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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.07.28 CCM REGULAR7/28/25 -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 JULY 28, 2025 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 7:11 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Mayor April Graves and Councilmembers Dan Jerzak, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Laurie Ann Moore. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, City Planner Krystin Eldridge, City Clerk Shannon Pettit, 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 and reviewed the Rules of Decorum. Alfreda D. stated that, as a resident of Brooklyn Center and a member of the Liberian Community, she wanted to extend her deepest gratitude for the event that took place on Saturday, July 26. She noted that for the first time in the history of the City of Brooklyn Center and the entire country, a Liberian Independence Day parade was held, and it was more than just an event. It was a moment of pride, visibility, and joy for many of the Liberian community. She stated that this has set the stage for something big and powerful, and put Brooklyn Center in the lead nationwide for being welcoming to its immigrants. She noted that seeing the Liberian flag wave down the streets of Brooklyn Center to hear the music of her homeland and watch the children walk with pride was incredibly moving for many in the community. She stated this was the first time she felt fully seen and embraced by the City that they all call home. She stated she was thankful and grateful to LaToya from the office of Community Engagement for her unwavering support. She recognized LaToya for her efforts in helping a dream turn into a reality. She recognized the City Manager and the Brooklyn Park Police Department for their commitment to the safety of all the participants and cooperation throughout the day. She stated that the Police Department's presence and professionalism helped create a welcoming and secure environment where families felt free to celebrate. She added that the event had a powerful economic impact on the City, with local residents, vendors, and small businesses seeing an increase in traffic and revenue that day. She 7/28/25 -2- stated this is a prime example of what can happen when culture and commerce come together. She stated that she is already looking forward to next year, and is committed to working with the City early on to build on success and make sure things go as smoothly as possible, and to address some of the issues and concerns that were discussed earlier. She continued that this is what is possible when the City listens and uplifts every voice in its community. Mayor Graves thanked Alfreda D. for speaking. Nehemiah stated he has been in Brooklyn Center for almost 34 years, and the Liberian Celebration was very proud, and he thanked the Council. He noted that the kids had an opportunity to see what diversity looks like, and he stayed to clean afterwards. He noted that LaToya went as far as to supply attendees with water. He noted that he stayed until 10:00 p.m., cleaning to make sure the park was clean and did the best he could. He reiterated how grateful he was for the event, as well as waking up to phone calls from people who saw the stream from Liberia and Washington, DC. He stated he is looking forward to next year and much more collaboration for the event next year. Kamadi D. stated he wanted to extend his sincere thanks for the Liberian Celebration to the Mayor, City Manager, the Police Chief, and all the City Staff. He noted that this weekend was truly successful and rewarding, and witnessed vibrant cultural festivities that created a wonderful atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. He said this event represents a win-win for the City, fostering spiritual and economic growth, and he hopes that Brooklyn Center will continue hosting such events, serving as a positive example for other cities to emulate. He said that the Mayor of Brooklyn Park spoke with him and asked if this event could be duplicated next year in Brooklyn Park instead of Brooklyn Center. Mayor Graves said she was not surprised. Kamadi said if Brooklyn Center wants to hold it down, he would be glad to. He thanked the Council on behalf of Liberia of Minnesota and said it was an awesome event. Julie B. called in via Zoom. She stated that she was also in attendance at the Liberian celebration and wanted to share gratitude with the City of Brooklyn Center for allowing it to host the first Liberian independent state celebration. She stated she was thrilled to see the robust crowd in the City. She noted that she heard a lot of positive feedback about the celebration from Staff and participants, and was happy to see so many people in attendance. She stated she was disappointed to hear that the first thing shared about the celebration that night was a complaint. Councilmember Moore called for a point of order. Mayor Graves asked what the point of order was. Councilmember Moore said Julie B. did not need to make disparaging comments about a Councilmember who made comments during a week session, and asked if the Council could move on to the next speaker. Mayor Graves said she did not hear the speaker make any disparaging comments about a specific Councilmember and asked Julie B. to wrap up her statements. Councilmember Moore asked again if the Council could move on to the next speaker. Mayor Graves said Julie B. was past the two-minute speaking time anyway, and this was not the time to go back and forth with a fellow Councilmember. Mayor Graves thanked Julie B. for calling in. Councilmember Moore asked if Julie B. could be muted. Mayor Graves stated she heard what Julie B. was saying, and her point was received. Mayor Graves asked if anyone else wanted to speak. 7/28/25 -3- Naheed K. stated she also attended the Liberian Celebration and went to the library to watch the parade. She noted that the parade had quite a few interesting cars, which she and her husband enjoyed. She said she and her husband walked around the whole park, and it was a friendly environment full of young people, families, and kids. She stated she did not see any trash, and she was there until after three o'clock. She said that despite the heat, she did not see any heat emergencies of any kind. She said she is glad that this event was held in Brooklyn Center, making it unique to Brooklyn Center, and hopes that Brooklyn Center will continue to focus on events like that to build up the community identity. She thanked City Staff for all of their work on the event and said they did a great job. Famada Z. stated she served on the Sister City Commission and is currently with the City of Brooklyn Center, and is the president of the Organization of Liberian Women in Minnesota. Famada said she was there to thank the Council for hosting the first Liberian Celebration of their 178th Independence Day. She thanked LaToya and the City Staff who were out on Saturday to support them. She said she looks forward to future partnerships with the City. Mayor Graves and Councilmember Moore thanked Famada Z. for speaking and for being on one of the City’s Commissions. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson moved and Councilmember Jerzak seconded to close the Informal Open Forum at 7:24 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 5. INVOCATION Councilmember Kragness read a quote, "It's not about perfect. It's about effort. And when you implement that effort into your life every single day, that's where transformation occurs. That's how change happens. Keep going. Remember why you started." She read another quote by James Clear that asked, "How long will you put off what you're capable of doing just to continue what you're comfortable doing?" 