263174 WHITE - CITY CLERK COlI11C11 ��
PINK - FINANCE �ITY OF SAINT PAUL
CANARY - DEPARTMENT A
BLUE - MAVOR File NO. �f
i---
� Cou _ci Resolution �
Presented By
Referred To Committee: Date
Out of Committee By Date
RESOLVED� Tha.t the Council extends to Vincent Coughlin,
Planning Coordina.tor of the City of Saint Paul� its sincere thanks
and deep appreciation for ima.ginative and creative planning on
behalf of the City of Saint Paul, and extends to him its best
wishes for further success in this vital and creative field.
COUIVCILMEN
Yeas Nays Requested by Department of:
� Butler
�► In Favor
Levine �
�r Against BY
e esco��
��'��r. .�,�,� FEB 2 Z ��4 Form pprove by Cit or
�6pY�d��1: �ate �
Certified s d by ounci ret BY
By
Appro by Maxor: Date Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
gy By
PUBL�sH�o �{AR 9 1974 "
r
, c � a�� � �y _--
� � ,�
Desember 15, 1973 ,
, � �
Dear Larry,
I did not have an opportunity to talk with you last week so I am .
writing this letter to alert you to some matters that have recentiy occurred
so that you will be in a position to takeappropriate ac�ion if and when
necessary. The fact is,Larry, that I have been approached by 2 private
organizations over the las�several months with very lucrative $z�xz��ekx
job offers. While T have macle no con�n�itments I want you to know that Im
seriously considering both situations. I have explained in both cases ,
that you and I are now involved mn something of an accelerated program
to get the required staff essembled and to get the planning operation
functioning smoothly as an integral part ofi your adininistration. Both
companies havekindly consentdd to defe;r any decision on the question
unti7 we have achieved sufficient progress.
What it comes downto, Larry, is that �xau�x�sxs�x only you can decide
when that point has been reached. I will say that I am personally �nterested
in both of these proposals since they would represent esce7lent opportunities
in the private sector and, as we discussed, that really is ir�y long range
objective. In any event I wanted you to be the first to know of this matter�
T would like to sit down at your earliest convenience this week to
. discuss the matter more speclfically.
,
Sincerely,
, ' � . . . � � � '�./ f . � � � � .
PS Excuse the hunting and pecking. -
p
� � .
- .. CI-1�Y UF= SAINT PAUL
,:,, � '
�'�,� OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
VINCENT M. COUGHLIN
January 31 , 19J'4 PLANN{NG COORDfNATOR
Ho�iorable Lawrence D. Cohen
Ptayor of the City of Saint Paul �
347 City Ha71
Saint Paul , Minnesota 55102
Dear Larry:
This letter is to make official our recent discussions in which I advised you
of n�y decision to accept the position with the private development corporation
tl�at we first discussed last December. My resignation wili be effective as of
March l , 1974.
it has indeed been a privilege and a great pleasure to have worked with you
aver the past year to assist in �carrying out your commitment to a planning
prog►-ani tf�at will enable your ad�ninistral;ion to conduct public business
sensibly and effectively. When you and i first discussed the position of
Planning Coordinator back in 1972, a�e reached the understandiny then that I
did not want to stay with government as a career, and tliat I had already
decided to conclude my tenure in public service to allow me to devote more
time to my family and other interests.
I made a commitm�nt to you then �:hat I would c{a my utmost to assist you in
restructuring city government in accordance wi�h the new Charter and �o create
a much stror�ger planning function. I accepted the pos9tion becaus� I shared
your aspirations for good planning in Saint Paul and I have done my very best
to assemble the most competent professional staff available and to reach out
to all the agencies and organizations wnose planning was having an impact on
our City.
I feel that to a large degree this has been accomplished and I cite the �
excellent working relationship that has been established for the first time
with many of the operating departments, �the semi-independent agencies of the
City such as Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Port Authority, with
tl�e ��letropolitan Council , City of Minneapolis, the Capitol Area Architectural
and Planning Conunission, and various agencies of the Federal Government. In
short, Mayor, despite some of the difficulties and delays inherent in an .
undertaking of this magnitude, T feel that I have carried out your mandate
and that very real progress has been made, much to the benefit of this great
City and its peopie.
With regard to specific areas of progress, I would point to the following:
1 . Reorganization and recruiting efforts� have resulted in a planning staff �
that, while numerica�ly small , has now achieved a degree of professional
� � 421 Wabasha, Saint Pauf, Minnesota 55102
(�12) 29�-41 S 1
� t � �
Honorable Lawrence D. Cohen - 2 � January 31 , 1974.
competence that invites favorable comparison with the planning capability
of other major cities.
2. Your appointments to the membership of the recently created Planning
Co���mission are of the highest calibre, combining sophisticated judgment .
witl� a keen sensitivity to the aspirations of Saint Paul 's citizens. T
feel that the real pol:ential of the new Commission as a positive and
creative addition to the public decision-making process is only beginning .
to be realized.
3. A modified version of the Department's total work program, as outiined to
� the Federal Government some months ago, is now becoming a reality as the
services of competent professional staff are secured, and as the various
subcommittees of the Conunission begin to address themselves to the sub-
stantive issues that affect Saint Paul .
