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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 06-13 CCM REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION JUNE 13, 2022 CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL CALL TO ORDER INFORMAL OPEN FORUM The Brooklyn Center City Council met in the Informal Open Forum called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler,April Graves, and Kris Lawrence- Anderson. Councilmember Ryan was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg McMahan City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Jason Hill. Mayor Mike Elliott opened the meeting for the Informal Open Forum. Chaz Neal stated he and some other community members have been doing patrol at night near the transit area. He asked if that is something law enforcement monitors at all. There are young teenagers all over the area. He asked if Brooklyn Center has a curfew. The youth are out at a late hour and buying cigarettes from one another. There was just an arrest made during the High School graduation due to a weapon. He asked what the City cares about. Mayor Elliott acknowledged the situation at the High School was incredibly disturbing and incredibly troubling. The City has to investigate and address the issues and circumstances that lead to a weapon being at the school and we need to put in measures so that this won't happen again anytime. City Manager Reggie Edwards confirmed Staff is looking into the situation and will follow up with Council. They will also provide more information on the County's curfew. Sylvia Winkelman stated there is a proposal to build a new liquor store near a playground and church. She stated she was in St.Alphonsus Church when the shooting happened on 71 st. It was disturbing, and a liquor store near the playground is not in the best interest of the community. Mrs. Winkelman thanked the Maintenance Department for their assistance. She called regarding tire tracks in the park, and the City had to pay almost $800 to fix the damage. 6/13/22 -1- DRAFT Francis A. explained he is a member of St. Alphonsus Church. He agreed he is opposed to the proposed location of the liquor store due to its proximity to the playground and fields. He was also present at the time of the shooting, and they experienced a lockdown for hours. Alois Bilek stated that $165,000 is a lot of money and could be used to help children in need, address the increased cost of food, or used gas credits to counteract the high cost of gas. It could also be used to combat public safety issues. Instead,the Council wants to use the money to change the name of a building. A majority of the community has shown they do not support the name change. He reminded the Council it was an election year, and the use of the funds will be remembered at the polls. Roger Kloster explained he lives near the current Woodbine street improvement project. The City has been providing informative letters regarding the construction. He stated CenterPoint Energy is breaking up curbs and sidewalks to do their work. He asked if CenterPoint will reimburse the City for the damage. Mr. Kloster has concerns with the special assessment rates adopted by the Council in November 2021. The interest rate of 3.5 percent is a little high for broken-down payments. He explained he is retired and lives off of social security. He doesn't use his car very often, but he sees mail trucks and garbage trucks and delivery trucks, and school buses using his street. Twin City Rapid Transit is also nearby. He asked if the $3,600 per household is subsidizing the traffic by all of the large vehicles. There may be an alternative way to pay for the project. For example, the City could implement a municipal bond sale. Mayor Elliott stated the Council will soon be reconsidering how the City does assessments. Bruce P. stated he was here to talk about the business that is being run out of one of his neighbor's houses. Mayor Elliott stated it is always better to have answers. Mayor Elliott moved and Councilmember Graves seconded to close the Informal Open Forum at 6:48 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 2. INVOCATION Councilmember Graves noted they will be celebrating Juneteenth during the upcoming weekend. Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. This was a full two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is considered the longest- running African American holiday, and it was recently recognized as a Federal holiday. The Emancipation Proclamation was meant to free all enslaved people. The Proclamation only applied to certain areas. In Texas, slavery had continued as there was little Union presence. The entry into Texas freed over 250,000 people and resulted in the celebration by many African Americans. 6/13/22 -2- Slavery was formally abolished with the 13th Amendment. Later,Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. Councilmember Graves stated there are many events happening in the community in celebration of Juneteenth. She read a quote from Congressman John Lewis, "Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society." Councilmember Graves thanked Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson for offering her the opportunity to do the invocation that evening. 3. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Regular Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:53 p.m. 4. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Kris Lawrence- Anderson. Councilmember Ryan was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg McMahan, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Jason Hill. 5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Elliott explained Consent Agenda Item 6g., Resolution Authorizing Changing the Name of the Earle Brown Heritage Center to the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center, would become Council Consideration Item 10b. Resolution Authorizing Changing the Name of the Earle Brown Heritage Center to the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. Mayor Elliott added Consent Agenda Item 6c.,Resolution Approving a Membership to the Fencing Consortium Joint Powers for Temporary Fencing, which would become Council Consideration Item 10c. Mayor Elliott moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda, as amended and the following consent items were approved: 6a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. May 23, 2022— Study Session 2. May 23, 2022—Regular Session 6/13/22 -3- 6b. LICENSES GARBAGE HAULER Suburban Waste MN LLC 7125 126th St W #500 Savage MN 55378 MECHANICAL Air-Rite Heating &A/C 6935 146th St W#3 Apple Valley MN 55124 East Central Mechanical Services LLC 2134 290th Ave Mora MN 55051 Shac LLC 1408 Northland Dr Mendota Heights MN 55120 RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE III—one-year license) 5448 Camden Avenue North Logan U'u& Daisy Giles U'u INITIAL (TYPE II—two-year license) 919 Howe Lane SFR Acquisitions 2 LLC 5300 Knox Avenue North ANTONIO VIZCARRA-MORENO INITIAL (TYPE I—three-year license) 4201 Lakeside Avenue North, #305 Brian Neidermeier 7200 Noble Avenue North Florence Simms I Epic Homes LLC 3 813 61st Avenue North Dhaneshwarie Himraj I Deluxe Properties LLC RENEWAL (TYPE IV—six-month license) 6740 Grimes Place Victoria Townhouses 1 6825 Noble Avenue North Robert Gardner Jr. 507 69th Avenue North Outreach Six Acres, Inc. 4213 63rd Avenue North Buster F Fallah 5228 Ewing Avenue North Ih2 Property Illinois Lp 5636 Humboldt Avenue North Gao Qiang Liu 6/13/22 -4- 5927 Aldrich Avenue North Yue Liu 6018 Camden Avenue North Crystal Brummer Brummer Realty LLC 6830 Scott Avenue North Ih2 Property Illinois LP 7211 Camden Avenue North Sean Bannerman I Bannerman Real Estate Llc RENEWAL (TYPE III—one-year license) 700 66th Avenue North Georgetown-BC Company LLP 7200 Camden Avenue North Evergreen Park Manor 1600 71st Avenue North FRY- SFR Borrower LLC 5024 71st Avenue North Resi Sfr Sub LLC 5301 France Avenue North Lance Rosenberg I Juniper Land Trust 5313 Northport Drive Ih2 Property Illinois Lp 5420 Emerson Avenue North Chris Raisch 6400 Noble Avenue North Zamzam Gesaade 7037 Fremont Avenue North Edwina P Mcgill RENEWAL (TYPE II—two-year license) 804 67th Lane North Bryan D Aitkens 553 Aldrich Drive North Njeri Enterprises Llc 7031 Humboldt Avenue North Ih3 Property Minnesota Lp RENEWAL (TYPE I—three-year license) 3206 Thurber Road Mains'! Properties Llc 3501 63rd Avenue North Oyejola Azum 4000 61st Avenue North Adegbola Fola Ogundipe I Easy Home Offer Llc Trustee 6/13/22 -5- SIGNHANGER 37464 Jasper St NW Signcoink Dalbo MN 55017 6d. RESOLUTION NO. 2022-59; ACCEPTING WORK PERFORMED AND AUTHORIZING FINAL PAYMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NOS. 2020-01, 02, 03, AND 04, GRANDVIEW NORTH AREA STREET, STORM DRAINAGE,AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS 6e. RESOLUTION NO. 2022-60; ADOPTING ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,2021 6f. AMENDMENT TO THE 2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CALENDAR Motion passed unanimously. 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. HOUSING STUDY FINAL REPORT City Manager Reggie Edwards explained in March 2020, Staff presented a housing policy work plan for comprehensively addressing the City's housing policy needs. At that meeting,the Council discussed several policy approaches and a timeline for addressing these items. Council then directed staff to move forward on several action items related to housing. Dr. Edwards invited Community Development Director Meg McMahan to continue the presentation. Community Development Director Meg McMahan noted Justin Baker and Dr. Lewis are on the call. In November 2020, the City engaged the University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and Dr. Brittany Lewis to conduct a city-wide housing study and assessment. Dr. Lewis and her team have been working with the community over the last year and a half to complete the study, which has included both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the City's housing stock and needs. Ms. McMahan explained the goal of the study was to develop a housing policy plan that addresses policies and practices that ensure that the current and future housing needs of the community are met. The City was seeking to provide stable and affordable housing options for current and future residents while providing a balance of land uses that support a resilient community. This housing study aims to help the City