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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 08-07 CCP Planning Session with Facilitator CoM pn�Y City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota City Council Leadership Workshop August 7, 2004 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. l. Objectives Upon completion of this workshop, the participants will have: a. reviewed the major accomplishments of the City Council during the last twelve months b. identified the major challenges and issues the Council, Manager, and City will have to confront with a strategic and assertive leadership stance during 2005 and beyond c. defined from a"big picture strategic perspective" the results/outcomes City Council desire to achieve relative to the major challenges and issues it must canfront d. established City Council's proposed goals for 2005 e. defined, within the context of the City Council-City Manager/Staff Partnership, the following: 13 the expectations the Mayor, Council members and City Manager have about the respective roles of, and contributions needed from, each other in achieving the results and goals desired by City Council strategies for strengthening the performance of, and working relationships between, City Council and the City Manager. City Manager evaluation process. f. identified strategies and processes for: increasing the ability of City Council to focus on leadership issues increasing the effectiveness and productivity of city council meetings enhancing the contribution of council members toward achieving effective council meetings, performance and constituency representation enhancing and applying the "success factors" of team work within counciL g. addressed issues council members have identified in the pre-workshop questionnaire as "topics for discussion". h. addressed "Elections 2004" "How are things shaping up?" ground rules City will follow pertaining to candidates issues that need to be debated during the election campaign council member expectations about their role influence behavior in the forthcoming elections. 2. Agenda a. Pre-workshop Questionnaire b. August 7, 200� 8:30 a.m. Welcome, Introductions, and Review of Workshop Objectives 8:45 a.m. Last 12 months: Review of Accomplishments 14 9:00 a.m. Looking Ahead: Major Challenges and Issues Confronting Brooklyn Center 2005 and Beyond 9:30 a.m. Pre-Workshop Questionnaire Feedback 10:15 a.m. Key "big picture strategic" outcomes/results Council desires relative to the challenges-issues confronting the City. 11:00 a.m. Goals 2005 12:00 Noon Working Lunch The City Council-City Manager Partnership for Goal Achievement 1:00 p.m. City Council Leadership and Team Building: Strategies for Achieving and Sustaining High Performance as a Governing Body. 4:00 p.m. Elections 2004 4:45 p.m. Date for 2005 Workshops 5:00 p.m. Conclusion 15 City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Summary of Pre-Workshop Questionnaire Responses 4 Respondents 1. Personal Information on Participants 2. What, in your opinion, are the really major challenges/issues confronting the City of Brooklyn Center: 2005 and beyond? No vision for the future in terms of redevelopment Future of Brookdale and its effect on surrounding area and tax base Lack of funding from State Decrease of LGA Decreasing percentage of owner-occupied housing Population needs and desires with aging and more diverse population Lack of control and equity in discussions in terms who talks and for how long. Communication barriers between Council and city staff Council and citizenry, Council and other Council members Large of immigrants moving in housing, code, gang issues associated with this Role of City Manager amount of control and authority Overarching plan for development which pulls together the myriad individual plans that have been commissioned and reported on over the years (Brooklyn Blvd., Opportunity Site, Twin Lake Management, Walk and Wheel Trails...) Fear of new council member may be uninterested, uninformed or unwilling to be productive councilmember Redevelopment Plan 17 Increasing residential property taxes from rising home values, decreasing C/I property values and tax rates, TIF recovery periods, inflation, loss of businesses, school funding issues, and cost of government at local and State leveL Negative image Money, Money, Money. Gang issues (Asian) Single family homes being purchased and rented out fair market rate and Section 8 3. City Council Performance: a. Compared to a year ago, in your opinion, has the City Council become (check one): More functional/productive _1 Less functional/productive _3 Stayed about the same Directly relates to above concerns of lack of control and equity. We still do not function well as a team. as a governing and policy setting body? b. What has contributed to or affected City Council's overall performance as a governing-policy setting body? Things/Factors that have Things/Factors that have Increased or Promoted Council's Reduced or Inhibited Council's Functionalitv and Productivitv Functionalitv and Productivitv We primarily agree on most major Not following