HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 Edition 06 March •
y BRO CI T O N CENTER / REPORT* MANAGER'S
MARCH, 1973 NO. 6
Parks And Recreation Commission
Up dated To Meet Current Needs
work with the Brooklyn Center Conser- two commissioners may live in the same
The Brooklyn Center Parks and vation Commission and will monitor the park service area.
Recreation Advisory Commission will opinions and concerns of the citizens Each park service area will be repre-
be completely updated to make the through formal and informal meetings. sented by a committee of five persons
Commission more effective and respon- The Commission will consist of a under the chairmanship of a Commis -
sive to citizens dealing with its func- chairman and six members. All members sioner. Committee members will be
tions. will be appointed by the Mayor, with appointed by the Mayor.
Created in 1966, before the City the consent of the Council, for three- Committees will represent and reflect
changed to the present Council- Manager year terms. The City will be divided the neighborhood attitudes and opin-
form of government, the Commission into five park service areas with one ions concerning parks and recreation.
will be restructured and its mission rede- commissioner from each area and two Each committee will meet at least twice
fined to make it more responsive to the members serving at large. No more than a year.
needs of the City's residents.
In advising the City Council, the
Commission will monitor and reflect the
attitudes and concerns of the citizens
relative to the park system and recrea-
tion program. Io d'
Its duties will be to develop and
recommend a comprehensive park and
recreation plan. The Commission will
report annually the progress in fulfilling
the plan and suggest any changes.
Members will frequently visit the
parks and recreation facilities to keep `�� \` \ All
informed of current recreation programs ``` ` \ \ `�
`
and to continually review and evaluate
the park system. � `��
The Commission will develop and ` �`
recommend methods to stimulate posi-
tive public interest in the parks and ����\ \`
recreation system, in addition to devel- `�� t W4 `
oping and recommending feasible 1 �` %l
methods to discourage vandalism. ``,�
Citizens of Brooklyn Center can use �\ �` �
the Commission as a focal point of their t` , \`% ft
opinions on parks and recreation.
Promoting coordination between the
City, school districts and civic groups
will be a task of the Commission as well , Y ,
as encouraging coordination of park and
recreation matters between communi-
ties.
The Commission will coordinate its
_:
* Citizen inquiries and requests may
be directed at the City Administra-
tion. If there is a question regarding THIS IS A MODEL of the 13 -story apartment building now under construction
a service that we are authorized to near the Brooklyn Center Civic Center. A private development venture, the building
perform please call us at 561 -5440. is designed to provide low cost housing for the elderly in Brooklyn Center. Comple-
ti on is scheduled for spring, 1974.
Bus Routes
Expanded
Reduced rates and regular bus routes
are part of the bus service recently ex-
tended into Brooklyn Center by the
1 Metropolitan Transit Commission
(MTC).
I The MTC has taken over the routes
of the Dickenson Lines which have
served Brooklyn Center for some time.
Included with the MTC expansion are
additional Saturday runs to Brookdale
and the extension of the N. Lyndale
Line (8D) along 45th to Bryant then to
`"- 55th and along Dupont to 73rd extend-
ing into Brooklyn Park and ending at
Whitewater Trail.
The MTC will continue the West
River Road Line started by Dickenson.
In addition to the extension of services,
the City residents will now pay a re
duced rate from that of the Dickenson
line. The fare from Brooklyn Center to
Minneapolis will now be 40 cents. Resi-
dents may also transfer to other buses
to go to other parts of the Twin Cities'
INTERSECTIONS along Brooklyn Blvd., such as this one at Interstate 94, will be area.
upgraded to effectively handle the traffic volumes. The project will be started
soon with completion later this year. CEAP Offer s
Ramps, Signals Planned For Meals Program
For Seniors
Brooklyn Boulevard Meals at your Door, leisure time
activities and volunteer services are part
N. and at 71st (Noble) Ave. N. All these of the overall program available to all
Newly designed access ramps and sev- intersections have signals but the new residents of Brooklyn Center through
eral traffic signals are among the lights will include left turn signals. Aid- the Community Emergency Assistance
changes planned for Brooklyn Boule- ing in the channelization of traffic at Program (CEAP).
