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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 08-10 CCM Study Session 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 AUGUST 10, 2009 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brookl n Center Cit Council met in Stud Session called to order b Ma or Tim Willson Y Y Y Y Y at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Kay Lasman, Tim Roche, Dan Ryan, and Mark Yelich. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Police Chief Scott Bechthold, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, and Carol Hamer, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Yelich requested discussion on agenda item 6d, specifically in relation to whether there is a separate notification sent to remind rental properties of the ordinance requirement to remain current on utilities and taxes. City Manager Curt Boganey replied with single family occupied rental units staff verifies the condition of the utilities and taxes at the time that the particular unit comes up for license renewal. Given the large numbers, keeping track of any single rental property that is behind on its utilities on a weekly or monthly basis would be extremely labor intensive. Staff periodically conducts checks to determine if there are any multi family units that are delinquent on utilities, as the number of properties is smaller. It was noted that there would be a tradeoff of high costs associated with the City attempting uniform enforcement of the requirement that single family units remain current on utilities and taxes. Mr. Boganey advised that if the ordinance were to be strictly enforced 100% of the time when every apartment unit becomes delinquent, it would be extremely expensive to enforce. Given staff resources, they attempt to do this consistently, but at the same time recognize that there are delinquencies that are not caught until the time of license renewal. There was discussion on whether costs associated with strict enforcement of the ordinance would be an argument for adjusting the rental license fees. Mr. Boganey stated if the Council were to instruct staff to enforce the requirement so that an administrative or enforcement action would be taken every time a single family residential unit became delinquent on its utilities, there would likely not be a choice other than to increase the fees for everyone in order to cover the expenses attached. 08/ 10/09 -1- Councilmember Roche requested discussion on agenda item 6c, specifically in relation to recognizing the American Legion Post 630 for the donation of $12,630 towards the public trail reconstruction in Central Park. Mr. Boganey explained that the donation was made in 2008 and would have been recognized through a resolution. Councilmember Ryan requested clarification regarding the last paragraph of the staff report on agenda item 6c which states "Further review of the 2009 project budget amount ($817,000) indicated an error in the project estimate, which resulted in a lack of funding for the project in the 2003 approved CIP budget." Mr. Boganey indicated the following correction to the above statement in the staff report: "...which resulted in a lack of funding for the project in the �9A� 2008 approved CIP budget." MISCELLANEOUS None. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS COPS CHRP AND AUTO THEFT GRANTS ACCEPTANCE Police Chief Scott Bechthold provided an overview of the following two grants recently awarded to the City of Brooklyn Center Police Department: 1) COPS Hiring Recovery Program Grant; and 2) Auto Theft Prevention Grant. There was discussion on the above grants in relation to stipulations on the fund dollars being directed to juvenile type officer programs. Chief Bechthold noted there is another application that the City will receive response on in September that would include a juvenile case manager and juvenile prevention specialist which would be an enhancement to this overall program. There was discussion on the grant funding the juvenile officer for a three-year period with the City being required to retain the juvenile officer for at least another year of employment following the three-year period. Mr. Boganey noted that the PERF Study indicates that juvenile offenders are one of the primary drivers for criminal activity that affects the City. At the next meeting, Council will be asked to officially accept the grant, as it makes a commitment to future Councils to fund the position for the fourth year. Staff was commended for the effective grant writing and the success in standing out to receive grants in the competitive process. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to direct staff to present Council with a resolution for consideration on acceptance of the above grants. GARAGE SALE SIGN ORDINANCE REVIEW Mr. Boganey reviewed that this item is a follow up to the Open Forum request to revise enforcement practices and the City Ordinance governing garage sale signs. Mr. Boganey 08/10/09 -2- i rovided back round information on the O en Forum re uest. He reviewed the etition received P g P q p by the City clarifying Ms. Klevin's request. The petition reads "The setback of 15 feet needs to be revised to 3 feet. Fifteen feet is unsafe for drivers to see and take note of what the message is: Three feet is reasonable, because it is easily read and not obstructing to anyone's view." Ms. Klevin further states that the ordinance needs to be uniformly enforced. The signs include all free-standing, temporary signs: House for Sale, by Owner; For Rent; Child Care; Garage Sale; Waffle Breakfast; Real Estate; Retail Promotions; etc. Mr. Boganey noted that included in the Council's packet is an e-mail received from Councilmember Yelich with a proposed ordinance amendment. Mr. Boganey reviewed staff's response to the issues raised regarding garage sale signs. He stated staff is seeking direction as to whether enforcement practices or an ordinance amendment should be drafted for Council consideration. Councilmember Yelich explained that his purpose for bringing forward the proposed ordinance amendment was to acknowledge that residents are concerned about this and how the sign ordinance is being enforced. He noted staff has laid out legitimate concerns with his initial proposal and he would be open to changes. He stated his support of the City outlining how it is improving on the consistent enforcement of the ordinance. Councilmember Ryan stated his position that the sign ordinance has served the City well, while many cities are proliferated with all manners of signs in commercial areas. He stated he would be open to considering possible improvements to the ordinance and noted that while it may seem like a common sense approach to think changes can be made in the standards for gaxage sale signs, there would inevitably be unintended consequences. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Roche, seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 08/10/09 -3- I STATE OF MINNESOTA) COLJNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on August 10, 2009. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its August 24, 2009, Regular Session. C f .���2 (��,/�-t%.-����C� City Clerk Mayor 08/10/09 -4-