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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.02.26 CCM WORKSESSION2/26/24 -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 WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 26, 2024 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a Study Session called to order by Mayor April Graves at 6:07 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, Director of Fiscal & Support Services Angela Holm, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Jason Hill. MISCELLANEOUS CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS City Manager Reggie Edwards noted that the Staff and Council wanted to continue conversations regarding security and decorum, a memorandum about posting signage about bearing arms, and the budget process. Dr. Edwards explained that the council is committed to reading the entire decorum document at the beginning of regular sessions. Previously, the City Attorney reminded the council that they cannot force attendees to abide by the guidelines. Instead, it is a recommendation. Also, City Attorney Jason Hill can speak to options regarding signage about bearing arms. Mayor Graves requested that the entire decorum document be included in the packet. Councilmember Jerzak pointed out that the rest of the council wanted Mayor Graves' input about limiting the time for individual commenters. Mayor Graves stated she isn't opposed to a time limit. She has previously implemented a time limit when there are a lot of commenters. She has also previously asked the council for input to continue the comment period as needed. Mayor Graves added she is not opposed to a timer, but she does not want to be in charge of the timer because she would prefer to listen to the commenter fully. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated there could be reminder cards with timing for commenters to know how long they have been speaking. Mayor Graves stated that could be 2/26/24 -2- DRAFT helpful. Councilmember Jerzak requested City Clerk Barb Suciu to create and utilize the timing cards. Dr. Edwards stated Staff could create and utilize the timing cards. He requested that the council regularly remind the public that Staff has been directed to oversee timing by the council. He doesn't want it to seem like the Staff is trying to limit the speaking time of the public. Mayor Graves requested language regarding Staff overseeing the timing be developed and added to the decorum document. Councilmember Jerzak noted several people have had issues accessing Zoom, and random parties have "hijacked" the Zoom feed. The council considered the option of Zoom being a listening-only format rather than a mechanism for public comment. Mayor Graves agreed the "hijacking" is unfavorable, but she doesn't want to limit options for public comment. The council wants to increase civic engagement. Dr. Edwards asked what latitude Staff and Council have to limit participation once decorum and rules are not followed. City Attorney Jason Hill stated there is the issue of First Amendment rights to consider. The council has created a limited open forum for public input. The council has tried to limit the open forum to items related to Brooklyn Center and the time for comment, and those guidelines could be used to interrupt aggressive speech. However, the open forum is a space that allows First Amendment rights. Threats of violence are not protected speech, but the council needs to be careful with limiting commentary. Many cities have closed down Zoom entirely to stop and avoid inappropriate comments. Dr. Edwards asked what the Council and Staff can do in the case of a violation. Mr. Hill stated commenters can say mean things about others due to First Amendment rights. It is a difficult decision for the council to determine. If someone in the Chambers is violating decorum, it is preferred to have a conversation with the commenter instead of utilizing law enforcement. Mr. Hill noted that the council requested information about posting a sign prohibiting firearms. In 2005, there was a ruling to exclude cities from limiting the carrying of firearms. Mayor Graves asked why people have to go through metal detectors at some County buildings. Mr. Hill stated the City could use a metal detector. If a weapon were found, they would likely inquire about a permit to carry. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated the library and the County Service Centers have signage prohibiting firearms. Dr. Edwards stated courtrooms have orders from judges prohibiting firearms and other weapons. 2/26/24 -3- DRAFT Dr. Edwards pointed out that the council can enter a Closed Session to discuss threats of bodily harm and the like. Dr. Edwards noted the final point to discuss is the budgeting schedules. The previous budget schedule included Saturdays, but it wasn't well-received. Staff hopes to find a happy medium. He invited Director of Fiscal & Support Services Angela Holm to speak on the budgeting schedule options. Ms. Holm stated the current schedule is budget meetings on Mondays, alternating with Council meetings in the summer. Staff inquired with other cities about their schedules. One option is Council Work Session s with only two or three meetings. Then, the presentation before the council is more condensed. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson suggested the budget items be emailed for the council to review. Then, there could be a discussion during regularly scheduled Council meetings. Ms. Holm noted the background of the Departments can be condensed, and the presentations would focus on proposed changes and new initiatives. Also, there could be a meeting or Work Session with the council to determine its priorities earlier in the process. Mayor Graves suggested one major Work Session to discuss Council priorities early in the process. That could help reduce the number of Mondays the Council would need to meet. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted her agreement with Mayor Graves. The first meeting should include the priorities of the council. Councilmember Kragness stated the presentations from Staff could be shorter because they would be focused on the changes and how they relate to the council's priorities. Councilmember Butler asked if Ms. Holm was proposing a Work Session in the spring focused on Council priorities with only two additional budget meetings added to the schedule after that. Ms. Holm confirmed that was correct. Councilmember Jerzak suggested setting a maximum levy amount earlier so the City Manager and Staff could work within the parameters and cut down on steps. Mayor Graves stated that could be helpful, but the council must be fully informed to make the levy decision. Councilmember Kragness stated the audit must be complete before t he levy is determined. Mayor Graves stated she would be interested in three work sessions but asked if it would be possible to fit the necessary discussions within them. She asked what work could be done in advance to make the meetings efficient. She also asked how long the work sessions would be, noting her concern about capacities to receive the information. Ms. Holm stated the idea is to have each work session from about 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The first 2/26/24 -4- DRAFT meeting would include Council priorities and general budget and revenue discussions. The second meeting would include condensed presentations from departments and a review of the general fund. Then, the third meeting would be about Enterprise Funds and the like. The first meeting would also include the Capital Improvement Plan. Staff is discussing how to make the numbers more meaningful and look at the big picture for long-term planning. Mayor Graves said she would try the suggested meeting schedule if the council were interested. There was no objection from the council. OTHER ITEMS Mayor Graves noted she would not be present at the next Council meeting as she would attend the National League of Cities event and participate in two committees to which she was appointed. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Graves adjourned the Work Session at 5:52 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.