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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 04-24 CCM Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION APRIL 24, 2006 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority met in Work Session and was called to order by Mayor/President Myrna Kragness at 8:16 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Myrna Kragness and Councilmembers /Commissioners Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Mary O'Connor. Also present were City Manager/Executive Director Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager/Director of Operations Curt Boganey, City Attorney Charlie LeFevere, and Deputy City Clerk Camille Worley. DISCUSSION OF REVISED DRAFT CITY MANAGER EVALUATION FORM FOR 2006 Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen requested postponing this item until the next Work Session because of errors that needed to be corrected. She stated that she wanted to perform due diligence from the notes she had taken and compare to the form presented by staff, and make vote , or final suggestions. She thought Council should have the final version before bringing to a gg g g g noted that changes could be made at that time. Mayor /President Kragness stated the issue has been discussed too much and it is time to move forward. She suggested that Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen review the form prepared by staff and submit a final version to the City Council before it is put in the agenda packet. Councilmember /Commissioner Carmody stated she thought the City Council had agreed to use the proposed form this year and review it again after it has been used. She stated the City Council has spent a lot of time on the matter and it should move forward with it. Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen suggested moving the item forward and then she can request changes by way of memorandum. Mayor/President Kragness recommended that the Council have the final form to review before putting it on the regular agenda for a vote and recommended that the item be placed on the May 22 Work Session agenda to allow Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen time to do due diligence. 04/24/06 1 DISCUSSION OF SENDING HARD COPIES OF COMMISSION AGENDAS Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman stated she would be satisfied with getting the commission agendas via email. PRELIMINARY ITEMS TO DETERMINE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION ON I WHETHER TO PURSUE DISCUSSION/RESEARCH/ANALYSIS FOR FUTURE WORK SESSIONS) Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen stated it is the right and duty of elected officials to bring items for discussion to Work Sessions and they should not be limited in the number of items nor blocked from making requests for information. Mayor /President Kragness stated the matter was brought forward and discussed when the flow chart was created. She stated the entire City Council should decide if an item is important enough to be placed on a Work Session agenda. Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman stated Councilmember Niesen is one piece of the City Council and only the entire City Council has the power to approve or deny items. Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen stated that the Work Session has always functioned as an open forum for discussion items. She stated that any Council vote to allow or not allow items to be brought to Work Sessions would allow the majority to block minority voices from their right to bring things to the table, and would result in having a Work Session for a Work Session. COUNCIL MEMBER NIESEN: CRIME REPORTING Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen requested Council review the way crime was being reported in the SunPost. She stated that previously the crime map was being displayed, but recently the crimes were shown in text form and wondered why, and which way Council preferred. Sarah Bingaman Schwartz, Sun Post described the different formats she has used for crime reporting and noted she had received comments from readers that they preferred the text format. Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman stated the Sun Post should be allowed to report crime the way they see fit. Police Chief Bechthold asked the Council for clarification on reporting crime statistics to the Council and noted there were two formats prepared: one for the public and one for internal City distribution. Mayor /President Kragness stated the City Council should continue to receive the quarterly statement and the Sun Post can report the crime as they see fit. She stated a separate report does not need to be created specially for the City Council. 04/24/06 2 COUNCIL MEMBER NIESEN: DEDICATING CABLE FUNDS FOR COMMUNICATIONS Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen requested that the tax being collected from cable subscribers should be used for the purposed intended: cable equipment. She said she had discussed this issue with Northwest Suburbs cable Communications Executive Director Greg Moore and also that Mr. Moore suggested Council request Mr. Gaffron to document Brooklyn Center's equipment, and suggest a schedule for replacement. City manager Michael McCauley sated that cable money received was being deposited into the General and Capital Improvements Projects funds. Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman stated she would like the funds to be available for multiple uses. Mayor /President Kragness stated preference that the funds remain available for when the need arises. Councilmember /Commissioner O'Connor stated she would be in favor of a report by Mr. Gaffron as long as there is no charge to the City. Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman stated a report by Mr. Gaffron would not be free. She stated the City Council should be aware of the plan for equipment replacement if need be; however, she does not think it needs to be determined in the budget. It was the consensus of the City Council to request that Mr. Gaffron prepare a report of the cable equipment inventory and schedule for replacement. COUNCIL MEMBER NIESEN: CITY COUNCIL CORNER IN CITY WATCH Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen stated the City Watch Newsletter is a communication to everyone and she asked if the City Council would be interested in a small section dedicated to the City Council for communication to the residents. Mayor/President Kragness stated staff covers the issues thoroughly and includes articles that are of importance to the City Council. Councilmember /Commissioner Carmody stated it would be hard to get agreement on what to include and the viewpoint to convey. City Manager/Executive Director Michael McCauley stated preparing and distributing the newsletter is a great task as it is. 04/24/06 3 COUNCIL MEMBER NIESEN: SUGGESTIONS FOR RESIDENT SURVEY QUESTIONS Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen stated she would like to survey the residents to assist the City Council in developing its goals for next year. Councilmember /Commissioner O'Connor suggested a survey be included in the next City Watch Newsletter. Mayor/President Kragness explained that a survey was done several years ago, however only 200 were returned. She suggested that Councilmember /Commissioner Niesen include a survey on her next campaign brochure. Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman agreed that a comment card to be included in the City Watch is a good option; however, she stated concern that the comments returned would be extreme opinions and not convey the opinion on the general public. The decision was made to include a survey card in the next City Watch Newsletter asking residents for the top three items they liked about Brooklyn Center, and their top three issues of concern. Responses may be used to help Council set goals for 2007. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor/President Kragness asked about the fence at the CVS Pharmacy. Mr. McCauley explained that the Site Plan saved the tree that interrupted the fence. He explained that when the fence was installed, a gap remained on each side of the tree. He explained possible solutions; however each solution could raise another concern. Mayor /President Kragness inquired about the Riverwood Estates Home Owners Association. The City Council discussed the noise issue and the possibility of a noise wall. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember /Commissioner Carmody moved and Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman seconded adjournment of the City Council /Economic Development Authority Work Session at 10:15 p.m. 3== City Clerk Mayor/Pr ident 04/24/06 4