become more aware of the ways that future development could potentially widen the affordability gap and help to identify measures that can be tracked to mitigate gentrification pressures. Ms. McMahan explained the project included an effort to understand existing housing conditions and trends in the City of Brooklyn Center, an analysis of the likely impact of forecasted growth on 6/13/22 -6- property values and rents with a focus on the potential for gentrification, a survey of residents in the City of Brooklyn Center to understand their perspectives on current housing conditions, affordability, experience, preferences, and housing needs, completion of the best practices literature review and analysis on impacts of major investment on property values and residential rents, co-facilitation of a conversation with the City Council about gentrification and the affordability crisis to present data and gain mutual understanding, and a final report and presentation of findings to local leadership. Ms. McMahan stated the consultant team also worked in partnership with City staff and Bolton& Menk to inform the Opportunity Site master planning work. This included preparing an analysis that will be included in the master plan and informing the housing goals of the plan. Similarly,the housing study looked at the potential impact that a development such as the Opportunity Site might have on the City's housing and provides policy recommendations on how to address issues of anti- displacement and gentrification. Ms. McMahan added Dr. Lewis also worked with the recent ULI Technical Advisory Panel on housing to present her research findings and recommendations to be used as a launching pad for their deeper dive analysis of the City's housing policy needs. Dr. Lewis and her team have completed their work and will be presenting their findings and recommendations to the City Council. The final report will be available following the presentation to the City Council. Justin Baker, Ph.D. student researcher for the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota explained several researchers worked on the project including Dr. Brittany Lewis, Marci Exsted,Adam Le, Kyle Malone, and Jeff Matson. Mr. Baker explained CURA believes housing is an anchor for stability. All people should have full and equal access to stable housing, with the option to live in the communities they desire. They must center the voices of those most impacted by discriminatory housing practices because they are the experts on housing injustice. Mr. Baker stated CURA uses a community-engaged action research model. Research is aimed to build community power, assist local grassroots campaigns and local power brokers in reframing the dominant narrative, and produce community-centered public policy solutions that are winnable. In a sense, the researchers work for the community. Mr. Baker added CURA also includes a racial equity framework that looks for solutions that address systemic inequities, works collaboratively with affected communities, and adds solutions that are commensurate with the cause of inequity. Mr. Baker explained there was an initial quantitative study by surveying housing factors. Among 34 suburbs in the Twin Cities metro, Brooklyn Center ranks near the bottom of median household incomes. Meanwhile,the median gross rent is near the middle of the pack. 39 percent of the City's households comprise renters and those renters are paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing. Only about 38 percent of Brooklyn Center identifies as white, compared to 69 percent of Hennepin County residents. 6/13/22 -7- Mr. Baker stated they formed an Advisory Council which was composed of a wide variety of Brooklyn Center stakeholders,including residents,landowners,government members,and various community organizations. The Community Advisory Council focused on livability, affordability, accessibility, and safety. Mr. Baker stated they then created a mixed-methods study to gain insight into the experience of renters, homeowners, and landlords in Brooklyn Center. They identified gaps in affordability along with racial disparities in income and key housing outcomes. He explained the research design and methods. Mr. Baker noted there were 373 participants in the survey, a majority of which were homeowners. The races of the respondents did not match the demographics of the greater Brooklyn Center community. The Focus Groups honed in on Southeast Asian, Latinx, and East African or Black residents. Mr. Baker explained they asked residents how livable Brooklyn Center was 23 percent of respondents gave a negative evaluation and 39 percent gave a positive one. The focus groups showed a discrepancy between landlords and tenants in terms of timely responses to maintenance requests. Landlords reported the City has a difficult inspection process while tenants did not feel enough was being done in the inspection process. Mr. Baker added Brooklyn Center has an elevated eviction rate relative to Hennepin County. Mr.Baker stated that 25 percent of the respondents felt the City was not affordable while 39 percent responded favorably to the question of affordability in Brooklyn Center. Homeowners spoke positively, but there were more complaints from renters. Again, landlords and renters felt differently about affordability. Landlords blame the government for the lack of affordability. 