Approved Minutes 9-16-1998 SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, September 16, 1998 - 3:30 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3RD FLOOR
City Hall and Court House
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by Council President Bostrom
Present- 5 - Blakey, Bostrom, Coleman, Lantry, Reiter
Absent - 2 - Benanav (excused), Harris(arrived later in the meeting)
CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1 - 9)
Councilmember Blakey removed Item 9 for discussion.
Councilmember Lantry moved approval of the Consent Agenda as amended.
Adopted as amended Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
FOR ACTION
1. Approval of minutes of August 5, 12 & 19, 1998 and Closed Door Session of September 2, 1998.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays- 0
2. Claims of Harry Bartlett, Kaum Chranh, Eric Dieperink, Joseph Jefferson, Dennis Kreuser, Ray
Novakovic, Shirley Sparks, and Martin Wegleitner.
Referred to Employee/Risk Management Division
3. Summons in a Civil Action in the matter of Richard Cepulonis vs. the City of Saint Paul, et. al.
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
4. Cost Bond for Certiorari in the matter of 5005 Properties, Inc., dba Hillcrest Bingo vs. the City of
Saint Paul.
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
5. Amended Certificate as to Transcript in connection in the matter of 5005 Properties, Inc., dba
Hillcrest Bingo vs. the St. Paul City Council.
Referred to the City Attorney's Office
6. Communication from the Saint Paul Charter Commission recommending amendments to the Saint
Paul City Charter changing the term of City Councilmembers from two years to four years, and
removing the present salary cap for City Councilmembers and authorizing the City Council to fix
the salary of its members.
September 16, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 2
7. Administrative Order:
D001587 Amending the 1997 Capital Improvement Budget in the Division of Parks and
Recreation to provide spending authority for holiday tree footing and electrical work at
Ecolab Plaza and to accept reimbursement from Ecolab Inc.
Noted as on file in the City Clerk's Office
8. Resolution- 98-846 - Authorization to sell lead paint hazard control and lead hazard reduction
program services to Ramsey County.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
9. Resolution - 98-847 - Recognizing and naming the pavilion at Harriet Island as the Clarence
W. Wigington Pavilion at Harriet Island.
Jean Hart appeared representing the Clarence W. Wigington Legacy Project. She talked
about the life of Mr. Wigington saying that he was the first African American architect in the
State of Minnesota, the first municipal architect in the nation, one of two licensed architects
to practice in the Country, a member of the Architectural Department of Saint Paul from
1915 to 1947, and he designed the pavilion at Harriet Island. Mr. Wigington designed other
buildings such as schools, clubhouses, water towers, airport administration buildings, and ice
palaces. Many buildings still stand, three of which are on the national register of historic
places. He spoke out for equity and recognition of the talents of communities, he was the
founding member of the Sterling Club, the Home Guard of Minnesota, and a founder of the
Urban League.
Councilmember Coleman moved approval.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
MISCELLANEOUS
11. Recognition of North Star Steel as the first Saint Paul firm to join the Climate Wise program.
Peter Hames, Department of Technology and Management Services, appeared and stated
other firms are being recruited to join Saint Paul in its effort to reduce green house gas
emissions. Saint Paul is one of fifteen cities throughout the country which created these
kinds of partnerships.
Mayor Coleman appeared and stated there are 14 states and 15 cities that have participated in
Climate Wise. Mayor Coleman expressed his appreciation to Councilmember Blakey for his
role in the development of this program and Councilmember Lantry for having this program
in her ward. Mr. Coleman read a proclamation setting September 16, 1998, as North Star
September 16, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 3
Steel Day in Saint Paul. The proclamation was given to Steve Phillips from North Star Steel.
Steve Phillips said he thinks North Star Steel is the first steel company in the United States to
sign onto this program and he encouraged others in the local steel community to participate.
