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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-1996 CMW COUNCiL/MANAGER WORKSHOP OF THE CITY OF MAPLEWOOD 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 4, 1996 Maplewood Room; City Hall MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bastian at 5:00 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mayor Gary Bastian' Present Councilmember Sherry Allenspach Present Councilmember Dale Carlson Present Councilmember Marvin Koppen Present Councilmember George Rossbach Present Others Present: City Manger Michael McGuire Assistant City Manager Craig Dawson Parks & Recreation Director Bruce Anderson Community Development Director Melinda Coleman C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Carlson asked that the following items be added: (Ll) Council/Staff Retreat; (L2) Maplewood 2020 Update; (L3) Determine Priority of Future Workshop Topics. Mayor Bastian requested the addition of (L4) Mayor's Update. Mayor Bastian moved approval of the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Carlson and approved. Ayes: All November 4, 1996 Council/Manager Workshop Page Two D. COMMUNITY CENTER City Manager McGuire introduced the item for discussion about food and beverage providers as well as fmancial operations at the Community Center. Parks & Recreation Director Anderson noted that the staff has learned a lot about its business operations over the two years the Community Center has been open. He reviewed the issues with multiple providers of~alcoholic beverages and with multiple caterers for events at the MCC. By limiting the number of liquor providers and caterers, there should be a better operation and some financial benefit to the City. Councilmember Rossbach was concerned that with a limited number of providers, customers would be charged captive market prices. Anderson noted that pricing would be subject to terms of the City's contract. It was the consensus of the Council that the staff should proceed with issuing requests for proposals and return with recommendations to the Council. Anderson then reviewed the financial operations of the MCC. There has been a history of operating deficits at the MCC. In response, management has reduced the number of staff positions, increased fees, and begun marketing the meeting facilities and theater more intensively. Membership has stabilized at 3400; staff is working toward a goal of 3800 memberships. Anderson outlined the elements of a financial strategy that would eliminate the operating deficit at the MCC over the next five years. One element is gaining a sales tax exemption through special legislation; follow-up with legislators would occur after the general election. E. RAMSEY COUNTY FAIR City Manager McGuire related the mixed reactions from the City participants at the 1996 Ramsey County Fair. To be discussed was whether and to what extent the City may wish to participate in the Fair in 1997 or in the future. The Fair was considering having a special day for Maplewood in 1997 in observance of the City's 40th anniversary of incorporation. The Council decided to continue its participation on a limited basis. As the City was celebrating its 40th anniversary in 1997, the City should participate for at least one more year. The City would support the major fireworks display at the Fair in 1997 and continue its booth at the Fair for one more year (although cutting back on booth hours). Longer term, the Fair should gain the participation of other Ramsey County cities for financial support for the fireworks display, and for other activities and programs at the Fair. The Council did not want to continue to be the sole or substantial municipal supporter of the Fair. November 4, 1996 Council/Manager Workshop Page Three F. COMMUNITY-ORIENTED SERVICES City Manager McGuire noted that the Council identified the development of "Community-oriented Services" ("COS") as one of its priorities at the April 1996 Council/Staff retreat. ,Community-oriented services is a way of coordinating and integrating the delivery of City services. The community, other government organizations, and community organizations would also participate in the identification of and responses to issues. To address COS, McGuire proposed a focused effort by the City organization and the creation of ashort-term community-oriented services coordinator position. He outlined the types of activities that the City would undertake to establish COS. Most of the initial activities would involve the police and parks & recreation, departments. Councilmember Carlson observed that residents would prefer to participate on an ad hoc basis rather than on a standing COS Task Force. The Council requested that this item be placed on the November 12 Council meeting agenda for formal direction. G. OPEN SPACE UPDATE City Manager McGuire introduced Assistant City Manager Dawson to review the status of open space acquisitions. Assuming that properties currently in the acquisition process are purchased, the City will have added nearly 180 acres to its open space program. A balance of $630,000 would remain in the Open Space Land Acquisition Bond Fund. The Council indicated its preference to review or suggest purchase proposals on a case-by- casebasis. H. FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATE City Manager McGuire reported that the transition to the Maplewood Fire Department is progressing well. The attorney for the three fire departments and the City Attorney will be working on some of the finer points associated with the transfer of assets and dissolution of the corporations. There was some serious discussion in Oakdale of creating a fire department that would serve its whole city. This approach would eliminate the services of what has been provided by the East County Line Fire Department (and would be continued by the Maplewood Fire Department). It is likely that some of the current ECL firefighters would transfer to the new Oakdale department. Council thought it might be beneficial to meet with the Oakdale City Council after the general election. November 4, 1996 Council/Manager Workshop Page Four I. "HRA FUND"/LAWFUL GAMBLING RECEIPTS Additional guests present for this part of the Workshop were HRA members Lorraine Fischer and Joe O'Brien, and the principals of QSA, Steve Quam and Dave Sumnicht. Community Development Director Coleman reported that the HRA had reviewed the QSA report in July 1996, and had delayed action until HRA members could meet on this matter with the City Council at a Workshop session. In 1994, the City Council authorized $500 for a study by QSA to provide a report on housing conditions in Maplewood and offer suggestions for improvement. Mr. Quam reviewed the report prepared by QSA. He cautioned that first-ring suburbs often have "market obsolete" housing; and it is present in Maplewood. He expressed concerns about the discontinuities in Maplewood, and about the disparities in quality and value of housing that ofteri occurs on a single block. Part of these concerns were mitigated by a strong sense of community that was revealed in the 1995 community survey. The QSA report suggested three goals to pursue, and recommended that the HRA/City become involved in three housing improvement activities. QSA also recommended several procedural improvements in the City's approach to housing. At its July 1996 meeting, the HRA suggested creation of a Housing Task Force. The HRA also wanted to see activity in "hometransformation"--taking existing homes and adding moderns features and amenities. The Council thanked Mr. Quam for his report and decided to continue discussion on this topic at a future Workshop session. - J. TEMPORARY/SEASONAL OUTDOOR SALES; TRANSIENT BUSINESSES Due to the lateness of the meeting, the Council did not discuss this item and continued it to the December 2, 1996 Workshop. K. ESTABLISH CITY MANAGER EVALUATION COMMITTEE Mayor Bastian moved that Councilmembers Carlson and Koppen serve on the Citv Manager 1996 Evaluation Committee. Councihnember Rossbach seconded the motion and it was approved. Ayes: All November 4, 1996 Council/Manager Workshop Page Five L. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Council/Staff Retreat: Council preferred to hold a retreat prior to major activity periods in the 19971egislative session. Staff was instructed to look at dates in late January or early February to schedule the retreat. 2. Maplewood 2020 Update: Council decided to continue this item to a future Workshop session. 3. Priority of Future Workshop Topics: Staff was instructed to prepare a memorandum which listed Workshop items that have been deferred or were planned for initial discussion. This memo would be considered at the November 12, 1996 Council meeting. 4. Mayor's Update: Mayor Bastian requested that this item be placed on the November 12, 1996 Council meeting agenda. M. FUTURE TOPICS The list of future topics was noted. N. ADJOURNMENT At 7:05 p.m., Mayor Bastian moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Carlson seconded and the motion was approved. There was no further discussion. Ayes: All