02-12-02 Worksession
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
February 12, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:30 p.m.
Members Present:
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Gertrude Ulrich; John Enger; Susan Rosenberg; and
Sue Sandahl.
Staff Present:
Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety
Director; John Stark, Community Development Manager; Deborah Guiher,
Deputy City Clerk; and Corrine Thomson, City Attorney.
Item # I
City Manager Orduno stated that the Senate and House submitted reduction plans that did not
include significant Local Government Aid (LGA) reductions and doesn't include excess levy
reductions, which for the City of Richfield, is approximately $1,000,040. For this year it looks like
there won't be significant cuts to the LGA, unless it is incorporated into the final version. Additional
cuts can be anticipated for next year.
City Manager Orduno said that the City would continue with budget reduction plans. Some of
the suggestions are to eliminate Safety Camp, re-evaluate fees for services and continue the hiring
freeze indefinitely. Also by reducing the City newsletter from once a month to once every other
month, the City would save between $30,000 and $35,000. City Manager Orduno asked the City
Council for direction.
Council Member Ulrich stated that six issues per year is a good idea as long as the good
formatting and professionalism continue.
Council Member Sandahl also agreed that this is a good way to save money for the City.
Council Member Rosenberg stated that in the past, residents have felt there was a lack of
communication between the City and residents. She said she is reluctant to reduce any information
to residents.
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Mayor Kirsch stated that any time there is a problem, residents blame it on a lack of
communication. He said the information is available, but not always being read.
City Manager Orduno said that if the need arises, a special newsletter could be prepared.
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February 12, 2002
Council Member Enger stated that he has no problem with going from twelve publications to
six as long as it is understood that if necessary, a special publication could be done. He also stated
that Council Member's telephone numbers should be in the publications.
City Manager Orduno stated that there is also a freeze on travel and training except for those
required by law.
Council Member Ulrich asked how this freeze would affect conferences that are held in the
City or metro area.
City Manager Orduno answered that money is in the budget for these meetings.
Council Member Enger stated the need to maintain the City's presence at meetings, even if
only one Council Member is present. He said the City's presence will show that we are interested
and active in issues.
City Manager Orduno stated the City would wait a few weeks before implementing any of the
plans discussed, and that City staff would continue being updated.
Council Member Sandahl asked if the City is looking at lay-offs.
City Manager Orduno answered that we are not hiring, and there could be lay-offs.
Council Member Sandahl stated she would like to see the City keep the Safety Camp
program. She asked if fees could be charged.
Council Member Enger also suggested getting money donated from different businesses in
the City to help with the cost for Safety Camp.
Mayor Kirsch requested that staff review the Safety Camp program and see if there is any
way it could be kept.
Council Member Ulrich questioned how the budget reduction would affect staff training.
City Manager Orduno stated that training would remain the same. However, the City is
looking at how training can be most cost effective.
Item # II
Community Development Manager Stark introduced the speakers that would be presenting
the 1-494 Cedar/France Subarea Travel Demand Management Study. He said the Hennepin County
Department of Transit and Community Works commissioned a study of the potential for
implementation of Travel Demand Management (TDM) on a regional basis. The purpose of TDM is
to identify systematic methods for encouraging travel by modes other than the single occupancy
vehicle. The region identified in the Hennepin County study is 1-494 from Cedar Avenue to France
Avenue.
The primary recommendations contained in the TDM Study are:
. The creation of a regional Travel Management Association (TMA) which would consist of
members representing large traffic generators in the area.
. The provision, or coordination, of services (such as vanpooling, park-and-ride lots, etc.) to
be provided to members of the TMA.
Fred Dock, Meyer, Mohaddes Associates, Inc., explained that this study is an analysis of the
roles that transit and Travel Demand Management (TDM) play in the success of suburban
redevelopment. The understanding of that role is used to define a model for better and earlier
integration of redevelopment and transportation system improvements. The study included an
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February 12, 2002
inventory of study area conditions, evaluation of needs related to planned growth and regional
interaction and development of several alternate TDM strategies and identification of transit
enhancements to support those strategies. The findings support recommendation of a collaborative
strategy to form a Transportation Management Association (TMA) to customize transit service and
TDM activities for the study area. The findings also note that the TMA-based strategy will only go so
far towards addressing mobility issues in the study area. Continued efforts will be needed at the City
and agency level to ensure that best practices are used 1) in development to support
transit/ridesharing and 2) in design of the regional highway system to support transit and other TDM
activities in the study area and the larger 1-494 Corridor. Continued efforts to expand transit funding
will be critical to the success of TDM in the study area. Similarly an integrated strategy that layers
site, roadway, and transit improvements will be needed to fully utilize the available transit dollars.
Item # III
City Manager Orduno discussed an increase to the user fees for false alarms. These fees
were established in 1991 and have not been adjusted since. She said the City is also looking at an
increase in the processing fees for pet licenses as well as the Point of Sale Program, which is not
cost efficient. These fees need to be re-evaluated and presented for a change in the fee schedule.
Item # IV
City Manager Orduno and City Attorney Thomson had discussed the open meeting law
requirements and both agree that ceremonial or social events should not be posted. Posting all of
these events gives an unfair picture of Council attendance.
Council Member Ulrich stated that posting ceremonial or social meeting notices is counter
productive and doing the opposite of what is intended. If a notice is posted, and a quorum of three
Council Members is present, they can actually conduct business. There would be no staff present, or
members of the public that would normally want to attend these meetings.
City Attorney Thomson stated that social functions and ceremonial events are not meetings.
She said the Council is not there to discuss City business or receive information as a group about a
matter that may come before the City Council. The Open Meeting law is intended to address
receiving information as a group on something that will come before the City Councilor discuss City
business. When attending social functions, the Council needs to avoid discussion of City business.
The City has gone too far with posting these notices, and is misleading the public because it suggests
that business is going to be conducted, and it isn't.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:37 p.m.
Date Approved: Februarv 26. 2002
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Deborah Guiher
Deputy City Clerk
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