Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.10.28 CCM STUDY SESSION10/28/24 -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 STUDY SESSION OCTOBER 18, 2024 CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor April Graves at 6:03 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. COUNCIL MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION ITEMS Mayor Graves asked if any Councilmembers had additional items for discussion. There were no topics added. CODE OF CONDUCT Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted Charter Commission appointments are not made by the Council, referring to page eight. A judge appoints people to the Charter Commission. Mayor Graves read the section aloud and agreed the paragraph was confusing. Councilmember Kragness stated on page six there was wording that was supposed to be corrected but was not. Mayor Graves asked if Councilmember Kragness had alternative wording to propose. Councilmember Kragness stated she would think ab out it. Councilmember Jerzak reiterated that the edits had not been made. He read through the items in question and explained the changes that needed to be made. Mayor Graves asked who would make the edits. Dr. Edwards clarified that Staff would make the edits. Councilmember Jerzak referred to the City Charter as well as Roberts Rules of Order and asked if the previous resolutions adopted by the Council would be repealed. City Attorney Siobhan Tolar asked if Councilmember Jerzak believes the document in question 10/28/24 -2- DRAFT and the Charter are in conflict. Councilmember Jerzak confirmed there are some conflicts. He asked if other resolutions would need to be repealed because the proposed policy is in conflict with the Charter. Ms. Tolar stated the Charter is the controlling document and overrules any other documents. She stated many of the policies in the Code of Conduct would be in addition to the Charter. However, any conflicts would defer to the Charter. Councilmember Jerzak requested Ms. Tolar review the Charter. Mayor Graves asked what the conflicts are. Councilmember Jerzak gave an example of the type of meetings allowed by the Charter. Another example is related to Robert’s Rules of Order or the order of meeting items. Ms. Tolar explained the Code of Conduct is intended to fit into existing policies and be supplemental. Some language was modified by the previous City Attorney. Her only edits were reorganizing. Councilmember Jerzak asked what the Code of Conduct has that the Charter doesn’t have Mayor Graves stated although there are existing policies regarding decorum, some people have still felt disrespected. Also, there are not any standards for accountability as of yet. Councilmember Jerzak stated that his concern is that respect is subjective, and the Code of Conduct could be weaponized. Mayor Graves reiterated there is no adopted process to rectify any issues of misconduct. She stated that the Code of Conduct is not to replace any existing policy but to complement what is already in place. Additionally, the proposed Code of Conduct is in line with the Council’s goals. She requested Councilmember Jerzak review the Charter and note any misalignment. Councilmember Jerzak stated he is unclear on the process and punitive steps, as well as censuring, and would like clarification on this. He also noted that he feels the City Attorney should be a part of the process Mayor Graves stated she doesn’t have an issue sharing the responsibility. Ms. Tolar stated the Council administers the censuring process. However, censuring isn’t the first punitive step. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that she would also like clarification on the censure, and what constitutes a censure and asked if they would want the Charter Commission to assist with the process. 10/28/24 -3- DRAFT Mayor Graves stated she would prefer that the Council handle the matter but stated they could look at the Charter assisting and mitigating conflicts if needed. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like to know what would constitute a censure. Mayor Graves stated the Code of Conduct requires repeated complaints and a Council vote. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what censuring looks like. Ms. Tolar stated it is a public admonition. The Councilmember would have received multiple verbal warnings. Then the Council would pass a resolution acknowledging the Councilmember’s inappropriate behavior. Mayor Graves added Commissioners who have faced censuring would have a certain timeline before they can serve on a Commission again. The purpose is to promote accountability. Councilmember Butler reminded the council that this is also a reflection of staff. She pointed out Staff have been mistreated by both Council and Commissioners in the past and by passing a Code of Conduct, it is intended to show the Council’s commitment to caring for and protecting Staff. Councilmember Kragness noted the document needs to be cleaned up. For example, on page five item two, contact is supposed to be limited to specific Staff. It is unclear what Staff this is referring to and in what context. Mayor Graves suggested removing the first sentence regarding limiting contact with Staff. Councilmember Kragness added the document is worded in an accusatory manner. On page six for items 12 and 13, it says “do not speak badly” when it could say “refrain from speaking ill of” and the like. For 13, it says “Don’t spring surprises on Councilmembers.” There was discussion on the item and Council offered to ask more questions in advance of a meeting. She stated she would review her notes for more insight. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated Councilmembers might have a question during a presentation. She asked if the Council could no longer ask Staff questions during the meeting. Mayor Graves stated the item could be worded to “refrain” from springing questions on Staff. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson pointed out that the term “surprises” is a broad word and asked if it would relate to presentations and questions directed at the presentation. Mayor Graves stated she believes the point is to avoid putting Staff on the spot or pressuring someone to make an immediate decision. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated the Council’s job is to ask questions. Councilmember Jerzak noted on page six, item D, stated only the Mayor or presiding officer may ask a presenter a question. However, any Councilmember can call for a Point of Order per Robert’s Rules of Orders. Mayor Graves stated the Code of Conduct allows for any Councilmember to request the presiding officer to make a Point of Order. Councilmember Jerzak stated the item 10/28/24 -4- DRAFT doesn’t allow for other Councilmembers to ask clarifying questions during a presentation, which is especially important during a longer presentation. Mayor Graves asked how the item could be amended. Councilmember Jerzak stated the item could allow Councilmembers to ask permission from the presiding officer to ask a question of the presenter, but only if necessary. Mayor Graves pointed out the item is to prohibit disrespectfulness from a Councilmember or unnecessary interruptions. Reasonable questions are absolutely allowed. However, she is open to edits if the Council would prefer it. Councilmember Kragness stated adding more words is making the document too wordy. It is understood the Council should listen to the whole presentation, and it doesn’t