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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 09.25 CCM REGULAR SESSION9/25/23 -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 SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL CALL TO ORDER INFORMAL OPEN FORUM The Brooklyn Center City Council met in an Informal Open Forum called to order by Mayor April Graves at 6:45 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Councilmember Kris Lawrence-Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Fiscal and Support Services Angela Holm, Director of Community Prevention, Health and Safety LaToya Turk, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Jason Hill. Mayor April Graves opened the meeting for the purpose of an Informal Open Forum. Peg Carr stated that she understands the City can tag and fine people for tall grass and noxious weeds. The butterfly garden went in; it was solid burdock and every noxious weed you could imagine. She asked what responsibility the City has to the land it manages. The grounds are disappointing, and it is a culmination of multiple years of neglect. She stated she would like the City to invest in and respect the land. It will save Brooklyn Center money in the long run. Nahid Kahn noted her support of the City's mission, vision, and values. However, the decorum of certain City representatives is a concern. They likely violate any employee handbook. She requested the Council review the employee handbook and add a code of conduct. Also, the requirements should be extended to Commissions, Task Forces, Committees, and the like. Performance measures and consistent standards must be determined and applied equally to all representatives of Brooklyn Center. Allen Hancock explained he is a long-time resident of Brooklyn Center, living on a fixed income. Lower taxes may attract people to Brooklyn Center. However, improved public safety would also attract people to Brooklyn Center. Brian Bosire stated the just cause ordinance supporting renters reflects the values of the Council. He thanked the Council for their consideration on the matter. The ordinance promotes housing stability. However, there is a lack of community education regarding the protections. As an 9/25/23 -2- DRAFT employee of ACER, he has been able to educate folks on the ordinance during door-knocking efforts. He stated he started a petition thanking the Council for the ordinance, which has several signatures. Surrounding communities are looking up to Brooklyn Center thanks to the ordinance and its impact. Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Kragness seconded to close the Informal Open Forum at 7:04 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 2. INVOCATION Councilmember Kragness read a poem about embracing oneself and being who you are. 3. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a Regular Session called to order by Mayor April Graves at 7:11 p.m. 4. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Councilmember Kris Lawrence-Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Fiscal and Support Services Angela Holm, Director of Community Prevention, Health and Safety LaToya Turk, Assistant City Manager/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 Jerzak moved, and Councilmember Butler seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda; the following consent items were approved: 6a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. September 11, 2023 – Study Session 2. September 11, 2023 – Regular Session 3. September 11, 2023 – Work Session 6b. LICENSES MECHANICAL Kramer Mechanical Plbg & Heating 7860 Fawn Lake Drive NE 9/25/23 -3- DRAFT Stacy 55079 RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 1821 Irving Lane R Hailemariam & A Balcha 5309 Emerson Avenue N BELLAGALA LLC 6925 Halifax Avenue N EBENEZER AKINBAMIJO INITIAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 2114 70th Avenue N Dennis R Mejia/gloria Mejia RENEWAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 3601 47th Avenue N 8411 Balboa Llc 3100 Thurber Road Tyler Henderson 5218 Paul Drive Sj & Olas Properties Llc 5819 Knox Avenue N G.b. Homes Llc 6018 Admiral Place Lutheran Social Services 6800 Scott Avenue N Golden Touch Holdings 7200 Lee Avenue N LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TR RENEWAL (TYPE III – one-year license) 3106 64th Avenue N IH2 PROPERTY BORROWER LP 5330 Girard Avenue N C Bright/Wagner Prop Rnt Llc 5937 York Avenue N Key Lime Realty, LLC RENEWAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 5803 Xerxes Avenue N Brooklyn Center AH II LLLP 904 53rd Avenue N Moshe Vorotinov RENEWAL (TYPE I – three-year license) 501 Bellvue Lane Zoe & Bret Hildreth 3213 Quarles Rd Infinite Property Llc 9/25/23 -4- DRAFT 3300 67th Avenue N Sergey Kunin & Marina Kunin 5931 Zenith Avenue N Ih3 Property Minnesota Lp 6319 Indiana Avenue N Adegbola Fola Ogundipe 6430 Lee Avenue N Infinite Property Llc 6c. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING WORK PERFORMED AND AUTHORIZING FINAL PAYMENT, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 2021-12, 2022 53RD AVENUE MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECT 6d. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEASIBILITY REPORT AND CALLING FOR AN IMPROVEMENT PUBLIC HEARING FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 2024-01, ORCHARD LANE EAST IMPROVEMENTS 6e. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER FEE SCHEDULE RELATING TO LICENSING OF THE SALE OF EDIBLE CANNABINOID PRODUCTS Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Graves noted that there was a misunderstanding of her question regarding the interview process for a Police Chief in a recent set of minutes. The last interview process was highly involved, and she hopes to see that effort continue. 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. COMMUNITY INTERVENOR UPDATE City Manager Reggie Edwards introduced the item and invited the Director of Community Prevention, Health and Safety, LaToya Turk, to continue the staff presentation. Ms. Turk thanked other staff for supporting the crime uptick response strategy. She explained violence is a public health crisis, according to the American Public Health Association. There are several harmful effects of violence. Recognizing violence as a public health crisis is founded on understanding violent behavior arising from the contextual environment. Ms. Turk noted in April 2023, staff presented a crime reduction strategy report to the City Council. The crime reduction included immediate and long-term strategies. The top four violent crimes include homicide, assault, robbery, and sexual assault. Carjackings and shootings were also discussed as increasing crimes. The strategies to address the increase in crime included increasing the presence sharing information to increase the capacity to mitigate crime and to begin moving upstream. 9/25/23 -5- DRAFT Ms. Turk stated the approaches were broad. She showed a chart with a comprehensive approach to include prevention, intervention, response, and recovery. The Community Intervenors' toolkit includes de-escalation, trauma, Department of Justice training, Narcan administration, CPR, peer recovery, Stop the Bleed, conflict resolution, active listening skills, and ongoing training with Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Ms. Turk pointed out that Intervenors are used for prevention by being present at 16 identified hotspots, schools, and parks. Intervention is also done at those locations. She showed a heat map showing areas with high crime impact. Shared intelligence across partners and hot spot community education by intervenors determined measures of success. Reports are submitted daily regarding interactions in the community. Ms. Turk explained the program uses a Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Model (CVIPI). It focuses on trusted, credible messengers and practitioners to deliver key intervention elements. Representatives of the affected communities are seen as full partners who provide input and guidance on the interventions' approach. Ms. Turk added that CVIPI focuses on those individuals at the highest risk of experiencing or perpetrating community violence in the near term. Data from multiple sources are vetted for racial, ethnic, economic, or other biases to inform the approach. The approach is evidence-informed, community-centered, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and effective. Ms. Turk stated that a Chicago program using public health methods to interrupt violence, reduce risk, and change neighborhood norms reduced shootings by up to 70 percent and retaliations by 100 percent. Brooklyn Center Staff meets regularly with employees from the Chicago program. Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and New York have had similar successes. Massachusetts has an initiative focusing on a street outreach model and has seen a 35 percent reduction in violence and a cost saving of seven dollars per dollar. Councilmember Kragness asked if there are statistics that show a decrease in crime or if residents have reported feeling safer since the initiative began. She also asked what the interveners wear. Ms. Turk stated the interveners wear a blue shirt with "outreach" on the back. They have introduced themselves and begun to build relationships with community members and business owners within the hot spots. As for data, it takes about two months to turn around the statistics. She offered to work with law enforcement to gather specific data. Ms. Turk added schools have regularly requested the presence of interveners, and community partners are familiar with interveners. Councilmember Kragness asked how many interveners there are. Ms. Turk stated four groups are utilized based on their skills and capacity. Councilmember Butler asked if interveners were used to respond to the park incident. Ms. Turk stated the intervention began with notification from the interveners. Councilmember Jerzak asked if the interveners are Brooklyn Center residents, what training they undergo, and who determines their schedules. Ms. Turk stated that law enforcement determines 9/25/23 -6- DRAFT deployment locations, and all interveners are contracted with the City. All interveners either live or work in Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Jerzak asked if the interveners keep a log of their interactions. Ms. Turk stated daily logs are submitted to City