62 percent of the survey respondents stated they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs. 80 percent of those respondents were renters. Mr. Baker explained overall, there are fewer deeply affordable units than households that need them. Only 180 rental units are affordable to the more than 1600 households earning less than the median area income(AMI). All of the 156 subsidized units available are one-bedroom apartments. Mr. Baker stated 20 percent of respondents do not feel Brooklyn Center is accessible while 45 percent responded favorably. Renters and homeowners cited the increasing housing rates. The convenience of Brooklyn Center was noted by many. Brooklyn Center has an equal mix of both employed residents and the number of jobs. Residents also have short commutes but are mostly seeking employment outside of the City. Mr. Baker stated 31 percent of respondents do not feel Brooklyn Center is safe and 34 percent reported they do feel safe. Homeowners and renters both felt their neighborhoods were safe. Respondents also expressed positive feelings about the low crime rates. Several participants had negative views of police interactions. Respondents were concerned about navigating the City at night. Some focus group participants have expressed interest in leaving Brooklyn Center due to 6/13/22 -8- safety concerns and fear of police. Mr. Baker noted there are several recommendations based on the surveys and focus groups. The researchers found several disagreements between renters and landlords. CURA recommends creating a Rental Unit Quality Board with authority to update codes and enforcement procedures. The composition should consist of representatives from the rental community and property owner and management community, with the balance favoring the less empowered renters, particularly the financially vulnerable renters highlighted by the study. Mr. Baker noted affordability concerns are tricky. CURA recommended the creation of a Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing(NOAH)Preservation Program to encourage rehabilitation of older units while maintaining affordability, particularly in buildings that serve renters earning less than 60 percent AMI. Additionally, it is recommended Brooklyn Center develop a data monitoring program to track changes in key housing metrics including rents and evictions. Mr. Baker recommended the City work with businesses and industry to develop and maintain living-wage jobs in Brooklyn Center that align with the educational backgrounds and skills of the residents, connect local transportation infrastructure to income Blue Line Extension to streamline commutes, and partner with commercial land trusts to preserve affordable commercial spaces for local businesses. Mr. Baker suggested the City complete an audit of policing practices and policies. Task a community-led board to perform a systematic review of crucial areas of police practice and policy, namely response procedures and the officer hiring, training, and promotion process. The review could be led by the Community Safety and Violence Prevention Committee and utilize an external entity for technical support. Councilmember Graves noted her surprise about comments from the East African community because that is not the largest group of Black people in the City. She asked if West Africans were included. Mr. Baker stated the Advisory Council guided CURA in who to include in the survey. There were other Black participants in the survey, and the focus group focused on East Africans as they were hard to reach in the survey. Councilmember Graves asked if the issues were unique to Brooklyn Center or standard for nearby cities. Mr. Baker stated that affordability issues are not uncommon nationally. It is more complicated to determine how to address the issues. Brooklyn Center has more affordability issues for renters in comparison to other places in Minnesota. However, it is similar to national trends. Councilmember Graves asked if the people that move to Brooklyn Center for more affordability actually can't find affordable two-bedroom units. Mr. Baker stated the survey covered a broad spectrum of people, including those who consider Brooklyn Center affordable while others do not. Councilmember Graves asked if the neighborhoods of respondents were tracked to better address safety concerns captured in the survey and focus groups. Mr. Baker stated the East African renters from the focus groups expressed the most safety concerns. They do not have any geographic 6/13/22 -9- information from the respondents. Adam Le, a CURA researcher, stated the neighborhood-level data would eliminate the anonymity of the study. Councilmember Graves stated a rental unit quality board could address issues of livability and have a process for tenants to provide input to City codes, similar to how the Council used to handle mitigation issues. Councilmember Graves noted the City has talked about naturally-occurring affordable units and asked Staff for an update on those efforts. Ms. McMahan stated Staff drafted a preservation program and presented it to Council. At the