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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 04-14 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 APRIL 14, 2008 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Kay Lasman, Mary O'Connor, Dan Ryan, and Mark Yelich. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Fiscal Support Services Dan Jordet, Public Works Director /City Engineer Todd Blomstrom, Community Development Director Gary Eitel, City Attorney Mary Tietjen, and Carol Hamer, Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS In relation to Agenda Item No. 11 f, Councilmember Lasman inquired what the time period will be for the abatement process to begin following the 10 day waiting period. Mr. Boganey explained the City will receive bids, so the estimated time will be at least two weeks. Councilmember Yelich requested the removal of Agenda Item No. 7b from the Consent Agenda. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Ryan inquired about the status of the Brookdale Mall /Sears Roebuck lawsuit. Mr. Boganey provided an overview of the lawsuit status. He indicated both parties requested a summary judgment, which was rejected by the judge. Subsequent to that the owners of Brookdale Mall and Sears Roebuck have been in negotiations to try to resolve the issue. Councilmember Lasman stated in regards to the increasing number of foreclosures, the League of Minnesota Cities' monthly magazine includes an article about a program being initiated in the City of Minneapolis that asks people to adopt vacant houses by keeping an eye on them. She suggested staff customize the activities included in the article to fit the City of Brooklyn Center and include the suggested activities in the City newsletter. There was discussion on whether the City should request residents to access properties that do not belong to them. It was suggested that this could be seen as the City asking citizens to trespass on private property. Mr. Boganey indicated the current edition of the City Newsletter will be out within one week and it will be a few months before the next edition goes out. The current edition includes suggestions and ideas on this topic. Mr. Boganey stated staff agrees that the City needs the support of the neighborhoods and residents to stay on top of what is going on. The City Attorney has advised staff of the need to be very careful in terms of encouraging people to go on to property owned by 04/14/08 -1- someone else. The ideas included in the League of Minnesota Cities article are great ideas and staff would likely have included them in the City Newsletter in any event unless Council directs otherwise. It was suggested that staff contact the City of Minneapolis to determine if there have been any issues in relation to trespassing concerns. The majority consensus of the City Council was to direct staff to contact the City of Minneapolis to determine if there have been any issues in relation to trespassing concerns due to the "vacant house adoption" activities, and to proceed with including information in the City newsletter based on the suggestions included in the League of Minnesota Cities article. Councilmember Lasman suggested Ashlee Kephart be presented with a resolution commending her for her accomplishments, and that the resolution be presented at a City Council meeting if she would like to attend. The majority consensus of the City Council was to direct staff to proceed as suggested with the proposed resolution for Ashlee Kephart. Councilmember Yelich requested discussion from the Council regarding to what degree the conversion of single family homes to rental property is an important issue for the City to respond. There was discussion regarding the following in relation to rental property in the City: The conversion of property to rental is a market driven issue. The trend of an increasing number of households that cannot pay their mortgages has a negative effect on the City. A previous City Council responded to the increase of conversion to rentals by increasing the rental license fee in hopes to curb the amount of conversions. A future worksession will include recommendations from staff on this topic. The City needs to obey the law and grant rental licenses when the correct procedure is followed. The City has a right to instill standards for the operation of rental properties. What appears to be a significant growth in the amount of single family homes being rented may be more of an increase in the number of rental homes being licensed due to staff being more assertive in identifying homes that have previously been rented without a license. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember O'Connor seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:50 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 04/14/08 -2- Councilmember O'Connor stated she was contacted by a woman who lives on Perry Avenue that has complained to the City for four years about the condition of the property behind her on Orchard Avenue. She inquired about the process involved with this type of situation. Mr. Boganey reviewed the process followed when the City receives a complaint on a property. He indicated if it is determined that there is a violation of the City ordinance the full process may take six months; it would not take four years in any situation. Councilmember O'Connor indicated she will forward the property address to Mr. Boganey for staff to review. It was noted that the outline of this process illustrates that a system of administrative fines would accomplish the same thing in a fair manner, but would be much more expeditious and at a far lower cost to all parties involved. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 6:58 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 04/14/08 -3- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY 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: I. 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 April 14, 2008. 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 April 28, 2008, Regular Session. I' P City Clerk Mayor 04/14/08 -4-