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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.07.22 CCM WORKSESSION7/22/24 -1- DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION JULY 22, 2024 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Pro Tem Kris Lawrence-Anderson at 8:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Pro Tem Kris Lawrence-Anderson and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Mayor/President April Graves was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Barb Suciu, Deputy City Clerk Shannon Pettit, Public Works Planner Kory Andersen Wagner, and City Attorney Siobhan Tolar. ACTIVE DISCUSSION ITEMS 2024 PARK CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN – UPDATE AND DOG PARK PROJECT City Manager Reggie Edwards introduced the item and invited Public Works Planner Kory Andersen Wagner to continue the Staff presentation. Mr. Andersen Wagner noted there are two parts of the presentation. First it is an update on the Park Capital Investment Plan and then a discussion regarding the Dog Park project. The 2024 Park Capital Investment plan will guide park improvements, improve multimodal access to parks, identify resident priorities, identify park deficiencies and strengths, optimize maintenance, and develop funding strategies. Mr. Andersen Wagner showed a timeline of the 12-month process. The current step is community engagement. So far there has been an online survey, neighborhood meetings, a stakeholder meeting, engagement at major events, and an internal workshop. There are two more neighborhood meetings and a Youth in the Park event scheduled. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the survey received 286 responses, 85 percent of which reside in Brooklyn Center. Around 20 percent of responses were in each cohort of ages 34 to 44 and those under 19. 53.5 percent of responders were white, 16.4 percent of responders were Black, and 12 percent refused to answer. 7/22/24 -2- DRAFT Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the survey results showed the most used park and trail system amenities were paving walking and bike trails, playgrounds, and hiking trails. The barriers cited include not feeling safe, being unaware of what is available, and poor amenity maintenance. Staff is taking on strategies to address the feeling of safety in parks and trails. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the survey showed a desire for more playground facilities or playground improvements, expanded access to water, better trash management, an expanded trail network, and interactive water play features. Mr. Andersen Wagner noted Staff participated in a Design Charette Workshop. It was determined 97 percent of Brooklyn Center residents live within a ten-minute walk of a City park. Seasonal flooding limits park use. There is hope to identify grant opportunities to remediate these issues and improve park amenities at the same time. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out the engagement will wrap-up in August. From there, they will share a draft plan and receive feedback from residents. An update will be presented to the Council/EDA in fall with a final plan and adoption request in early 2025. Mr. Andersen Wagner explained the dog park site criteria was developed by Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Community Development Departments. Staff identified 16 criteria for dog park best practices such as existing off-street parking, space greater than one-quarter acre, existing or adjacent drinking water connection, more than one mile from Minneapolis or Brooklyn Park dog parks, does not impede other agencies from accessing their assets, a location that has some natural amenities to support the dog park, at least some tree cover on-site, and no history of consistent flooding. Mr. Andersen Wagner noted 26 locations were evaluated. Sites that met a majority of the criteria advanced to further internal security. Northport Park was identified as a successful location because it has parking, has water, is distant from other dog parks, is large, has existing shade, and has minimal impact on current use. The concerns are proximity to houses and Northport Elementary. There is a natural barrier in a pond between the site and houses. The school is fenced and nearly 500 feet from the site. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated a postcard was sent to every resident within a ten-minute walk of Northport Park with survey information. May 2, 2024 there was a Northport Neighborhood Meeting where in-person engagement was completed. Mr. Andersen Wagner noted 58 percent of online survey respondents indicated they would not use the dog park at Northport. 65 percent of comments opposed a dog park in the City and 68 percent opposed one at Northport. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out the in-person engagement showed support or indifference to the Northport dog park. Any concerns were alleviated once Staff clarified the location of the dog park. Mr. Andersen Wagner explained the Council/EDA has four options to consider. First, Northport Dog Park would be constructed in 2026 with an estimated cost of $185,000 with new annual 7/22/24 -3- DRAFT maintenance of $15,000 and an additional 1.5 hours of Staff time weekly. It follows best practices, but there is mixed public support. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the second option is the Kylawn Park Hockey Rink. Construction could begin in 2025. The estimated cost is $10,000 with new annual maintenance of $3,000 and an additional 1.25 hours of weekly Staff time. The model is similar to one employed in New Hope. The positives are the existing parking and water fountain along with the low price. Cons are that size standards are barely met, there is no barrier for small and large dogs, it is an exposed area, it can get muddy quickly, there are no amenities, it is seasonal, and no specific public engagement has been conducted. Mr. Andersen Wagner pointed out the third option is to wait for the Park Capital Investment Plan. While the option would delay construction, it would also spend City resources on the priorities of the residents. Mr. Andersen Wagner added the final option is to build Northport Dog Park in 2025. The cost would be $175,000 with annual maintenance of $15,000 and an additional 1.5 hours of Staff time weekly. It would be a best practice dog park on a sped-up construction timeline. However, the option adds pressure to building maintenance backlog and pushes back the West Fire Station roof, Police Station roof, and Police Station HVAC system projects. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak noted he is a big supporter of a dog park, but the timing isn’t appropriate. Other local concerns need to be addressed prior to building a dog park. There seems to be a high amount of opposition within the Northport neighborhood. Additionally, the other building maintenance projects cannot be put off. He thanked Staff for their work on the item. He stated he would prefer more data and input from the community to ensure the desires of the residents are being met first and foremost. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler stated she has not been in favor of pushing a dog park in front of other City projects. There is a lack of community support. Her preferred option would be waiting for the Park Capital Investment Plan. Councilmember/Commissioner Kragness explained she supported the effort initially because of other Councilmembers’ interest. However, she doesn’t support spending $185,000 on a dog park. Because it is a priority of the Council/EDA and Staff has put in immense effort and research, she stated the Kylawn Park Hockey Rink is the best option. Waiting for a dog park could also increase the project costs. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kris Lawrence-Anderson pointed out she initially pushed for the dog park. She noted West Centennial Park was considered. Northport has been through a lot, and they do not need a project like this in their area right now. She asked how many openings there are in the hockey rink. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated there is a pedestrian entrance and a vehicle entrance, both of which would require a gate being entered. 7/22/24 -4- DRAFT Mayor/President Pro Tem Lawrence-Anderson asked if a divider could be added in the middle to separate dogs. Mr. Andersen Wagner stated the space is likely too small for a barrier. New Hope doesn’t use a barrier in their model. Mayor/President Pro Tem Lawrence-Anderson stated $175,000 or $185,000 is not justifiable. Also, the roof and HVAC projects cannot be pushed off. She thanked Staff for their work. The data is helpful and the engagement was not a waste of time. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler pointed out while the dog park may have been a priority of the Council, the data shows the majority of residents do not support a dog park in the City. Additionally, the Council/EDA has opposed starting new programs. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak agreed the data should impact the Council’s priorities. Mayor/President Pro Tem Lawrence-Anderson noted her agreement as well. Mayor/President Pro Tem Lawrence-Anderson stated she would prefer to wait until the Park Capital Investment Plan is complete. West Centennial Park should receive additional consideration for a dog park. It was the consensus of the Council/EDA to wait for the Park Capital Investment Plan is complete. Dr. Edwards pointed out this was Mr. Andersen Wagner’s first presentation to the Council/EDA. PENDING LIST FOR FUTURE WORK SESSIONS UPCOMING ITEMS • Memorial Policy • Emerald Ash Borer Policy Review (referred to Park & Rec Commission November) • Opioid Settlement - 8/12 • ARPA Funds - 8/12 • Grants: Revenues & Expenses • Purchasing Policy • Planning Application Process • Commission Members • Property Tax - 8/26 • 6500 Camdon - EDA Lot • Admiral Lane • Special Planning Commission Worksession ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Kragness seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 8:40 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.