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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 06-07 CCM Special Joint Work Session with Financial and Park and Recreation Commission MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL JOINT WORK SESSION WITH FINANCIAL AND PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSIONS JUNE 7, 1999 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met for a special joint work session with the Financial and Park and Recreation Commissions at Brooklyn Center City Hall and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Debra Hilstrom, Kay Lasman, Ed Nelson, and Robert Peppe. Also present: City Manager Michael J. McCauley, Assistant City Manager/HR Director Jane Chambers, Administrative Specialist Anne Finn, CARS Director Jim Glasoe, and Finance Director Charlie Hansen. Al Mjorud, Architect, was also present along with the following Commission Members: Financial Commission Donn Escher, Chair Jerry Blarney Tim Elftmann Recreation Commission Bud Sorenson, Chair Tom Shinnick Don Peterson John Russell Art Mead Mayor Kragness asked City Manager Michael McCauley to review the three options before the commissions for building construction or renovation of City Hall and Community Center. 06/07/99 -1- Mr. McCauley reviewed the materials that the City Council and commissions discussed at the previous meetings. Review of the materials included: A. Review of City Hall needs, including building repair, HVAC replacement, roof replacement, cable needs, structural repair, and electrical service. B. Review of Community Center needs, including wading pool, exterior brick repair and replacement, moisture barrier needs, and ventilation. C. Review of repairs necessary to bring both buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. McCauley briefly reviewed each of the three options developed to address the building needs. Options one and three are considered the most viable. Mayor Kragness asked for comments from the commissioners. Bud Sorenson of the Park and Recreation Commission announced that the Commission would prefer to demolish both buildings and build all new at this time and issue bonds for it. Mayor Kragness responded that there was a lack of funding and that options had not been presented as part of the decision that the Council needs to make in this matter. She stated that because of the Police and Fire bonds, the City cannot go out to the citizens for additional bonding at this time, and that the reason the new building is being discussed, instead of simply repairing the existing structures as was discussed at the time of the Police and Fire bond issue, is due to the fact that the cost of repairs is nearly the same as the cost of building a new City Hall structure. Donn Escher of the Financial Commission reported that the Commission was in favor of building a new building adjacent to the Community Center, and repairing the Community Center, as stated in option three of the proposals before the City Council. In response to some questions from members of the Financial Commission to clarify what was contained in option three, Mr. McCauley reviewed the proposal. Mr. McCauley clarified that the construction would have a first floor entry and would connect with the existing Community Center at two levels. Mr. Escher asked about the timing of the project. Mayor Kragness responded that she would like to get started planning the new structure by Fall and be building in the Spring of 2000. 06/07/99 -2- Mr. McCauley reviewed the soil conditions in the area and stated that it was likely the soil would be able to support the building without a great deal of additional cost, at least this seemed to be indicated in the initial borings taken for the proposal study by the Architect. It was unknown about the soil conditions until further testing is completed during the design process. Mr. Escher stated that the Financial Commission was comfortable with the proposal to build the new building and to repair the Community Center. Mr. Sorenson said that the Park and Recreation Commission did not have a formal recommendation, but that it did agree at its last meeting that the best course of action would be to build all new buildings. Councilmember Nelson asked for a break -down of the funding proposal for construction of the new building and remodel of the Community Center. Councilmember Hilstrom stated that she understands the difficulty of the Community Center and that she had hoped that through partnerships the City could address the activity needs without having to build a new Community Center on its own. She said there had been little interest on the part of private providers to join with the City in a partnership and that the needs of the Community Center for fix -up needed to be addressed if services were going to continue. Councilmember Hilstrom did not think that building a new Community Center and City Hall as part of the Police and Fire Bond issues would have sold. She stated she was not sure about building a new building, but that $2.4 million for repair of the existing buildings seemed a lot to spend. She asked what the cost of fix -up for the Community Center included, and there were additional questions about what was included in option three. In response, Mr. McCauley showed a drawing of the proposed first floor of a new building which would contain new family locker facilities as well as a new Council Chambers and new community meeting spaces that could be used for senior and youth activities. These rooms could contain kitchenettes for use by various groups for clubs and birthday activities. Mr. Blarney thanked the City Council for including the two commissions in their decision making process. The question was asked if a formal recommendation should be made by each Commission to the Council regarding the building proposal. Mr. McCauley stated that a formal recommendation would be useful in light of tonight's discussion. The next meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission is June 15, 1999. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. City Clerk MaAr 06/07/99 -3-