HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 09-12 CCM STUDY 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
STUDY SESSION
SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott
at 6:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers April Graves, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Dan Ryan.
Councilmember Marquita Butler was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie
Edwards, City Attorney Jason Hill, and City Clerk Barb Suciu.
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS
Councilmember Ryan noted he had a question regarding Regular Session Approval of Agenda and
Consent Agenda Item 6d., Dissolution of the MOU Between the City Manager and Council
Establishing Management of the Implementation Coordinator by the Mayor. He asked if that
means all City Staff related to or functioning with the Implementation Committee will now report
to the City Manager.
City Manager Dr. Reggie Edwards stated there is only one Staff involved in the Implementation
Committee, and one person will report to the City Manager. Councilmember Ryan explained he
had concerns about the treatment of Staff at a previous Implementation Committee meeting, and
it is good for the structure to align with the Charter by having the Staff person report to the City
Manager.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated there was a consensus of the Council to add two items
to the agenda that are not listed. The Council has expressed interest in learning more about grants
and the processes. Additionally, there is interest to learn about the purchasing process.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked for an update on Liquor Store#2.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson added she didn't have the time to review all of the minutes
for corrections. However, she has a few minor changes she would like to make to the previous
minutes. Mayor Elliott asked for Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson to make a motion to modify
the minutes at a later time.
Councilmember Ryan agreed there was consensus from the Council to have a Work Session
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regarding grants at a previous meeting.
Dr. Edwards stated Staff will schedule Work Sessions on the topics of purchasing processes and
grants. As for the minutes, he asked if the minutes will be pulled from the agenda meeting.
Mayor Elliott asked City Attorney Jason Hill if they should pull the minutes from the current
meeting and move them to the following meeting. Mr. Hill confirmed that would be the best
option.
Mayor Elliott added he would like to table the Regular Session Agenda Council Consideration
Item 10a., City Commission Appointments, to a later meeting as Councilmember Lawrence-
Anderson, has a few questions on the applicants.
Councilmember Graves noted she would also like the answers to Councilmember Lawrence-
Anderson's questions. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson pointed out she will figure out a way
to communicate her questions and concerns with the Council without breaking open meeting laws.
Councilmember Graves added some of the applications are completed poorly, so she has questions
regarding that.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson suggested each of the Councilmembers provide input
regarding the applicants individually to the Mayor for consideration. The Council has been
negligent in appointments recently, so a few more weeks won't hurt to ensure the best applicants
are appointed.
Mayor Elliott agreed several applications were incomplete, and he provided the opportunity for
applicants to answer more questions during the interview process.
Councilmember Ryan noted there were several applicants with solid backgrounds suited for the
Finance Commission that were passed over. It may be reasonable to change the process where if
the Mayor doesn't make the nominations within 60 days, then Councilmembers can make the
nominations and ensure the process moves forward. There is a backlog of appointments which is
very time-consuming for the Mayor. Mayor Elliott agreed reviewing the process could be
beneficial.
Mayor Elliott stated almost every open position is filled with the current list of recommended
applicants. He asked for the Councilmembers to provide their input on each of the applicants to
him.
Dr. Edwards stated there would need to be an amended agenda for Regular Agenda 2. Invocation
as Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson is currently listed on the agenda, but Councilmember
Graves will be doing the invocation.
MISCELLANEOUS
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' IC COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Mayor Elliott stated he has had a conversation with Dr. Edwards,members of the Implementation
Committee, and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) associates. They have all agreed
to make adjustments. He explained he would take a step back and become a co-chair along with
a new co-chair. A resolution will be brought to the Council at the next Council meeting and the
transition will take place after that.
Mayor Elliott added there will be a conversation between Staff and members of the Implementation
Committee facilitated by Dr. Raj. There may also be some additional changes in the process that
may be brought to the Council for review. The Implementation Committee has done a lot of great
work, and it may require a different approach to take it across the finish line.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked how the co-chair is being selected. She has stressed a
co-chair is a non-elected person.
