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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 08-11 CCM Work 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 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 11, 2003 COUNCIL /COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a work session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 8:26 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Bob Peppe. Also present: City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager/Director of Operations Curt Boganey,.and Deputy City Clerk Maria Rosenbaum. GARY GROVE, 6520 EWING AVENUE Gary Grove, 6520 Ewing Avenue, did not appear to speak to the Council. COUNCILMEMBER NIESEN: PUBLIC HEARINGS, AGENDA CONTENT AND PROCESS, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, POLICY ON SEMI - ANNUAL REPORTING ON LOST PROPERTY RECEIVED AND DISPOSED, AND LIAISON TO SHINGLE CREEK WATERSHED COMMISSION AND MINUTES FROM MEETINGS Councilmember Niesen had asked the Council to discuss the above topics for clarification and expressed the following: Public Hearings. Her frustration with the public hearing process is that the individuals that are speaking during the public hearings do not get an opportunity to readdress the Council when the public hearing is closed. Mayor Kragness discussed that the public hearings are not for debate; they are for public input. City Manager Michael McCauley discussed that the process has been a report to the Council provided by staff before a public hearing is opened. The public hearing is opened for public input and then closed. The Council may ask staff or the experts that are present relating to the issue to address the Council for further discussion. Councilmember Niesen asked if there were guidelines for the public hearing process. Mr. McCauley responded that he believes there are guidelines in the Council Handbook. Councilmember Peppe suggested that she look at the guidelines and come back to the Council with options or suggestions if she so desired to amend the guidelines. Councilmember Niesen informed that she would review the guidelines and bring back to the Council any alternatives she may suggest. 08/11/03 -1- Agenda Content and Process. Mr. McCauley discussed that the process of the agenda content and process is set up by the City Charter. Most agenda items are routine; however, there are at times individuals that would like to make an appearance before the City Council. Those individuals are asked to submit materials for the agenda packet. City Council Minutes. Councilmember Niesen questioned if there is anything written in the City Charter regarding record keeping of official minutes. She expressed that she believes the videotapes should be kept as a permanent record and that she does not believe the what, where, when, who, why, and how are always included in the minutes. Mr. McCauley discussed that the videotapes are not kept as a public record; they are used to help create the official written minutes. The official written minutes are to be approved by the Council and kept as an official record. Mr. McCauley asked if the Council would like more detail provided in the minutes. Councilmember Niesen expressed that she would like the minutes to reflect more of the who, what, and why. Mayor Kragness discussed that the Council should contact the City Manager with amendments to be made to the minutes and that the amendments can be made if within reason to what was said at the meeting. Policy on Semi - annual Reporting on Lost Property Received and Disposed. Councilmember Niesen questioned if there would be a problem with getting an annual report on the lost property received and disposed. Mr. McCauley discussed that the recently adopted ordinance required all lost and found property to be sent to the auction or destroyed if it had no value. Reports could be provided, but would not result in any particularly useful information since it would only show what came in and its disposition. The earlier issue of retaining property was obviated by the ordinance requirement that all such property be auctioned, or if of no value destroyed. She questioned the number of tickets written and the police quotas. Mr. McCauley discussed that quotas are illegal. In targeted traffic enforcement rough estimates are developed as targets for the project, but no Officer has a quota. Liaison to Shingle Creek Watershed Commission and Minutes from Meetings. Councilmember Niesen expressed that she would like to have a liaison to this commission and receive minutes from the meetings. She believes that the City needs to know what is going on with this commission and that this commission is one of the City's assets. Mr. McCauley did not think that it would be a problem to get the minutes and provide them to the Council. Mayor Kragness suggested that Graydon Boeck be asked to make a presentation to the Council on behalf of the commission. Councilmember Carmody discussed that it has never been an expectation of any other City liaison and that the Council needs to be consistent with all commissions. Councilmember Lasman suggested that Mr. Boeck be contacted and asked what he believes would be beneficial to these requests. 08/11/03 -2- COUNCILMEMBER LASMAN: LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE Councilmember Lasman discussed that she attended a recent League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference and that she wanted to share some information about clustering of businesses She believes that the City of Brooklyn Center needs to consider and build on medical clustering. The Council continued discussions on what else and how the clustering of businesses could be handled. COUNCILMEMBER CARMODY: GUN ISSUE AND HANDLING AND COMMUNICATING REGARDING CITIZEN INQUIRES TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL Councilmember Carmody reviewed materials from the League of Minnesota Cities and questioned whether or not the Council wished to pursue the signage for guns at City Hall. Mr. McCauley informed that City staff is working on a policy for employees and volunteers prohibiting guns. Councilmember Carmody informed that she had asked that this topic be on an agenda to have the communication process explained for all Council Members. Mayor Kragness informed that all materials should be directed to the City Manager. Mr. McCauley discussed that communicating things on the miscellaneous section of a Study Session is a good way to communicate information. COUNCILMEMBER PEPPE: PARKING ON JERRY'S NEW MARKET SITE Mr. McCauley informed that the parking issues at Jerry's New Market are being addressed and that no trespassing signs have been ordered and will be installed by the owner. Jerry's New Market has also hired a towing service. SECOND LIQUOR STORE STUDY Mr. McCauley requested direction from the Council in regards to a second liquor store. Mayor Kragness suggested that staff move forward with negotiating a lease for a second liquor store. Council consensus was for staff to negotiate a lease for Council consideration. REVIEW OF LEGAL SERVICE PROPOSALS Mr. McCauley requested direction from the Council as to whether or not they would like to conduct interviews of the firms that had submitted proposals and are recommended. Kennedy and Graven and Jensen, Bell, Converse, and Erickson were the two recommended firms. Mayor Kragness expressed that she would like to stay with Kennedy and Graven. Councilmember Niesen and Councilmember Carmody expressed that they would like to hold interviews. It was the consensus of the Council to put the proposals on an agenda and make a decision at that time. 08/11/03 -3- NEXT WORK SESSION DATE It was the consensus of the Council to set the next work session on October 13, 2003, after the Regular City Council meeting. An agenda item to add this work session to the 2003 meeting schedule will be on the August 25, 2003, agenda for approval. MISCELLANEOUS Council discussed the traffic issue on 61 Avenue North between June Avenue. Mr. McCauley informed that the Traffic Safety Committee is studying this issue. Council discussed the Informal Open Forum process. It was determined to hold the Study Session and Informal Open Forum meetings in the Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Peppe, seconded by Councilmember Carmody to adjourn the work session at 10:21 p.m. City Clerk Mayor 08/11/03 -4-