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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 05-27 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 MAY 27, 2003 CITY HALL COUNCIL /COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION 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, Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Bob Peppe. Also present were City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager /Director of Operations Curt Boganey, Police Chief Scott Bechthold, Director of Public Works /City Engineer Todd Blomstrom, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Rosenbaum. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Council discussed Consent Agenda Item 7b, Licenses. Councilmember Carmody inquired if the number of units for apartments could be added to the list. Councilmember Lasman asked if the Motel 6 would be considered once the new rental ordinance is effective. City Manager Michael McCauley informed that the number of units could be added to the license list and that the Motel 6 would not be included with the new ordinance. Councilmember Lasman questioned how the 200 calls for the Motel 6 compare to other motels in the City. Police Chief Scott Bechthold discussed the 200 calls for Motel 6 is extraordinarily high due to vigilance of motel manager who has been recognized for his efforts. Council discussed Public Hearing Agenda Item 9b, An Ordinance Amending Sections 11 -717 and 23 -1902 of the Brooklyn Center Code of Ordinances, Relating to the Conduct of Charitable Gambling in the City. Councilmember Carmody questioned if the three things requested had been addressed and Councilmember Lasman questioned if this ordinance could be amended to the requested amount of 80 to 85 percent for organizations to expend of its expenditures for lawful purposes conducted. Mr. McCauley responded that the three things requested had been addressed and that the ordinance amendment was introduced with 90 percent; however, he believes that if the Council wishes to amend the proposed ordinance during the public hearing, they may do so since the amendment would be to a less restrictive percentage. 05/27/03 -1- Councilmember Carmody questioned when she should discuss Earle Brown Days Events. Mr. McCauley suggested during the Council Reports. Councilmember Lasman expressed that she believes Earle Brown Days Events need to be published in the Community Guide. Council discussed Consent Agenda Item 7a, Approval of the Minutes. Councilmember Carmody informed that she reviewed the tape from the meeting on May 12, 2003, and inquired about the conversation of the minutes discussed at the May 12, 2003, Study Session. The Council approved the minutes with the suggested amendments and she thought the Council agreed to have minutes tabled if they were brought up at a meeting. Councilmember Lasman discussed that she recalls that the decision was for the Council to approve the minutes on May 12, 2003, with the suggested amendments, and that in the future minutes should be tabled if there were brought up at a meeting. Council continued discussions regarding Consent Agenda Item 7b, Licenses. Councilmember Lasman inquired why the property at 6777 Humboldt Avenue North is being considered for a license if the property is unfit for human occupancy. Mr. McCauley informed that he was not aware of this property being unfit for human occupancy since the materials were not ready for him to review at the agenda meeting. He suggested that the Council table that license request. Councilmember Niesen inquired when the project was built and what work is being done in regards to Consent Agenda Item 7d, Resolution Accepting Bid and Awarding a Contract, Improvement No. 2002 -19, Shingle Creek Trail Reconstruction. Public Works Director /City Engineer Todd Blomstrom discussed that the project was built several years ago and that the work being done is due to a failure of settlement, not construction. She questioned the grant from the Department of Natural Resources and what amount the City will pay. Mr. Blomstrom informed that the grant is a cost - sharing program that will provide funds for approximately 50 percent of the construction costs for the project. Councilmember Niesen asked about the background for Consent Agenda Item 7e, Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract for Electrical Inspection Fees. Mr. McCauley discussed that currently the State of Minnesota provides electrical services in Brooklyn Center and the City receives no revenue from the fees collected. This resolution would authorize the City to contract electrical services. The City would pay the electrical contractor a percentage of the fees collected and receive a percentage of the fees generating revenue for the City. Councilmember Carmody asked Mr. McCauley if the amendment she had requested to the Study Session minutes on page one regarding Public Works Week had been made. Mr. McCauley requested her to verify what amendment should be made. Councilmember Carmody asked that the amendment be made to indicate that she questioned the cost of the Public Works Day, not the newsletter. Mr. McCauley responded that amendment would be made. Councilmember Niesen questioned some of the language written in the miscellaneous portion of the Study Session minutes for May 12, 2003, that appeared to be incomplete. Mr. McCauley informed that the language should be amended to read: 05/27/03 -2- Mr. McCauley informed that this issue had been researched two to three years ago and that it was determined to be unsafe due to the distance between the traffic signals in the area amount of land and was not available for a turn lane. I Mr. McCauley informed the Council that staff continues to search for the report that he referred to at the meeting on May 12, 2003. CHIEF BECHTHOLD REPORT ON TERRORISM ALERTS Mr. Bechthold reported on the City's Emergency Plan and the State Homeland Security improvements. Over the last year the State Homeland Security Office has improved the communications to cities throughout the United States with better definitions of the threat levels, has developed a secure Internet site, and now has pager numbers for Police Chiefs in the United States for urgent messages. He informed the Council that the last alert message received was a blanket per the Nation and that Minnesota is not a real threat; however, citizens do need to continue to monitor and report suspicious matters. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Bechthold informed that the City's Prosecuting Attorney is moving forward with charges to the owner of the pit bull for allowing the dog to run at large and having more than two dogs. He discussed that a person living at that residence will be sentenced for a workhouse violation. Mayor Kragness questioned if the complaint received at the May 12, 2003, Informal Open Forum regarding three pit bulls on Xerxes Avenue North had been inspected. Mr. Bechthold informed that they have not been able to verify if there are three pit bulls living at that address on Xerxes Avenue North. Mr. Bechthold discussed that there is one Sergeant and four Officers working on a Mobilization and Traffic Campaign through June 2, 2003; and that during the first five days there were 643 citations, 21 arrests, and 95 warning issued. Mr. Bechthold discussed the two new Lieutenant positions have been initiated and that Kevin Benner will take the east side and Curt Lund will take the west side of Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Peppe questioned if a clause could be added to the Animal Ordinance requesting the number of calls be tracked to help classify dangerous dogs. Council discussed. Councilmember Niesen inquired if any other Council Member had received a letter from a resident regarding repair on their property. Mayor Kragness responded that the matter had been take care of and that the repair will be done. Mr. Blomstrom informed her that the repair would be done with the Happy Hollow project. Councilmember Niesen inquired if the complaint about a street light assessment from a resident had been addressed. Council discussed and Mayor Kragness asked that Councilmember Niesen provide the resident's information for Mr. McCauley to research. 05/27/03 -3- I Councilmember Lasman asked when the Woodbine survey would be done. Assistant City Manager /Director of Operations Curt Boganey responded that the Woodbine survey would be done no later than the first part of next week. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember Carmody to adjourn the Study Session at 6:42 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. City Clerk Mayor 05/27/03 -4-