6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Jerzak moved and Councilmember Kragness seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda, as amended, with amendments to the minutes as stated during the Study Session, item 6c. Resolution Identifying the Need for LCA Predevelopment Funding and Authorizing an Application for Grant Funds for Amani Construction & Development, LLC for Townhomes at the 5400 Block of Brooklyn Blvd was moved to become item 10a. Resolution Identifying the Need for LCA Predevelopment Funding and Authorizing an Application for Grant Funds for Amani Construction & Development, LLC for Townhomes at the 5400 Block of Brooklyn Blvd, Study Session Item Strategic Planning Update and Reporting to become Item 7a. Strategic Planning Update and Reporting, and 7a. 2025 Mid-Year Crime Reduction & Strategy Update to become 7c. 2025 Mid-Year Crime Reduction & Strategy Update, and the following consent items were approved: 7/28/25 -4- 6a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. July 14, 2025 – Study Session 2. July 14, 2025 – Regular Session 6b. LICENSES AMUSEMENT DEVICES New King Buffet 5927 John Martin Drive RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 5901 Aldrich Avenue N EDWIN CRUZ GUERRERO INITIAL (TYPE I – three-year license) 5342 70th Circle Pai Lor RENEWAL (TYPE II – two-year license) 5415 69th Avenue N Phs Maranatha Inc 3018 Ohenry Road Godiva Properties Llc 7025 Drew Avenue N SFR BORROWER 2022-1 LLC RENEWAL (TYPE I – three-year license) 5207 Xerxes Avenue N Djwb Inc 5235 Drew Avenue N Jay Nelson Battenberg 3121 Lawrence Road Empire Care Systems 5818 Emerson Avenue N New Prospect Holdings 1606 71st Avenue N G A Lang & V L Lang Rev Trst 6000 Bryant Avenue N Rto Investments Llc 6407 Orchard Avenue N Hpa Borrower 2018-1 Ms Llc 6436 Dupont Avenue N AA Homes LLC 6c. RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LCA PREDEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR AMANI CONSTRUCTION & 7/28/25 -5- DEVELOPMENT, LLC FOR TOWNHOMES AT THE 5400 BLOCK OF BROOKLYN BLVD This item was considered as 10a. Resolution Identifying the Need for LCA Predevelopment Funding and Authorizing for Grant Funds for Amani Construction & Development, LLC for Townhomes at the 540 Block of Brooklyn Blvd. 6d. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE AND REPORTING Dr. Edwards explained this the first time that there have been presentations on strategic directions, goals, and progress, and it is an opportunity for everyone to learn. Dr. Edwards said this allows the City to align its work strategically across the organization, holds the City accountable for the things it sets out to do, and provides transparency in educational opportunities. This also provides a means for the City to identify the progress that it is making and the ability to adjust. He noted that this first iteration is primarily projects and activities, and as this process matures, city staff will begin to identify outcomes in the years to come. Dr. Edwards said that it has been articulated that the City wants to be outcome-based through outcome budgeting, and this is a first step in identifying the City's actions and measuring and reporting on that progress. Dr. Edwards introduced Deputy City Manager Darren Nyquist to present on this item. Dr. Edwards wanted to note that this is not a punitive process, but an opportunity as a City organization to declare what the City is doing on behalf of increasing the life of residence and specific and strategic actions for three is going to take how they are going to take those action and checking in with one another as it relates to the progress on that. Mr. Nyquist stated he was going to talk about the process and the focus on achieving strategic priorities, as well as first steps and the intent behind what the City is doing. He also noted that he will go over the future and current states of priority projects. Mr. Nyquist noted that the strategic plan is wrapped around the previous Strategic Plan that was completed in 2023. The strategic plan completed in 2023 pre-dates Mr. Nyquist, but his experience as a former consultant has given him a great foundation to tackle this mission. He noted that the priority projects he would be talking about fit into five buckets: enhancing economic growth, developing financial stability, increasing safety for the community and employees, improving employee engagement, and improving communication. Mr. Nyquist detailed the process of getting the project off the ground. Inside, here are three things that he looks at to push the project forward: focus, visibility, and ownership. Focus pertains to how the City will use limited resources, time, and money effectively to complete projects. Visibility is about making sure the City is not doing duplicate work across the organization and 7/28/25 -6- getting projects and strategies out for Staff and the public to see. Ownership is all about who is responsible for driving the work that is happening, and execution comes down to consistency in the process. He highlighted that he and Dr. Edwards do not want to focus on the achievement or success of any individual, but that they win or fail as a team. He mentioned that he has seen other organizations with strategic planning that focus too much on individual wins and losses, and it can have a negative effect. There will be ownership of the work and process, but it will never be punitive. Mr. Nyquist said that the City Manager meets individually with Department Directors to help achieve the goals of focus, visibility, and ownership, and discusses Department priorities and goals and priority projects. Mr. Nyquist stated that he has a monthly meeting with those Department heads, and his role is to check in on said projects and their progress and maintain momentum. Mr. Nyquist built a document that tracks all progress on projects to measure that progress. The future process will include the City Council determining high-level priorities and where the Council wants the City as an organization to go with high-level objectives that have vision and impact. To foster visibility, documentation will be made internally with the Staff so all Staff can see where their project is progressing and the Department can keep tabs on the project as a way to develop accountability across the organization. To foster ownership, he explained that each priority has an owner who is responsible for pushing that priority forward, and priorities do not change without discussion. Mr. Nyquist explained that there are 64 priority projects currently, seven to enhance economic growth, 13 to develop financial stability, 14 to increase safety for the community and employees, 13 to improve employee engagement, and 17 to improve communication. Mr. Nyquist highlighted the current status of the following projects: by the end of 2025 to ensure the development and beginning implementation of an Economic Growth Plan, to develop financial stability they will develop the 2025 Capital Plan, to increase thank you for trying to be employee they will be an upgrade to City Hall security cameras and telecom, to improve employee engagement there will be an update on new employee orientation to improve experience and ensure policy trainings are accurate, and to improve communication there will be an implementation of monthly Staff meetings with the City Manager. He explained that some of the statuses are project processes and some are higher levels of strategy, but that's where he would like to go strategically to accomplish the projects. Mayor Graves asked if there would be some additional priorities that come forward as part of the economic growth plan. Mr. Nyquist anticipated that there would be new priorities that come forward as more conversations happen on where there needs to be more focus. Mr. Nyquist discussed the current status of projects and the phases of completion. He noted that three percent of projects have not started, 