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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.08.12 CCM REGULAR8/12/24 -1- 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 AUGUST 12, 2024 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Informal Open Forum called to order by Mayor April Graves at 7:07 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dan Jerzak, and Teneshia Kragness. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Jesse Anderson, Director of Community Prevention, Health and Safety LaToya Turk, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Siobhan Tolar. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 4. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM Mayor April Graves opened the meeting for the purpose of Informal Open Forum. She asked if the Council was open to extending the Open Forum timing due to the long study session. There was no objection from Council. Mayor Graves reviewed the Council Meeting Decorum document. Councilmember Kragness clarified because the Open Forum started ten minutes late, it would also be done ten minutes later. The length of time for Open Forum will remain the same. Lori B. stated she is worried about the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Act’s impact on the budget, it only applies to the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety. There should be concern instead about the increasing budget for the Police Department. Lori B. added reviewing police contracts is essential for the purpose of the Community Safety and Violence Prevention Commission. Some members of the Commission will have a background in or understanding of law enforcement or finances. Lori B. pointed out that the Police Chief in Duluth has made significant strides in police reform and civilian advisory bodies. She suggested the Council look to their success. 8/12/24 -2- Lori B. noted there need to be tough conversations and opportunities for healing as the community is still in pain. Kevin S. pointed out it is concerning that no links for the Study Session’s agenda items have been posted. There have been significant changes to documents discussed during the Study Session, and the public deserves to have access to them. Kevin S. stated the style of government in Brooklyn Center should now allow for more power in the hands of non-elected individuals. Nahid K. stated she had seen some flyers advertising businesses in Maple Grove. There should be brochures publicizing Brooklyn Center businesses. Mayor Graves stated Nahid K.’s time to comment has elapsed. Nahid K. added there is a lot of broken glass at the intersection of 252 and 66th Avenue. Mayor Graves stated the Minnesota Department of Transportation should be cleaning the area. Katie W. explained the entirety of the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Act needs to be considered rather than specific works. Since Duante’s death, there have been numerous traffic stops targeting black and brown folks. The statistics show skewed stops. The Resolution was created to address the harm that occurred, and the City needs to reflect on changes that are required for the community to be safe for all. Noval N. stated she applied for a permit and the response she received was confusing. There was a note on cannabis use in public spaces. However, the event in question is hosted in a private space. Minnesota doesn’t have any regulations for cannabis use in private spaces. The area is also not enclosed. There were questions about RVs and the rear of the stage. The City is asking questions that she has no knowledge of. Her request is being held up, which means the event planning is also being held up. She noted she is happy to exercise her First Amendment rights and protest. Mayor Graves noted she connected some event organizers to Staff, so she hopes something will be worked out soon. Permits require 45-day notice. The larger Council doesn’t know about the permit application, but she has received personal calls regarding the event. She stated she would like to see the event take place. Lori M. explained she attended the Brooklyn Center Health Fair. She stated the attendance numbers seemed extremely low. There was very little signage. She heard the venue change was due to accessibility. She asked if that was the only reason for the change. She asked where the cost of the Health Fair comes from in the budget. Mayor Graves stated she also attended the Health Fair. The data hasn’t been compiled yet. She encouraged folks to look into the North Star Promise Scholarship Program where any individuals making under $80,000 can qualify for free college. 