong opposition to changes in the current system. This issue would be controversial. * Top public safety problems perceived by residents are juvenile crime and burglary. Overall concern with crime was less than in most communities. * High ratings were given for the City's efforts in environmental and open space protection.. Residents supported the concept of expanding trail and sidewalk systems, but generally they did not want them placed next to their individual properties. * In identifying future development needs, residents wished to see more full-time job opportunities, open space, and senior housing. * Residents were generally opposed to consolidation of services among cities, and to consolidations/mergers of cities. This result is consistent with a public trend not to pursue such consolidations. * The Maplewood Review and Maplewood in Motion are the most widely-used information sources for City news. The City's newsletter is doing exceptionally well for a municipal publication in the metro area. * In cable television; 54% of respondents said they subscribed to'cable, and 40% of this number indicated they occasionally or frequently viewed City Council meetings. This viewership level is about twice the metro average. Dr. Morris was scheduled to give another presentation of the results of the community survey at the February 12, 1996 City Council meeting. E. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS RETENTION Koppen noted he had requested this item to be discussed at a Workshop. He related the Suburban Area Chamber of Commerce had hired a new staff member who had experience in this area. Bastian stated the MN Department of Trade and Economic Development planned to update community profiles. Koppen stated the Council needed to decide what tools (including financial ones) the City would be willing to provide. He favored targeting quality employment--good-paying jobs. He believed there would be positive spillover effects to Maplewood from Saint Paul's planning for the Phalen Corridor Redevelopment. Coleman reviewed a memorandum in which she outlined several elements of business retention planning. She believed that such programs were successful when they had the full commitment of the Council. Koppen suggested working into the program gradually. Direction from the Council was to develop a Maplewood business inventory and to revisit this topic at the April CounciUStaff retreat. F. SIGN ORDINANCE Coleman reviewed a memorandum in which she noted some of the problem azeas, inconsistencies, and difficulties in committing resources to pursue enforcement of sign regulations in the City Code. - Direction from the Council was to develop amendments to the Code as listed in the staff memorandum, and to have the Suburban Area Chamber of Commerce comment on them before having them discussed. at a City Council meeting. G. CITY COUNCIL/STAFF RETREAT McGuire provided an update on the schedule for4he retreat (April 18 and 19 at the Riverwood - Conference Center,) and the process of selecting a facilitator. The Council would meet as a group with the city manager and assistant city manager on the first morning. The Council and full management staff would meet together for the rest of the retreat starting the first afternoon. H. FiRF DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION WORKSHOP McGuire said that staff had been working to bring a consultant to provide aone-day workshop on consolidation on March 2, 1996. Coancilmembers suggested that the workshop be videotaped, and that consideration be given to having a tape playback on cable channel 16. Council indicated it - would decide later if any councilmembers would attend the workshop. I. LAWFUL GAMBLING GRANT POLICIES McGuire reviewed a staff memorandum which summazized the history of receipts and grants in the Charitable Gambling Tax Fund. councilmembers preferred proposed policy language which would limit award of grants to City departments and for City-related purposes. Direction from Council was to place an article in Maplewood in Motion to explain the 90/10 split of charity/City receipts, and to place the proposed policy on an agenda of a future Council meeting. J. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Mayor's Update: (a) Bastian noted the floor in the Carver Community Center gymnasium was already bubbling. (b) The March Mayor's Forum will be at the Parkside Fire Station and will focus on the Tri-District School. 2. City Manager's Update: (a) McGuire noted the Planning Commission had a vacancy, and there had been some discussion about reducing the number of members on the Commission. Council decided to see how the Commission operates with fewer members, and then consider amending the City Code to reduce the number of members to nine. (b) The Planning Commission inquired about the status of recommendations to amend the PUD Ordinance. In reviewing past discussions, it was apparent that the Council had not -wished to pursue such amendments, but this action may not have been communicated to the Planning Commission. Council directed staff to so inform the Commission. K. FUTURE TOPICS These items were continued. Other items which will be scheduled for upcoming workshops included the commercial property study, report on progress on 1995 budget goals, and nuisance ordinance amendments. L. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bastian moved that the meeting be adjourned at 7`.00 p.m. Councilmember Allenspach seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.