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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.06.09 CCM WORK 5/27/25 -1- 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 JUNE 9, 2025 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 Teneshia Kragness at 8:46 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Pro Tem Teneshia Kragness and Councilmembers/Commissioners Dan Jerzak, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Laurie Ann Moore. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, Finance Director Angela Holm, City Attorney Siobhan Tolar, and City Clerk Shannon Pettit. Mayor/President April Graves was absent and excused. ACTIVE DISCUSSION ITEMS BUDGET PRIORITIZATION DISCUSSION Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness stated she had a note from Mayor/President Graves to discuss graphs and strategic priorities as a baseline. City Manager Reggie Edwards stated that since Council had expressed interest in having this discussion, they still have a budget process in which the Council and Finance Commission will be having conversations on their priorities. The budget is an expression of values as far as what they want to achieve, and the roadmap exists within the strategic plan to provide the cost, which shows where they do spend dollars within the organization. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness said this conversation is in addition to the conversation that they will have with the Finance Commission. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she believed that in prior years, they had a meeting as a whole on what their priorities are as a Council and then passed that on to Staff. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore asked if Mayor/President Graves had comments she wanted to bring to the discussion since she was absent. 6/9/25 -2- Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness stated Mayor/President Graves had left a note saying that the process of this discussion was adding strategic priorities of the Council as a baseline, and to let the consensus decide how they wish to discuss going forward. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated her number one priority is no new spending, to come into this budget year frugally, and look at basics. She stated Brooklyn Center residents are not as affluent as other communities and the City needs to keep its levy flat, if not lower. Dr. Edwards clarified that they will have the conversation relating to priorities prior to department presentations. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson said she would hate for departments to think they have all the funding they want, only to find out that they do not. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore concurred with Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson, and her priority has always been public safety and basic services. The residents want their water and clean, safe streets. She would not support anything over 0 percent in a levy increase, and there are areas like the Heritage Center, the golf course, and the liquor store that have all been revenue losses. She realizes some of those are not an impact on the levy, but some of them are. She asked about duplicity between departments in terms of activities that are happening in community engagement, and to cut any excess, as times are not good economically for many residents of Brooklyn Center. This is a time for the community to come together and support one another. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak concurred with what has already been said and wanted to add not to plan for any grants to aid in funding. The City has to do more with less, and the reality of where they are at, not only with all the Federal and State budget cuts but also the rising costs of food, credit card debt, mortgages, and insurance, is making it more difficult. The rising costs are particularly difficult for senior citizens on fixed incomes. He noted that Dr. Edwards has a very difficult job with union contracts that are up this year. As far as a levy increase, he stated he will not vote for one. There are a lot of needs, but they just do not have the capacity to fulfill all of those needs, and the City may have to freeze positions if necessary. He stated to Dr. Edwards that it was not fair that he must go to his Staff with legitimate needs and say this is where the Council is at, but it is the reality. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness stated her background is in finance and looking at the numbers, she feels very strongly about maintaining the budget as well, but is not in support of anything that causes people to lose their jobs. She understands the consensus of the Council is to be as frugal as possible with their budget. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore stated she agrees and does not want to see any dedicated Staff lose their jobs; however, there was a new recreation position approved previously in 2024 and posted for a $100,000 salary. There was also talk about a Deputy City Clerk position still available and when she was on the Finance Commission, they had to sit down and make priorities 6/9/25 -3- on what they are willing to spend money on. She thanked the Council/EDA for talking about their budget priorities. Mayor/President Pro Tem Kragness said that process was helpful on the Finance Commission because there is a difference between a want and a need, and when you start putting dollar signs next to the list it becomes clear what can be spent where. Councilmember/Commission Jerzak asked Dr. Edwards if they are going to use the colored dots like the Finance Commission does, so they can better visualize where money is going to different departments. He also commented that if there is a hold put on spending, the Directors need to deliver that news to those departments. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson asked when that budget prep meeting is on the schedule. Dr. Edwards stated that meeting will be July 21st because the auditor would be available until then to make their presentation. There will not be a meeting on June 30th. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak asked if he could get calendar invites on the updated dates. Dr. Edwards stated that is the only meeting that has changed. They will send out calendar invites, but they will discuss the budget and priorities at the July 21st meeting. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak asked about the discussion regarding 360 and when that was happening. Dr. Edwards stated they could use a meeting on June 30th to discuss that if the Council would like, but in previous meetings, it was the consensus of the Council that they did not want to do multiple meetings, and agreed to discuss everything on July 21st after the audit presentation. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore stated she did not recall that it was the consensus not to have another meeting on June 30th, but it had been several weeks since that conversation. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak did not recall having that conversation either and would like to vote on putting the June 30th meeting back on the schedule. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore agreed and said she recalled they need to have a meeting about the 360 and the budget overview and levy discussion. She would propose that the June 30th meeting be back on the schedule with the 360 regarding Dr. Edwards and whatever agenda items he saw fit. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson asked if the 360 meeting was at the next work study session instead of having another meeting. Dr. Edwards said he would look at the schedule, but that might be too close and not give enough time. He recommended putting it back on the June 30th meeting. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she wants a hard copy of the audit as soon as it's available so she can review it before the auditor makes their presentation. 6/9/25 -4- Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak wanted to clarify an earlier statement he made about potentially freezing positions if they do not have the funds. Those positions do not include public safety, like Police Department Staff, Fire Department Staff, and positions in Public Works for snow removal. Those positions are not up for debate. He is referencing other positions that do not have the priority. Dr. Edwards clarified that freezing departments is really freezing vacancies and not filling them. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak stated he is not advocating for freezing vacancies, but everything must be on the table. The Council will wait for Dr. Edwards' input and presentation and either approve it or not. Dr. Edwards clarified that freezing goes across all departments that have vacancies. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak stated he would want the Fire Department and Police Department to be exempt from freezing their vacancies. Councilmember/Commissioner Moore asked if the June 30th meeting is all about a closed session with the 360, and if there are other Work Session items that they can discuss that evening when they are together. Dr. Edwards stated that if the session is closed, they can legally only discuss the item for which they closed the session. The Council can take time when the meeting is open and discuss any matters they need to. Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak stated that maybe they could meet earlier at 5 o’clock to discuss those items in advance. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Moore moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Jerzak seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:15 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.