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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 04.24 CCM REGULAR SESSION2/24/23 -1- DRAFT 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 APRIL 24 , 2023 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL CALL TO ORDER INFORMAL OPEN FORUM The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Informal Open Forum called to order by Mayor April Graves at 6:49 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Jason Hill. Mayor April Graves opened the meeting with an Informal Open Forum. Gretchen E. noted she lives on East Twin Lake Boulevard. During a snowstorm, a large branch broke in the park. City Staff put cones around the tree branch, but the branch is still there. She asked when the branch would be addressed. Jamar H. stated he is a Store Manager at Brooklyn Center’s Cub Foods and has several ties to the City. He stated Cub Foods is invested in Brooklyn Center and will not be closing. They have been undergoing some renovations and got new carts. The largest concern of employees is feeling safe at the store. There have been several thefts, physical assaults, and vehicle destruction. There was also a shooting nearby recently. Their employees are also fearful of utilizing public transportation in the area. Jamar H. requested law enforcement receive all funding possible and that their handcuffs be removed. He stated Brooklyn Center is a hub for criminals. Law enforcement is the expert on handling crime and needs to be allowed to do their job. He noted he doubled security at his location once he heard Walmart was closing, which is a large expense for them to take on. Mayor Graves noted the Council hasn’t done anything to prohibit law enforcement from doing their job. Their police force numbers have been low, but they are slowly increasing. She pointed out she shops at Cub Foods, and she continues to shop there. 4/24/23 -2- DRAFT Jeff L. requested for the public comment period to be broadcasted in the same way that the rest of the meeting is. Every other city he researched allows for public comments to be broadcasted. The change would allow more people to be engaged in the community. Mayor Graves asked why Brooklyn Center doesn’t broadcast public comment. City Manager Reggie Edwards stated he is unsure why the public comment periods aren’t publicly broadcasted. Mayor Graves noted she doesn’t have an issue with making public comment available as a broadcast. Councilmember Jerzak stated he would like to have a longer conversation about it at a Work Session, but he would prefer for the public comment to be available for public broadcast. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted there have been previous conversations about broadcasting the comment period, but it is ultimately a decision of the Council. Alfreda D. stated Brooklyn Center is extremely diverse and a large number of local leaders have invested themselves in the community. There are countless reasons why she and other residents continue to choose to live in Brooklyn Center. The parks are beautiful and well-maintained. Several community members offer acts of kindness in the City and received recognition from the Council. She has always felt safe in her neighborhood, and she consistently feels safe at Cub Foods. She added it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to provide security to private businesses such as Cub Foods. Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to close the Informal Open Forum at 7:06 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 2. INVOCATION Councilmember Kragness read a poem by Robert Longley, “How can I stand silent There’s words I have to speak People might just listen It’s leadership they seek It may not be my time to lead But lead I will one day I want to move things forward And I have so much to say Know that I am standing To carry on the fight I cannot fix the distant past But I can make the future right Maybe if they see me The world will see anew 4/24/23 -3- DRAFT I’m here to make a difference And there’s lots of work to do” 3. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Regular Session called to order by Mayor April Graves at 7:07 p.m. 4. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, 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 Councilmember Kragness 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. April 10, 2023 – Study Session 2. April 10, 2023 – Regular Session 6b. LICENSES AMUSEMENT DEVICE Mendota Valley Amusements, Inc. 390 Richmond Street GARBAGE HAULERS Aspen Waste BL 23 -0270 MECHANICAL Ace Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. 7174 Hwy 95 NW, Princeton 55371 B & D Plbg, Htg & A/C 4145 Mackenzie Court St. Michael 55376 Blue Ox Heating & Air LLC 5720 International Parkway New Hope 55428 4/24/23 -4- DRAFT CenterPoint Energy 6161 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley 55422 Daikin Applied Americas Inc. 13600 Industrial Park Boulevard, Minneapolis 55441 Master Mechanical, Inc. 1027 Gemini Road, Eagan 55121 Mike’s Custom Mechanical, Inc. PO Box 171, Champlin 55316 Northern Heating & A/C Inc. 9431 Alpine Drive NW, Ramsey 55303 Perfection Heating & Air 1770 Gervais Avenue, Maplewood 55109 Piperight Plumbing 3920 Foss Road, St. Anthony 55421 Professional Mechanical Services 19640 200th Ave nue NW, Big Lake 55309 Pronto Heating & A/C 7415 Cahill Road, Edina 55439 RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 5301 Dupont Avenue N Wright Team Properties 4501 Winchester Lane TM Odeniyi & K Odeniyi 6436 Scott Avenue N Jane M Kungu and Antony J Kungu INITIAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 1208 57th Avenue N CommonGrowth