vard in Brooklyn Center this summer. 63rd and 69th will be the construction
The Meals program brings to the
The access ramps onto Interstate 94 of medians to extend 300 feet north senior citizens, one hot meal a day, five
from Brooklyn Boulevard will be and south of the intersection. days a week, at a minimal cost. It is
improved and new traffic lights will be The light at 71st Ave. N. will be open to those who cannot regularly
installed. These lights will be part of a designed to facilitate pedestrian traffic leave home to eat at a school or restau-
program, which will begin in April, of at that point. None of the improve- rant.
upgrading traffic safety along the Boule- ments will mean the closing of the street In April CEAP will begin a leisure
vard. at any point. Depending on the delivery time program for the seniors offering
Additional signals will be placed at of the signal equipment, all work should craft activities one day a week at the
49th Ave. N., 63rd Ave. N., 69th Ave. be completed by mid - August. Civic Center. In addition to the seniors
programs, CEAP also assists families in
need of emergency aid.
This in the New Ordinance Controls Elms fin ncial tan e, be manpower, or
unteer service such as housekeeping or
Any Elm tree which is infected with property owner. baby- sitting. CEAP can provide food
Dutch Elm disease or harbors Elm bark In addition, those not complying items on an emergency basis as well
beetles is considered a public nuisance with the ordinance are subject to a fine as provide clothes through the Commu-
and must be destroyed, according to a not to exceed $300 or imprisonment nity Closet. Household furnishings are
recently passed Brooklyn Center City not to exceed 90 days. The City Man- also available through CEAP.
ordinance. ager, or his representative, is authorized, The program is sponsored by church -
Under the new ordinance, if an Elm by ordinance, to enter the property dur- es in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn
tree is infected, the City will notify the ing reasonable hours to inspect Elm Park. Members of the churches volun-
property owner who must then remove trees or dead Elm wood and to take teer time, goods and money to help sup -
the tree within 10 days of receipt of the specimens for laboratory analysis. port the program. CEAP also provides a
written notice. If the tree is not remov- Five or six cases of Dutch Elm dis- referral service to other programs con-
ed, the City will remove it and assess the ease were reported in the City last year. ducted by the county and the state.
Fire Code Provides Low -Cost Protection
Enhancing safety and the effective- tic fire extinguishing system. Nationwide statistics indicate that
ness of the Brooklyn Center Volunteer More recent City Council action automatic fire extinguishing systems
Fire Department at a lower cost is a requires that residential structures more stop more than 97 per cent of the fires
major reason for the development of a than three stories high must be equip- that would otherwise become confla-
unique fire prevention code in the City. ped with automatic fire extinguishing grations.
According to an ordinance passed in systems. These extinguishing systems Variances from the ordinance may be
1969, every story, basement or cellar in must be connected with the Brooklyn granted when the strict enforcement
every commercial and industrial build- Center remote station fire alarm system would cause undue hardship because of
ing containing more than 2,000 square or connected with an approved central circumstances unique and distinctive to
feet must be equipped with an automa- station system. the specific property or use under con-
sideration.
Council Requests
Housing Authority
The Brooklyn Center City Council
has endorsed a proposal which would
give the City a Housing and Redevelop-
ment Authority. The proposal was made
v,$ b
r� by the Brooklyn Center Human Rights
Commission headed by James Ordner.
The City Council requested, in Feb-
ruary, that local legislators introduce a
bill in the State Legislature which would
" allow the City Council to act as the
Authority. The City could then develop
a department of housing.
r The Authority and department
would review the housing needs and help plan and develop public housing in
the City.
Assisting the City would be an advis-
ory housing commission which would
{ — bring citizen input into housing deci-
sions. The purpose of the proposal
would be to bring the housing decisions
closer to the people and make those
P
e
decisions part of the local government.
C ity Joins Liquor Suit
® �" ._ ✓ ` �` Brooklyn Center is among four com-
munities which have joined together in a
_ lawsuit against liquor distributors in the
A state.
_ The lawsuit is on behalf of municipal
liquor stores and alleges that the distri-
butors have violated provisions of the
Sherman Anti -Trust Act, the Clayton
Act and Minnesota Laws.
The communities are attempting to
prove that the wholesalers have worked
,. together to restrain and monopolize
interstate commerce and to maintain
retail prices through "price- fixing." The
communities are claiming quadruple
damages.
Brooklyn Center began its off -sale
w liquor operation in 1949. The City now
operates three municipal liquor stores
A PLAN FOR the preservation and improvement of Shingle Creek is now under with a total gross income of $1,450,456
consideration. The master plan for the Creek trai /way extending through Brooklyn last year. Income of $182,398 from the
Center is being reviewed by the Brooklyn Center City Council. A decision should be stores was used in 1972 for municipal
made soon. activities in lieu of property taxes.
