HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 08-28 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
AUGUST 28, 2006
CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session and was called to order by Mayor
Myrna Kragness at 6:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Myrna Kragness and Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen,
and Mary O'Connor. Also present were Interim City Manager Curt Boganey and Deputy City
Clerk Camille Worley.
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS
The amendments to the August 14, 2006, Study Session, August 14, 2006, Regular Session, and
August 14, 2006, Work Session meeting minutes were discussed and it was the majority
agreement of the City Council to make the following amendments:
August 14, 2006 — Study Session
Page 4:
Councilmember O'Connor discussed an incident where a resident was cited for parking on the
grass and had to zo to court to pav the fee. She stated some residents are concerned with the
excess amount of code enforcement.
August 14, 2006 — Regular Session
Page 2:
Councilmember Niesen stated the Northwest Athletic Club closed on Aug 7 which was a sad
day for her family. She stated she spoke to the executives of Lifetime Fitness and discussed the
transactions for the Highway 100 facility. She stated the building will be closed and sold. She
thanked the community and Caribou Coffee who supported the Northwest Athletic Club. She
thanked those who attended the National Night Out at her home. She stated the night was wet;
however her event was a success. She thanked the Police and Fire Departments along with Cheri
Spade for her effort and the food she provided. She stated she attended the Public Update for
Bottineau Boulevard which is lead by Hennepin County Representatives who discussed the
changes planned for County Road 81 ( Bottineau Boulevard). She discussed the plans for the
roadway includinz expansion and BRT (bus rapid transit) which has been described by officials
as "light rail on wheels. "
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Page 6:
Councilmember O'Connor stated curbs will cause more storm water to go into the creek and
river.
Page 8:
Councilmember O'Connor asked if the old equipment still works. Mr. Boganev responded ves.
August 14. 2006 — Work Session
Page 4:
Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen asked other Councilmembers if thev were planning to
consider buving the Northwest Athletic Club similar to their consideration of the Cracker Barrel
property. She listed other tax exempt uses that could purchase available properties besides lust
Council's stated concern of a church, and ,stated concern that other businesses would want to
sell their property because thev think the Citv will buv it. She voiced her opinion that the recent
Real Estate Recvcling proposal for purchase of the 57` and Logan property for redevelopment
was a lowball bid of erin $1 for ever $4 the City invested and cited the sophistication level of
real estate developers.
Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen stated opposition to the Citv taking on new real estate
efforts due to Council and staff's commitment to the development of the 57` and Logan property
and ongoing Opportunity Site work. She stated she would vote against proposals to purchase
business properties outside those areas and opined that if the EDA had excess funds, staff should
propose and Council should consider removink various TIF properties within TIF District 3 and
allowing that monev to begin flowing to the Citv, the Countv, and affected school districts.
August 21. 2006 — Joint Work Session w/ Financial Commission
Page 2:
Mr. Boganey discussed the Revenues by Source 2002 -2007 Fiscal Years, General Fund Revenue
by Source at $1,229,000 LGA. In response to Councilmember O'Connor's inquiry, he stated a
3% wage increase is proposed. He discussed the difference if the full amount of LGA is used or
is not used. He discussed Major Funding Sources— Property Taxes with $667,665 of LGA for
Operations verses the use of $1,229,388 of LGA for Operations. He stated the difference in the
property tax levy if the full amount LGA is used verses it not being used is 2.85 He stated the
increase in property taxes would be 2.85% if $667,665 of LGA was used for Operations, which
would be a greater increase than last year, which was 2.72 %.
Mayor Kragness stated the Status Quo budget makes sense and she would like to be cautious
with the spending. She stated preference that the City stays with the 2006 budget, other than the
employee's salary increases. She stated a portion of the additional LGA money should be used
and the excess should be set aside for emergencies.
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Financial Commissioner Shogren Smith inquired about decreasing property taxes. Director of
Fiscal and Support Services Daniel Jordet stated the City Assessor assesses residential properties
each year and commercial properties every other year. He stated the City Assessor is finding
that most properties are remaining steady, increasing, and few are decreasing. He stated the
property values for this levy have already been determined and he discussed the Limited Market
Value concept at the State level.
Page 3:
Councilmember Lasman stated preference that LGA not be used to reduce taxes on a one time
basis; but rather split that monev between capital proiects.
Councilmember O'Connor stated School District 286 wants to offer the referendum again, which
will raise the levy. She stated residents are concerned about property taxes. She stated she would
like to show that the City is not having an increase in City property taxes. She stated two
positions in the Police Department have been eliminated and one debt has been paid, therefore
the taxes should not be raised. She su- - gested a compromise that half of the LGA be applied to
property taxes and the other half be applied to a one time project.
Page 5:
Councilmember Lasman asked that rental property and municipal landscaping be focused on
during the budget process. Mr. Boganey stated that these items are not included in the Status
Quo budget. He stated if the City Council wishes to consider those items, then the funding
would need to come from either the contingency money or other sources.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Carmody moved and Councilmember Lasman seconded to close the Study
Session at 6:59 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
City Clerk yor
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