time,the Council asked for Staff to pause the program until after the housing study was completed. Councilmember Graves asked if Staff has considered land trusts in their work with small business owners. Ms. McMahan stated Staff has been working with the City of Lakes Land Trust to pilot a commercial land trust. Councilmember Graves noted her appreciation of the effort that was put into the housing study. Dr. Lewis added it was a pleasure for CURA to partner with the City. The recommendations are clear and concise, but she is willing to connect with Councilmembers offline. Cities across the nation are looking to keep the low-income folks in their communities, but they must look beyond ordinary housing factors such as housing supply. She recommended looking at partnerships with local organizations and implementing practices with a racial equity lens to make real change. Councilmember Butler thanked the presenters for their effort and recommendations. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if the lack of affordable housing in Brooklyn Center is related to issues of income from Brooklyn Center residents. Brooklyn Center is more affordable than most cities in Hennepin County. Mr. Baker stated the study compared Brooklyn Center to all other cities in the metro. Brooklyn Center is in the middle of the pack for rentals, but the community is lower income than the surrounding areas. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what the dates of the study were because she is concerned about community members'feelings on safety. Mr. Baker stated the focus groups were conducted at the end of summer 2021, and the survey was conducted in late spring 2021. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted that crime has increased in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Baker added the crime rate numbers were pulled before the recent rise in crime rates. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated the City's tiered licenses for rentals and is nationally- recognized as being a good practice. The code violations fall back onto Staff and the Council for reviewing rental license applications. The City does need to consider its responsibility for repairs in rental units. 6/13/22 -10- Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson added some of the recommendations presented are being done by the Implementation Committee and the Multicultural Advisory Committee. She asked if Mr. Baker was familiar with their work. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted the contract costs in 2020 were all-inclusive and asked if the city is renewing the contract. Ms. McMahan stated the contract has been completed. The work extended longer than the original proposal due to the civil unrest. Therefore, the Council would only need to accept the presentation as the compensation has been completed. Mayor Elliott explained the City is in the middle of a transformation in terms of safety and housing justice. The housing study provides a blueprint to address housing concerns in Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to accept the presentation. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Elliott recessed the meeting at 7:55 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:01 p.m. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS N one. 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. RESOLUTION NO.2022-61; ORDERING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION ON THE NEED FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SITE PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET Dr. Edwards introduced the item and invited Ms. McMahan to make the Staff presentation. Ms. McMahan introduced Jennifer Wolfe of Braun Intertec to present the item. Ms. Wolfe stated Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is regulated under Minnesota Environmental Policy(MEPA),which is similar to the Federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).The format is set by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board(EQB)with the purpose to review potential environmental impacts and informing the public and future permitting. The format is a series of questions that provide the information necessary to determine if the project will have a significant impact. Minnesota rules detail when an environmental review is required 6/13/22 -11- and who is responsible for the review. The decision is whether the EAW process is adequate or if a more rigorous review Environmental Impacts Statement (EIS) is necessary. Ms. Wolfe indicated the Brooklyn Center Opportunity site is currently occupied by a restaurant, impervious pavement, and landscaping; the proposed project is a mixed-use site redevelopment in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota; the site would be developed with the construction of eight commercial and residential buildings, public plazas, park area, and stormwater pond. Ms. Wolfe stated the size of the proposed project was above the mandatory EAW size for Minnesota Rules 4410.4300 Subp 14 Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Facilities and Subp 19 Residential Development. Ms. Wolfe stated t the EAW topics include Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Cover