Staff, and relevant Departments are notified based on the information. Councilmember Jerzak asked what the proposed 2024 budget is for interveners. Ms. Turk stated she is working with the Department of Fiscal and Support Services to determine the budget. Councilmember Jerzak asked why the interveners aren't centered within only one department and why some have positions while others don't, referring to the Parks and Recreation Department. Ms. Turk stated she can't speak to Parks and Recreation Department employment. They have employees who intervene within the parks specifically. Councilmember Jerzak asked if there is a protocol to dispatch interveners to a critical incident and if the response time is appropriate for immediate intervention. Ms. Turk confirmed there is a process to request additional support for any community issues. The interveners are regularly in contact with themselves and law enforcement. Councilmember Jerzak asked what is the most effective outcome that justifies the program's financial support. Ms. Turk stated it is a broad approach between Departments, so she could not make a singular statement about the benefits. Councilmember Kragness asked if the training mentioned above is required for interveners. Ms. Turk stated all interveners have required training. Mayor Graves pointed out that measuring events that haven't happened is complex. She requested data on the number of individuals the interveners were engaging with, what services were performed, and what community resources were recommended. Also, the Council would benefit from understanding response requirements such as teams of two. Lastly, she requested the team collect stories and quotes showing why the program is a good investment for the City. Councilmember Butler asked how the hot spots were determined. Ms. Turk stated the Brooklyn Center Police Department created the heat map, and the areas show the highest crime rates. Councilmember Butler asked who pays the bill when interveners respond to schools. Ms. Turk stated it is a shared expense between the City and the school. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 9/25/23 -7- DRAFT 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS None. 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY 2024 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Edwards introduced the item and summarized the budget thus far. On Monday, September 18, the Council discussed further budget at a Special Meeting. Based on feedback from the meeting, staff will present two options for the preliminary levy increase, one at 8.5 percent and one at 9.2 percent. The staff's recommendation is the 8.5 percent option. Dr. Edwards summarized the 2024 budget environment. He noted the recent pandemic, the death of Duante Wright, and civil unrest along with the economic condition of the Country. The budget also considers budgetary outcomes, strategic priorities, and organizational stability. Dr. Edwards stated the vision for Brooklyn Center is as a thriving, diverse community with a full range of housing, business, cultural, and recreational offerings while being a safe and inclusive place that people of all ages love to call home and visitors enjoy due its convenient location and commitment to health development. Dr. Edwards added the mission of Brooklyn Center is to ensure an attractive, clean, safe, and inclusive community that enhances the quality of life for all people and preserves the public trust. Dr. Edwards pointed out the 2024 budget strategies include balanced strategic direction and fiscal capacity, fulfillment of State Statutes, maintaining and sustaining current operations, Staff stability, public safety, and advancing strategic priorities and operational opportunities. Dr. Edwards noted the priorities of the 2024 budget include a three percent Staff wage increase considering cost-of-living adjustments and market competitiveness, a 24-hour Duty Crew for the Fire Department, a Deputy City Manager, fleet maintenance replacement, and a Police Sergeant. Dr. Edwards pointed out there are several proposed 2024 budget highlights. $197,000 is allocated for two full-time firefighters for a 24-hour duty crew. Staff cost of living and market adjustment wage increases require $1 million. The fleet vehicle replacements and Central Garage projects would cost $219,000. Also, the necessary winter salt and sand increase is $62,000. $162,000 is allocated for a Deputy City Manager, and another $162,000 is intended to fund a Police Sergeant. Dr. Edwards stated there are a number of factors influencing the 2024 budget. There are lower revenue calculations with a decrease of $1.2 million due to permit fees. There is a lower employee vacancy rate, which results in an excess of only $200,000. Lastly, the lower lodging tax results in a loss of $200,000. Overall, there is a lower fiscal capacity of the City. 9/25/23 -8- DRAFT Dr. Edwards noted there were some budgetary adjustments at the 8.5 percent levy. First, $750,000 was for 2024 operational budget increases due to maintained 2023 expenditures and $97,000 for a frozen Performance Analyst position. Approximately $200,000 in funding will come from the State Public Safety Aid, and American Rescue Plan Act