MINUTES OF HIGHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING

June 1, 2006

Members of the Highland District Council Board met at e Hillcrest Recreation Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, Minnesota 55116, at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2006. Council members present were: Al Abrahamson, Peter Armstrong, Shawn Bartsh, Scott Bunin, Layne Carver, Claudia Dieter, Bill Driver, John Goering, Bill Klein, Angie Kline, Bill Mahaffey, Dave Pinto, Mike Wilson, and Jenny Winkelman. Absent and excused was Ted Davis. Also absent were Ryan Carlson, Pat McCallig, Kelly Pierce, and Conrad Soderholm.

1. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the May 4, 2006, meeting were considered. Minor corrections were requested, and it was agreed that revised minutes would be submitted by e-mail for approval.

2. Election of Officers

The Council then proceeded to the election of officers. With each of the offices considered separately, the following persons were elected as officers of the Council for 2006-2007:

President	Peter Armstrong
Vice President	Scott Bunin
Secretary	Bill Klein
Treasurer	John Goering

3. Election of Grid 11 Representative

Because of a lack of sufficient grid residents at the 2005 annual meeting, no representatives was then elected for Grid 11. Pursuant to the Council�s bylaws, the Council is entitled to fill the vacancy, and has publicized the vacancy. However, as no Grid 11 resident was present seeking the position, upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board tabled consideration of this matter to the July meeting in the hope that candidates will offer themselves for election to fill this vacancy.

4. Community Organizer�s Report

Community Organizer Gayle Summers indicated that five volunteers were needed for the Safety Fair to be held at Hillcrest Elementary School from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. The event is co-sponsored by the Council and the Macalester-Groveland Community Council.

Gayle reported on the results from the May Spring Clean-up, which produced the largest deposit ever � $13, 594 (compared to 2005�s deposit of roughly $9,000). This will not cover all costs of the event. The difference is covered by the City.

Gayle circulated a Board contact list to obtain current contact information from Board members.

5. Community Forum

Steve Miller from Chatterbox Pub asked the Council to support his request for a waiver of a one month waiting period related to placing a sidewalk caf� on the south side of the restaurant. The Council�s approval was not necessary for the sidewalk caf�, but its approval of the waiting period waiver would allow the restaurant to proceed more quickly.

Council members discussed details of the proposal with Mr. Miller, who explained City�s requirements for the area, the restaurant�s intentions regarding monitoring and times the patio area would remain open, and experience at the Minneapolis Chatterbox location. Monitoring would include a security camera with recordings that would be kept a minimum of 21 days. Issues of green space, disability access, and alcohol use also were discussed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Council, by a 7 to 5 vote, approved a resolution supporting the waiver.

Joan Sundquist asked the Council to provide a letter of support for a proposal for a Star grant to support improvements to the Horace Mann playground, including corrections to drainage problems. Some concerns were expressed regarding late night basketball at the playground, which lead to discussions of this issue at other outdoor basketball hoops in the City, such as the one located at Homecroft. Joan indicated that she would take those concerns back to the group planning the improvements at Horace Mann. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Council approved sending a letter of support for the grant request. Angie Kline recused herself from the vote.

Bill Driver indicated that the Council also would receive a request for support for a Star grant request to help finance modifications to the playground at the Talmud Torah School, which is open to neighborhood use.

6. City Budget Issues

Nancy Homans, the Mayor�s Policy Director, discussed the City�s budgeting process and issues related to the projected 2007 budget shortfall. Present estimates indicate a $15 million structural deficit, which is roughly the costs associated with 212 administration employees or 115 police or fire employees. If covered by increased taxes, the City�s levy would have to rise approximately 23%.

Nancy indicated that there had been no increase in the City�s levy in 12 years, and that local government aid from the State had been decreased in recent years as a consequence of the State�s budget issues. According to Nancy the City has essentially exhausted one-time spending cuts and other budgetary changes to address shortfalls in prior years.