our approved issues and it makes meetings go discussion rules smoothly typically! Getting to now each other better Grandstanding 18 Retreats Unfairness in amount of tirne dedicated to discussion items. One council member sometimes dominates the discussion and does not cede the floor Pre-meeting study session has Rehashing old issues or discussing helped somewhat things with tons of questions without vocalizing specific concerns Improved structure of ineeting Monopolizing the floor protocol Change of local editor at SunPost Lack of funds to do all we'd like to (to Sarah) do No action items for Council members between meetings other than the regular liaison role Lame duck attitudes and levels of (non) participation Goals may need to be pared down and refined Attitude that the City Manager is always right (99%) Frustration Having Mayor AND Council member both belong to same organization: AMM 2 years in a row) Attitudes of superiority and competitiveness Symbolism over substance actions (City Mgr. Asst City Mgr. New Finance Director raises vs. a hard stance on Council compensation. 19 No effective Parliamentarian; impatience, rudeness and lack of civility or RR of Order Communication obstacles: email restriction, city staff communication restriction, excessive "off-camera" stuff People's double standards Unknown reason of argument regarding comment from Mayor: "You're only 1 of 5— the others may not agree with you" People being in a hurry to leave Study Session Council Meeting EDA Work Session may affect Attitude that it's ore important to "SECOND!" a motion than to think about the proposal, second� mostly automatic. Commission appointment issues Agenda item surprises/consent Agenda Council unaware how city staff perceives their Manager Term "micro manage" as opposed to "the buck stops here" Same people appointed to same liaison roles little cross training/experience 20 4. At the August 23, 2003 workshop, we addressed the issue of Effective Council Meetings. a. What "gains" have been made in improving council meeting effectiveness? Not many We tried to follow the new rules and that didn't last long. One step forward 2 steps back Mayor doesn't rush things through and direct everything to go how she might like is more fair. We have a chance now though people are tapping pens, leaving, talking to bring up subjects of desired discussion at each meeting. b. In your opinion, what still needs to be addressed or done to increase council meeting effectiveness? Mayor: control discussion Full and fair debate using RR of Order if people don't like that they shouldn't be in government which is based on rules of fair debate and civility. Council Members: realize that while we have different views, we all deserve the opportunity to share those. A better understanding of Roberts Rules of Order. Keeping to subject, not going off track on questions. Attitude that Council needs some feedback and interaction with staff in order to make fully informed decisions. Council members need to study information on agenda, formulate questions so they pertain to the issue at hand and come to the meeting prepared to operate with some level of efficiency. c. Other observations about City Council meetings (regular meetings, work sessions, and study sessions). We always seem to be in a hurry to get out. If I have a question that takes 2-5 minutes, is it that much of a hardship? 21 Would prefer no pre-meeting study session. One council member tends to monopolize the conversation during on camera meetings. 5. In your opinion, what are the most important topics we should address during the workshop? We may need to pare down and prioritize goal list, to better fit budgetary constraints. Tonic Outcome/Result Desired Long-term redevelopment Have a majority supported of opportunity site plan! Pare list of goals Better use of resources Get the Mayor to have the A meeting I want to go to discussion rules ready and and getting something follow them. Also, have done! statements ar questions ready to help stop problems. Council consideration of Meetings are more efficient meeting agenda items and and businesslike staying "on topic" with questions Stating things as though More congeniality and they are an opinion of one, respect throughout the when in fact, all of us share council. it. Makes it look as though the remaining council doesn't agree. Staff/residents unified voice. Whether to continue having Are they doing any good? these workshops Full and fair debate what does that mean to YOU S Role of City Manager how 22 much control and authority is enough? Dropping study session portion of ineetings what's the point we're told to just ask our questions beforehand anyway and then we re-ask them on camera ood but �g redundant) or not (not always good) Communication obstacles why can't we remove them and how can we work effectively with them? Future viability of being stand-alone government entity given the cost of government and BC's economic demo's. Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentarian who's in charge? BC's interactions with State Reps? 6. Other comments or observations you wish to make. 23