83 percent of projects are on track or completed, and 15 percent, or six projects, are at risk or off track. He noted that those six projects are still in the budget development phase and are not critical, but those issues are being worked out. One of the projects that has not been completed belongs to Mr. Nyquist, and it is regarding cleaning up the City's website. He explained that his team has been jammed, but by the end of the year, the website project should be done. 7/28/25 -7- Mr. Nyquist displayed a slide that shows how the priority of a project will be tracked with a meter that shows red, yellow, or green. As project completion increases, the meter will show green. He explained that this is a rough measurement, and as time goes on, he will fine-tune impact measurements, but he is not quite there yet. Mr. Nyquist asked if the Council had any questions for him and noted that he meets regularly with Dr. Edwards to report back on his strategic planning progress. Dr. Edwards asked Mr. Nyquist if he would explain that projects that may not start until the fourth quarter may not display progress the same way that other projects would. Mr. Nyquist responded that tracking is based on completion of the project, and most projects are completed by December. At the halfway point, if those projects are in the yellow, that means they are on track to meet their deadline. If the project is in the red by mid-year, that means there has been a delay somewhere. Councilmember Jerzak noted that this process is in its beginning stages, but wanted to offer some constructive criticism that if everything is important, then nothing is important. His fear is that the City will develop a huge bureaucracy that will cave in on itself. He noted that Dr. Edwards and the Staff have a limited capacity and encouraged Dr. Edwards to focus on the energies and work that have the most impact and create the most good. He recognized that from the beginning, the Mayor had suggested an analyst who could help focus projects to have the greatest outcome, and he thought that that would be very beneficial. He thanked Dr. Edwards for getting this up and going and noted that the government moves very slowly, but nevertheless, the process has been started. Mayor Graves said she was excited to see the progress and that the process is moving forward. She noted that she had a conversation with the former City Manager, who discussed how to align strategic goals within the City budget. She agreed that she does not want this process to become overly burdensome, but thinks it is an opportunity for employees to do some self-reflection and to have documentation of the work that they have completed and the milestones that they have met. She noted that this type of documentation for projects could be used to help City Staff get a promotion or transition to work somewhere else, as they can show the projects with specific outcomes that they were a part of. Project documentation could also be helpful to the rest of the community to see the important work that the Staff is doing, and the residents can see how tax dollars are being used. She said he is very excited about this process and is patiently waiting for the next presentation. Councilmember Jerzak noted that on page 17 in the packet, the sum adds up to 101 percent. Mr. Nyquist noted that it was an Excel rounding error. Councilmember Kragness appreciated the visibility in establishing accountability, as well as the graph that shows the Council the progress made on each type of project. Councilmember Moore stated that she appreciated the handout and the specifics around the presentation items. She had not had time to go through it yet, but would ask any follow-up questions later. She agreed with Councilmember Kragness about accountability. She noted that the priorities are the 2025 priorities that were developed by the previous Council in collaboration 7/28/25 -8- with City Staff and the City Manager. She stated she looks forward to offering more constructive feedback at a later time. She noted that the Brooklyn Center Business Association is something that she would like to bring up in a future council member work session. She thanked Mr. Nyquist for his presentation. Mayor Graves moved and Councilmember Moore seconded to approve the presentation on the 2025 Mid-Year Crime Reduction & Strategy Update. Motion passed unanimously. 7b. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER REVIEW Dr. Edwards stated that the Council had desired to review the policy related to parliamentary procedure as well as Robert's Rules of Order. He explained that the City has a modified version of parliamentary procedure and Robert's Rules of Order. Dr. Edward introduced Ms. Tolar to present this item. Ms. Tolar explained that pursuant to the City Charter, Chapter 303, the City shall determine its own rules of order and business in its parliamentary procedure. She noted that Robert's Rules of Order are very complicated and are not compliant with Minnesota law; therefore, Brooklyn Center has a modified version. Ms. Tolar noted that the purpose of parliamentary procedure is to establish orderly meetings and conventions, create a clear record of council decisions, and help members of the public follow the meeting. The guiding principles of Robert’s Rules and Brooklyn Center parliamentary procedure include; everyone has a right to participate in discussion if they wish, before anyone may speak a second time; everyone has the right to know what is going on at all times, only urgent matters may interrupt the speaker, and only one motion can be discussed at a time. Ms. Tolar explained that Brooklyn Center's parliamentary procedures include Section 1.3, which outlines Brooklyn Center's parliamentary procedures. Sections 1.10 through 11 outline what is in those rules of parliamentary procedure, which include points of order, parliamentary appeal, decorum, enforcement of decorum, conflict of interest, limitation of debate, dissents and protests, and rules of the presiding officer are final unless overruled. Sections 1.10-1.14 discuss additional parliamentary procedure; section 1.13 discusses motions, which will be reviewed in depth. Ms. Tolar explained the role of the presiding officer. She noted all members of the Council have an equal voice and an equal vote; however, section 2.06 of the Brooklyn Center City Charter designates the Mayor as presiding officer of the city Council and a mayor pro tem who serves as Mayor in the Mayor's absence. In the absence of the Mayor and Mayor pro tem, the acting Mayor pro tem shall preside. The most senior Councilmember shall be designated as acting Mayor pro tem. The presiding officer determines all points of order subject to the right of any Councilmember to appeal to the Council, recognizes speakers on the Council and other speakers at the meeting, calls speakers to order, may order the removal of any person who makes inappropriate remarks or 7/28/25 -9- becomes boisterous while addressing the Council and bar that person from further audience with the Council. The presiding officer directs and leads the meeting through the Council agenda, maintains general order of the meeting, decides all questions of interpretation of the rules of procedure, points of order, and other questions of procedure requiring rulings. A ruling shall be final and binding for purposes of the matter under discussion. The presiding officer also revises the order of business with the exception of noticed public hearings. Ms. Tolar explained the parliamentary appeal. Any member of the Council may appeal to the Council from a ruling of the presiding officer. If the appeal is seconded, the member may speak solely on the question involved. The presiding officer may explain his or her ruling, but no other councilmember shall participate in the discussion. The appeal should be sustained if it is approved