The Mayor is looking to deal with the issue through a four-year plan that would involve some one-time fixes that remain available as well as using other tools available to the City. At the end of the four-year period the goal is to have regular City income equal regular City expenses. City staff is involved in a strategic planning process to determine what will be needed to accomplish this.

The Mayor�s staff also is meeting with all the District Councils seeking input on these issues, and, in that connection, Nancy distributed a compact disk that can be used in connection with the City�s website for �budget crunching exercises.� Individuals can use this to plug in possible changes to the budget to see how they would affect the overall budget, and, in general, get a better idea of how expensive it is to run the City of Saint Paul.

Following discussion of the budget, several Council members asked Nancy to pass back to the Mayor concerns about the future of the Ford plant site in light of Ford Motor Company�s announced plans to close the plant, and asking for some movement in the planning process.

7. Committee Reports

President Peter Armstrong requested that each of the current Committee chairs provide a brief description of the Committee�s charge as part of the report to the Council so that new Council members could take that into account in determining the Committee on which they would like to serve during the next Council year.

8. Community Development

Committee Chair Angie Kline discussed the function of the Committee, indicating that it meets as needed to deal with zoning and land use issues, including requests for major variances, with respect to which the Committee makes recommendations after providing an opportunity for neighborhood input. The Committee also addresses minor variance requests if there are neighborhood concerns expressed.

The Committee met in May to consider a request from Stuart Simek with respect to a development at St. Paul Avenue and Yorkshire. A previous request for a variance had been approved, but changes in the State Building Code required an additional variance related to the location of air conditioning equipment in from of the building. The Committee supported the request.

The Committee also discussed proposed zoning changes for the Mississippi River Critical Area proposed by the City-appointed Mississippi River Critical Area Task Force. Issues involve height restrictions, the effect on the Ford plant site, and park space. The Committee plans to meet on June 13 at 7:00 to revisit this matter.

9. Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee had not met since the last Council meeting. Chair John Goering indicated that the Committee addressed transportation-related issues in the community, defined fairly broadly, including parking, stop sign requests and issues, street striping and traffic calming, traffic safety and speed, and public transit.

10. Community Services

Committee Chair Jenny Winkelman reported the Committee dealt with a variety of issues that do not fall within the purview of the Community Development and Transportation Committees, including parks, recreation, and crime prevention. Most recent activity related to aspects of the Mississippi River Critical Area Task Force recommendations, which crossed Committee boundaries in the matters it addressed. Jenny described in further detail the time frames expected to apply to the Task Force�s report, action by the Planning Commission, and consideration by the City Council.

11. District Plan

Committee Chair Scott Bunin reported that the revised District Plan, including provisions for a forty-acre study of the Ford Plant site, had been submitted to the City, and that a planner had been assigned.

12. Highland Business Association

Highland Fest is scheduled for July 21 through 23, about three weeks earlier than in past years. Council members were invited by HBA to help staff the Association�s information booth near the intersection of Ford Parkway and Cleveland Avenue. Concerns were expressed regarding the 2005 experience of some Council members as well as the minimal ability to promote the Council and its activities as part of the volunteer effort. These issues would be explored and opportunities to participate would be made available to Council members by e-mail during the month of June.

13. Treasurer�s Report

There was no Treasurer�s Report.

14. Next Meeting

The Council�s next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, July 6. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Council agreed to change the date to Thursday, July 13.

15. President�s Report

President Peter Armstrong requested that each Committee schedule a meeting during June to elect a chair. He also suggested that each Committee consider electing a vice-chair to assist in Committee activities and administration during the next year.

As the recommendations of the Mississippi River Critical Area Task Force related to matters within the purview of both the Community Development and Community Services Committees, Peter asked that the Committees present a combined report at the next meeting, and that this be prepared by an ad hoc committee consisting of at least two members from each Committee, to be designated by the chairs of the two Committees.

Peter requested that the Council authorize the expenditure of up to $750 for printing of a welcome brochure previously discussed by the Board. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Council approved this expenditure.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

William D. Klein

Secretary