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Session 1545, Minutes May 22, 1991 Page 3 foot patrols if there was rroney in the budget to hire additional officers, but it is not the t.iIne to assume this responsibility. Mrs. SChuman agreed it would be necessary to add officers for foot patrols, notin:J it was to be done in 1992 in high cr.iIne areas of New York City at a cost of $90 million. Mr . Adams said neighbOl:hood groups should be encouraged to invite police to their meetings. Mrs. '!hOll'pSOn said not enough people atteni neighborhood meetin:Js, an::l she felt the police needed rrore help with public relations in terms of coping with gangs, children playing in the street, etc. She felt foot pa- trols could be done without spen:ting rrore rroney. Mr. Price said University City could not be carrpared with New York, an::l the idea is to have personal cx>ntact, even if brief. Mayor Majerus asked if Council would be amenable to askin:J the City Manager to meet with Chief Topper am his assistants to dis- cuss this matter an::l then report back to Council. All agreed. Mr. Price said if budget constraints preclude the foot patrols, the Police should rec- armnerrl alternatives. Mrs. '!hompson said she would look into whether or not grant rroney was available to fund foot patrols. Mr. Ollendorff said the re- port should be done in about six weeks. street contractual Work. '!he City Manager said there was no way to do it lUl- less there were cuts elsewhere, but he would like to see street contractual work increased by $20,000. Tree Planti.ncr. Mr. Ollendorff said next year I s budget for trees is $2,000 less than it is for the current year; however, he viewed that as tenporary. Issuance of citations. Mr. Ollerxlorff said a part-t.iIne salary was added two years ago to aid in issuing citations. Mr. Price said he was COncen1ed about absentee larrllords who let their property deteriorate, but who live outside the metropolitan area an::l therefore cannot be taken to court. Mr. Ollendorff said if the City cuts the grass or does repairs, an::l the property has any worth, the City eventually gets its rroney because of a lien on the property which must be paid before it can be sold. Also, if the property is in poor shape, the tenants may be evicted, thereby cuttin:J off the larrllord I s income. Mr. Ollerxlorff said owners in the metropolitan area are issued sunnnons am taken to court. It was noted a new law just passed by the state Legislature may help in this process, am Mr. Ollerxlorff said he will get a copy of it. wild Acres Parki.ncr. Mr. Ollerxlorff said this was reconnnerxled by the Park Commission, with the cost estimated at $12,000. Council agreed this should be done but only if citizens may leave material for conp:>sting or pick up c::c:mpJSted material. It was suggested that the name be changed. Conm.mitv Center Air Conditioni.ncr. '!he City Manager said $20,000 was allo- cated before it was fourxi that the best solution would be provided by Johnson controls, which bid $51,000. '!his amount would be covered whenever the City gets its state grant approved for eneJ:gy savin:J installations, which might be a year from ncM. Alternatively, the City could get a system for a.rourrl $25,000 but it would not provide nearly as much in energy savin:Js, am the City would have to pay the entire amount. He suggested keepin:J the $20,000 in the budget, am waitin:J lUltil fall am try to detennine when the grant will be received.