by a majority of the members present, exclusive of the presiding officer. Ms. Tolar moved on to motions. Motions are a topic under discussion. After being recognized by the presiding officer, the Councilmember can introduce a motion as long as no other motion is on the table. A motion requires a second to be considered. Each motion must be addressed, passed, defeated, labeled, or postponed indefinitely. There are four types of motions: the main motion, which introduces items for consideration, subsidiary motions that change how the motion is handled, privileged motions, which are used to bring up items that are unrelated but urgent enough to interrupt consideration of the existing motion, and incidental motions, which provide means of questioning procedure or other motions. Ms. Tolar gave examples of types of motions. A main motion is a motion to adopt the consent agenda, a subsidiary motion is a motion to amend a pending motion, a privileged motion is a motion to adjourn or recess, and an incidental motion is a motion for a point of information. Ms. Tolar gave examples of incidental motions and the actions that would require them. She stated that when a Councilmember wants to inquire about the facts affecting the business at hand, they would motion for a point of information. She stated that if a council member wanted to remove the question from consideration after the motion had been re-stated by the presiding officer, the council member would move to be allowed to withdraw the motion. If a Councilmember would like the opinion, not a ruling of the presiding officer on a matter of parliamentary procedure as it relates to the business at hand, the Councilmember would motion for a parliamentary inquiry. If the Councilmember wanted to challenge an error in procedure and require a ruling by the presiding officer, the council member would motion for a point of order. Ms. Tolar gave examples of subsidiary motions and the actions that would require them. She stated that when a councilmember changes their mind about something that was voted on earlier in the meeting, for which they were on the winning side, the council member would move to reconsider. If the council member wanted to change an action voted on at an earlier meeting, the council member would make a motion to rescind. If the Councilmember wanted to change some of the wording in a motion under discussion, the Councilmember would move to amend the motion with the new wording of their choice. If a Councilmember liked the idea of the motion being discussed but needed to reword it beyond simple changes, the Councilmember would move to 7/28/25 -10- substitute the motion for the wording of their choice, and after the motion is seconded, discussion will continue on both motions, and the body will vote on the motion they prefer. Ms. Tolar noted that in the Brooklyn Center Council rules, in section 1.13 of the rules of procedure, if a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the presiding officer before defeat, and a motion shall not be withdrawn by the mover without the consent of the person seconding it. Motions out of order, with majority consent of the Council, the presiding officer may make at any time, allowing the item to be considered out of the regular agenda order. Ms. Tolar explained that if the question contains two or more propositions, the presiding officer, at the request of a member, may divide it. Ms. Tolar explained the precedence of motion is when a motion is before the Council, and no other motion will be entertained except the following, which shall have precedence in the following order: adjourn, fix hour of adjournment, table, limit or terminate discussion, and amend or postpone. Ms. Tolar discussed motions in the Council’s rules of procedure. A motion to adjourn that is not debatable is a motion to adjourn and shall be in order at any time except when made as an interruption of a member while speaking, or when a discussion has ended and a vote on a motion is pending, or while a vote is being taken. A motion to adjourn to another time shall be debatable only as to the time to which the meeting is adjourned. A motion to fix the hour of adjournment is when all meetings and Work Sessions of the Council shall be adjourned by 10:00 p.m. unless otherwise agreed to by at least a majority of the Council. A motion to set a different, specific time at which to adjourn shall be undebatable and shall be unamendable except by extraordinary vote (4/5). Ms. Tolar explained a motion to table. A motion to table shall be undebatable and shall preclude all amendments or debate of the subject under consideration. If the motion prevails, the matter shall be taken from the table at any time prior to the end of the next regular meeting, unless the motion is to either table indefinitely or to a date certain. If the motion is to be tabled indefinitely, the matter shall not be rescheduled without at least a majority approval from the Council. Ms. Tolar explained the motion to limit or terminate the discussion. A motion to limit or terminate discussion may be used to limit or close debate on, or prohibit further amendment to, the pending motion. It is undeniable. If the motion fails, debate shall be reopened; if the motion passes, a vote shall be taken on the pending motion. Ms. Tolar explained the motion to amend. A motion to amend shall be debatable only as to the amendment. A motion to amend an amendment shall be in order, but a motion to amend an amendment to an amendment shall not be in order. An amendment modifying the intention of the motion will be in order, but an amendment relating to a different matter shall not be in order. A substitute motion on the same subject shall be acceptable and voted on before a vote on the amendment. Amendments shall be voted on first, then the main motion as amended. Ms. Tolar explained a motion to continue. A motion to continue to a definite time shall be amenable and available as to the propriety of postponement and the time set. 7/28/25 -11- Ms. Tolar noted that important things to remember are to speak, all Councilmembers must be recognized by the presiding officer, all motions must be seconded and voted on unless amended or rescinded, and making and preserving a good record is more important than the procedure itself. Ms. Tolar stated that making an accurate record is important, especially when doing things of an official nature for the Council. She gave the example of a previous Council meeting with the Hospitality Accommodation License revocation and explained how important correct documentation is for the record. Ms. Tolar asked if anyone had any questions. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that she needed a clean copy of the rules, as hers had portions blocked out by a graphic. She asked about the rules and procedures regarding limiting the speaker in the audience. She noted that in the past, there have been disruptive people in the audience, and the Council was told that they could not do anything due to freedom of speech. She said that there have been times when the Council was physically feeling threatened, and the Council had to let them speak. Ms. Tolar responded that freedom of speech is definitely important, but the policy in front of them was presenting what the current presiding officer may do, not necessarily what the presiding officer should do. She explained that in situations like that, the presiding officer has the ability to remove that individual from the audience, which does not necessarily mean that they will. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson said she can only speak for herself, but she would like more clarity around how this differs from First Amendment rights. She stated that if there was a PowerPoint that could be emailed for clarity, she would like that. Dr. Edwards asked if this was something that he could provide to the Council in a memo. Mayor Graves said that as the presiding officer, it has to be gauged how disruptive or threatening the behavior is in order to remove a person physically from the space, and whether or not it would make more sense to go into a recess or adjourn the meeting. She noted that removing someone from the meeting could mean a potential legal issue around someone's First Amendment rights as well. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson said that maybe the Council should have a conversation about what point it should get to with a disruptive individual, before saying the meeting needed to be adjourned. Mayor Graves said she adjourned one meeting when she felt it got too volatile in chambers. There was no vote taken at the moment, but everyone said aye when the motion was made. She noted that as the presiding officer, it is her call to make, but she cares about how her fellow Councilmembers feel. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson said she knows it would be a last resort to remove someone from the meeting, and she has had really good experiences for the most part, but there have been a few times when it was not. Mayor Graves said she has never felt physically afraid for her safety, more so offended or hurt. Councilmember Jerzak asked if a Councilmember felt threatened, could they make a motion to adjourn or recess, and if it got seconded, it would pass, or is that something only the presiding officer can do. Ms. Tolar responded that anyone can make a motion; it just has to be seconded. Councilmember Jerzak stated that it gives him a level of comfort to know that that was an option. 7/28/25 -12- Councilmember Moore stated there have been examples where a Councilmember has called a point of order that has not been acknowledged by the presiding officer, and asked if it is the process that if a point of order is called, there has to be an official second to get acknowledgement of the point of order. She said she has felt that it has been a process trying to get things on the record in terms of point of order and point of information, if not acknowledged by the presiding officer. She stated she feels like she has been trying to keep the order by calling a point of order, and at times, it was not acknowledged in the way she wanted. She asked for future reference what a Councilmember should do if he or she calls a point of order that is not acknowledged by the presiding officer. Mayor Graves responded that there has to be a stated reason for the point of order. She stated from her perspective that there was no reason stated. Councilmember Moore asked to call a point of order because she wanted to hear what the City Manager and Counsel had to say about this, and then Mayor Graves could retort. Mayor Graves said she would not retort; she would tell the truth. Ms. Tolar responded that Mayor Graves was correct in her response and that a point of order had to have a reason. Ms. Tolar said the point of order has to be about a particular issue as it relates to the order on the table, and with specifics. Ms. Tolar gave an example of calling a point of order for not following proper procedure, a person speaking out of turn, or the Council not correctly conducting a public hearing; whatever the case may be, the point of order has to be specific. Mayor Graves stated that after a point of order is called, if the presiding officer does not agree, then an appeal can happen, and that process is outlined in the document. Councilmember Moore said she was aware of the appeal process. Mayor Graves asked if anyone had any other questions about the presentation. Councilmember Jerzak asked if there was any interest from the Council in having a document with a list of Robert's Rules of Order on their desks that could be made available so the Council can have some clarity sometimes on what to say or how to say it. Mayor Graves said she, too, does not always know how to say things correctly for Robert's Rules of Order either, and that is why they have the City Attorney, but the City Attorney may not always know either, since Robert's Rules of Order is such a large document. Dr. Edwards said the City has a modified version of Robert's Rules of Order anyway, so the Council would not want all of Robert's Rules on their desk. City Staff could work with the City Attorney to come up with a frequently asked questions cheat sheet that would help out the Council. He said City Staff would look into the cheat sheet and bring it back to the Council for deliberation to make sure it has everything that the Council needs at a later date. Councilmember Kragness said she appreciates Ms. Tolar’s presentation and comments, and feels like every time Ms. Tolar talks, she is educating the Council. Mayor Graves motioned and Councilmember Moore seconded to accept the presentation on Parliamentary Procedures and Robert's Rules of Order Review. 7/28/25 -13- Motion passed unanimously. 7c. 2025 MID-YEAR CRIME REDUCTION & STRATEGY UPDATE Dr. Edwards explained that the City has tried to address this issue for the last two years. He noted that the City has been trying to develop strategies around crime reduction and focusing on the peak times of the year for crime, which are spring and summer. He said at the beginning of this year, he asked the Police Chief to work with Departments to develop a game plan around crime reduction. The presentation will not only be about the plan in place, but also a report on the progress. Dr. Edwards said he is very pleased with the Police Chief and the work he has done, as well as all the departments that have come together to make a plan. He noted that in the future, the City may develop an even more comprehensive plan with Health and Safety to broaden to include prevention, intervention, response, and recovery. Dr. Edwards introduced Police Chief Flesland to present this item. Chief Flesland gives a quick overview of what he would cover at the presentation, key crime trends, highlights the importance of targeted efforts, and the impact of targeted efforts in deployment, and briefly shares a prediction as to crime trends for the next few months. Chief Flesland gave a violent crime mid-year comparison from mid-July 2024, and violent crimes have dropped nearly 23 percent. Robberies and aggravated assaults are expected to continue to trend downward. Chief Flesland said the Police Department is closely monitoring the modest increase in reported sexual assaults and a slight increase in domestic-related aggravated assaults. He noted that in general, this is the lowest violent crime total since 2020 and the lowest in 2025 so far in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) Era. NIBRS started in the fall of 2020 and provides a more detailed way of tracking crime incidents compared to the previous methodology. Through July 15, 2025, property crime has also trended downward in most areas. Auto thefts are down more than 42 percent, and burglaries are down by a third. Thefts are up slightly, but the overall total property crime is down over nine percent. He noted that no decline in crime is ever fast enough, but these reductions are still meaningful, and in his opinion, point to a growing momentum. Chief Flesland displayed a chart showing violent crime in geographic areas in 2025 compared to 2024, with several areas showing improvement around the City in violent crime. He noted the collaboration across City Departments, including Crime Reduction Strategy (CRS) monthly meetings, which include representatives from the Fire Department, the Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety, Parks and Recreation, and Community Development. Other strategies include evolving communication between all Departments within the City, Parks and Recreation Outreach Teams deployed in parks, Community Crisis Response Team meetings ongoing monthly, a hotel work group, youth-focused pop-up events, and business engagement. Chief Flesland stated that the City's Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety has allowed Chief Flesland to integrate community resources into many aspects of its Public Safety efforts. Their presence helps build trust and seeks to address the root causes of conflict. The Police Department is conscious of striving for long-term community involvement and investment into solutions, not just quick fixes. 