8/12/24 -3- Venus T. stated that Passport Inc. is a food shelf at 5901 Brooklyn Boulevard Suite #105. They are hoping to expand their space as 3,455 households were served in July, and the numbers keep increasing. She asked for help from the Council to continue feeding the community. Mayor Graves thanked Passport Inc. for their service to the community. She requested Staff follow up with the commenter for support. Councilmember Kragness requested Staff update the Council on their work with Passport Inc. Julie B. noted her disappointment regarding Council expectations. As leaders, it is important for folks to lead as they want others to follow. The unwillingness to consider accountability measures is concerning. Mayor Graves confirmed the Council would continue discussing accountability measures. Councilmember Kragness moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to close the Informal Open Forum at 7:30 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 5. INVOCATION Mayor Graves read a poem called The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare: The Lion stakes his claim To the leadership of the pack But the Antelopes remember The ferocious pounce of his paws The hyena says the crown is made for him But the Impalas shudder at his lethal appetite The Giraffe craves a place in the front But his eyes are too far from the ground When the Zebra says it’s his right to lead The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes The Elephant trudges into the power tussle But its colleagues dread his trampling feet The Warthog is too ugly The rhino too riotous And the pack thrashes around Like a snake without a head “Our need calls for a hybrid of habits”, Proclaims the Forest Sage, “A little bit of a Lion A little bit of a Lamb Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake 8/12/24 -4- A leader who knows how to follow Followers mindful of their right to lead” 6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Butler seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda, and the following consent items were approved: 6a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. July 22, 2024 – Study Session 2. July 22, 2024 – Regular Session 3. July 22, 2024 – Work Session 6b. LICENSES MECHANICAL A-ABC Appliance & Heating Inc. 8818 7th Avenue N Golden Valley 55427 Ace Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. 7174 Hwy 95 NW Princeton 55371 Air Rite Mechanical Systems Inc. 6935 146th Street W #3 Apple Valley 55124 C & M Heating And Air Conditioning Inc. 7308 Blair Way Wahkon 56386 Crow River Heating and Cooling LLC 663 Halsey Avenue SE Buffalo 55313 Deschene Enterprises, Inc. 21725 Linden Way Rogers 55374 Helio’s Air LLC 561 8th Street Elk River 55330 Hi-Tech Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. 10035 Pillsbury Avenue S Bloomington 55420 Kyrios Heating & Air LLC 4253 Lyndale Avenue S Minneapolis 55409 PB Services LLC 9410 Bataan Street NE Blaine 55449 8/12/24 -5- Steinkraus Plumbing Inc 7160 Madison Avenue W Golden Valley 55427 Warners Stellian Co Inc 550 Atwater Circle St. Paul 55103 Mespo Heating & Cooling Inc. 1904 Glenwood Avenue N Minneapolis 55443 RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 3224 62nd Avenue N Laura A Mills INITIAL (TYPE III – one-year license) 2850 Northway Drive G B Homes Llc RENEWAL (TYPE IV – six-month license) 3501 47th Avenue N 6939 Baird Llc 3513 47th Avenue N 6939 Baird Llc 3601 47th Avenue N 8411 Balboa Llc 6915 Humboldt Avenue N Lynwood Pointe Llc 5336 Russell Avenue N CHRISTOPHER M BARNARD 5337 Queen Avenue N Edith & Gregory Perlin 1713 70th Avenue N LARKIN STREET HOMES LLC 2406 Ericon Drive G B Homes Llc 3141 49th Avenue N CCF3 LLC 3815 Oak Street D & T Properties 4007 Joyce Lane John Jorgensen 5330 Girard Avenue N C Bright/Wagner Prop Rent 5701 James Avenue N Sunset View Rentals Llc 5819 Knox Avenue N G.b. Homes Llc 8/12/24 -6- 6657 Xerxes Place N Michael Greene & Lydia Logan RENEWAL (TYPE III – one-year license) 1701 69th Avenue N Earle Brown Farm Apartments 1606 71st Avenue N GA Lang & VL Lang Rev Trst 3106 64th Avenue N IH2 Property Borrower LP 5306 Knox Avenue N Antonio Vizcarra-moreno 5720 Logan Avene Jenny Investments LLC 6018 Camden Avenue N Gb Homes Llc RENEWAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 4201 Lakeside Avenue N, #109 Marie L Dworshak 2329 55th Avenue N Easton Homes LLC 3901 Burquest Lane P OGUNTI & M ZARZAR 6005 Admiral Place Daniel L & Susan C Soffa Trs 6225 Unity Avenue N HPA CL1 LLC 6724 France Avenue N Jessica J Stoll RENEWAL (TYPE I – three-year license) 3614 50th Avenue N Devlin Wubbena 5909 June Avenue N Jeffrey A Davis 4207 Lakeside Avenue N, #130 Ronald Powers/clarice Powers 1112 Emerson Lane Bodhi Emerson, LLC 1340 68th Lane N Jin Li 4013 Joyce Lane Frederick Heim 5555 Dupont Avenue N Maria Velez 6029 Bryant Avenue N Herman Capital PR VII, LLC 8/12/24 -7- SIGNHANGER Signs of Schuppe 325 Minnesota Avenue N Oronoco 55960 6c. ORDINANCE #2024-08 AMENDING THE CITY'S ZONING MAP TO REMOVE THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6440 JAMES CIRCLE NORTH FROM THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT/BUSINESS MIXED-USE (PUD/MX-B) DISTRICT AND REZONING THE PROPERTY TO BUSINESS MIXED-USE (MX-B) DISTRICT - 2ND READING 6d. RESOLUTION #2024-083 ACKNOWLEDGING AWARDED FUNDS FROM A LOCAL AREA BUSINESS AND AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS 6e. RESOLUTION #2024-084 AUTHORIZING RETROACTIVE APPROVAL OF A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR ASSESSING SERVICES Motion passed unanimously. 