CC MINUTES 03221983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-4- The Council finds, as did the Planning Commission, that these funds should be reallocated so as to avoid their loss to the City and also that these activities, Cl) would be consistent with past uses of CDBG funds; (2), would meet all the criteria set for such activities by Hennepin County and the Housing and Urban Development Agency; (3) had been adequately publicized, and (41 had received ample public, Com- mission, and Council input related to the selection of activities to be funded. Motion carried unanimously. The February liquor operations sales summary, January Police Department report, and January and February Fire Department reports were accepted as informational. The Police Chief in his March 15th memorandum, had recommended the request from the City's Chemical Use/Abuse Information Committee for $1, 400 to fund their operating budget for 1983 be granted. The Manager noted this would represent a 40% increase over the $1 ,000 the Council had given the Committee in 1982 and stated it might be dif- ficult in a year of diminishing revenues to grant the full request. Councilmen Ranallo and Enrooth indicated they would be inclined to concur with Mr. Childs ' assessment because, as Councilman Enrooth said, "basic economics would seem to indicate an increase for this project would tend to decrease some other service to the community" . He also wondered whether some diversification of type of projects undertaken, . primarily pamphlets, might be restructured to cut down expenses . Chief Hickerson, who serves on the Committee, pointed out that a major portion of the printing expenses involves pamphlets left in the City liquor stores, "to promote responsible drinking rather than abstinence" . He also reported a portion of the budget would help to underwrite the program in the schools whereby peer pressure could be applied to con- vince students that they don't have to drink or .take drugs to succeed. The Chief told Councilman Ranallo the school district's payment of the salary of the person who coordinates the chemical awareness program in the schools represents their share of the costs, now that the grant for that purpose is no longer available. Councilman Marks indicated he perceives the Committee's ambitious program is a direct response to the Council direction to set up a program of this type in .the City, which cannot be achieved without Council support. Mayor Sundland said he agreed with Councilman Marks and believes the Committee 's request is modest for the type of program they have undertaken. Councilman Letourneau responded that, "no one is disputing the worth of this program, but the question is whether such a large increase can be given to this group when other valid programs may have to be cut down" . Motion by Councilman Enrooth and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to authorize $1,200 to support the operating budget of the St. Anthony Chemical Use/Abuse Information Committee for 1983.