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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 11-23 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 NOVEMBER 23, 2009 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, Tim Roche, Dan Ryan, and Mark Yelich. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Public Works Director /City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, Assistant City Manager /Director of Building and Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Carol Hamer, Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Yelich requested the following correction to the Joint Work Session with Financial Commission minutes of November 2, 2009: Pap-e 2, additional sentence to the end of first mrnrat)h "Council Yelich expressed a desire to have rental licensing expenses paid by license fees rather than property tax." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the correction the November 2, 2009, Joint Work Session with Financial Commission minutes. Councilmember Yelich requested discussion on agenda item 10a. He inquired about language included in the contract with Northern Waterworks, Inc. that supports staff's recommendation to authorize Change Order No. 2 for the project. Public Works Director /City Engineer Steve Lillehaug replied that there are no specifics in the contract language regarding the material of the existing meters. He stated he felt it was a reasonable assumption by the contractor that they would obtain salvageable scrap metal, as this is the most common type of meter. It was noted that the Automated Meter Reading Improvement Project was completed $211,125.57 under budget, which includes Change Order No. 1 and Change Order No. 2. Councilmember Roche requested discussion on agenda item 10e, specifically in relation to the demolition timeline. Assistant City Manager /Director of Building and Community Standards 11/23/09 -1- Vickie Schleuning replied that January 2010 would be the earliest time to begin this process, weather permitting. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Yelich stated the Park and Recreation Commission requested clarification on the minutes of the October Financial Commission meeting, which state that "The Dudley Tournament beer sales have helped generate revenue at Centerbrook approximately $8,000 to $10,000." City Manager Curt Boganey clarified that the revenues and expenses associated with the Centerbrook operation are included in the golf course enterprise fund. Councilmember Ryan inquired about the appropriate timeframe to communicate information to the public and affected property owners regarding the liability release assurance and Letter of No Further Action that are anticipated to be received from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Y to p g MPCA on 57 and Logan Avenues. ate e es. Mr. Boganey indicated t hat this documentation would not (MPCA) g g Y likely be of great value to property owners at this time. The study that the MPCA is currently engaged in will likely be completed one year or so from now. At the end of that analysis it is expected that the MPCA will provide information that can be distributed to all of the property owners in the area. Mr. Boganey stated the Council has been provided with a North Metro Mayors Business of the Year ballot. Luther Automotive is one of the businesses eligible for the award. The Council can present 1St 2 n and 3rd choices for the award. There was discussion on the Council's support for Luther Automotive to receive the award. The majority consensus of the City Council was to direct staff to submit Luther Automotive as the City Council's 1st 2nd, and 3 choice for the North Metro Mayors Business of the Year award. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS PROSECUTOR — RFP PROCESS Mr. Boganey introduced the item and discussed the background information. At the October 26, 2009, Study Session, the City Council directed that the City Manager gather information regarding the proposal to consolidate misdemeanor prosecutions under the County Attorney Office, and provide a recommendation on extending the City's current prosecutorial contract with Carson, Clelland and Schreder (CCS). Mr. Boganey noted the improvements in the performance management efforts of the City and CCS as outlined in the November 23, 2009, memorandum on the review of Prosecution Services. He advised that it is staff's opinion that there is no compelling administrative reason to seek an RFP on Prosecutor Services at this time. If the contract with CCS is to be extended, an extension of three or four years is recommended so that there will not be a review of Civil and Criminal Legal Services during the same period. g g 11/23/09 -2- There was discussion on the conviction rate of CCS and how it compares in the industry. Mr. Boganey indicated that a significant portion of the cases are settled. For those that proceed to court the success rate is likely high. Additional data on this will be provided to Council. After discussion, Council responded in the affirmative to the following Council policy issues: 1) Is it in the best public interest to continue prosecutorial services with CCS? 2) Does the benefit of an RFP process exceed the value of continuing prosecutorial services with CCS? The majority consensus of the City Council was to direct staff to defer solicitation for RFP Prosecutor Services. Staff is to review and update the current contract with CCS and negotiate a four -year extension on the current contract to be presented to Council for consideration. COMPLETE STREETS /ACTIVE LIVING Mr. Boganey introduced the item and discussed the background information. At the October 26, 2009, Study Session, Council directed staff to schedule an upcoming work session agenda item to provide information on the topic of "complete streets ". Mr. Boganey stated he contacted Karen Nikolai, Hennepin County Community Design Liaison for Active Living Communities. Ms. Nikolai provided information on the Active Living Communities Program she is involved with via email. Mn/DOT had been soliciting public comment on the Mn/DOT Complete Streets Report through November 9, 2009. The Hennepin County Chair has written a letter of support and has indicated that a letter of support from cities after the comment period has ended would not have the same value. Mr. Boganey requested direction from Council on whether to invite Ms. Nikolai to a future work session to share information on the Active Living Hennepin County Community Program. It was noted that the Active Living Program is harmonious with the City Council's goals and philosophies on a green, active, healthy environment. There was discussion on requesting Ms. Nikolai to make a presentation on the Active Living Program at a future work session. Mr. Lillehaug advised on his concern on a "one size fits all" approach to a complete streets program. He stressed that while it is important to have a policy at the state level, flexibility is needed. He noted that the City of Brooklyn Center is not able to do everything in redevelopment that developing communities are able to do with "complete street" practices. He recommended that the City be at the table with Mn/DOT in the drafting of this policy. 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 11/23/09 -3- Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:48 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. The discussion continued on the topic of "complete streets ". It was noted that the City Council supports the concept of "complete streets ", but that the Complete Streets Policy outlined in the Mn/DOT Report is vague at this time and there are unknowns on the impact to the City. There was discussion on creating a City complete streets policy and whether this would entail extensive staff time. Mr. Lillehaug indicated that the City of Maplewood spent three years developing the City's Complete Streets Policy. He has reviewed this policy and noted that the City of Brooklyn Center accomplished what this policy laid out with the Bass Lake Road Project. He advised that while it would be good to have this type of policy, the staff time involved would be extensive. He indicated it would not be time - intensive to prepare a letter to Mn/DOT supporting the next steps in drafting the Complete Streets Policy. He is a member of the City Engineers Association of Minnesota which has provided input as a technical advisory committee on this immediate study. In the future there will be solicitation of another technical advisory committee as the policy is developed. He will have the opportunity to continue to be involved in the process. Mayor Willson encouraged Mr. Lillehaug to consider volunteering involvement in future technical advisory committees if the opportunity arises. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to invite Ms. Nikolai to provide a presentation on the Active Living /Complete Streets Program at a future work session, and to direct Public Works Director /City Engineer Steve Lillehaug to prepare a letter to Mn/DOT supporting the next steps in drafting the Complete Streets Policy, to be presented to the Council for consideration prior to submittal. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Yelich moved and Councilmember Lasman seconded to close the Study Session at 6:56 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 11/23/09 -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 November 23, 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 December 14, 2009, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 11/23/09 -5-