For Your Information... City Puts SAC
Collections In
WATER SAFETY the money received for 1972 and suc_ Escrow Account
DEMONSTRATION ceeding years. Specified areas of use Until a decision is made in court on
have yet to be determined. The City the Service Availability Charges (SAC),
A water safety demonstration will received $139,410 for 1972 and is Brooklyn Center will be collecting the
be conducted from 8 to 10 p.m., Monday
April 30, in the Brooklyn Center Com -
expected to receive at least as much in charge from builders and placing the
1973. money in an escrow account.
munity Center. Brooklyn Center is among several
The demonstration will include infor- MOTORIZED VEHICLES communities which have challenged the
mation about canoe and rowboat safety PROHIBITED IN PARKS use of the SAC. The court decision is
and what items can be used as life p re- expected soon.
servers. Cost of the demonstration is 50 Motorized vehicles are not allowed in
cents. Pre - registration is required. Brooklyn Center City Parks except on The SAC, which was instituted by
For more information call the Com the Metropolitan Sewer Board to reduce the designated roadways. cost to current users of the sewer sys-
munity Center at 561 -5440. According to City ordinance, any tem and place the cost of reserve capac-
RABIES CLINIC motorized vehicle (such as automobiles, ity on the future users, will result in
trucks, motor bikes, mini - bikes, snow- higher costs for Brooklyn Center.
A rabies vaccination clinic will be mobiles and battery powered carts), not Many communities which don't have
held from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on official City business, is not allowed the ability to pay for their portion of
Saturday, June 23, at the Brooklyn Cen- in any open or enclosed space owned by the sewer charge will be subsidized by
ter city garages, 2501 69th Ave. N. the City or other political governmental those communities, such as Brooklyn
The clinic is open to all Brooklyn subdivision within the City. Center, which have built and paid for
Center residents who wish to bring their The penalty for violation of the ordi- their own sewer interceptor systems.
pets for vaccination. Cost of the vacci- nance is a fine not to exceed $300 and
nation is $2.50. Animal licenses will also by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. To Prevent Theft
be on sale but residents are reminded HEALTH SERVICES
that if they are coming just to buy a AVAILABLE Almost 300 Use PIN
license, proof of rabies vaccination is l health ea services are available
Several i Almost 300 homes are now partici-
required. pating in the Brooklyn Center Perma-
to Brooklyn Center residents through nent Identification Number (PIN) pro -
REVENUE SHARING the Suburban Public Health Nursing Ser- gram to cut down on the number of
Federal Revenue Sharing money vice. burglaries in the City.
received by Brooklyn Center will be Included in these services are health The PIN program consists of identi-
used for non - recurring expenditures, the counseling, nursing service in the home, fying all valuables with a special number
City Council decided recently. By doing the home health aide, immunization assigned to each home by the police.
this, the City will avoid addictive depen- clinics and well -child clinics. The number is inscribed on all valuables
dency on Federal money that may be During 1972, the Service made 883 and these items are included on a list for
visits to City residents. Of the total the Police.
cut off or used to manipulate local poli- visits, 453 were for nursing care and 430 For further information on the PIN
cies in the future. were for counseling. program, or to have a Police Officer
The Council directed that a set of For more information on the Service, deliver an inscriber, call the Police
guidelines be established for the use of residents can call 925 -3960. Department at 561 -5440 or 561 -5720.
CITY OF BROok[YN CENTER BULK RATE
6301 SHINGLE CREEK PARKWAY
U.S. POSTAGE
BROOKLYN CENTER, MINNESOTA 55430 PAID
CITY COUNCIL Minneapolis,
Philip Cohen Mayor Minnesota
John Leary ...................Councilman Permit No. 2170
Maurice Britts .................Councilman
William Fignar .................Councilman
Tony Kuefler ..................Councilman
Donald G. Poss ............... City Manager
BROOKLYN CENTER SERVICE DIRECTORY
Emergency Numbers (24 hours a Day)
POLICE - FIRE .................... 561 -5720
City Hall Offices ................... 561 -5440
(Monday through Friday — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Community Center ................. 561 -5440
(After 5 p.m. and weekends) .......... 561 -5448