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. BROOKLYN CENTER OPIOID CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN City Manager Reggie Edwards introduced the item and requested the Director of the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety LaToya Turk continue the Staff presentation. Ms. Turk explained there are a number of slang terms for opioids. The drug diminishes pain receptors and enhances pleasure receptors. The drug also reduces heart rates which requires medical intervention. Ms. Turk stated the vision of the strategic plan is to save lives, reduce disparities, and heal communities by preventing and treating opioid use disorder. The mission is to implement a data- driven approach to address the root causes of addiction, engage communities, and mobilize resources effectively. Ms. Turk noted the City’s model is embedded in the County’s framework. It was developed with first responders. She showed a chart reflecting opioid-related deaths in Brooklyn Center over the past few years broken down by race. There is a County dashboard with more data. From 2011 to 2022, in the zip code of 55429, there have been 36 deaths. In 55430, there have been 29 deaths. Ms. Turk pointed out the strategic priorities include saving lives, being evidence- and data-driven, investing in youth, focusing on racial equity, and transparency and inclusion. The strategic framework includes prevention, response, treatment and recovery, and community support. 8/12/24 -8- Ms. Turk stated prevention efforts include developing a comprehensive data tracking system, enhancing participation in current crisis prevention initiatives, creating a communication strategy for sharing results, coordinating education and stigma reduction messaging, implementing a communication plan, educating stakeholders on best practices, promoting equitable access to response methods, collaborating with public and private entities, increasing medication disposal boxes, and education on safe storage and disposal. Ms. Turk explained response efforts include training all first responders and stakeholders in naloxone administration, developing protocols for naloxone training and distribution, creating a communication strategy for sharing results, coordinating safe syringe services and naloxone distribution, and monitoring innovative practices in other jurisdictions. Ms. Turk added treatment and recovery efforts include engaging communities disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, utilizing data to inform interventions, and collaborating with Hennepin County for additional support. Community support efforts include providing resources and outreach at community hotspots and collaborating with stakeholders and impacted communities. Ms. Turk noted they are focusing on an evidence-based public health approach. The plan is to improve health outcomes by reducing overdose deaths and increasing treatment access. Community engagement is important for building trust and collaborating with affected communities. The approach focuses on sustainable solutions meaning long-term strategies that adapt to changing trends and needs. There are also cultural and historical considerations included in the approach. The approach acknowledges the impacts of aggressive sentencing policies for possession on impacted and marginalized communities. Ms. Turk stated the first year of the project plans to establish data systems, initiate education programs, and distribute naloxone through community outreach and collaboration. Year two will include expanding safe disposal sites, enhancing community outreach, and evaluating outcomes. There will be annual progress reports and adjustments based on current trends and data. Ms. Turk showed a chart with strategic pillars and metrics for assessment. Prevention will be measured through the number of educational programs, program attendance records, attendee surveys, number of disposal sites, and disposal site usage data. Response will be measured through the number of naloxone training sessions, participant feedback, the amount of naloxone distributed, and overdose reversals. Treatment will be measured through service utilization rates and patient outcomes. Recovery will be measured through program participation and success stories. Finally, support will be measured through resources provided at hotspots and community feedback. Ms. Turk pointed out that addressing the opioid epidemic will require multiple layers of support and response. She showed a list of community partners that she hopes Brooklyn Center will collaborate with. 8/12/24 -9- Ms. Turk stated the City is supposed to receive $531,000 over the fourteen years to address the epidemic. She doesn’t foresee expending all of the money because of the various supports such as the County and State. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what funds the naloxone. Ms. Turk stated the naloxone used by first responders is funded by a grant through the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. Mayor Graves noted Ms. Turk has done a great job with collaboration and reaching youth. Councilmember Jerzak asked for anecdotes on the impact of the City’s efforts thus far. He also asked if the schools have been responsive to Ms. Turk’s interest in educating students. Ms. Turk explained she had been working with the local schools prior to implementing any strategies to address the opioid epidemic. Introducing opioid-related education was simple due to the pre- existing relationships. Students enjoyed the programming so much that they tried to skip their scheduled classes to attend. They have used TikTok and role-playing to help educate. Councilmember Jerzak asked how an individual can replace their Narcan should it expire. Ms. Turk stated she is working with the communications Staff to add a webpage with community partner information that provides Narcan to trained individuals. She also hopes to implement a sort of vending machine in partnership with the Police Department for folks to access Narcan. Councilmember Jerzak pointed out the transportation hub would be a prime location for a vending machine. Councilmember Kragness asked when the 14 years started. She asked what the budget plan is for the funding. Ms. Turk stated the plan will not exceed the budget received from the settlement. The funding started in 2023. The only cost for the City is to facilitate the courses. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked how much a Narcan dose would cost. Ms. Turk explained Narcan is a nasal dose while naloxone is an injection. Narcan costs $50 per vial on Amazon. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted the dose is pricy. Councilmember Kragness asked if there are more funds available for education. Ms. Turk stated they are hoping to develop a partnership with the Fire Department for a peer support program. There is a short window to connect someone who expresses interest in help. At-home disposal kits are an option to use the funding on as well. Councilmember Kragness stated she is interested in more preventative measures rather than reactive ones. Ms. Turk agreed she supports prevention. They are looking into hosting a summit for business leaders and an education effort for seniors regarding proper disposal. Mayor Graves asked what data tracking would be done. Ms. Turk stated she is looking for initiatives throughout the City and the Country. She hopes to follow up with folks trained through Brooklyn Center programming to collect additional data. Additionally, the goal is to see overdose numbers decrease. 8/12/24 -10- 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS None. 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. ORDINANCE #2024-09 AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 12 ADDING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND AMENDING THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE STORAGE LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER 19 City Manager Reggie Edwards introduced the item and invited Community Development Director Jesse Anderson to continue the Staff presentation. Community Development Director Jesse Anderson explained a work session discussion was completed by City Council on the issues relating to proposed changes to Chapter 12 and Chapter 19, which included proposals for requiring mailboxes at all licensed rental properties, commercial addressing requirements, and the changes to the definition of commercial vehicles. Mr. Anderson stated the presentation is primarily on Chapter 12, the Building Maintenance and Occupancy Ordinance, and Chapter 19, the Public Nuisance and Petty Offenses Ordinance. Mr. Anderson stated the proposed changes for Chapter 12 include mailbox requirements for license rental properties. Inspection Staff has received complaints about multi-family properties not replacing mailboxes which leads to mail delivery being held at the post office. Mr. Anderson pointed out there are currently no requirements for mailboxes. Federal and State regulations dictate the size, location, and type of mailbox but do not require properties to have a mailbox. The proposal would be for the City to require that all rental properties are required to provide a mailbox that meets Federal and State requirements for their tenants. Mr. Anderson noted the City does not have an ordinance that specify a size for the addressing of a commercial or retail building. Residential buildings have requirements outlined in the Building Code and in the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). Staff has looked into the building code and the building code is silent on the matter. The proposed changes would only impact retail and commercial properties and inserted into Chapter 12. One-story commercial buildings would require the address to be 12 inches, 18 inches for two stories, and 24 inches for three-story buildings and taller. Mr. Anderson added that commercial vehicle storage in a residential district is enforced in both Chapter 19 Public Nuisance and Petty Offenses and Chapter 35 Unified Development. Since the adoption of the Unified Development Code in 2023, the definitions of commercial vehicles do not 8/12/24 -11- match. The purpose of bringing