need to be written. The item is addressing when an off-topic conversation is occurring. Councilmember Jerzak referred to page seven item F, he stated that this item is well-intended, but it could be weaponized as attacks are subjective. Mayor Graves stated egregious actions are obvious to most people. She has been interpreted as stern when it is merely her passion coming through. The intention is not to police personal expression but to promote accountability and set an example to the community. Mayor Graves added the vote doesn’t need to be unanimous. However, it would be important to have everyone on the same page and of the same mind. Councilmember Kragness asked where the final paragraph on page four originated from. Mayor Graves read through the paragraph aloud regarding personnel administration. She stated that there are a number of examples of how the Council should be interacting with Staff. It was likely pulled from Brooklyn Park’s initial draft. Councilmember Kragness asked if it needs to be in the Code of Conduct. The first two paragraphs have enough information, and the third paragraph seems unnecessary. Mayor Graves stated the third paragraph seems like a transitional paragraph to move along to the list of directives. The third paragraph provides reasoning for the directives. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson pointed out it is a good document, and there has been meaningful progress. City Manager Reggie Edwards explained that Staff will meet with the City Attorney to make edits before they return to the Council. Also, any items from the Code of Conduct that duplicate the Charter Commission will be removed. Dr. Edwards pointed out there is an audio issue for those viewing the meeting remotely. Staff is working to fix the issue. Dr. Edwards noted the Council’s conversation is great and will thoroughly inform the final Code of Conduct. 10/28/24 -5- DRAFT Mayor Graves stated the item would be addressed again at a future meeting. BROOKLYN CENTER 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM Dr. Edwards summarized the previous discussions regarding the 2025 Legislative Platform. Both the old and new language are included to reflect edits made. There will be a clean document presented to the Council for approval at the next Council meeting. Dr. Edwards explained the first group of legislation relates to administration. The City wants to support information access and official notifications in an updated manner. There is an item addressing election judge recruitment and retention by allowing college students to have time off. Brooklyn Center continues to support funding for cultural centers and museums. Dr. Edwards stated the Public Works Garage is an essential service for the City, and they are seeking funding through the legislative process. Dr. Edwards noted Brooklyn Center supports legislation that protects tenants and lifts up affordable housing. Affordable housing is critical, especially where there are concentrations of poverty. Funding can be spread throughout the Metro to avoid disparities within certain communities. Another legislative item in the Platform is to support group homes and assisted living centers while addressing the disproportionate implementation of such facilities. Brooklyn Center has the highest percentage of group homes compared to any City in Minnesota. Dr. Edwards the City also wants to support a more even distribution of emergency shelter and transitional housing uses in hotels. Brooklyn Center needs to retain its hotels as income sources while continuing to serve those in need. Lastly for housing, Brooklyn Center supports efforts to train new and diverse building officials. Dr. Edwards explained there are a number of legislative items related to business and economic development of interest to Brooklyn Center. They want to support small business development through opportunities and resources and protect business tenants. Brooklyn Center supports an internship-to-work tax credit for organizations hosting young workers within the City. They also want to promote workforce readiness by fully funding the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership. Dr. Edwards stated Brooklyn Center supports flexibility within Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts to facilitate redevelopment and housing flexibility. The City is requesting critical legislative funding that will fill gap funding necessary for the build-out of Phase 1 of the Opportunity Site. The request will be done in such a way as to avoid “double-dipping.” Dr. Edwards stated some financial items include supporting State funding for cities recovering tax losses due to 4D Transition Aid, encouraging continued legislative support for Metro Area Fiscal Disparities, advocating for simplifying the current sales tax exemption for construction materials, increasing property tax relief for property owners, and adding an annual indexing factor to the Local Government Aid (LGA) formula. 10/28/24 -6- DRAFT Dr. Edwards noted Brooklyn Center supports the State adding “racial trauma” to eligible conditions for psychological treatment. He pointed out the item is new for 2025. Dr. Edwards added Brooklyn Center supports extension and permanent funding of Public Safety Aid, Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) for law enforcement, extending the presumption of privacy for body-worn camera footage to non-sown staff in alignment with current State law, improving race-related data collection by allowing individuals to self-identify their race on their driver’s licenses, funding for the expansion of the COP Autism Response Education (CARE) training model, clarifying State Statutes that allow juveniles to be help for questioning and booking in City jail for up to six hours, and implementing the principles and strategies outlined in the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Dr. Edwards stated other legislative items of note to Brooklyn Center include appropriation of funding to the Fencing Consortium, funding Brooklyn Park’s regional joint emergency operations center and indoor fire training facility, funding for the Dayton Regional live fire training facility, increased and continued funding to MNFIRE and MBFTE, permanent funding for public safety responder mental health and well-being, addressing issues with TH 252, MVLST funding, funding for and improvements to public transportation, and flexibility in city cost participation on State and County roads. CITY MANAGER MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION ITEMS Dr. Edwards explained there is a correction required for the minutes related to certifying the special assessments rolls because Council didn’t verbally remove appellants from the rolls. A similar change will be made to the administrative citation process. There was no objection from the Council. Dr. Edwards pointed out that Director of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety LaToya Turk is ill and unable to attend the meeting. Therefore, the item on the Work Session titled Community Safety and Violence Prevention Commission Council Discussion will need to be pushed back to a later date. Mayor Graves asked where in the agenda the Council should address the error with the special assessments roll. Dr. Edwards stated the only action required of the Council is approving the changes to the previous set of minutes. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS ADJOURNMENT Mayor Graves adjourned the meeting at 7:06.