funding will be around $225,000. Dr. Edwards explained the second option is a 9.2 percent levy increase. It would include all of the budgetary items with the 8.5 levy increase. The levy increase would equal $163,000 for a Police Detective position. Director of Fiscal and Support Services Angela Holm explained that the City's current budget policies provide a basic framework and assist in the decision-making process. Policies include a balanced budget; current revenue should pay for current expenses, contingency of up to five percent of the budget, providing adequate funding for capital replacement & maintenance, the budget should describe goals, services, and programs, and a targeted unassigned General Fund balance of 50 to 52 percent of the following year 's General Fund budget. Ms. Holm noted there are also revenue policies that direct how the City maintains its ability to pay for its customers' services. The policies include maintaining a diversified and stable revenue sys- tem, annual revenue estimates completed through an objective conservative analytical process, user fees should be reviewed and revised on an annual basis, fees and user charges for Enterprise Funds should fully support total direct and indirect costs, and user fees for City services will gen- erally be established at a level which will recover the total cost of providing the service. Ms. Holm showed a graph of the median value of homes in the City over the years. The value has been steadily increasing since 2014. The median home value in 2024 is $264,800, a slight increase from 2023's median home value of $259,000. She also showed a list of median home values compared to other cities. Brooklyn Center has a lower median home value than Golden Valley, New Hope, Richfield, Crystal, and Robbinsdale. The median home values in nearby neighborhoods in Minneapolis are slightly lower than in Brooklyn Center. Ms. Holm showed pie charts of tax capacity estimates comparing payable tax capacity in 2023 and 2024. Industrial has somewhat increased, allowing the residential tax capacity to decrease and carry less burden. Ms. Holm pointed out that a one percent property tax levy increase or decrease is approximately $225,000 in revenue. The total payable levy from 2023 was just under $23 million. The estimated total levy for 2024 is $24,732,206, which is an 8.5 percent increase. The numbers would be recalculated should the Council move forward with the 9.2 percent levy. Ms. Holm also showed a pie chart for the annual cost of government in Brooklyn Center for the median home. For example, the Police Department costs the median household $508.00, and the Fire Department costs $115. Ms. Holm then showed a slide with projected property tax impacts for 2024. With an 8.5 percent levy, the median single-family household would see an increase of $87 in the City portion of taxes 9/25/23 -9- DRAFT for the year. Each percent of the levy would add or decrease $12 for the average single-family household. Mayor Graves asked how much would be left in ARPA and State Aid if all $425,000 of the revenue funds were used. Ms. Holm stated there would be around $1.2 million left in ARPA and $1.8 million in State Aid. Dr. Edwards noted that an October presentation will show project ideas from various Departments for using ARPA and State Aid funds. For example, some business development efforts will be presented. Mayor Graves asked how the conservative estimate regarding revenue from permits was determined. Ms. Holm stated her conservative estimate was $100,000 less than Dr. Edwards' estimate, but the estimate presented was Dr. Edwards' number. The estimates are based on historical data and input from Community Development Director Jesse Anderson. Councilmember Kragness asked what the inflation cost for vehicle fleet replacement cost is for 2024. Ms. Holm stated the estimate is a four percent inflation over a number of years with consideration of previous inflation trimmings. The Central Garage fund will be discussed further during a revenue presentation. Dr. Edwards added there wasn't enough room in the budget for the vehicle fleet replacement to be adjusted to allow for a Police Detective. As it stands, the proposed $219,000 is already not robust enough to cover inflation. Councilmember Kragness asked if the $219,000 gets the City caught up to afford replacements should they be needed in 2024. Ms. Holm stated it is not enough to catch up, and she doesn't have the calculation for the exact number needed to catch up. Mayor Graves asked when the City might get to a sustainable amount in the vehicle fleet replacement. Ms. Holm agreed the information is important for the Council to consider, but she doesn't have the calculation prepared. Councilmember Jerzak stated he is disappointed that consensus was reached amongst the Council, yet it is not included in the budget. There was substantial growth from 2022 to 2023, but some areas could allow for essential savings. If positions aren't being filled, the City must determine if they are necessary. Councilmember Jerzak noted the Council hasn't reviewed The Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock- Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Resolution, and some of the budget