7/28/25 -14- Chief Flesland discussed hotspot patrolling as a regular part of the Public Safety strategy. The crime analyst is constantly identifying and revising the crime hotspots, and sector Sergeants then lead efforts in those areas that include directed patrols, overtime details, camera trailer deployments, and take advantage of community engagement opportunities with community members and business owners during regular patrols. The areas that the Police Department is focusing on this year include the City's commercial areas, the Brooklyn Boulevard Corridor, and Humboldt Avenue, especially between 65th Avenue North and 69th Avenue North. Chief Flesland said the mobile Camera Trailers have served as a visible deterrent and strong technological force multiplier. The Police Department has been strategic about the location of camera deployments, and while it is difficult to quantify the statistical impact, the perception of safety has clearly improved. Several business owners have requested extended deployments of the Camera Trailers on their properties, even knowing that the units must rotate throughout the City. Business owners report an increased sense of security when the Camera Trailers are deployed in their area. Shorter deployments of the Camera Trailers are typically two to five days for specific events, while longer deployments between 15 and 26 days were in response to ongoing crime concerns in that area. Crime deterrence and investigation accounts for over 60 percent of the Camera Trailer deployments, and a significant portion of the deployments have been for security at various events, which accounts for 21 percent of the Camera Trailer deployments. Chief Flesland explained that the proactive Policing trends do not mean aggressive enforcement that is being implemented. Policing trends mean the Police are not sitting back and waiting for residents to witness crimes and call 9-1-1; instead, the Police are taking a thoughtful, intentional, visible approach to deter crimes before they happen. Chief Flesland met with Patrol Officers and Patrol Sergeants to lay out expectations, which include an emphasis on increased visibility throughout the community, speed and curfew overtime details, and reinstituted Towards Zero Death (TZD) traffic enforcement for the first time since 2019-2020. Mayor Graves asked what had made the TZD traffic enforcement possible again. Chief Flesland said it came down to Staffing. Other Departments have been collapsed to free up Staff, and now that Patrol has a healthy number of Staff, it has enabled the Department to conduct the mandated training in order to be eligible for the TZD program. Chief Flesland stated that during his March 24 meeting with the Council, it was reported that the Police were deployed on a series of proactive details based on identified crime trends and hot spot areas. Chief Flesland went on to explain that the details from that meeting included moving and traffic violation enforcement, curfew, retail theft, and other targeted patrols based on identified crime trends, as well as feedback from the community. Chief Flesland was happy to report that those proactive items have begun, and the Police are calling them Tiger Teams during their deployments. Tiger Teams is a term borrowed from Chief Flesland’s time in the Navy and was used to describe a group of subject matter experts pulled together to solve a specific urgent problem. Tiger Teams is not a long-term unit; it is about being precise, responsive, and professional in solving problems together. Tiger Teams has shown a clear, measurable impact after just two deployments, one week in March and one week in June, with a third week just recently completed. 7/28/25 -15- Chief Flesland explained that the first two Tiger Team weeks, one in May and one in June, were combined in analysis. He explained that the targeted call types data is a group of calls combined that include disturbances, fights, juvenile problems, loud music and parties, narcotics, suspicious activity, trespassing, and unwanted persons. Chief Flesland noted a chart with the left side showing the weeks before the Tiger Team deployments, and the right side of the chart shows the percentage change track from the week before to the week after the deployments. Chief Flesland said there are measurable results from these two deployments; violent crime fell by 15 percent, targeted call types fell by 11 percent, self-initiated traffic stops and subject stops increased by over 180 percent, and there was a 200 percent increase in weapons recovered during the Tiger Team deployments. He noted that while the results are encouraging, he will acknowledge that crime data can fluctuate and change over time as more reports are received, and long-term monitoring will continue to assess the impact. The Tiger Teams were deployed in multiple areas of the City, but primarily in the Brooklyn Boulevard Corridor and Humboldt Avenue between 65th and 69th. After each deployment, Chief Flesland saw improvements in crime reduction, with a chart showing a comparison between serious crime and violent crime. Chief Flesland showed a chart with targeted call types comparison, with a slight increase in calls during the Tiger Teams week, which makes sense, since the Tiger Teams were actively seeking out various crimes and suspicious activities, but in the week after the deployment, targeted call types decreased by 11 percent. Chief Felsland showed a map with violent crime variation during proactive policing, as well as traffic and subject stops in the areas where the Tiger Teams were deployed, showing a significant reduction. Chief Flesland discussed the forecasted prediction that violent crime will continue to decline, and while he knows this is not a guarantee, he is cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue. Similarly, part one of crime appears to be tracking at reduced levels for the next quarter. He noted that crime is down, collaboration is working, and momentum is building; the forecast is optimistic, but the work is not finished. Chief Flesland said he will continue to deploy flexible, coordinated efforts and adjust strategies based on emerging trends and feedback. He noted that another mobile surveillance trailer was ordered for the fleet earlier this year, and it has enhanced Police presence in problem areas while being responsive to residents' and businesses' concerns. Chief Flesland said he believes that the City and Police Department are heading in the right direction with visibility, responsiveness, and collaboration remaining the guiding priorities as the Police continue to work to protect the vulnerable from harm. Chief Flesland asked the Council if they had any questions. Mayor Graves thanked Chief Flesland for his presentation and asked if the Council had any questions. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson thanked Chief Flesland for his presentation, and said she has noticed in the last few weeks that the number of people getting pulled over on 63rd has increased, and she does not know if that is a coincidence, but she is pleased with the increase. Chief Flesland said that traffic stops have increased, and the Police are consciously focusing on traffic and moving violations. He continued that the two most common complaints he receives as a Police Chief are traffic-related violations and parking issues, so the Police have made it a priority to address those issues, and it is making an impact. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson said that since the 63rd 7/28/25 -16- has been reconstructed to only one lane, traffic is not going 30 mph, and she thanked Chief Flesland for coming up with a good strategy to address that and wished him luck. Councilmember Kragness thanked Chief Flesland and asked what type of data is statistically shared when doing recruiting to bring on new Staff to help with the initiative of what the Police are trying to do in Brooklyn Center. Chief Flesland said he did not understand the question. Councilmember Kragness asked if new recruits are shown the plan in place to reduce crime in different areas of the City, so that new recruits know what they are walking into and how they could fit into that plan. Chief Flesland said recruiting has changed a little bit, and the Police have recognized that they need to have a personal connection and track an applicant through the whole process. Applicants are invited for multiple ride-alongs where applicants spend a couple of hours with a handful of different officers, where they can have honest conversations about what the City's Police Department is doing. There is a public-facing dashboard with all crime that is up to date within 24 hours, so the Police point everyone to that dashboard to see near real-time crime. Chief Flesland said that the dashboard is underutilized by the community, and it is raw data that is not twisted and is searchable by a variety of means. He noted that recruitment comes down to conversations, and it is the panel interview of the applicant and the background process, and then he sits down with the applicant to have a private interview, where a frank conversation happens about where the Police want to get to. He noted that a lot of applicants seek out Brooklyn Center because of the things that the Police Department is doing and the equipment that they are able to use to make the community safer. Councilmember Moore thanked Chief Flesland for his presentation. She asked about data results from the triage of 911 calls, potentially from a Police Officer to either one of the expanded response teams through Canopy and North Memorial Hennepin County. Chief Flesland said he wished they had more capability and more expanded responders out there. He noted that this presentation was really focused on crime reduction, and ideally, preventing future crime is difficult to quantify statistically. He said he is part of regular conversations where data is discussed to make sure the Police are collecting correct and appropriate data, and how that data is evaluated and presented. Chief Flesland gave an example that when Police are patrolling a neighborhood at 3 a.m., there is no way to know how many burglaries they prevented. He believes that prevention is happening by their presence, but the number and statistics will always be unknown. Chief Flesland continued that there will be additional dialogue as the pilot project comes to the Police Department, and what they can improve on. He noted that he would make sure Hennepin County dispatch codes things in a particular way that is searchable and easily digestible, so those numbers can be analyzed long- term once they are available. Councilmember Moore appreciated Chief Flesland’s personal examples and specific information about the Tiger Teams. Councilmember Jerzak admitted his bias upfront, but he knows a little bit about the mobile cameras and said it is one of those things that is impossible to measure, but it does have an impact on prevention. He said that, at one time, there was some discussion about it, but he hoped that every sector would at some point have its own mobile camera. 7/28/25 -17- Mayor Graves thanked Chief Flesland and said that some of the things that she appreciated the most were the focus on collaboration across the different departments that are responsible for safety in the City. She was excited to hear about the proactive Policing and the focus on business areas, and speeding and traffic violations. She was happy to hear that the Police are focusing on moving traffic violations rather than some of the less safety-focused issues that could lead to a traffic stop. She said she appreciates the ability of businesses to feel supported and knows that prevention and presence go hand in hand. She told Chief Flesland to continue to do the amazing work that he is doing. Mayor Graves moved, and Councilmember Jerzak seconded to accept the presentation on the 2025 Mid-Year Crime Reduction & Strategy Update. Motion passed unanimously. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LCA PREDEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR AMANI CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, LLC FOR TOWNHOMES AT THE 5400 BLOCK OF BROOKLYN BLVD Dr. Edwards explained that this was a Consent Agenda item that was moved to the regular agenda as the Council wanted to have a discussion about it. He thanked Economic Developer Ian Alexander for coming in at the last minute to make a presentation on this item. He noted that Director Jesse Anderson could not be present. Mr. Alexander said it is always a pleasure to be there. A quick background of the project is that on January 27th, there was a Work Session with the Council where Armani Construction was discussed and a proposal was brought forward to purchase and develop the EDA property located at 5400 Brooklyn Boulevard. The developer is seeking pre-development funding to assist in activities like acquisition, architecture, design, and financing. The pre-development grant is funded at up to $300,000, and the current grant request is $152,500. The City would apply on behalf of the developer to the Metropolitan Council's LCA's pre-development fund to address activities related directly to the development of the site, prior to beginning construction. The grant is allocated every year in two rounds and is highly competitive for real estate development. The funds that Armani has applied for are related to planning the site and monitoring the land. Mr. Alexander met with Armani in February, and there was a gap in funding for what Armani could and could not accomplish. Mr. Alexander had a conversation with Armani about the property and what it could be used for, and based on the conversation with the Council, it was proposed for housing and townhomes. The proposal is for 11 townhomes, three to four bedrooms per unit, two- stall back-load garage per unit, private front yard and deck or balcony, and 15 visitor parking stalls 7/28/25 -18- with a small playground and shared greenspace, and proposed at 80 percent AMI for ownership. Mr. Alexander noted that the townhomes would be built for the income of people in the area, and they provide residents the ability to purchase and own their own homes and build equity in the community. The lot is a lot that has been sitting for quite a while, and Armani has a decent track record of getting these types of projects accomplished. Mr. Alexander said Armani has already applied for the grant and wants a resolution to show that they have support for this type of development. Mr. Alexander explained that the Metropolitan Council provides funding for development to foster economic growth by increasing density, adding new housing or jobs, minimizing climate impact, or furthering equity outcomes and mitigating specific barriers to access for historically marginalized populations. The City encouraged the developer to apply for this grant. The future steps for this project will include the grant, helping to fund the planning and design phase of the project, the Council's action to accept, if the grant is awarded, and a development agreement and planning application brought to the Council for approval. He explained that City Staff recommends that the Council execute the resolution identifying