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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 02-14 CCM WORK SESSION MINUTES 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 FEBRUARY 14, 2022 VIA ZOOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority(EDA)met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Mike Elliott at 9:37 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Mike Elliott and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Dan Ryan were present. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards and City Clerk Barb Suciu. HERITAGE CENTER AND MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA HALL CONCERT Mayor/President Elliott explained the music event has been in the making for a while. The goal of the concert is to incorporate the music of the Minnesota Orchestra with the various cultures represented in Brooklyn Center. The concert is an opportunity to celebrate what makes Brooklyn Center unique. He thanked the Orchestra for the work they have done and for collaborating with the City and its residents. Mayor/President Elliott invited Kau Guannu, a member of the Community Concert Planning Committee, to continue the presentation. He stated Ms. Guannu is a long-term resident of Brooklyn Center and was a participant on the Youth Council in the past. He noted she is an attorney and still lives in the community. Ms. Guannu stated they have been working on planning the concert for a few months. The Committee is excited to be planning such a culturally rich concert. The theme for the event is the "Rhythm of Life," and the ultimate goal is to create an epic music experience offering unique performances to the community and cementing its united cause of supporting Brooklyn Center. She noted it is a great time to unite the entire community under the umbrella of togetherness through music. Ms. Guannu explained the Minnesota Orchestra along with Brooklyn Center musical artists have come together to create a concert. The concert will be held on May 9, 2022, as a dress rehearsal, and on May 10, 2022, for the public concert to be held at the Heritage Center. They have hired a conductor and are commissioning a composer. 2/14/22 -1- Ms. Guannu noted the Community Concert Planning Committee itself is diverse, and they hope to bring together musicians reflecting the diversity of Brooklyn Center. They will also have community organizations tabling at the event. The community concert will help promote local businesses because food from local cultural restaurants will be catering for the event. Music will get people in the door, but the Committee wanted to have other resources available to the community. Ms. Guannu stated community concert will be open to the public and the cost for admission will be a donation of$5.00. However, they will be giving away free tickets to ensure that the concert is accessible to all. Jessi Ryan, Director of Education & Community Engagement for the Minnesota Orchestra, explained they were honored to be asked by Mayor/President Mike Elliott to host an event in the community. The Minnesota Orchestra has done events in the community and collaborated with community artists, and they love getting to have an artistic exchange with others. Ms. Ryan noted they have been focused on planning the May 10, 2022 concert, but they hope to develop a more long-term relationship. Beth Kellar-Long, Vice President of Orchestra Administration for the Minnesota Orchestra, thanked Mayor/President Mike Elliott for inviting the Orchestra to partner with Brooklyn Center and Ms. Guannu for chairing the Community Concert Planning Committee. Mayor/President Mike Elliott thanked Ms. Guannu, Ms. Ryan, and Ms. Kellar-Long for their comments. He noted it will cost $13,000 to $14,000, and they need to identify additional sources of funding to help pay for food for the event. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan asked how detailed the Community Concert Planning Committee has been in its planning process and what the staffing requirements would be for the event. City Manager Reggie Edwards stated if they are not leasing the space, it would cost $13,000 to $14,000. They do need to identify gaps in needed equipment. The primary costs would be the use of the space and reserving the space. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan asked how the event would affect the overall revenue of the Heritage Center. The City wants to provide a service for the community that reflects well on the community and is financially feasible. He explained if they set a precedent with such an event, although it is a good event,they would deviate from the policy of having events pay for themselves by charging fees. Mayor/President Elliott stated one of the goals of the Heritage Center is for it to be accessible to the community beyond gaining revenue. He noted both are important goals to achieve. Dr. Edwards explained it is the choice of the City Council/EDA to determine the use of the space for public events without charge. They wanted to create more opportunities for celebration in the City. They anticipate more similar events in the future, but it is up to the City Council/EDA to 2/14/22 -2- determine the threshold of the events. The City Council/EDA must decide if the event is significant enough to offer such an event. The Heritage Center is usually self-sustaining financially. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated the City Council/EDA needs to have thoughtful discussions about when they utilize enterprise revenue sources for a non-revenue event. She stated she doesn't want to confuse the Community Center with the Heritage Center. It is a very nice, exciting event proposed, but the City Council/EDA needs to decide the parameters for when they can host an event without a fee base. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated the City has an emergency mask mandate in place and maybe in place in May. They have had high COVID-19 numbers, but they seem to be decreasing. The City Council/EDA may want to lift the mandate earlier than May to recoup costs the City has lost. Ms. Guannu stated the Minnesota Orchestra has very strict COVID-19 policies such as masking and vaccinations that would be applied to the event whether or not the City repeals their mandates. Ms. Ryan confirmed masks are required at the Orchestra, and all attendees are required to show a vaccination card or a negative test within the previous 72 hours. However,they cannot know what those policies will look like in May. Ms. Guannu added she spoke to a coordinator at the Heritage Center regarding COVID-19 safety procedures. The coordinator confirmed they have a masking policy, but guests do not need to wear one while eating. Ms. Guannu stated the pandemic is a situation they are closely monitoring in regards to the concert. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated the current emergency mask mandate in place does not allow eating at all. She added the City does not require proof of vaccinations or negative tests for any event attendance. She thanked Ms. Guannu and Ms. Ryan for their comments. Mayor/President Elliott stated the current mask requirement has a provision that allows for food to be eaten at the Heritage Center. Ms. Guannu noted she had confirmed with the Heritage Center that they are allowed to eat with the current City mask mandate. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like the City Council/EDA to look at the current COVID-19 data for the City and consider rescinding the mask mandates to allow Heritage Center to add revenue to the rolls. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler asked if the food was a necessity of the event because it seems as though the ultimate goal is to expose the community to the Minnesota Orchestra. Considering the masks and eating are a point of tension,the food concern could be eliminated from the event altogether. 2/14/22 -3- Mayor/President Elliott stated the Community Concert Planning Committee could consider that option,but it seems as though food would be integral to the cultural components of the event. The Committee has also considered eating to be held in the courtyard area of the Heritage Center. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler stated the event is a great opportunity for the community to gain exposure to the Minnesota Orchestra. Also, considering the event is on a Tuesday, it is unlikely it would be used for any other purpose. She noted the City has provided in-kind donations for the benefit of the community in the past. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler pointed out the time was 10:12 p.m. and explained she would not stay on past 10:15 p.m. She stated they cannot continue to go past 10:00 p.m. consistently for their meetings. Mayor/President Elliott stated there is one item left on the agenda to address, but they may have to schedule a Work Session to discuss it. Cordell Wiseman, Recreation Director, confirmed eating is allowed at the Heritage Center, but people need to continue wearing masks when guests are not eating. City Attorney Jason Hill stated there is nothing in the emergency ordinance related to the Heritage Center,but there is an exception for eating and drinking. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated they do need to vote if the meeting is going to continue beyond 10:00 p.m. She suggested they prioritize the discussion of the Allocation of American Rescue Plan Act Funds at the next meeting. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves added the Orchestra partnership is news to the rest of the Council, so they need to further discuss that piece. Mayor/President Elliott stated the Community Concert Planning Committee is looking for direction regarding the event date and where the City Council/EDA so they can continue to plan. He asked if the City Council/EDA was in support of the event. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated the City Council/EDA supports the idea of the concert, but they do not necessarily support waiving the fees. She pointed out it was the first the City Council/EDA has heard of the idea and it was a late hour. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves pointed out Councilmember/Commissioner Butler left the call and noted her appreciation of those who have stayed on the call. Mayor/President Elliott asked City Council/EDA what information they would need from the Community Concert Planning Committee. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated she would like to hear more about members of the Committee and what performances would be held. She added she would like to know what the donations would be used for. Mayor/President Elliott stated if there were any further questions for the Committee, they should be sent to him for the Community Concert Planning Committee to review. 2/14/22 -4- ADJOURNMENT Mayor/President Elliott moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 10:18 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. Attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 14, 2022. 2. That said meeting was held under due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its February 28, 2022, Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk 1 e Elliott, Mayor 2/14/22 -5-