09-07-1976 SpecialCITY OF RICHFIELD
SPECIAL MEETING - BUDGET HEARING
September 7, 1976
Pursuant to the provisions of the City Charter of Richfield, the City
Council held a special session on Tuesday, September 7, 1976 at 7:00 PM in
The Council Chambers of the City Hall to hold a hearing on the 1977 proposed
budget and other matters.
The meeting was called to order by President Pro Tempore Luettinger.
Present: Anderson, Jacobsen, Ludeman, Luettinger
Absent: Law
1. 1977 Proposed Budget
President Pro Tempore Luettinger opened the city council hearing on 'the
proposed 1977 General Fund Budget by asking the city manager to begin his
presentation of the proposed 1977 General Fund Budget. The city manager
presented information on the proposed budget which had been previously sub-
witted to the city council. He indicated the need to reduce services in
1977 because of the state levy limit law and pro3ected large operating
deficits in 1978 and future years if the law were not changed.
Mayor Law arrived at 7:20 PM.
Administrative assistant, Joyce Wilde, participated in the presentation
by explaining graphs which had been prepared to illustrate the effect of in-
flation and the need for change in the levy limit law.
2. Request by Knutson Corporation for a Special Use Permit and Two Zoning
Variances
Mayor Law .suggested the city council temporarily continue the hearing
until later in the meeting to permit consideration of the Knutson Corporation
request for a special use apartment permit and two zoning variances.
Mayor Law opened the hearing on this matter by requesting a staff
presentation on the proposal.
Budget Hearing -2- September 7, 1976
Richard Krier, planning director, reviewed the request of the Knutson -
Corporation for the special use permit and the two zoning variances. He
reported that it was necessary for the city council to reconsider this matter
-because the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the concurrence
of the Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency, had required the Knutson Corpo-
ration to relocate the senior citizen apartment structure on the site so as
to minimize the impact of noise on the project.
Robert Nelson, Wold Associates, architect for the project, and Messrs.
Glen Olson and Robert Liebig:represented the Knutson Corporation. Mr. Nelson
reviewed the revised site plan showing the new location of the building. He
and Mr. Liebig indicated that except for the site revision, the concept for
the building remained substantially unchanged.
Councilman Luettinger asked questions concerning life safety protection
devices which are to be included in the project. Other council. members in-
dicated an interest in other design aspects of the project and Mr. Nelson
reviewed the architectural aspects of the proposal.
Motion by Ludeman, seconded by Anderson to close the hearing.
A11 ayes - Carried.
Motion by Ludeman, seconded by Jacobsen to grant a variance of 9 feet
on Chicago Avenue.
All ayes - Carried.
Motion by Anderson, seconded by Ludeman to grant a variance of 14 feet
on 77th Street.
A11 ayes - Carried.
In answer to a question, the planning director reported that the variance
on height o-f=the building had been issued previously as part of the earlier
Budget Hearing -3- September 7, 1976
consideration by the city council of this project.
Motion by Anderson, seconded by Luettinger to grant the apartment use
permit with the stipulations recommended by the city staff and planning
commission in Council Letter No. 272.
A11 ayes - Carried.
The Knutson Corporation representatives agreed to make more detailed
information on architectural working drawings available to the city council
during the regular September 13, 1976 city council meeting. Councilman Luettinger
agreed to meet with representatives of the Knutson Corporation prior to that
time to review the life safety protection devices and the manner in which they
would be incorporated in this project.
3. Continuation of Budget Hearing
Mayor Law continued the hearing on the proposed 1977 General Fund budget.
1"he city manager concluded his presentation and asnwered questions from members
of the council on the proposed budget.
Gertrude Ulrich, 7601 Aldrice Avenue, presented comments on how elected
officials can best influence members of the legislature concerning the need
to amend the levy limitation law.
Councilman Luettinger suggested that the city council develop a list of
subjects, as they reviewed the proposed budget document, which they would want
and federal
to discuss with state legislators. It was initially suggested that the
following three subjects be included on this list;
1. The need to amend the levy limit law to enable the City of
Richfield to continue to provide quality services to residents.
2. The adverse and unreasonable impact of the recently enacted
unemployment law which the state legislature imposed on
municipalities.
Budget Hearing. -4- September 7, 1976
3. The need to have Dutch elm disease control costs reinstated
as a special levy.
Council members expressed concern over the-need to reduce services in
1977 and the need to make some further very substantial service cuts in 1978
if the levy limit laws were not amended. Councilman Luettinger suggested
that in addition to the city manager's proposal to eliminate certain positions,
the city council should declare a moritorium on filling vacant positions.
Motion by Luettinger, seconded by Ludeman to declare a hold on filling
full time position vacancies except for federally funded CETA positions.
All ayes - Carried.
The city manager commented on the city council action by suggesting
that it was a desirable short term action during the period of council con-
sideration of the proposed budget, but that it would be appropriate for the
action to be rescinded once the council had adopted the 1977 budget which
provides for the work program for that year. Councilman Luettinger indicated
that he would be amenable to such action when the budget was adopted.
Mayor Law requested the city manager to begin reviewing the individual
budget activities in the General Fund budget. 7,"he city council completed
review of the Mayor-Council activity and the city manager budget activity,
but indicated a desire to give. further consideration to out o.f state con-
ference attendance policies.
Motion by Ludeman, seconded by Jacobsen that the department directors
prepare a proposed city policy on their attendance at out of state conferences
and training sessions and that this proposed policy be submitted to the city
council for consideration,.
All ayes - Carried.
Budget Hearing -5- September 7, 1976
Motion by Ludeman, seconded by Luettinger that the city manager provide
members of the city council with all of the detail indicating proposed 1977
expenditures in the Travel and Conferences Minor Object Account in each of
the General Fund budget activities.
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A11 ayes - Carried.
Motion by Ludeman, seconded by Luettinger that. the city manager provide
council members with information indicating which department directors had
attended out of state conferences in 1976.
All ayes - Carried.
Motion by Jacobsen, seconded by Luettinger that the hearing be adjourned
and continued to September 9, 1976.
All ayes - Carried. Time: 10:30 PM. ~
Date Approved: September 13, 1976 "'/~~
Lo en L. Law ~a
Thomas J. Mora City Clerk Wayne S. Burggraa