HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03-10-1993 Special 2MINUTES
STUDY SESSION
MARCH 10, 1993
A special meeting study session of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by
Deputy Mayor Edson at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room of the City Center,
3400 Plymouth Blvd., on March 10, 1993.
PRESENT: Deputy Mayor Edson, Councilmembers Tierney and Vasiliou
ABSENT: Mayor Bergman, Councilmember Helliwell
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson. Community Development Director Dillerud,
and City Clerk Rauenhorst
City Manager Johnson stated the purpose of the study session is to review the Head Start
funding request. The City Council considered this issue on March 1, and he reviewed the
original staff report and recommendation that the City allocate no more than $25,000 from
the 1993 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for capital improvements for a
Head Start facility at the former Brooklyn Park Town Hall. The recommended resolution
had several conditions, one of which was that the amount of capital contribution would be
related to the number of Plymouth children served at the facility. He stated several staff
and Council members toured the Head Start facility in Minneapolis.
Manager Johnson provided two alternative resolutions for Council consideration. One
would allocate $25,000 for the provision of Head Start services to children of Plymouth at
a location within the City of Plymouth or within so many miles. The second would
contribute $16,500 to support the capital improvements as requested, and states that
further funding of such facilities in a location more convenient to Plymouth will be
considered in 1994 and 1995 if satisfactory progress is being made toward planning and
development of western suburban facilities. He stated a final option would be for the City
to allocate nothing.
Councilmember Vasiliou stated Plymouth children have been served through Head Start
and there is a waiting list of Plymouth children. She believes the City should contribute
something toward the capital request.
Councilmember Tierney stated historically Head Start services have been offered through
a single site in Minneapolis. There are now two buildings in Minneapolis and two other
partial sites. It has been difficult to get suburban sites.
The Council discussed the transportation issues involved. Councilmember Edson asked
how Plymouth children currently attend the Head Start site in Minneapolis.
Council Study Session
March 10, 1993
Page 2
Councilmember Vasiliou stated Head Start transports children to the sites; however, there
is still the issue of travel distance for young children and the distance concerns for parents.
Councilmember Tierney stated she is concerned with whether the condition regarding the
percentage of services to Plymouth children contained in the original resolution could be
done. At the March 1 Council meeting, a representative indicated that Head Start federal
mandates are established for entry to the program. It may be impossible for Head Start to
comply with a condition that a certain percentage of Plymouth children be served if the
needs of other children are greater at a given time. Councilmember Tierney stated that
Senator Reichgott believes additional Head Start operational funding is coming; therefore,
this is a good time to ensure that facilities are available.
Councilmember Vasiliou reported that a group is working on a facility in Plymouth that
would be an alternative to Head Start. There may be opportunities for the City to
contribute toward capital funding for that project within Plymouth. She will check on the
status of this project. She stated concerns with donating the money toward learning
readiness programs because this would be used for operational funding and would not be
significant when divided among the four school districts serving Plymouth.
Councilmember Tierney also expressed concern about donating money toward school
district early learning programs as it blurs the line between the traditional service deliveries
by the State, City, County, and Schools. It may also be difficult to determine which
school districts and nursery schools receive funding.
Councilmember Edson stated the city is the closest level of government to the citizens.
They perceive that the city provides physical services, while the county has traditionally
provided social services. Social services need to be dealt with on a larger scale than the
city level. He stated Plymouth residents expect their tax dollars to be spent to benefit
Plymouth citizens; not a larger service area. He suggested that $16,500 be donated
toward the capital costs of the Brooklyn Park facility in order to support those Plymouth
children who have and will be served through Head Start. The remainder could be used
for a local program or facility - not necessarily Head Start.
Councilmember Vasiliou concurred with these comments and noted that a contribution of
16,500 would be significant given the limited number of Plymouth children proposed to
be served at the Brooklyn Park facility. She also noted that the City's total donation
toward social service programs is about $40,000 this year. She stated people also have
concerns about the huge administrative costs in the school district early learning programs.
Some agencies can do much better. For example, Interfaith Outreach claims that 86 cents
of every dollar goes directly to services. She doesn't support donating $25,000 to Head
Start when there may be an opportunity available for capital funding of a non -Head Start
site within Plymouth that could serve more children.
Council Study Session
March 10, 1993
Page 3
Councilmember Edson stated he is proposing the $16,500 be donated for capital
improvements only. The structure will be used for many years and the City can justify the
expenditure because many children will be served over a period of years.
In response to a question, Community Development Director Dillerud explained that 15
percent of the CDBG funds can be designated for service activities. For 1993, about
40,000 could be spent on service activities. He stated the HRA has recommended that
this allocation be made for capital rather than service activities. He explained the HUD
rules with respect to maximum balances and time limits on entitlement funds.
Councilmember Edson stated the HRA can consider funding reallocation. The HRA made
the allocation so the City can begin drawing funds in other program areas.
The Council indicated they would like to discuss philosophy with respect to donations to
social service agencies during the 1994 budget sessions.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
L-G.uL.c
City Clerk