Types, Permits and Approvals Required, Land Use, Geology, Soils, and Topography/Land Forms, Water Resources, Contamination/ Hazardous Materials/Wastes, Fish, Wildlife, Plant Communities, and Sensitive Ecological Resources, Historic Properties, Visual, Air, Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Carbon Footprint, Noise, Transportation, and Cumulative Potential Effects. She noted that the climate adaption and resilience as well as the greenhouse gas emissions/carbon footprint are part of a pilot project and were included in this review. Again, no significant environmental impacts were identified in any of the reviews. Mayor Elliott asked what topics were added. Ms. Wolf stated the cumulative potential effects and greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint were added. Councilmember Graves asked what climate adaptation and resilience are. Ms. Wolfe stated under climate adaptation and resilience we look at all of the other topics like stormwater, wetlands, and endangered species and we look at the climate predictions for this area,we look to see if the project is prepared to handle the climate differences.An example EAW noticed an increase in rainfall so the stormwater ponds need to be increased to handle the increase. Ms. Wolfe stated after the environmental assessment(EAW) is completed, it is made available for public comment. It was published in the Sun Post and on the City website. There was also an informational meeting on April 26, 2022. Ms. Wolfe stated they received comments from Diane Sannes, Hennepin County Public Works, MPCA, US Army Corps of Engineers, Metropolitan Council, and MnDNR. Some of the comments asked for information on the process or where details were available in the EAW or outside the EAW. Additional comments noted requirements for a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, best management practices, and stormwater infiltration requirements and restrictions that will apply to the project. Comments also recommended coordination with Three Rivers Park District and Metro Transit and resources for planning the landscaped areas. Ms.Wolfe stated in the rusty patch bumble bee area and there were recommendations to have some bee-friendly gardens in the area and provide more information on bee-friendly gardens. The city council needs to decide if the EAW is adequate. 6/13/22 -12- Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated the EAW is completed and nothing negative came out that the Council should be concerned about. Ms. Wolfe stated correctly and there were bit negative impacts identified. Construction stormwater will require a permit to assure that there are no negative impacts. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what is the estimated costs for EAW versus an EIS. Ms. Wolfe stated an EAW is much shorted with a timeframe of four to six months with the costs of$15K to $30K depending on the complexity of the project. An EIS can take anywhere from 8 months to 3 years with an estimated cost of$50K to $300K again depending on the complexity of the project. Ms. Wolfe added there are triggers where a project can skip the EAW and proceed directly to an EIS. However, this project did not meet those triggers. Councilmembers Lawrence-Anderson stated years ago the 252 Highway project began with an EAW as a result EIS is a determining factor. Councilmembers Lawrence-Anderson asked if there were any items nearing threshold concerns of the property. Ms. Wolfe stated the property is near a flood plain but not anticipated to be impacted by flooding. There are no wetlands on the site and no resources that would sustain endangered species or threatened species.The traffic is well established and doesn't need new roads to provide adequate traffic flow. The traffic study looked at the whole opportunity site and as the project progresses there may be the need for traffic improvements such as a signal. Mayor Elliott stated he needed more time to decide if a full evaluation is needed or not. He asked if there is a timeline for the Council to implement the findings. Ms.Wolfe stated there are timelines and they can be extended. One option tonight is to decide to extend but it must be within 30 days of the end of the public comment period which would be June 19. Mayor Elliott asked if there is another meeting. Ms. McMahan stated there isn't. Mayor Elliott asked if they could extend the deadline. Ms. Wolfe stated confirmed the deadline could be extended. Mayor Elliott asked how long the deadline could be extended. (Ms. Wolfe stated typically it could be 10 to 15 days. Ms. Wolfe stated the MPA did look at this and actually, the comments were very possible, especially regarding the greenhouse and please with the project, and no major recommendations. The DNA also commented on this as well. Mayor Elliott stated he was pleased to hear that these other entities reviewed the assessment and provided positive feedback. Ms. McMahan stated the water flowing off the Opportunity Site will serve an impervious purpose.It flows directly into the creek without filtration. They have designed a creative drainage system that goes above and beyond the minimum standards. There is a financial benefit to going above and beyond,on top of an environmental one and this one will have its stormwater management as well as the region stormwater with the ponds. The project serves multiple purposes and has multiple benefits with the scope of what they are constructing. 