Mayor Elliott stated it is important that the work continues, and the co-chair should be familiar
with the work. The co-chair is Dr. Julia Gibson. She is a minister and was on the interview panel
for the Implementation Committee. She has gotten to know many of the members and is aware of
the members' strengths. Additionally, her church has participated in the engagement efforts for
the Implementation Committee.
Councilmember Ryan noted his interpretation of the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-
Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Act is that Implementation Committee is
temporary and has the function of providing advice to the Council. Then it is the role of the
Council to make policy. Within 180 of the Act passing, it was the duty of the Implementation
Committee to provide input to the Council. He asked Dr. Edwards if his understanding of the Act
was correct.
Dr. Edwards confirmed Councilmember Ryan was correct in his understanding. There is supposed
to be a follow-up Committee that is permanent and ensures the ongoing implementation of the
recommendations and policies.
Councilmember Ryan added the Act charged the Implementation Committee with providing input
on a limited number of things such as organizational units for community response and nonmoving
traffic. There was also a possible recommendation for the organizational structure of the City
where the Act called for a Director. Councilmember Ryan stated he would like the basic
recommendations from the Implementation Committee and then establish the permanent
committee.
Mayor Elliott stated the 180 days deadline was an initial report. The Act did not say the Committee
couldn't continue working beyond 180 days. The scope is public safety, and it was designed to
look at the points shared by Councilmember Ryan. But there is also the intention of an overall
policy review. The review takes time, so that is why the 180 days were only referring to an initial I
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report.
Councilmember Graves asked when the Implementation Committee will be ready to bring
recommendations to the Council. Mayor Elliott stated the Committee is ready to come forward
with the recommendations. The timeline is for the recommendations to be presented on September
26, 2022, or the following meeting depending on logistics.
Councilmember Graves noted she had some questions regarding the makeup of the advisory group
when the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention
Act was initially introduced. The Implementation Committee should be allowed to apply for the
permanent committee, but there also needs to be a more diverse group of stakeholders. She
explained the steering committee she works with in Minneapolis is made up of community
members, business owners, criminal legal system personnel, and Minneapolis staff.
Councilmember Graves asked what the reasoning is behind the change of who the Implementation
Committee Staff reports to. She asked if that was a recommendation from the Implementation
Committee members, from Staff, or a decision by Mayor Elliott. Mayor Elliott stated he is taking
a step back from the Implementation Committee, so it didn't make sense for the Staff supervision
to be done by him.
Councilmember Graves asked if LEAP is still working with the Implementation Committee.
Mayor Elliott stated LEAP is not doing active research and facilitation, but they are still available
for advice and resources. LEAP also works with the implementation of the recommendations,but
that is something the Council will need to decide on.
Councilmember Graves asked how much more time is left on the contracts for the FUSE fellows
and the Implementation Committee Manager. Mayor Elliott stated the Implementation Committee
Manager role is an employee rather than a contract. The current Manager knew it would be a
short-term role for a year or two, but there is an opportunity to morph it into another role. The
FUSE fellows will be done at the end of October.
Dr. Edwards clarified the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community
Safety and Violence Prevention Act specifies the process for the permanent committee entails the
Office of Community Prevention, Health and Safety Interim Manager making recommendations
to the Mayor. From there, the Mayor would make recommendations to the Council for the
permanent committee. However, there can be time scheduled for the Council to further discuss
the permanent committee.
Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if LEAP funding was from a grant or from the General
Fund. Dr. Edwards stated LEAP was a contract and the money came from the American Rescue
Plan Act funds. The same was true for the Implementation Committee Manager. Once those
dollars are expended, there will not be funding available for the Implementation Committee
Manager.
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Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked who the Implementation Committee Manager is. Dr.
Edwards stated the Implementation Committee Manager is Amina Dedefu. Councilmember
Lawrence-Anderson asked if there is funding in 2023 for the role. Dr. Edwards stated there is no
budgeted money for the role in 2023.
ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at
6:45 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 Study Session of
the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on September 12, 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 September 26, 2022, Regular Session.
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City Clerk Mayor I
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