LLC 5927 Aldrich Avenue N Yu Yin 6730 Ewing Avenue N Suudi Properties, LLC RENEWAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 4213 63rd Avenue N Buster F Fallah 5112 70th Avenue N Ih3 Property Minnesota Lp 4/24/23 -5- DRAFT 5748 Humboldt Avenue N Fyr Sfr Borrower Llc 6300 France Avenue N 9816 Palm St Llc 6337 Bryant Avenue N Park Ave Homes Llc 6912 Logan Avenue N Hpa Borrower 2017 1 Llc 6918 Halifax Avenue N Gracelands Llc RENEWAL (TYPE III – one-year license) 5401 63rd Avenue N Ayodeji Gbayisomore 2718 Ohenry Road 5118 66th Ave N Llc 3307 Ohenry Road Henry S Dolopei 5913 Halifax Avenue N Cel Monton Llc 6139 Colfax Avenue N Koku Agbenu RENEWAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 4100 Lakebreeze Avenue N Pbk Properties Llc 5240 Drew Avenue N Cantlin Lake Properties 4019 Joyce Lane Ih2 Property Illinois Lp 4118 Woodbine Lane Investment Solutions Llc 4935 Abbott Avenue N R A Anderson & T A Anderson 6242 Scott Avenue N Cosco Property I Llc RENEWAL (TYPE I – three-year license) 5341 Penn Avenue N Lifetime Resrcs Prop Mgt 4100 61st Avenue N Emmanuel & Oluyemisi Coker 5449 Lyndale Avenue N Living Well Disability Svcs 6605 Camden Drive Johnson Organization Inc 7208 Bryant Avenue N Prosperous Property Llc 4/24/23 -6- DRAFT SIGNHANGER Signminds Inc. 1400 Quincy Street, Minneapolis 55413 Signtology LLC 21340 Van Buren Street NE, Cedar 55011 6c. RESOLUTION NO. 2023-56; DECLARING APRIL 28, 2023 TO BE ARBOR DAY AND MAY 2023 TO BE ARBOR MONTH IN BROOKLYN CENTER 6d. RESOLUTION NO. 2023-57; RECOGNIZING BROOKLYN CENTER AS A TREE CITY USA FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST CONSECUTIVE YEAR 6e. RESOLUTION NO. 2023-58; RESOLUTION APPROVING A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH PETS UNDER POLICE SECURITY (PUPS) AND TO EXECUTE THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT Motion passed unanimously. 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER JEFF LUNDE Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde explained Brooklyn Center is part of District 1. He explained he is the Chair of Law, Safety, and Justice, Co-Chair of Intergovernmental Relations, and the Vice Chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Commissioner Lunde added he is involved in various criminal justice committees, BLRT committees, Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth, the Statewide Cannabis Task Force, and NLX. Commissioner Lunde explained external partners for the Law, Safety, and Justice Committee include the Youth Interventions Task Force, Statewide Cannabis Task Force, and Cities United. The Youth Interventions Task Force has partners from every county in the Metro area and many professions represented. Commissioner Lunde added Brooklyn Park is piloting the Hennepin County initiative for a 911 mental health response. The pilot will be rolled out in a more official capacity, and the pilot is merely a process to determine how it should be rolled out. Mayor Graves asked if there are plans to expand the pilot program beyond Brooklyn Park. Commissioner Lunde stated they plan to discuss expansion during the next budget cycle. The largest concern is scaling and finding people that want to respond to emergency calls. Commissioner Lunde noted he gets a lot of questions about youth and the catch-and-release system. He explained the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) has a youth assessment. The Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) utilizes a point system to determine if the youth will be released or 4/24/23 -7- DRAFT remain at JDC. Officers can complete additional paperwork to override the RAI score if they feel extenuating circumstances exist that could impact public safety. The youth can be detained until a court hearing or judicial review. Councilmember Kragness asked if the youth are released to an adult or just released. Commissioner Lunde stated they attempt to have an adult such as a parent or guardian pick up the minor. However, JDC can’t hold them until an adult arrives. In that scenario, they connect the youth to a shelter or drop-in center option. Councilmember Butler asked if there are any youth diversion programs. Commissioner Lunde stated the first step of diversion starts at the City level. However, if the situation goes to the County level, then there is a diversion department that may offer diversion as an alternative to a conviction or other outcomes. There are also options for pre-trial diversion, such as in truancy cases. Commissioner Lunde stated he doesn’t have control over any Mayors, law enforcement, the court system, or corrections. Instead, the County is the glue between the systems. He showed a list of diversion options for both juvenile and adult courts. Commissioner Lunde noted he also works on housing strategies. Many people are proponents of encampments, but encampments lead to overdoses, diseases, and other similar issues. The County is going to continue supporting Brooklyn Center’s efforts for affordable housing. He explained there has been an urgent need for accessible housing. The County is at over 200 percent for shelters because they are committed to housing any family that comes to them. Commissioner Lunde added the County is working on economic development strategies. The Community Investment Initiative has given $750,000 to Brooklyn Center’s Entrepreneurial market. Commissioner Lunde stated in the area of transportation, he has and will continue to visit Hwy 252 Task Force meetings. He suggested Staff apply for funding related to bike trails. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson requested Staff send a copy of the PowerPoint presentation to the Council. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if there are any documents out there including data or an outline of the efforts regarding the Brooklyn Park mental health response pilot program. Commissioner Lunde stated he would find the information and send it to Staff. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson pointed out there has been a large increase in property values, and the 50’s Grill was hit hard. She asked if Commissioner Lunde has any pull to access funds to support the restaurant. Commissioner Lunde stated he would look into some options to support the restaurant. Councilmember Jerzak noted funding tends to dry up, but mental health never does. He asked for information on the funding format for an alternative response program roll-out. Commissioner 4/24/23 -8- DRAFT Lunde stated Brooklyn Park did a shared agreement, similar to the social work program. He stated he would need some time to put a full answer together. The benefit of the program is to divert calls, which is particularly important as the number of police officers is down significantly. Councilmember Jerzak stated the next step in the Brooklyn Park pilot is likely expansion. He stated the County is likely doing some cost analysis. He heard that the program is averaging two calls per day, and it will take time to get information about the program out to the community. Commissioner Lunde stated the calls have increased. Before implementing the program, research was done that shows up to 20 percent of Brooklyn Park calls could be diverted to an alternative response. Councilmember Jerzak added group homes add a significant draw on community resources, and Brooklyn Center has a large portion of group homes. Law enforcement doesn’t want to go on calls they aren’t qualified for. Commissioner Lunde stated proactive efforts with group homes will also significantly decrease calls to law enforcement. He explained he would find the specific study and share it with the Council. Commissioner Lunde noted there is a grant application open for one-time funding for youth violence prevention that is closing soon. He stated he would send the details to Staff for Council to share with relevant community organizations. 7b. NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH Mayor Graves noted the idea was suggested by Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson. Mayor Graves read in full a Proclamation declaring April 2023 as National Donate Life Month. Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Butler seconded to accept the proclamation for National Donate Life Month for April 2023. Motion passed unanimously. 7c. NATIONAL YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION WEEK Mayor Graves read in full a Proclamation declaring April 24-28, 2023 as National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Councilmember Butler moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to accept the proclamation for National Youth Violence Prevention Week for April 24 to April 28, 2023. Motion passed unanimously. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 4/24/23 -9- DRAFT 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS None. 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if there are any vacancies on any Commissions currently. City Clerk Barb Suciu stated the Parks and Recreation Commission has an opening, and the Housing Commission may have one opening. Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Kragness seconded to appoint Heidi Droel to the Financial Commission and Laura Freund to the Housing Commission. Motion passed unanimously. 11. COUNCIL REPORT Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Attended a Charter Commission meeting • Attended a Fireman’s Relief Association banquet • Attended the Reconvening Board meeting for the Board of Appeals • Attended the MnDOT Open House in Brooklyn Park • Attended a Housing Commission meeting • Attended the Expanded Response Town Hall Councilmember Butler reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Attended one-on-one with Dr. Edwards • Attended the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting • Attended a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting • Noted there was a community cleanup that she was unable to attend, but she would be organizing another one in the future Councilmember Jerzak reported on his attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Attended the Charter Commission meeting as a member of the Commission • Attended one-on-one with Dr. Edwards • Attended a Fireman’s Relief Association banquet • Attended the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting • Attended the Expanded Response Town Hall • Continued to meet with constituents and handle phone calls 4/24/23 -10- DRAFT Mayor Graves reported on his attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Participated in a cohort group with the National League of Cities and POHLAD cities that are doing racial equity in leadership work • Chaired Implementation Committee meeting • Visited Sonder House Apartments to receive comments and concerns from residents • Attended the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting • Recorded Mayor’s Minute with CCX • Attended Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth Board meeting • Attended the Expanded Response Town Hall • Participated in a CNN print interview • Met with Kenyan Community Association • Interviewed with WCCO and Kare 11 12. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson moved and Councilmember Jerzak seconded the adjournment of the City Council meeting at 8:02 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.