6/13/22 -13- Mayor Elliott asked if we were able to take this up again would Ms. Wolfe be able to come back. Mr. Hill noted they cannot simply extend the deadline by 30 days without a specific finding and it lacks specific information. This does happen on projects where items come up last minute. There is a timeline the Council must abide by if you were delayed with specific information. Without these specifics, the Council needs to decide tonight. He noted the findings provided by Braun- Intertec follow all the criteria and the rules to decide. As noted there are none of these here. The Council must be in alignment. Mayor Elliott stated the Council can move forward because certain agencies have signed off on it. Councilmember Graves agreed she feels confident about the project and looks forward to seeing the impact down the line. Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to adopt a RESOLUTION NO. 2022-61; ordering a negative declaration on the need for an environmental impact statement for the Opportunity Site Phase I Environmental Assessment Worksheet Motion passed unanimously. 10b. RESOLUTION NO.2022-62;AUTHORIZING CHANGING THE NAME OF THE EARLE BROWN HERITAGE CENTER TO THE HERITAGE CENTER OF BROOKLYN CENTER Dr. Edwards explained the item has been brought before the Council several times over more than the past year. The Council directed Staff to implement a name change process and seek out potential names. Staff worked with an organization to create names and sought out input from the community. The proposed name was approved by the Council. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted the site is a historical location. She asked if that designation needs to be repealed to change its name. Dr. Edwards stated Staff checked with the Minnesota Historical Society throughout the process. The City can change its name. Bruce Ballanger stated the City is allowed to change the name. There is also a process where the State Senator and Representative must do a motion at the State level to accept the change. The City Attorney recommended the City take this first step before the Senator and Representative take it to the floor. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if the site can still be registered as a historical site if its name were changed. Mr. Ballanger stated the site would still be on the historical site and the plaque out front of the site would remain in place. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated her thoughts have been consistent throughout the process. Making a change to the name is prudent She explained she would like the site to remain as a historical site. He did things that weren't favorable but also did things that are favorable to 6/13/22 -14- Brooklyn Center. All people make mistakes. Overall, she would support changing the name. Maintain a room within the building where individuals can view the history of the property with access free to the public. She would not support naming anything after an individual, park, street, or any structure. Dr. Edwards stated the resolution only pertains to the facility and the street. The Council did not direct Staff to address any other items such as memorabilia. Councilmember Graves noted her appreciation of Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson's comments. She is in support of the name change, but it would still be important to tell the history of the site because individuals are not one-sided. In addition to keeping some historical memorabilia, it may be helpful to add information regarding the Council's reasoning for its decision. Councilmember Graves asked if the comment about $165,000 being spent on the name change is accurate. Dr. Edwards stated there were costs for the consultant who did market research and there will be costs for signage and rebranding. Mr. Ballanger stated the cost for the name change includes a new logo design and the introduction of the new name. $14,000 of the $24,000 budget for that has been spent already. A large expense is the water tower. The estimate to paint the water tower is around $40,000. The print material alone will cost $24,000 for items such as menus, planners, historical guides, and more. There are also several signs with the original name, and it would cost about $9,000 to change the signage. Additionally, some decor items include Earle Brown which needs to be replaced. There is also an estimated $7,000 cost for retiling the rotunda. Councilmember Graves asked if there is an option to wait on some of the items and assess their historical value before changing them. It may reduce costs while preserving some history. Mr. Ballanger stated the plan was to do changes in phases because they cannot afford to do everything at one time. They are also looking for direction from the Council regarding what to keep. Councilmember Graves added she does not support cancel culture. Name changes are difficult. She explained she was part of the Patrick Henry High School name change discussions and the Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska. It is important to address the harm caused. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she would personally like to see a tiered approach from a financial perspective such as the water tower. She supports the fact that it doesn't mean completely eradicating the name from the building at the same time. Due to COVID, we need to be mindful of the costs that will impact the residents. Dr. Edwards noted the Council has directed staff to make a name change. Staff always acts in a financially prudent manner. He stated there is a difference between the name of the facility and the story of the facility. 6/13/22 -15- Mayor Elliott stated history is important. The City needs to live its values. He explained he has a certain reverence for those who have served the City, in whatever capacity that may be. The Council is moving in the right direction. It makes sense financially. Without a name change, a portion of the market would be alienated. Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Elliott seconded to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 2022-62 to Change the Name of Earle Brown Heritage Center to the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. Motion passed unanimously. 10c. RESOLUTION APPROVING A MEMBERSHIP TO THE FENCING CONSORTIUM JOINT POWERS FOR TEMPORARY FENCING Dr. Edwards stated the item is in alignment with direction from the Council for Staff to seek State funding to work with other jurisdictions to seek temporary fencing. During the civil unrest, the fence was used to de-escalate and mitigate altercations. The fencing would only be used if it were needed during a crisis. It would be a temporary measure. The jurisdictions are trying to pick up the costs. Mayor Elliott asked what the cost to Brooklyn Center would be. Dr. Edwards stated it would be $300. Mayor Elliott noted several groups would be part of the Joint Powers Consortium including the Scott County Sheriff's Office. He asked why Hennepin County is not included. Emergency Manager Todd Berg stated Hennepin County is not on the list there are approximately 47 agencies participating in Hennepin County were approached, but they have a unique situation. The consortium is not available locally so we are trying to get this available locally to assist Brooklyn Center and at a much cheaper rate. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if Hennepin County is already involved in another consortium. Advantages would be costs. She asked if this was more of an insurance policy, that when or if it is needed it is available. Dr. Edwards noted the City has spent well over $100,000 on fencing over the past year for temporary fencing. Mayor Elliott asked if the number is an estimate.Acting Chief Gruenig stated well over$100,000. Mayor Elliott thought it was odd that so many communities came together to build fences or walls rather than building one another up. He wants to build a transformative community in Brooklyn Center. They do not need to barricade City facilities. It may appear to make financial sense, but they would be investing in division rather than transformation. Additionally,there is not a current need for the fences. Councilmember Butler asked for an update on the current fence at the police department. Dr. Edwards stated there is a timeline for the fence to be removed. There have been conversations 6/13/22 -16- about a permanent fence that is currently on hold. There are going to be some community conversations forthcoming but the temporary fence will be removed. Councilmember Graves noted her agreement with comments made by Mayor Elliott but also supports the opinion of Dr. Edwards. She stated a better way forward would be to have the community conversations first and then this could be revisited. Dr.Edwards stated the fence would be temporary and stored elsewhere and only implemented in the case of an emergency. Councilmember Graves added that timing and relationships and the conversations should be the first step. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated matter of routine this would be an administrative duty and a strong proponent of planning so this cost of this makes a lot of sense. What has occurred in our city hopefully will never happen again. The $5,300 amount is not an issue for her and she supports it and sees this as more of a routine contract. Councilmember Graves stated she agrees with Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson's assessments but signing this contract before the conversations taints the conversations. Councilmember Butler stated she would rather have the conversations before approving this contract. 11. COUNCIL REPORT None. 12. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Elliott moved and Councilmember Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council meeting at 9:06 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 6/13/22 -17- 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 Regular Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on June 13, 2022. 2. That said meeting was held according 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 June 27, 2022, Regular Session. 6,110VAAPAi° Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Mike Elliott, Mayor 6/13/22 -18-