In conclusion I wish to express my deepest �ppreciation to you for having
selected me to provide direction to this program. I hope that my perfo nnance
in tliis position iias warranted your confidence and that this planning proyram,
initiated under your direction, continues to grow and prosper for the benefit
of all citizens of Saint Paul .
Tl�is has been an exciting period of time for me, working �under your outstanding
ieadership, and I always hope to consider you rr�y friend.
Sincerely, . �
�Z f � , � � ' .
�____�
7�''1.�
Vincent M. Coughlin
VMC:da .
, , .
, , :
- .� .� • Cl�l Y UF SAIN1r PAUL
. , ,
, � .
,,,
'' OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
1' , ;
CI?Y PLANNING DEPARTMENT
VINCENT M. COUGHLIN
January 31 , 1974 PLANNING COORDINATOR
Nonorable Lawrence D. Cohen
Playor of the City of Saint Paul
347 City Nall
Saint Paul , Minnesota 55102
Dear Larry:
This letter is to make official our recent discussions in which I advised you
of n�y decision to accept the position with the private deve7opment corporation
tl�at we first discussed last December. N�y resignation will be effective as of
March 1 , 1974.
It has indeed been a privilege and a great pleasure to have worked with you
over t{ie past year to assist in carrying out your commitment to a planning
prograia� thai: will enable your administra�Cion to concfuct public business
sensibly and effectively. 4Jhen you and i first discussed the position of
Planning Coordinator back in 1972, a�e reached the understanding then that I
did not want to stay with government as a career, and tl�at I had already
decided to conclude my tenure in public service to a11ow me to devote more
time tv my family and other interests.
I made a commitment to you then 1:hat I would clo my utmost to assist you in
restructuring city government in accordance wi1;h the new Charter and to create
a much stronger planning func�ion. I accepl;ed the position because I shared
your aspirations for good planning in Saint Paul and I have done it�y very best
to assemble the most competent professional s�aff available and to reach out
to all the agencies and organizations whose planning was having an impact on
our Ci ty.
I feel ti�at to a large degree this has been accomplished and I cite the �
excellent working relationship that has been established for the first time
with many of the operating departments, the semi-independent agencies of the
City such as Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Port Authority, with
the (�letropolitan Council , City of Minneapolis, the Capitol Area Architectural
and Planning Commission, and various agencies of the Federal 6overnment. In
sliort, Mayor, despite some of the difficulties and delays inherent in an .
undertaking of this magnitude, I feel that I have carried out your mandate
and that very real progress has been made, much to the benefit of this great
City and its people. _
With regard to specific areas of progress, T would point to the following:
1 . Reorganiiation and recruiting efforts have resulted in a planning staff
that, while numerically sma11 � has now achieved a degree of professional
� 421 Wabasha, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55 i 02
(612) 29�-4151
' y .. ,
Honorable Lawrence D. Cohen - 2 - January 31 , 1914
competence that invites favorable comparison with the planning capability
of other major cities.
2. Your appointments to the membership of the recently created Planning
Commission are of the highest calibre, combining sophisticated judgment .
with a keen sensitivity to the aspirations of Saint Paul 's citizens. I
feel that the real potential of the new Commission as a positive and
creative addition to the public decision-making process is only beginning
to be realized.
3. A modified version of the Department's total work program, as outlined to
the Federal Government some months ago, is now becoming a reality as the
services of competent professional staff are secured, and as the various
subcommittees of the Commission begin to address themselves to the sub-
stantive issues that affect Saint Paul .
In conclusion I wish to express rr�y deepest appreciation to you for having
selected me to provide direction to this program. I hope that my performance
in this pasition has warranted your confidence and that this planning program,
initiated under your direction, continues to grow and prosper for the benefit
of all citizens of Saint Paul .
This has been an exciting period of time for me, working under your outstanding
leadership, and I always hope to consider you my friend.
Sincerely,
z�` �-�. . �
� �
Vincent M. Coughlin
VMC:da
_. .-
Deeember 15, 1973 �
Dear Larry,
I did not have an opportunity to talk with you last week so I am .
writing this letter to alert you to some matters that have recently occurred
so that you will be in a position to takeappropriate action if and when
necessary. The fact is,Larry, that I have been approached by 2 private
arganizations over the lastseveral months with very lucrative 8z�xz�cfcexs
job offers. While I have i��ade no commitments I want you to know that Im
seriously considering both situations. I have explained in both cases ,
that you and I are now involved mn something of an accelerated program
to get the required staff essembled and to get the planning operation
functioning smoothly as an integral part of your administration. Both
companies havekindly consentdd to defer any decision on the question
until we have achieved sufficient progress.
What it comes downto, Larry, is that �xaa�x�axs�x only you can decide
when that point has been reached. I will say that I am personally �nterested
� in both of these proposals since they would represent egcellent opportunities
in the private sector and, as we discussed, that really is my lang range
objective. In any event I wanted you to be the first to know of this matter�
I would like to sit down at your earliest convenience this week to
. discuss the matter more specifically. ,
Sincerely,
.,� f _
_ . . r'
PS Excuse the hunting and pecking