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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 05-12 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 MAY 12, 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 6:02 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, Community Development Director Gary Eitel, City Attorney Charlie LeFevere, and Carol Hamer, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember O'Connor requested the following change to the Work Session minutes of April 28, 2008: Pate 3, l)aravranh 5: Councilmember O'Connor stated her opposition to the creation of the Youth Coordinating Board. She said more can be done for v_ outh if the orizanizations continue to hell) vouth but not create more bureaucracv. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the amendment to the April 28, 2008, Work Session minutes. Councilmember Ryan requested the following change to the Study Session minutes of April 28, 2008: Paue 2, naraaranh 1 under 57 Loaan Avenues Area Pollution, third sentence: and informing residents that they should not be drinking the water from anv shallow wells that draw izround water. Residents in the area affected should be drinking tan water sunnlied by the Citv water system." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the amendment to the April 28, 2008, Study Session minutes. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Ryan reported he has received a memo from Director of Fiscal Support Services Dan Jordet stating that a member of the Financial Commission had been absent from Financial Commission meetings since September 19, 2006. This constitutes an automatic resignation; efforts to contact him have not been successful. 05/12/08 -1- Mr. Boganey indicated the most recent letter sent to the individual was returned to the City due to the house being vacant. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to direct staff to proceed with the process of filling the open position on the Financial Commission. Councilmember O'Connor asked whether th e City i h taken action in relation to the concern she Y as brought forward previously from the woman concerned about the condition of the property g P Y p p Y behind her at 6331 Orchard Avenue. Mr. Boganey indicated he will provide a report on the status of the g Y p p property. Councilmember O'Connor stated she received a call from Bill Clabots, 5331 Halifax Avenue North, who is concerned that he has been told to take down one of the two structures in his back yard; one is a tent and one is a small structure. Chapter 35 of the City Code of Ordinances states that there can be two accessory buildings on a property. This is what Mr. Clabots feels he has, as his garage is built into his house, and he feels he is being harassed. Mr. Boganey replied Council has been provided with a letter sent to Mr. Clabots explaining why staff believes he is in violation of the City ordinance, which states that no more than two accessory structures are allowed. Attached garages are identified as an accessory structure in the Zoning Code. Due to the three accessory structures on Mr. Clabots' property, he is required to remove one structure. It was noted that there are a number of properties in the City that would be in violation of the City ordinance according to the definition of garages as accessory structures. There was discussion on code enforcement and equal treatment of code violations. Mr. Boganey explained there are structures in the City that may be grandfathered in depending on when the structures were installed. Councilmember O'Connor stated she received a letter from a woman who would like the City to look into reinstating the issuance of private kennel licenses. She stated her support of looking into the issue further. It was noted that dog complaints increased exponentially when kennel licenses were granted more freely. The City ordinance currently allows two dogs per homeowner. Mayor Willson, Councilmembers Ryan, Lasman and Yelich stated their opposition to reinstating the issuance of private kennel licenses. Councilmember Lasman requested information regarding the letter received by Council Members about an individual that fell down in the City. Mr. Boganey replied the City receives these types of letters on a fairly regular basis. They are turned over to the City's risk manager, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, to make the determination on whether the City has liability. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Mr. Tom Loucks, Loucks and Associates, provided an overview of the comprehensive planning process and the following planned methods to promote public participation: 1) City newsletter; 2) press release; 3) website; 4) personal mailing or phone call to community leaders and stakeholders. There was discussion on the importance of having citizen involvement in the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan and on the proposed timeline. 05/12/08 -2- ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember O'Connor seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:46 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION TAXING AUTHORITY Mr. Boganey introduced the item and explained the Watershed Commissions are currently investigating options for funding the cost for preparation of the Third Generation Watershed Management Plan, which is estimated at approximately $90,000. These options include: An annual accumulation of funds leading up to the completion date. This option may be difficult due to the annual operating budget cap provisions for the Watersheds. Potentially forwarding the cost of the Management Plan update to Hennepin County for funding by a County ad valorem tax levy. This option is still being investigated. Mr. Boganey stated the City's representative on the Watershed Commission, Commissioner Carmody, had asked whether Council would like to give her direction or comment to the Watershed Commission about the option of using ad valorem tax levy authority as a means of paying for this particular cost. Commissioner Carmody's recollection is that the intent for the ad valorem tax levy was that it would be relatively narrowly considered and utilized strictly for capital projects, while the Watershed Commission is considering using the levy authority as a way of funding for the Management Plan. Commissioner Carmody requested guidance from the Council on funding for the Watershed Management Plan update. She expressed concern that there is quite a bit of support by the Watershed Commission to proceed with a levy, while there are places where the budget could be cut. Mr. LeFevere provided an overview of the possible fundraising mechanisms available to the Watershed Commission: Administrative levy raised by sending a bill through the cities. There is a cap on this option. Forwarding the cost of the Management Plan update to Hennepin County for funding by County ad valorem tax levy. Exploring the possibility of the Watershed Management Organization's ability to authorize a separate levy. The County's position on the interpretation of the legality of this option is not yet known. 05/12/08 -3- ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 7:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 05/12/08 -4- 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: 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 May 12, 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 May 27, 2008, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 05/12/08 -5-