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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 04-30 CCM Joint Meeting with Brooklyn Park i MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA JOINT MEETING of BROOKLYN CENTER and BROOKLYN PARK CITY COUNCILS APRIL 30, 2007 COUNCIL /COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City ouncil met in a Joint Meeting with the Brooklyn tY g o yn Park City Council at City Hall 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, Community Activities Recreation and Services (CARS) Director Jim Glasoe, Police Chief Scott Bechthold, and Deputy City Clerk Camille Worley. Brooklyn Park members present were Mayor Steve Lampi, Councilmembers Rich Gates, Terry Gearin, Jeff Lunde, Jeanette Meyer, Mark Mata, and Mike Trepanier. Also present were City Manager Doug Reeder, Police Chief Wade Setter, and City Engineer Gary Brown. INTRODUCTIONS OPENING REMARKS Mayor Tim Willson stated this meeting was a good opportunity to meet Councilmembers from our sister city and build upon and move forward with some of the shared issues. Mayor Steve Lampi thanked the City for hosting the event. He stated both cities share common problems, challenges, and goals and he hopes that this meeting will help to start joint efforts. DISCUSSION ITEMS RECREATIONAL SERVICES CARS Director Jim Glasoe stated he would like to plant a seed regarding providing more services, adding value to tax dollars, and exceeding the expectations of taxpayers. He said that last fall there was discussion amongst the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and New Hope relating to the par -three golf courses and possibly creating a pass allowing residents of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and New Hope to use all three par -three golf courses for one price. 04/30/07 _1 Mr. Glasoe proposed that both cities market and promote the use of the Brooklyn Center aquatics facility and the Brooklyn Park ice facility. He discussed ways through cooperation to exceed the value expectations of taxpayers. He stated joint marketing would be an option along with allowing residents to register for joint programs at both Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park facilities. He discussed the It's Your Summer! brochure that is a joint activities listing with Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Osseo School District No. 279. He stated there are a number of similarities between programs offered in Brooklyn Center and programs offered in Brooklyn Park. Discussions were held regarding the following: 1) common operations amongst the cities and whether or not future discussions would continue; 2) whether other school districts were collaborating with cities to produce a joint activities brochure; 3) providing the opportunity for residents from both cities to have activities and programs available to them from both cities would provide added value and offer something to residents that is unique and extraordinary; 4) pooling of resources is a good plan and the cities should explore similar efforts with the City of Crystal and other neighboring cities; 5) activities offered by both cities and whether there was overlap of some programs; 6) collaborative efforts have been successful in other cities; and 7) possibly combining Park and Recreation Departments at both cities to eliminate duplicate staff and programs. HIGHWAY 252 IMPROVEMENTS Brooklyn Park City Engineer Gary Brown distributed maps of Highway 252 and discussed adding an additional lane southbound from Brookdale Drive to 73rd Avenue to increase capacity when the light is green and reducing commute time. He stated concrete medians, catch basins, and storm sewers will be needed. He discussed conversations with Mn/DOT to review the entire corridor and impacts of closing intersections at Humboldt Ave and 81st Avenue. He discussed traffic statistics of the area and existing peak volumes. He stated an official traffic study has not been completed; however, State Officials were interested in the proposal. He stated the lights would be removed at the closed intersections and discussed a trial period. He discussed the pedestrian traffic at 73rd Ave. He stated Mn/DOT has indicated that Highway 252 would be reviewed as a possible freeway in 20 to 25 years. It was the majority consensus of both City Councils to continue to study the options for Highway 252. Mr. Boganey stated he would be more comfortable with the proposed improvements after feedback is received from the traffic engineer. CRIME REDUCTION PROPOSAL Brooklyn Center Police Chief Scott Bechthold presented a proposal for a Crime Reduction Strategy assembled by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). He discussed the following four phases: 04/30/07 -2- i I. PERF staff will become familiar with the cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center and their police departments, as well as the scope of the violent crime problem in the two communities. This will be accomplished through an analysis of open research materials as well as information provided by the cities. 2. PERF will conduct a site visit to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Additional data will be collected, and the PERF team will conduct a series of interviews with key members of the police departments, the cities' community leaders, and officials representing pertinent criminal justice agencies. 3. A detailed analysis of available violent crime information will be conducted for both cities. A clear understanding of the scope of the problem will be developed, including an assessment of current crime prevention and reduction strategies employed by the departments. Underlying conditions and other factors outside of the police departments contributing to violent crime in the cities will also be identified. This thorough evaluation will lead to the development of a comprehensive crime reduction initiative. 4. PERF will gather essential stakeholders to attend a one -day Crime Summit to evaluate the proposed crime reduction strategies. Participants will come together to cultivate a common understanding of the violent crime problem in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. The Summit will lead to the development of an intervention to reduce violent crime and disorder in the communities, which attendees can support and commit themselves to implementing. He discussed the funding of the proposal and stated the total cost is $44,381. He stated the proposed cost sharing would result in responsibility of $29,588 for Brooklyn Park and $14,793 for Brooklyn Center. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Wade Setter discussed the rise of violent crimes in both communities. He stated Brooklyn Park saw a 92% rise in robberies and Brooklyn Center saw a 40% rise in robberies last year. He discussed trends from around the country and related them to the two communities. Discussions were held regarding the communities moving forward with the proposal; the importance of benchmarks to gauge if the proposed action is working; and possibly including housing policies in the study. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember O'Connor seconded adjournment of the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 04/30/07 -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: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Joint Meeting with Brooklyn Park of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on April 30, 2007. 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 14, 2007, Regular Session. law City Clerk Mayor 04/30/07 -4-