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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 02-14 CCM Studay 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 FEBRUARY 14, 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 6:06 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness and Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Mary O'Connor. Also present were City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager / Director of Operations Curt Boganey, Public Works Director / City Engineer Todd Blomstrom, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman, and City Clerk Sharon Knutson. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember O'Connor requested the following change to the January 24, 2005, City Council Work Session minutes: Page 3, Paragraph 2, second sentence should read, "She inquired if the land is owned by the Osseo School District and whether or not the Brooklyn Center taxpayers in the Osseo School District will be taxed for the adult education center." Councilmember O'Connor requested the following changes to the January 24, 2005, City Council Meeting minutes: Page 5, Item No. 8a, last sentence should read, "A motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember O'Connor to continue the Public Hearing to February 14, 2005, and to table An Ordinance Amending Chapter 35 of the City Ordinances Regarding the Zoning Classification of Certain Land (Southwest corner of 71 st Avenue North and Brooklyn Boulevard)." Page 6, Item No. 8b, last sentence should read, "A motion by Councilmember Carmody, seconded by Councilmember Lasman to continue the Public Hearing to February 14, 2005, and to table An Ordinance Vacating Certain Drainage and Utility Easements Within Lang Addition, Replat of Block 2 Lang Addition and Center Brook Addition. Page 8, Item No. 9a, Condition No. 6, add "d" to the word replace. 02/14/05 -1- Councilmember O'Connor inquired about Item No. 7c, Application and Permit for a Temporary On- Sale Liquor License Submitted by St. Alphonsus Parish, 7025 Halifax Avenue North, for an Event to be Held March 12, 2005. She noted that the memorandum cites the State Statutes, which state that the license must first by approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety. City Clerk Sharon Knutson responded that the governing body of the municipality must first approve the application and permit and then submit to the Minnesota of Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division for approval by the Commissioner of Public Safety. Councilmember Lasman requested the following change to the January 24, 2005, City Council meeting minutes: Page 15, Item No. 10i, fourth paragraph, second sentence should read, "She said 85% must be donated back to charitable organizations in the trade area and 15% can be used for charitable organizations outside of the trade area." Councilmember Lasman discussed Item No. I Oa, Resolution Approving Metro Transit Authority Request for Variance from State Fire Code and Location of Fuel Tank Enclosure, regarding the size of the fuel tanks. She said the Fire Chief's memo dated January 26, 2005, indicated 22,000 gallon tanks, the Resolution indicated 24,000 gallon tanks, and the Fire Chief's memorandum included with the variance request indicated 22,500 gallon tanks. Mr. McCauley said that representatives from Metro Transit would be available to answer these questions at the regular City Council meeting. Councilmember Lasman said she is a volunteer for Brooklyn Peacemaker and inquired if there would be any conflict of interest if she were to vote for Item No. l Ob, Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Agreement for the Peacemaker Diversion Grant. Mr. McCauley responded that there would be no legal conflict of interest. Councilmember Lasman inquired about Item No. I Oe with regard to the Earle Brown Heritage Center parking lot reconstruction. Mr. McCauley responded that the project includes the old portion of the parking lot, not the parking lot that was recently constructed. There was discussion regarding the proper procedure for moving from the Study Session to the Informal Open Forum if no one from the audience is present to speak at the Informal Open Forum. It was decided that the Study Session would be adjourned to the Open Forum and if no one were present to speak at the Open Forum, then Open Forum would be adjourned and the Study Session could be reconvened. Councilmember Carmody requested that the licenses for rental dwellings include the number of units for apartment complexes. 02/14/05 -2- Councilmember Carmody inquired about Item No. 9a, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 35 of the City Ordinances Regarding the Zoning Classification of Certain Land (Southwest Corner of 71 st Avenue North and Brooklyn Boulevard). She inquired if there was an expiration date on the rezoning. Mr. McCauley responded that there is not an expiration date on the rezoning, but depending on Osseo School District's redevelopment project, it may be that the zoning for this property needs to start over if the school district makes changes. Councilmember Carmody inquired about Item No. 10e, Resolution Accepting Engineer's Feasibility Report and Calling for a Public Hearing, Improvement Project No. 2004 -14, Shingle Creek Parkway and Summit Drive Street, Storm Drainage, and Utility Improvements, regarding the bike and walking paths and whether or not those trails would be unusable for a period of time. Director of Public Works / City Engineer Todd Blomstrom responded that one of the trails would be removed and the other trail would be reconstructed as a shared use trail. During the time of the construction, the trails would be unusable for a short period time. Councilmember Niesen said she is disappointed with the number of special assessments on the levy roll for people who have not paid their water bill. There was discussion regarding the process of levying these unpaid utility bills, and Mr. McCauley said that the Council had made a policy decision to not shut off water and to use special assessments to collect the unpaid bills with interest and penalties. He indicated that residents are notified several times regarding their late utility bills, late fees are added, and then all these fees are added to the assessment. There was discussion regarding when the City actually gets the money for these delinquent utility bills. Mr. McCauley said the City carries the cost of customers getting water and the City benefits in premium prices being paid through the assessment process. Mr. McCauley said that once the Public Hearing is set for these assessments, notice will be mailed to those with delinquent utility bills and a number of those people will come and pay off the delinquent bills prior to the hearing date. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL There was a motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember Carmody to close the Study Session. Motion passed unanimously. There was a motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember Carmody to open the Informal Open Forum at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. No one appeared before Informal Open Forum. There was a motion by Councilmember Carmody, seconded by Councilmember Lasman to close the Informal Open Forum. Motion passed unanimously. There was a motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember Carmody to reconvene the Study Session at 6:46 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 02/14/05 -3- RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Niesen inquired about Item No. l Oh regarding Social Service Funding and when Five Cities Transportation was first funded. Mr. McCauley responed that he is not certain when it began, but he recalls in 1995 for the 1996 budget that the Council had discussed not funding Five Cities Transportaion. Mayor Kragness said that there is no other transportation for seniors to get things like groceries and pharmaceutical items. In response to an earlier question relating to fuel tank size, Mr. McCauley said he had received the information regarding the discrepancy in size of fuel tanks. He reported that depending on the manufacturer, the fuel tanks come in standard sizes of either 22,500 gallons or 24,000 gallons. Councilmember O'Connor inquired about Item No. I Oh with regard to Social Service Funding and the $6,790 request from Reach for Resources. There was discussion regarding the program and the services REACH provided to people with disabilities. Mr. McCauley explained that the reason the Social Service Funding item is on the agenda is that there are long lead times if the Council would want to pull out of Joint Powers Agreements. Mr. McCauley said that if an organization is requesting money from the City, it may be budgeted in hopes of receiving charitable contributions for that service organization. WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS No time permitted for discussion of Work Session agenda items. MISCELLANEOUS There were no miscellaneous items. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Carmody, seconded by Councilmember Lasman to adjourn the Study Session at 6:56 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. City Clerk Mayor i 02/14/05 -4-