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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 05-18 CCM Special 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 SPECIAL WORK SESSION MAY 18, 1998 CONFERENCE ROOM B CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a work session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Debra Hilstrom, Kay Lasman, and Robert Pe e. Also resent: City Manager Michael J. McCauley, City Manager Jane PP P y g Y, tY g Chambers, Finance Director Charlie Hansen, and Community Development Director Brad Hoffinan. COUNCILMEMBER LASMAN: ACCIDENTS AT WOODBINE LANE AND HALIFAX AVENUE NORTH This item was brought to the Council's attention by Councilmember Lasman. Councilmember Lasman introduced the item and cited a memo from staff about the accident record at a home at the T- intersection of Woodbine Lane. The house has experienced several vehicle accidents over time due to drunk drivers and others mistaking the driveway to the home as a continuation of the roadway. Councilmembers discussed possible solutions to the problem. Solutions discussed included a barricade in front of the home, a street sign at Kyle Avenue and Woodbine, methods to slow traffic on Woodbine such as speed bumps, and the possible staking out of the area by the Police Department so that one or two of the offending drivers speeding down the road could be caught. A resident of the area, Karen L. O'Connell of 4106 Woodbine Lane, was present for the discussion. There was consensus that the neighborhood area on Woodbine Lane and the neighbors on either side of the home in question on Woodbine would be surveyed regarding the desirability of a four -way Stop sign at Kyle Avenue and Woodbine Lane. Councilmember Lasman suggested that the SMART trailer be used in the area to help drivers see the speed at which they are traveling. DISCUSSION OF RIVERWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR WORK SESSION REGARDING THEIR SURVEY RESULTS AND THE PROPOSED SENIOR COOPERATIVE PROJECT 05/18/98 -1- City Manager McCauley reported that he had met with Jerry Blarney of the neighborhood group. He had assured Mr. Blamey and others of the group that the City would not take action on the proposed senior project until there was time to discuss the outcome of the survey results that the neighborhood association had taken. There was consensus by the Council that June 15, 1998, would be the work session meeting date to discuss the outcome of the survey results with the neighborhood association. Councilmember Hilstrom asked when the City Council could expect to see something on the proposed project. Community Development Director Hoffman said that the developers would like to break ground in 1998, but that the process for approval of the senior housing plan would take whatever time was necessary for adequate review and input. City Manager McCauley added that the City staff would need to be able to answer questions regarding the development and that mid -June would be an acceptable timeframe to have those questions answered. COUNCILMEMBER CARMODY: PARK IMPROVEMENT INPUT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD Councihnember Carmody questioned why citizen comments on improvements to parks were limited to the immediate neighborhood area within the three block radius of those parks. She stated that all citizens should have some say in the development of the parks whether or not they line close proximity to those parks. City Manager McCauley suggested having the item sent to the Park and Recreation Commission to review having the Commission seek input on proposed improvements. The request for input could be made through notices in the newspaper and reminders at City Council meetings. There was consensus to have the subject sent to the Park and Recreation Commission and request that the Park and Recreation Commission review and recommend how to seek input on park improvement projects. DISCUSSION OF DEVELOPMENT ISSUES TWIN LAKE PROPERTY PROPOSALS Councilmember Carmody spoke with and Mayor Kragness met with property owners in the Halifax, June, and Indiana Avenues area where the City Council recently approved a preliminary plat for a new five -home development. Councilmember Carmody reported that the neighbors were concerned about blocked vision on Indiana if the street is made a through street. She also reported that the neighbors wanted a cul-de -sac instead of the street being cut through and that homeowners enjoy a patch of trees in the area. She reported that the neighbors don't care about having a dead end at the end of the street. The neighbors would prefer to have a dead end rather than have the street go through to June as proposed on the approved plat. City Manager McCauley reported that on consideration of a new plat, the City Council does not have 05/18/98 -2- a great deal of discretion. If the proposed plat meets requirements, the City is required to approve the plat. Councilmember Lasman reported that residents have asked her if they could have some input on new development such as this one proposed in the Twin Lake area. A question was also raised with regard to whether or not the City could require the home that now contributes to a blind spot in the road to be brought into compliance with right of way regulations. Councilmember Peppe suggested that by allowing neighborhood input and discussion of proposals over which the City Council has little discretion could create a misconception about the neighborhood's ability to have a say over the matter. Councilmember Hilstrom stated that citizens should at least be able to be informed about proposals such as this in their neighborhood. There was a general discussion among Council Members regarding ways in which citizens could be informed of proposals such as that represented by the plat approved for the Twin Lakes area. There was consensus that the Council would request the Planning Commission and Staff to look into the feasibility of having signs placed on property indicating the type of action the City Council is considering for that property. This would give notice to the neighbors within the area of pending actions on properties. TOLD DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL City Manager McCauley reported that the TOLD Development Company now has options on all property except the City's for the development they propose of a 20- theatre complex. The TOLD Development Company has indicated that they intend to move forward with this project whether or not the City sells them the City -owned property within the development boundaries. The City Manager also reported that even though the developer of Brookdale would prefer that the City not cooperate with the TOLD Development concept, there was nothing that the City could actively do to prevent the TOLD Development Company from pursuing their project. Questions regarding the selling of the City property at market rate, signals at Camden Avenue, and the scheduled repair of Camden Avenue were discussed. Also discussed was the need for a large storm water retention pond within the project. There was consensus that the City should move forward to sell the City -owned property to the TOLD Development Company. It was believed that the City might as well be a part of the project if it was going to take place anyway. Otherwise, the City would have an awkward and basically unusable piece of property surrounded by the theatre complex. 