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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 05-03 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 3, 1993 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in special work session and was called to order by Mayor Todd Paulson at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Todd Paulson, Councilmembers Celia Scott, Dave Rosene, and Kristen Mann. Also present were City Manager Gerald Splinter; Director of Finance Charlie Hansen; Director of Public Works Sy Knapp; Financial Commissioners Donn Escher, Vi Kanatz and Denis Kelly; and Council Secretary Nancy Berg. Inner -Ring Suburban Community Funding Needs The City Manager presented the Inner -Ring Suburban Community Funding Needs report. He explained he had prepared a draft report as suggested by Representative Carruthers; and he asked for the Council's thoughts on the subject. Councilmember Scott stated she had found it interesting to talk to other councilmembers from other community's who also agreed the outer suburbs were not providing moderate - income housing. She also stated all inner -ring suburbs were having the same problems and reiterated the Legislature must be convinced. Councilmember Rosene asked where the contribution for fiscal disparities came from. The City Manager answered the fiscal disparities came from a transfer of commercial /industrial taxable value from new commercial development to low commercial /industrial value communities. Organizational Evaluation Process The City Manager presented the organizational evaluation process. He explained the Council had approved the document and generally approved the process. He further explained the process had not been discussed by the Financial Commission at length, but the commission would be discussing it at their next meeting. He also stated the Financial Commission would be doing initial work on Area 1 and staff would be working on Areas 2 and 3 and then staff and the Commission would get together for further discussion. 5/3/93 - 1 - Donn Escher, Chair of the Financial Commission, asked if the Commission would have access to outside help. The City Manager answered it might be possible to do a pilot in one department and then provide the information to the other departments. Mr. Escher suggested staff provide the Commission with a time table. The City Manager agreed staff would provide a time table. Denis Kelly asked if the data provided the Commission would include comparisons to other cities. The City Manager answered yes, Item 1 and 2 would contain considerable comparative data. Mr. Escher stated the same program in different cities may seem identical, but there might be one or two factors that make the program different. He further stated the Commission would need to know if staff believed a city's program should be viewed differently than Brooklyn Center's program. The City Manager agreed this would be provided as well as some secondary information. Capital Improvement Program Process for 1993 The City Manager presented the Capital Improvement Program Process for 1993. He explained Council would be provided for the first time a listing of EDA and all capital outlay. The Director of Public Works explained the Council would be getting more input from each department. He also stated the Park and Recreation Commission was preparing information for the Council which covered all park facilities. He explained this was the first time since the 1980 park bond referendum staff had taken a really good look at the needs for the park system. He further explained the Public Works Department would be reviewing all of the City's needs including community development, the Earle Brown Heritage Center, City Hall, and the Community Center. Councilmember Scott asked staff provide an explanation page with each table. The City Manager agreed to provide a detailed summary page. Mayor Paulson asked when staff provided recommendations, what procedure would staff follow to define. The City Manager answered staff would be attempting to put a dollar value with each suggestion. Mayor Paulson agreed he would like that procedure and would also like to set a policy on each matter. The City Manager explained staff would be asking Council to do that at the next Council meeting on May 10, 1993. Mayor Paulson explained the policy would lead the Council to a conclusion. Councilmember Rosene agreed an ultimate goal should be stated. Councilmember Scott asked if the Americans with Disabilities Act study provided by Julee Quarve- Peterson prioritized the most urgent changes needed to comply with the ADA. The Director of Public Works explained the ADA regulations did not give specific guidelines, 5/3/93 -2- and there is no enforcement agency. He continued to explain the enforcement agency comes through citizen action and the court system. He also stated the study provided by Julee Quarve- Peterson did identify priority areas 1, 2 and 3. He also stated staff had a committee working on a priority listing including cost estimates. Councilmember Scott stated the guidelines for the ADA just were not there like they should be. Vi Kanatz shared with the Council a problem the City of New York had trying to provide public toilets. She explained if a City provides for one disability, another disability may be hampered. Councilmember Rosene stated it sounded like those who had disabilities could not agree, and this causes cities to try to provide for every disability which was very difficult. The City Manager agreed there was such a wide range of disabilities, it was very hard to reach an agreement. Councilmember Scott hoped the State or Federal Government would come up with some guidelines. The Director _ e ector of Public Works stated Julee uarve P n had Q eterso a done a very good fob on the study. Denis Kelly asked if staff had involved disabled persons in the study. The Public Works Director answered yes, Julee Quarve- Peterson had access to many disabled persons, and she had also held a public hearing with disabled citizens in the community. 1994 Budiet Calendar/Financial Commission Involvement The City Manager reviewed the 1994 Budget Calendar/Financial Commission Involvement. He explained the Council would be able to provide policy statements until June 1993. Mayor Paulson stated that would be very helpful. He further explained Council could be formulating policies while staff was working on the budget. He continued to state it would be helpful to develop a list of policies. Councilmember Scott asked for input from the Financial Commission early in the process. Mr. Kelly agreed the City really needed sound policies. Vi Kanatz stated the Financial Commission had previously been stuck on dollars rather than programs. Mayor Paulson stated it would be worthwhile for Council to take up policy- making during the summer. Councilmember Scott agreed the policies should be to the Financial Commission by July 1. Mayor Paulson stated the Financial Commission should start looking at the budget and Council would formulate the policies. Councilmember Scott stated Council, staff, and the Financial Commission would all work to keep costs down and the level of service up. 5/3/93 - 3 - i Mr. Escher stated it was very important the Financial Commission understand it was an advisory commission. Mr. Kelly recommended another joint meeting between the Council and the Financial Commission in early August. The Councilmembers and City Manager agreed and the date would be set later. Mayor Paulson directed staff to come back to Council on June 1 with a list for policy - making. The City Manager agreed, but stated it would be a preliminary list. He further explained he would have a better idea after June 24. Councilmember Rosene informed the Mayor and the City Manager he would be out of town the last week in July and first week in August. Mayor Paulson asked after Council received a list of the issues, would a date need to be scheduled to discuss the policies. The City Manager stated staff would set the date in the future. Mr. Kelly recommended Council get away for a weekend to discuss policies away from the chambers. He explained a different setting would provide for a more relaxed atmosphere. Mr. Escher stated he had attended the last City Council meeting. He explained the Council had discussed appointing commission members and commission sizes. He recommended the reference to religion in the commission policy be eliminated. He also disagreed with geographical representation. He explained he had been a member of the Charter Commission twice and the Commission had voted down geographical representation for elected officials. He further stated reflecting diversity on the commission was very important. Councilmember Rosene concurred with Mr. Escher and stated first and foremost the Council was looking for people who would bring the most to the City's commissions. Councilmember Rosene also stated the reference to religion should be eliminated. The City Manager explained the reference to religion was taken right out of State law and was intended to reflect a policy of not discriminating on religious preferences. Ms. Kanatz stated it had been a profitable meeting, and she liked the give and take of the Council. Councilmember Scott agreed it was nice to sit down at a meeting like this for discussion. ADJOURNMENT The Brooklyn Center City Council adjourned at 8:50 p.m. J. L r u Deputy City Clerk Todd Paulson, Mayor Recorded and transcribed by: Nancy Berg Timesaver Off Site Secretarial 5/3/93 -4-