this forward is to ensure that both definitions would be identical and allow for smaller commercial vehicles to be stored in a residential district. Mr. Anderson pointed out currently, Chapter 19-103.12 identities a commercial vehicle as a vehicle that is “…a length greater than 21 feet, or a height greater than 8 feet, or a gross vehicle weight greater than 9,000 pounds…” The proposed language would read as follows, “Commercial vehicles will be defined as a vehicle length greater than 22 feet, a height greater than 10 feet (measured from grade), or a gross vehicle weight more than 20,000 pounds.” Mr. Anderson stated the newly adopted definition in chapter 35-5512.c only allows vehicles identified as class 1-4 by Minnesota’s Department of Transportation. The proposed language would allow small box trucks, step vans, and cube vans to be parked/stored in an R1 and R2 district. The language would continue to prohibit the storage of construction equipment, farm vehicles, dump trucks, construction trailers, backhoes, front-end loaders, bobcats, well drilling equipment, farm trucks, combines, thrashers, tractors, tow trucks, and truck tractors. Mr. Anderson showed examples of vehicles that would be allowed under the proposed ordinance. He also showed images of commercial vehicles that would not be allowed. Councilmember Butler asked what happens after someone receives a warning but continues to violate. Mr. Anderson stated administrative citations would be issued for box trucks, though it is somewhat hard to document because they come and go. Mr. Anderson showed images of various box trucks and cube vans. A vehicle may be prohibited based on vehicle type or length. Mr. Anderson explained the options are to keep the proposed ordinance as it is which would prohibit all box trucks from being stored outside. A second option would be to remove the box truck-type language from the ordinance. This option would allow for box trucks that are less than 22 feet in length and 10 feet in height to be stored outside. Lastly, the Council may choose to remove the box truck type language from the ordinance and add specific length requirements for box trucks which would allow for smaller box trucks but prohibit anything longer than 20 feet or more than 10 feet in height. Councilmember Butler stated she would like to keep the ordinance in Chapter 19. Councilmember Jerzak asked what is driving the proposal for parking various vehicles. The ordinances are difficult to enforce. He asked if other cities’ policies were researched. Most food trucks are more than 22 feet long. The proposal would eliminate some residents’ livelihoods. He asked if there was an inventory of the vehicles throughout the City and who owned them. There aren’t any regulations regarding the number of trucks that can be in one location or if a trailer on a truck contributes to the length. 8/12/24 -12- Councilmember Jerzak added there is also the issue of parking in an alley rather than a street. Residents also have the option to register vehicles for recreational use through the State. Not to mention, there aren’t any definitions of different types of trucks such as a flatbed. Mr. Anderson stated the proposal is less restrictive. Councilmember Jerzak stated the ordinance hasn’t been enforced. Mayor Graves pointed out an ordinance change is being proposed, but Staff isn’t making any statements about the impacts on enforcement. Mr. Anderson explained the discussion started when the new Zoning Code was introduced and Council requested further information. Mayor Graves reiterated the new proposal is less restrictive in length. Mayor Graves moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 2024-10, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 12 and Chapter 19-103.12 of the City Code of Ordinances regarding property maintenance standards and public nuisances. Councilmember Jerzak voted against the same. Motion passed. 11. COUNCIL REPORT Councilmember Kragness reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events:  Attended a Night to Unite event. Councilmember Jerzak reported on his attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events:  Attended a Parks and Recreation Commission event.  Attended a Night to Unite event.  Continues to attend the Hwy 252 Taskforce meetings.  Met with several constituents. Mayor Graves reported on her attendance at the following and provided information on the following upcoming events:  Recorded a third quarterly Mayors Minute with CCX.  Participated in meetings for the Northwest Tourism Board regarding the new Executive Director.  Attended two racial healing events along with several Staff members.  Continues to meet with Community Development Staff about recommendations from conferences.  Toured Crescent Cove and met leaders in other communities.  Attended Brooklyn Bridge Alliance meeting.  Met with Council in Executive Session. 8/12/24 -13- 12. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson moved and Councilmember Jerzak seconded adjournment of the City Council meeting at 8:17 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.