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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 10-11 CCM Work SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION OCTOBER 11, 2021 VIA ZOOM The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Mike Elliott at 9:21 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Mike Elliott and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence -Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT DISCUSSION (continued) Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated she missed part of the presentation during the Study Session so she does not have enough information to ask detailed questions. Community Development Director Meg Beekman stated she would like to address any questions or concerns about the proposed draft ordinance and to know if the Council would like to proceed with the ordinance. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated her understanding of this discussion is a consolidation of processes. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves asked if this would add any undue burden or financial obligation for the average person or average business in Brooklyn Center. Ms. Beekman stated she would call it a consolidation. For example, if a church wanted to throw a carnival, they would go through the Community Development Department to get an administrative permit, and the church would be asked to submit a site plan showing what the parking and traffic impacts might be. She explained that is reviewed by the City Planner before giving out a permit, and there is a small fee associated with that review. Ms. Beekman stated they would then check with the host to see if they would have food trucks, alcohol, tents, or things of that nature and need any associated permits for that. She noted there are costs associated with those various permits, but consolidating the process would not increase those costs. Ms. Beekman stated the City's processes are a bit more nebulous when there is an event on public property because it involves Public Works and occasionally the Police Department. She stated this change would allow for larger park events without going through the entire process and would 10/14/21 -1- be a mechanism for offering equipment and services to event hosts Ms. Beekman noted the ordinance would potentially mitigate the events' effects on neighboring residents and business owners. She added the change would also allow for the City to recoup some of the fees associated with private events in the City. Ms. Beelunan reiterated that fees are waived for City events and nonprofit events. She stated that other events could be reviewed on a case -by -case basis. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves thanked Ms. Beekman for the information and noted she is comfortable moving forward with the ordinance. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he would like to go ahead with the staff s recommendation on the ordinance. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson stated she defers to complying with what the staff is recommending. Mayor Elliott stated he does not feel strongly about the proposal, but he is okay with it. Mayor Elliott asked if local businesses have been engaged in the discussion on how the process can be improved. Ms. Beekman stated they based the ordinance on several real -life examples such as the farrner's market. She explained there had not been previously in the past to address a farmer's market, so they wanted to make sure that would be allowed and would not require additional review or costs. Ms. Beekman stated this is also a response to businesses that want to host a food truck, and staff believes the ordinance will help the Parks and Recreation Department as they host a large number of events in the parks. Ms. Beekman stated another example of an event this would benefit is the upcoming Center Mash - Up with Minnesota Zej Zog, which is a nonprofit the City has partnered with for community engagement work around the Opportunity Site. When the organization reached out to Parks and Recreation Department, they were going to charge them a fee, but, thankfully, the organization mentioned they had already been working with another City office so the Parks and Recreation Department could waive those fees. Diane Sannes stated each week in the summer when CAPI gives away large amounts of food, it can have up to 100 people. She noted the City calls it an event, but CAPI and the event hosts do not consider it that. Mayor Elliott stated he is in favor of the ordinance, but he thinks it would be beneficial that staff confers with business owners. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated she does not think it would be harmful to reach out and get some feedback from the organizers to make sure there is not anything that they might be missing. She noted she still does support the ordinance. I:� 1�lIXU7►1► �M�I 10/14/21 -2- Counciimember/Commissioner Graces moved and Mayor/President Mike Elliott seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:36 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Worlc Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on October 11, 2021, 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its October 25, 2021, Regular Session. City Clerk 10/14/21 -3-