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<br />Minutes of Special Council/Finance Committee Meeting, September 17
<br />Page 3
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<br />and tress. New Brighton, Mounds View, and Roseville have a program similar to
<br />Arden Hills'; Shoreview removes trees from public property only and responds to
<br />citizens' complaints.
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<br />Noting that the tree inspector is a full time parks employee, whose salary is a
<br />part of the levy regardless of where the time is charged, Erickson asked if a
<br />savings could result if his time in this area was switched to park maintenance,
<br />and one of the part time employees deleted, and someone outside hired to
<br />respond only to citizen concerns with their trees. Buckley replied this could
<br />be done, but we would not get the service we do now, since Dave is around all
<br />the time when calls come in. Steele noted that trees are spoken of as a
<br />renewable resource, however, not in one person's lifetime; are extremely
<br />valuable, does not think homeowners can be depended upon to call for assistance
<br />when a tree is diseased, prefer the program not become more expensive, but
<br />would not like to see it cut. McNiesh asked that the actual amOunt of time
<br />Winkel spends on the program be accurately recorded, so we know exactly what
<br />the program costs. Erickson stated he saw this as a program that was necessary
<br />in 1981, but City is now at the point where we could accomplish as much by
<br />going to a "pay as you go" inspection service.
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<br />Motion was made by Menze, seconded by Nesset, that the program be left as
<br />budgeted. Motion failed (Menze, Nesset in favor, Erickson, McNiesh,
<br />Mertensotto, Rautio, Shad, Stafford, Steele opposed). Motion was made by
<br />Steele, seconded by McNiesh, that the program be cut back to $15,500. Motion
<br />was withdrawn by Steele and seconder McNiesh. Motion was made by Nesset,
<br />seconded by Mertensotto, that the additional summer employee in Parks
<br />Maintenance budget be deleted, and Winkel be "spread a little thinner". Motion
<br />carried; Erickson, McNiesh, Mertensotto, Nesset, Rautio, Shah, Stafford, Steele
<br />in favor, Menze opposed.
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<br />Self Sustainin~ Recreation (p. 49, 50) Rev. +$2,000 Exp. -10,200
<br />The budget suggests adding a half-time Program Director to assist in
<br />administering the present program, and additional programs that seem to be
<br />desired by residents. Committee had asked for comparison of program fees with
<br />neighboring communities, and consideration for increase in fees; Buckley's
<br />comparison shows Arden Hills fees all at a level with, or higher, than those of
<br />neighboring communities. Erickson maintained that baseball teams (which pay
<br />$50 more in Arden Hills than any where else) are usually sponsored by
<br />corporations who do not care what the fee may be. Councilman Sather pointed
<br />out that he, as a corporate sponsor, is concerned about the fee; is an
<br />important consideration when sponsoring a team. Buckley added that in order to
<br />charge fees such as this or higher, a well-maintained, adequate field needs to
<br />be provided; Arden Hills' fields are well-maintained, but are not fenced and
<br />not as large as those of surrounding communities; feels the fee is as high as
<br />the traffic can bear. It was asked if many of the teams are non-resident;
<br />Buckley replied they are mostly sponsored by resident companies and their
<br />employees are the players.
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<br />Buckley added that the hockey, soccer and baseball associations are now
<br />completely parent-sponsored and operated. These associations are asking now
<br />for more and more help in maintaining the programs; feels that if some belp in
<br />scheduling and organization is not given, the parents could conceivably turn
<br />them back to the cities, which would result in highly increased work load. The
<br />requested additional program director would help in this area as well.
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