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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 08-16 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 GENERAL WORK SESSION AUGUST 16, 1999 CONFERENCE ROOM B CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met for a general work session 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, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman, and Finance Director Charlie Hansen. Also present: Jim Schlesinger of Talisman Companies, and Financial Commission Members Gavin Wilkinson, Tim Elftmann, Larry Peterson, and Mark Nemec JAMES SCHLESINGER DISCUSSION REGARDING BROOKDALE Mr. Schlesinger presented an overview of the current status of the planning on Brookdale. He presented the current drawings that would indicate the general type of materials and layout for the exterior and interior treatments. He reviewed the stores that had been discussed previously and the current status of the negotiations with the major tenants. Mr. Schlesinger was confident that finalization of agreements would happen within the next month or two. Mr. Schlesinger also advised that the transit issue had not been resolved since Metropolitan Transit had not provided a draft agreement as they had indicated some months ago when the parties last met. The Council had several questions regarding where Mr. Schlesinger was at in the process. Mr. Schlesinger responded to those questions and also indicated that all of the department store agreements had a three year operating clause. Mr. Schlesinger concluded by indicating that he would like to meet again with the City Council in approximately 45 days to go over the status and hopefully finalization of his plans and proposals. NSP UNDER GROUNDING OF BROOKLYN BOULEVARD AND COUNTY ROAD 10 City Manager Michael McCauley outlined that as part of the Oakdale court decision, Northern States Power Company has proposed to the Public Utilities Commission a standard process and rate structure that would result in NSP underground utilities at a City's request. NSP would underground utilities without the requirement that the City adopt a formal ordinance with respect to that under grounding. 08/16/99 -1- i This would apply to standard transmission situations and would not apply to extra ordinary situations or other types of facilities. The proposal for the Council's consideration was using this process on Brooklyn Boulevard and possibly along County Road 10 in front of Brookdale to underground lines. That would increase the City's ability to do projects. The cost would be spread out over a three year period, in a normal situation, against all of the rate payers. Mr. McCauley inquired of the Council if this would appear to be acceptable to them as a means to proceed. The general feeling on the Council was that this should be explored further. Mr. McCauley indicated this will then be brought back for formal consideration with respect to these projects. DISCUSSION OF GENERAL FUND DRAFT 2000 BUDGET Mr. McCauley outlined the proposed general fund revenues and expenditures. That review discussed levy limits, an anticipated increase in lodging taxes, and building permit fees. The major personnel issues in the draft budget would be the addition of a temporary full -time building inspector to handle the high volume of inspections, which would be offset by the increased revenues in inspections. Mr. McCauley outlined the actual versus the budgeted receipts in both lodging taxes and building permit fees over the last few years. Mr. McCauley discussed his proposal to use the budget figure for police operations as the target and to allow the number of police officers to float above the budgeted authorized number of sworn personnel of 43 officers. Mr. McCauley outlined that over the last few years due to injuries, paternity and maternity leaves, as well as resignations and retirements, we have been running below authorized strength. Currently we are down four officers. The process of replacing a officer takes a minimum of three months of on the job training. It takes three months to recruit and have a testing process and generally one month or more to do a full and complete background investigation. Thus, it can take six months or more from the beginning a process to test until someone is actually available to do patrol work. The next major item of budget discussion was social services. The City Council reviewed the requests for both Joint Powers and discretion funding. After some q �'Y g discussion of the issues related to the request for funding and the participation and joint powers, it was the consensus of the City Council to defer completion of this discussion on social service funding to the Council retreat in September. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Vuyj Al V% Gy, City lerk 4a or Y Y I I 08/16/99 -2-