10. POLICY SESSION
Staffing Needs of the Police Emergency Communication Center
I. Police Emergency Communication Center Staff by Patrick Hefferman, St. Paul Police
Department Emergency Communication Center
II. Administration Staffing Priorities
1. Joe Reid, Budget Director
2. Police Chief William Finney
3. Ted Brown, Deputy Commander
4. Lt. Richard Dugan
III. Additional Information Regarding Police Communication Center Provided by Council
Research Staff
1. Gerry Strathman, Director, Council Investigation and Research Center
2. David Godfrey, Policy Analyst, Council Investigation and Research Center.
Suspension Items
Councilmember Lantry moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 98-848 - Supporting Metropolitan State University's efforts to fulfill its mission
as a comprehensive urban University.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
Councilmember Coleman moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following
resolution:
Resolution - 98-849 - Congratulating the new 1998 Harvest Festival Queen, Shauna Colbeth,
sponsored by Serlin's Cafe and officially declaring September 17, 1998 as Queen Shauna
Colbeth Day.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
September 16, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 4
Councilmember Coleman moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following
resolution:
Resolution - 98-850 - Accepting the generous gift from the Friends of the Saint Paul Farmers
Market to enable Deputy Mayor Tom Fabel to attend the International Public Market
Conference in Seattle, Washington for the purpose of expanding knowledge regarding
markets similar to the Saint Paul Farmers Market.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
(Harris arrived & Coleman left)
Councilmember Harris moved for suspension of the rules and approval of the following resolution:
Resolution - 98-851 - Approving the form of the ballot question recommended by the Saint
Paul Charter Commission to amend the Saint Paul City Charter 2.02 pertaining to the length
of a City Councilmember's term of office to four years.
Peter Warner, Assistant City Attorney, appeared and stated there was a communication on
the Consent Agenda requesting that two charter amendments be placed on the upcoming
election ballot. Mr. Warner had distributed a packet of information to each Councilmember
pertaining to the law with respect to the proposed amendments. He noted that the City
Council is allowed to phrase the ballot question, but he requested that the Council consider
the proposed language he prepared.
Councilmember Reiter asked if one of the recommendations could be eliminated. Mr.
Warner responded that the Charter Commission has the authority to ask that the questions be
put on the ballot but, again, the Council has the ability to phrase the question.
Councilmember Harris stated he is against the proposed language but acknowledged that it is
important for the public to know what the salary is fixed at now, when it became fixed at
$30,000, and that the Charter amendment would be asking that the Council be allowed to
vote to increase their own salary.
Adopted Yeas - 5 Nays - 0 (Coleman not present)
Peter Warner stated the language in the Charter presently has two references to
compensation for Councilmembers. In Section 2.07, the Councilmembers' salary is listed as
$14,000 and in Section 2.07.1 it indicates that the compensation is $30,000. The legislative
history that has led to these two provisions came about when the Council became part-time.
There was a law passed in 1973 that says the City of Saint Paul and its elected officials can
go back and "re-fix" the amount of their compensation as long as it is adopted under the
September 16, 1998 City Council Summary Minutes Page 5
appropriate ordinance. This amendment to the Charter will delete any reference for fixing
the compensation, but does not affect the ability of the Council to fix or re-fix the
compensation in the future. There is a special state law that allows the Council to do that
through the process set forth in the Administrative Code.
Councilmember Harris responded that this does not change the Administrative Code as there
has to be an affirmative vote of the Council to change it. Peter Warner concurred and added
that it says the Council can set its salary. Mr. Harris asked if this would allow a future
Council to increase their salary. Mr. Warner responded in the affirmative; however, he said
a future Council could amend their salary at any time under the Administrative Code.
Phil Byrne, Assistant City Attorney, recommended an amendment to one of the resolutions.
Councilmember Reiter asked why the salary issue was on the ballot six years ago. Council
President Bostrom responded that when the Council went from full-time to part-time, the
present salary was established at that time.
Councilmember Blakey moved for suspension of the rules to introduce the following resolution and
to layover to September 23:
Resolution - 98-852 - Approving the form of the ballot question recommended by the Saint
Paul Charter Commission to amend the Saint Paul City Charter 2.07 and 2.07.1 pertaining to
the annual salary of a City Councilmember.
Laid over to September 23 Yeas - 5 Nays - 0 (Coleman not present)
Councilmember Lantry moved to adjourn the meeting.
Roll Call: Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
ADJOURNED AT 5:20 P.M.
Daniel Bostrom, Council President
ATTEST:
Minutes approved by Council
NancyAridtrson R . \y \` C
Assistant Council Secretary
rn/mce