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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 09-26 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 SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 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 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness and Councilmembers Kay Lasman and Mary O'Connor. Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody and Diane Niesen were absent and unexcused. Also present were City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager/Director of Operations Curt Boganey, Director of Public Works /City Engineer Todd Blomstrom, and City Clerk Sharon Knutson. Councilmember Diane Niesen arrived at 6:07 p.m. Councilmember Kathleen Carmody arrived at 6:15 p.m. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember O'Connor said she had submitted a correction to the September 12, 2005, Regular Session minutes. The correction was on page 12 deleting the words "introduced the following resolutions and" from the language under Resolution No. 2005 -132, which read, "Councilmember Carmody introduced the following resolutions and moved their adoption: ". She said Councilmember Carmody did not introduce the resolutions. Councilmember O'Connor inquired if the project area for Item No. 7c, Resolution Establishing Improvement Project Nos. 2006 -05, 06, 07, and 08, Contract 2006 -13, Humboldt Avenue North and Earle Brown Drive Street, Storm Drainage and Utility Improvements was near the Earle Brown Heritage Center. City Manager Michael McCauley responded affirmatively. Councilmember Carmody inquired if the improvement project would help with the topography of the roadway on Humboldt Avenue. She explained the road is hilly /wavy and in the winter is icy at the intersection of 69th and Humboldt Avenues. Mr. Blomstrom responded that the City will evaluate the capacity of the storm system. He noted the roadway needs to have a grade and slope to drain stormwater to catch basins. Councilmember Lasman discussed Item No. 8d, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 of the City Code of Ordinances Relating to Parks and Recreation. She said the reason for the change in park 09/26/05 -1- opening hours from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. was because of early morning joggers. She also noted that there is a citizen's guide that lists park hours that will need to be updated. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS REVIEW OF CARL NEU'S OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 14 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mr. McCauley said Mr. Neu had prepared his report from the September 14 City Council retreat and it was offered for any comment and/or correction. After review, the report would be placed on the next Council agenda for acceptance in resolution format. Mayor Kragness inquired if any Council Member had any comments regarding the report. Councilmember O'Connor said she didn't agree with all of the issues, but they were the consensus of the group. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. McCauley provided the Council Members with an update on the September 21 storm damage. He said he could make a PowerPoint presentation at the Regular Session Council meeting. Mayor Kragness raised the issue of whether or not there was any type of reforestation program that the City could look into. She also inquired if residents could get wood chips from the former Jerry's New Market site. With regard to wood chips, Mr. McCauley responded that there would be safety issues at the former Jerry's New Market site; Mr. Blomstrom added there is a stockpile of wood chips available for residents at Evergreen. DISCUSSION OF RENTAL HOUSING LICENSE FEES Councilmember Carmody referred to the current fee structure and the alternate scenarios for rental licensing fees . She noted that the single family license fees are three to four times that of the multiple family dwelling units and inquired if the inspection of single family dwellings take three to four times as much time as the multiple family dwelling units and whether duplexes takes up to 1 %2 times more. She said she wants to be able to justify that it really takes that much time to do the inspections. Mr. McCauley responded that about 65 percent of the inspectors' time is spent on single family dwellings and noted that there are multiple notices sent to single family rental property owners requesting inspections or compliance. He explained with multiple family dwellings the inspectors do a sampling rather than inspect every unit, unless there is a need for a complete unit -by -unit inspection. He said that licensing 24 units in an apartment complex is working with one owner or 09/26/05 -2- management company as compared to 24 single family dwellings and working with 24 different owners. Councilmember Carmody raised the issue of a fee structure that would create a higher initial license fee for single family dwellings and then a lower fee for renewal. Councilmember O'Connor expressed concern about the disparity between the three types of license fees. She stated if multiple family dwellings paid a minimum of $450 per building, revenues would increase by $40,000. She said she could consider Councilmember Carmody's idea of a higher initial fee for single family dwellings and then a lower renewal fee. Mayor Kragness said the fee structure should differentiate on whether both sides of a duplex are rented. Councilmember Carmody stated the fee structure shouldn't increase license fees for multiple family dwellings to subsidize single family rental dwelling costs. She said the fees should be set according to who is using the most staff time. Councilmember Niesen said the City should be proactive with the rental license program and inquired if an inspection checklist is mailed to rental property owners before an inspection is done so the rental property owner knows what needs to be up to code. Mr. McCauley responded he had requested copies of the materials that a rental property owner receives and will provide those copies for the Council. Councilmember Lasman said there is a cost factor with the inspector's time, but there also tends to be other cost factors with rental property (i.e., code enforcement, neighbor disputes). She noted there is a different trend now with single family rental dwellings, and she is not willing to lower the license fees, as she would rather see homeownership. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Carmody moved and Councilmember Niesen seconded adjournment of the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. City Clerk Ma or 09/26/05 -3-