Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.06.10 CCM WORKSESSION6/10/24 -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 WORKSESSION JUNE 10, 2024 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Worksession called to order by Mayor April Graves at 6:04 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 Siobhan Tolar. MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION ITEMS Mayor Graves confirmed she had received input from the Councilmembers regarding potential appointments to various Commissions. She stated she would make her final recommendations at an upcoming meeting. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted the Friday updated email indicated a Sister City activation, but they already had one in place. City Manager Edwards clarified that staff is reactivating the Sister City Commission. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson added a constituent contacted her regarding disturbances from door-to-door salespeople. She requested a conversation on licensing requirements for solicitors. Councilmember Jerzak stated he received the same call. Staff already responded to the individual. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she did not receive a response from staff. Councilmember Jerzak stated it is difficult to implement code enforcement because various services require approaching someone’s front door. There is a vague ordinance, but residents can call 911 with any concerns. Councilmember Kragness asked if the individual could post a no-solicitor sign on their door. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson pointed out she already recommended the suggestion to the individual. 6/10/24 -2- DRAFT City Manager Reggie Edwards noted he would include all Councilmembers in emails responding to residents’ concerns. RESOLUTION 2021-73 Mayor Graves explained Resolution 2021-73 is the Duante Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Act. The document has a few minor amendments. Dr. Edwards stated the first section had a change minor word change. The other three sections require language changes to create a policy rather than a prescriptive document. For example, the city didn’t have the capacity to create departments as prescribed by the resolution. The three departments were a Community Response Department, a Traffic Enforcement Department, and a Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention. The Community Response Department is now a unit of government that includes expanded response programs. The enforcement of non-moving traffic violations and violence prevention efforts are additional government units. Dr. Edwards added in the second section there was an intent to build out a 911 system, but the city does not have the capacity to do that. Therefore, that portion would need to be removed from the resolution. Dr. Edwards stated as for the third section; there has been more of a focus on alternative responses rather than traffic stops. He pointed out that Community Service Officers (CSOs) are civilians that provide some traffic response. Staff previously looked into an option to contract for civilian traffic enforcement. Unfortunately, there were not any interested parties. Dr. Edwards noted there is the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety which represents the spirit of the fourth section of the Resolution. The Office oversees the alternative response programs. The last sentence of the fourth section was eliminated in an effort to eliminate a hierarchical structure. As an alternative, there was language added to promote collaboration. Councilmember Kragness pointed out that the term “create” is used often in the resolution. A different term should be implemented so that the city can leverage its existing resources. For example, the alternative response programs are contracted rather than creating a new Department. Additionally, there are already CSOs acting as civilian responders. She added she would like to see a new hierarchical chart to reflect the changes made to the fourth section. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she thought the first pilot program would be housed under the Police Department rather than the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety. Dr. Edwards stated one pilot program has two teams. The Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety oversees the programming of alternative responses. The Hennepin County program will be housed in the Police Department, but the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety is ultimately accountable for the pilots. 6/10/24 -3- DRAFT Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if Director of Community Prevention, Health and Safety LaToya Turk has the property experience as referenced in the fourth section. Dr. Edwards stated Ms. Turk has a variety of relevant skills. Many directors oversee efforts in which they don’t have experience, but the city has staff and contractors representing all of the necessary skills. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she has concerns about running multiple pilot programs. When the resolution was passed, the city didn’t have the financial capacity to support the initiatives. She asked how the city would fund the programs when the grants run out. Dr. Edwards pointed out staff has been looking forward and building capacity to sustain the programming. For example, the staff initially applied for grant funds to kick off the programs. In the long run, there will not be two different programs. The city hopes to learn from the pilot efforts and implement one permanent program. Having only one already established program will be much more affordable than starting up two programs. The budgets have also included setting aside funds to afford future programs. Mayor Graves added grants are regularly used at higher levels of government. Staff knows how to utilize and apply for grant funding. Similarly, they know how to plan long-term budgets. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted she supports an alternative response but is more supportive of the Hennepin County model than the Canopy one. Councilmember Kragness asked what the Police Chief’s opinion is regarding traffic response being housed under another governmental unit. The CSOs are doing the service and would traditionally be under the direction of the Police Department. Dr. Edwards stated the resolution's intent was not to use CSOs for traffic enforcement when the resolution was written. Any updates to the resolution have been an effort to maintain the spirit of the resolution while making it implementable. At this time, the staff doesn’t know what the end model will be for non-moving traffic violation enforcement. It could be CSOs or it could be other personnel. Councilmember Kragness stated the resolution was written initially with the thought of a blank checkbook. Brooklyn Center needs to consider what financial capacity it has to implement programs. The Council needs to take the opportunity to change the resolution to accommodate what is feasible. For example, if CSOs are used for non-moving traffic violation enforcement, they should still be supervised by the Police Department as they already have the capacity for their supervision. There have been previous conversations about adding more CSOs as well. She added that the Police Chief should weigh in on this as well. Dr. Edwards stated the options haven’t been vetted, but the staff intends to look into more options. Mayor Graves pointed out the Implementation Committee knew the city didn’t have the means to create new departments. They presented recommendations based on research that were within the 6/10/24 -4- DRAFT means of the city’s existing capacity. Councilmember Kragness noted that the recommendations from the Implementation Committee had already been voted down. The Council needs to talk about what it can do instead. Mayor Graves asked if there should be language added to the resolution to further research options. Dr. Edwards stated “create” doesn’t always mean making something new. Staff hopes to find ways to create that may be within staff’s current capacity or by suggesting a new effort. Ultimately, any suggestions from staff would be within the financial means of the city. Councilmember Butler pointed out she feels frustrated that the Council lacks innovation or taking risks. Councilmembers are requesting input from the Police Department, or that programming be done with law enforcement oversight. The entire point of the resolution is to try something different. The current system is not working. Discussing the resolution doesn’t make any sense if the majority of the Council is going to keep supporting the norm. Any initiatives should be a partnership with the Police Department, and it should have been that way from the beginning. Councilmember Butler added Canopy is more qualified than the Hennepin County program for alternative response programs. The skills of the Canopy personnel include mental health response and crisis intervention, which is a better fit for Brooklyn Center. Overall, the Council’s approach to the topic is disappointing. Councilmember Butler noted her appreciation for the new Police Chief and the impact he will make. Training regarding unconscious bias is not effective, and the city cannot rely on those trainings to make a change in the community. Councilmember Jerzak stated he understands the spirit and intent of the resolution. He pointed out two Councilmembers were absent during a recent vote which resulted in a motion failing. Referring to the second section of the Resolution, clarity is important to implement any impactful programs. It is important to include the Police Chief and his staff in those conversations. As learned from the Implementation Committee, there should have been more people involved in the process from the beginning. Mayor Graves asked how Councilmember Jerzak would like the Police Chief to be involved. Councilmember Jerzak noted the second section calls for an expanded response for residents. That wouldn’t include folks passing through the community or using public transportation or those that may be unhoused. There also isn’t any consideration for police officers responding to medical calls. Also, there will be confusion of availability because the alternative response is not all day, every day. The Police Department has had an embedded social worker doing similar work, and they need to be included in the response. He expressed agreement with Councilmember Kragness. Mayor Graves asked if Councilmember Jerzak wants more feedback on the expanded response from staff on items that have already been adopted or if he wants more clarity on the proposed 6/10/24 -5- DRAFT amendments to the resolution. Councilmember Jerzak stated he wants definition clarity including the departments to be clear on what their roles are based on the resolution. Mayor Graves asked what needs to be clarified besides the term “resident” in the resolution. Could you provide other items for clarity purposes. Councilmember Jerzak stated under section 2, the resolution calls for unarmed expanded response of a government unit to respond to all incidents where a city resident is primarily seeking a medical, mental health situation that often police are the first responder and carry a weapon. Does this mean they are not able to respond to medicals? Section 3 for purposes of clarity, CSOs currently attend to non-moving issues for things such as illegal parking, snow emergency violations. Please define what nonmoving means? For traffic related items, we previously voted against this and any reference to traffic items should not be in the revised resolution. Additional questions are what will CSOs be doing; Will there be duplication; and do we have the financial bandwidth for this. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if it is legal for the city to pass a resolution that creates an alternative response for traffic violation enforcement by non-sworn people. She asked what Statutory requirements there are for those who provide traffic stops. Dr. Edwards stated the traffic enforcement effort is for non-moving vehicles. Other jurisdictions in Minnesota have civilian community representatives that address issues with parked cars. City Attorney Siobhan Tolar added the way the city uses the program needs to be flushed out more. For example, whether the citations are criminal or civil, there are different requirements for who may issue them. Councilmember Jerzak noted his support for diversity of responses for prevention. There is already a County-funded program that focuses on crime prevention. He asked if that person would be eliminated or if that person would be duplicated. The effort needs to be efficient. Dr. Edwards stated the program mentioned by Councilmember Jerzak is more focused on intervention than prevention. For example, the position supports Community Watch efforts. There is a great need for collaboration moving forward. Councilmember Jerzak pointed out that very little of his job included Community Watch groups. Councilmember Jerzak added it would have been helpful for the supervisors for the discussion topic be present for the Council to ask them questions. For example, the Council wants to know how street outreach is working. The Council hasn’t received any such updates. Councilmember Kragness reiterated the importance of repurposing resources instead of creating new ones and raising the levy. As the budget season is coming up, the Council needs to be mindful of what the community can afford. Mayor Graves summarized there is a lot of uncertainty amongst the Council. There needs to be 6/10/24 -6- DRAFT language changes and more clarity of roles, though it doesn’t need to be in the resolution itself. Furthermore, the attorney needs to look into some relevant laws to guide the decision process. Potential funding resources and the interaction of various responses need to be reviewed as well. Mayor Graves pointed out that Councilmembers have updated and edited Code of Conduct drafts for both the Council and Commissions. She requested that the council members review the documents and send her any edits. The hope is to pass the policies at the next meeting. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson requested the item be a Council Consideration item. Councilmember Jerzak noted his agreement with Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson. He added he is still concerned about discussing individuals in public meetings. Ultimately, he doesn’t want to stop the process. He has tried to meet with Dr. Edwards but has not received a response. Mayor Graves explained she doesn’t want to drag out the process. It is important to promote accountability. CITY MANAGER MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION ITEMS Dr. Edwards asked if Councilmembers are available for a scheduled Council Retreat on June 29, 2024. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she is at the League of Minnesota Cities meeting. Mayor Graves stated the Retreat should be canceled since two or three Council members will not be able to attend. Dr. Edwards stated he would bring additional dates back to the Council. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to close the Study Session at 7:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.