might be inappropriately biased toward that effort. Plus, the one-time money from grants isn't sustainable into 2025. The City has concentrated poverty to consider, and they need to do better with the budget. Councilmember Jerzak pointed out public safety keeps showing up as the community's primary 9/25/23 -10- DRAFT concern. The budget needs to support public safety. Salt and sand are supportive of public safety. The City keeps increasing costs to residents, but the revenue isn't increasing. Councilmember Jerzak noted he is uncomfortable making any decisions without Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson present, he is uncomfortable with the budget, and he is disappointed overall. Mayor Graves asked what budget cuts Councilmember Jerzak proposes. Councilmember Jerzak stated the consideration of applying public safety funds moving forward. The new Office of Community Prevention, Health and Safety needs to be evaluated, along with its growth and success. Councilmember Jerzak added the Parks and Recreation Department could be trimmed. Every department needs to be re-evaluated equally. The $400,000 line item for employees hasn't been explained and was cut by $200,000 in the previous budget year. There isn't supportive development coming into the City to help offset costs. Mayor Graves asked what Councilmember Jerzak wanted to see funded. Councilmember Jerzak stated he wanted the Deputy City Manager role funded, the 24-hour duty crew funded, and the Sergeant and the Detective roles to be funded. The City needs to follow up on previous projects, such as the greenhouse, to ensure funds are being utilized properly. Mayor Graves noted her understanding of the Parks and Recreation Department budget was that there was no overall increase in the proposed budget. Each taxpayer would pay $19 to the Office of Community Prevention, Health and Safety, $508 to the Police Department, and $115 to the Fire Department. Considering the tight budget, staff has done an excellent job squeezing in most of what the Council wanted. Mayor Graves added she doesn't prefer using special revenue funds to fund other programming. Still, the staff was very conservative with that effort and will present more about revenue funds to the Council in October. Mayor Graves pointed out the proposed 8.5 percent is a preliminary levy, and there could be a decrease down the line. She stated she is comfortable with the Staff recommendation. Councilmember Butler agreed with Councilmember Jerzak's concerns about Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson's absence. However, the recent Special Meeting allowed the Council to ask additional questions and make recommendations to staff. She stated she is comfortable with the Staff recommendation. Councilmember Kragness stated it was her understanding that the Council reached a consensus about funding the Police Detective at the Special Meeting. She stated it could be added with the 8.5 percent with some more shifting. She agreed she is comfortable with the Staff recommendation of 8.5 percent. Councilmember Jerzak pointed out the Police Department is an all-day, everyday service, so it is not equitable to compare its cost of $508 per taxpayer to the limited hours of service offered by 9/25/23 -11 - DRAFT other Departments. The $508 doesn't account for the large number of unfilled positions where the budgeted amounts were moved back to the General Fund. Councilmember Jerzak stated the budget can be adjusted to add the Detective to the 8.5 percent levy. Due to the absence of Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson, he is not comfortable approving an 8.5 percent levy. Mayor Graves stated all Departments return excess funds to the General Fund. She agreed she would like Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson to be present, but the Council already decided they can't squeeze in another meeting and stay within the required timeline. Mayor Graves moved, and Councilmember Butler seconded to adopt the Resolution Approving a Preliminary Tax Capacity Levy for the General Fund and Debt Service Funds and a Market Value Tax Levy for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for Property Taxes Payable in 2024, at 8.5 percent as recommended by staff. Councilmember Jerzak voted against the same. Motion passed. Mayor Graves moved, and Councilmember Butler seconded to adopt the Resolution Adopting a Preliminary Budget for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Councilmember Jerzak voted against the same. Motion passed. Mayor Graves asked who the liaison is for the Housing Commission. Assistant City Manager and City Clerk Barb Suciu stated Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson is the Council Liaison to the Housing Commission. 11. COUNCIL REPORT Councilmember Kragness reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Attended the Farmer's Market Mayor Graves reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events: • Noted candidates for the new CEO of the Northwest Tourism Board are being considered • Attended the DEAR awards 12. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Kragness seconded adjournment of the City Council meeting at 8:31 pm. Motion passed unanimously.