the need for the Livable Communities Demonstration Account and authorizing an application for grant funds for Armani Construction and Development. Councilmember Moore thanked Mr. Alexander for his presentation and asked to see the images of the townhomes concept and the parcel they would be built on. Mr. Alexander showed images of a previous home that Armani has built. Councilmember Moore asked if the grant application is dependent on its affordability at 80 percent of the average or adjusted median income for Brooklyn Center. Mr. Alexander said that if the applications are applying for those funds, the funds are awarded based on the AMI amount. The AMI was 80 to 120 percent, but the City is about 80 percent AMI, and this was to provide home ownership for residents as opposed to renting. Councilmember Moore asked if townhome units are affordable. Mr. Alexander said it is affordable at the rate that the applicant pays. Mr. Alexander noted that the current problem is that it is too expensive to build, and if the City were to build these units, they would cost far outside the range of what people could afford, according to the current area median income. He noted that luxury units could be built there and people could purchase them, but the City would have to be able to afford them, and no bank would finance that in the City’s current situation. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked where this specific parcel is. Mr. Alexander explained it is right in front of Northport. Mayor Graves pointed out the driveway to the school parking lot. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if all that land is vacant. Mr. Alexander confirmed that all that land is vacant, and a road winds around that area. Mayor Graves said that the road he referred to is called the Brooklyn Boulevard Frontage Road. Mr. Alexander explained that it was an oddly shaped parcel, and Armani came up with a pretty good design, considering that this parcel was a remnant parcel and was hard to develop. Mr. Alexander noted that most developers want five or six acres, and this property is obviously much smaller than that. 7/28/25 -19- Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if Armani is looking for City money. Mr. Alexander said no, not at this time, this project would use grant funding that they are applying for, but there might be a conversation in the future about LAHA funding. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what LAHA funding is. Mr. Alexander said he cannot remember what the LAHA acronym stands for. Councilmember-Lawrence said her position on the project is neutral, but she does not want to give the bank away on any more EDA projects. Mr. Alexander said this is not a project where he is asking for money; this is a project where Armani is bringing their own money and is applying for a grant. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she just does not want Armani to ask the City for money. Mayor Graves said LAHA stands for Local Affordable Housing Aid. Councilmember Jerzak said that on January 27, the Council was provided a concept plan, but it was light on details. He noted that one helpful thing was that Mr. Alexander provided excellent details that the Council did not have before. He noted that he and Dr. Edwards respectfully disagree about what goes on the consent agenda, and anything that is major policy or major dollars might expect a robust discussion. He said the negotiated price of that land is worrisome to him, and the City has invested at least $825,000, and $560,000 of it was proposed to be paid for the Capital Improvement Program, and asked if that work had been done. He said if Mr. Alexander did not have the answers to those questions, he could get back to the Council, but that is critical information that would be important to him as a Councilmember. He noted that the days of the City giving things away are done. Councilmember Jerzak asked if the project is dependent on Armani getting that grant, and if Armani is expected to seek additional funds. He understands that Armani is not expecting any funds from the City at this time, but Armani is seeking additional funds in the form of a grant for development costs right now, and he asked what is going to happen in the future. Mr. Alexander explained that Armani had not asked for any funds from the City, and his Department was very clear that they would not be providing Armani with any funds. He noted that most developers are going to ask for pre-development because the cost of everything has increased so dramatically. Mr. Alexander said his Department actually requested that Armani apply for funds from the Metropolitan Council because those funds are available for pre-development, and Armani did request money from the Metropolitan Council for geotechnical soil testing, which is not unreasonable. Councilmember Jerzak said that having that information available makes it a lot more palatable. He asked if it was too premature for a planning application. Mr. Alexander explained that Armani has not submitted a planning application yet. Councilmember Jerzak said from his perspective, the Council still has the option, even if Armani submits the grant proposal, to accept the project or not. His only concern is that Armani is not awarded the grant, then there is a lot of City Staff time that has been spent on a project that will never happen. Mr. Alexander said that his Department will always spend a lot of time on projects that might never take off, but in his opinion, this is a project that lines up with future projects. Mr. Alexander said that Brooklyn Center is a great City, with wonderful neighbors and the Police are wonderful to work with, but the challenge is that it is too expensive to build anything for the majority of the people that live in Brooklyn Center, because construction prices are so high. Mr. Alexander gave the example that if he charged $300 a square foot to build a luxury home, would he be able to sell a 1,000 square foot home to people that want to live there, no, he would be able 7/28/25 -20- to sell a 2,000 square foot home which would cost $600,000 and until the economy of those homes are more commonplace there needs to be other options. Programs like these are in place to get something done, and hopefully that will lead to other projects. Councilmember Kragness said she remembers having the conversation about this in January, and the Council was very positive about it and supported it. She said it makes sense for the Council to continue to support Armani and the City in applying for the grant on their behalf. She noted that she supports the idea of home ownership in the City over rental properties. She said it was smart of Armani to go after grant dollars, regardless of how much money they have, because it shows responsibility with the resources they have available to them. She said she would continue to support anyone who is developing anything that benefits the City and utilizing resources that are available to them. Mayor Graves thanked Mr. Alexander for coming in to make his presentation. Councilmember Kragness moved and Mayor Graves seconded to approve the RESOLUTION Identifying the need for LCA Predevelopment Funding and Authorizing an Application for Grant Funds for Amani Construction & Development, LLC for Townhomes at the 5400 Block of Brooklyn Blvd. Councilmember Moore pointed out that the purchase price for the property and other steps going forward will benefit the City. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Graves reminded the Council that if, later on, there is a development agreement, the Council will be able to vote on that. 11. COUNCIL REPORT 12. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Graves moved and Councilmember Kragness seconded the adjournment of the City Council meeting at 9:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.