53RD AVENUE DEVELOPMENT City Manager McCauley reported that Mayor Kragness and he would meet with Commissioner Opat on Wednesday, May 20. They plan to discuss Commissioner Opat's concerns regarding the proposed 53rd Avenue development. 05/18/98 -3- BROOKDALE City Manager McCauley and Community Development Director Hoffman passed photographs around of their trip to the Miami shopping mall which was operated by the developer of Brookdale. There was general discussion regarding the photographs and the conditions of the Mall of the Americas in Miami. City Manager McCauley also reported that the bond attorney at Kennedy & Graven had missed the deadline for a draft of an agreement between the City and the developer of Brookdale. This deadline was missed even though the City Manager and Community Development Director had repeatedly been assured that the deadline would be met. The problem for the City with the missed deadline is that it puts our response to the developer behind schedule. Mr. McCauley requested authorization to seek a new bond and development attorney for the Brookdale project due to these capacity issues. There was discussion among the Council with regard to seeking a new request for proposal for all bond and development work. There was consensus that the City Manager would seek authorization to retain new bond and development counsel for pending development projects, and that an RFP could be issued in the fall to separate bond and development work from the general civil work currently completed by Kennedy and Graven. DISCUSSION OF THE 69TH AND BROOKLYN BOULEVARD DEVELOPMENT City Manager McCauley reported that there would be an item on a regular Council meeting agenda to discuss this proposal. He also stated that notices would be sent to the neighborhood. There was agreement that the developer should be asked if a sign could be placed on the property indicating pending Council action on the project. 1999 BUDGET City Manager McCauley submitted the proposed calendar and process for the 1999 budget. He outlined the preliminary estimated revenues and discussed the levy limits impacting the 1999 budget. There was consensus that the Financial Commission would be invited to all budget discussions. There was consensus that the City Manager could develop the 1999 budget based on the maximum levy increase allowed of 1.78 %. The Council could alter the proposed levy as it saw fit as the process progresses. The City Manager indicated to the Council that the long -range Capital plan for the Earle Brown Heritage Center would be presented at the June 15 work session. He also reported that a rough draft of the agreement between the City of Brooklyn Center and the State for grant funds to make improvements to Earle Brown Heritage Center might be available this week. He indicated that the City has been told by the State that it can proceed to tie up the land for the parking lot prior 05/18/98 -4- to final approval of the grant agreement. City Manager McCauley opened discussion for items that the City Council would like to see handled differently for the 1999 budget. Councilmember Hilstrom wanted to know the priorities for the Community Center. The City Manager discussed the need to have a public input process established for the Community Center and City Hall improvement projects. The City Manager stated that he would like to have a preliminary plan for what improvements are feasible to the buildings before the public input process is initiated. The City Manager stated that although the goal was to get the planning done in 1998, the City Staff is still working on Police and Fire buildings, as well as the new improvement projects for the Earle Brown Heritage Center. The City Manager discussed how a number of issues impact on decisions to be made about the types and cost of improvement to both the Community Center and City Hall. The City Manager cited an example of the question of use of the City Council Chambers. He stated that one idea would be to use a newly built "G" Barn with state -of -the -art communications and video equipment for City Council meetings. An alternative idea would be to refurbish Constitution Hall for use during City Council meetings. There are handicapped accessibility, structural synergy, and ground level entry issues that all have to be addressed with renovation of the Community Center and City Hall. Councilmember Hilstrom asked about street improvement projects. She wanted to know what the status of sealcoating was in the 20 -year plan. The City Manager indicated that he would obtain an update on this subject from Public Works Director Diane Spector as part of the Capital Improvement budget process. City Manager McCauley discussed the calendar for approval of the 1999 budget. He suggested that the Capital Improvements Program be separated from the General Fund discussions. He would suggest adding another General Fund discussion in the end of September and would recommend two additional budget meetings in August. The City Manager also suggested a need to add a work session for the City Council on enterprise funds. There was consensus among Council to have the City Manager add these additional meetings to the proposed budget calendar. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Hilstrom asked about storm damage in the southeast neighborhood. She wanted to know what activity the City would undertake in assisting in cleanup from the storm. The City Manager indicated that he would look into what particular storm drainage issues there were on the 60th and Aldrich Avenues area. Councilmember Hilstrom also indicated that she had had a complaint from a resident about the high penalties for failure to pay water bills. There was consensus among the Council that the penalties charged for failure to pay water bills were fair. 05/18/98 -5- ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m. City Clerk Ma or 05/18/98 _6_