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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 Edition 82 October BROOKLYN CENTER CITY NEWSLETTER NUMBER 82 OCTOBER 1992 Please Vote In General Election On Tuesday, November 3 The General Election will be Tues- QUESTION #2: SHALL THE day, November 3, and polls will open BROOKLYN CENTER CITY at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. COUNCIL BE AUTHORIZED TO LEVY A TAX OF ONE PERCENT On the ballots are the names of can- ON GROSS RECEIPTS FROM THE didates for Federal, State, County, SALE OF LIQUOR AND FROM Judicial, and City offices. THE SALE OF FOOD AT RESTAU- In addition, Brooklyn Center resi- RANTS TO FUND APPROVED dents will be voting on two questions HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE CITY? YES NO as follows: E f i b The Charter Amendment will be QUESTION #1: SHALL THE PRO- posted at the precincts and published POSED CHARTER AMENDMENT in the Brooklyn Center Sun -Post for TREVOR HAMPTON RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE voters to review. For polling location FOR FILLING VACANCIES ON information or further information City Has New THE CITY COUNCIL BE relating to the two ballot questions, ADOPTED? YES NO call City Hall at 569 -3300. Police Chief Voters Will Decide On Proposed On Center September Council, on Brooklyn Chan In City Charter mendati n from City Manager Gerald Splinter, finalized the ap- On November 3, Brooklyn Center change in the City Charter. The pointment of Trevor Hampton as voters will be asked to vote on a change (Section 2.05) deals with pro- Chief of Police to replace retiring cedures to fill Council vacancies when Chief Jim Lindsay. Absentee Ballots an elected City Council member is able to complete the term of of- Chief Hampton began his new du- Absentee ballots for the General not t The change will read something ties on September 28. He most re- Election are available at City Hall. like this: cently served as Chief of Police in You can vote by absentee ballot at Durham, North Carolina, for four the Brooklyn Center City Hall, 6301 2.05 A ... If the unexpired term of the years, and before that was Deputy Shingle Creek Parkway during nor- council vacancy is less than one year, the Chief in Columbia, South Carolina mal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 Council shall appoint a qualified person for four years. He began his law en- p.m., Monday through Friday. The to fill the vacancy. forcement career as a patrol officer City Hall will also be open for vot- and was promoted up the ranks to ing on Saturday, October 31, 1 p.m. A council appointment to fill a va- captain in Greensboro, North Caro - to 3 p.m.; and on Monday, Novem- cancy is the present practice in accor- lina, where he served for 16 years. ber 2 until 7 p.m. dance with the City Charter. Chief Hampton has a bachelor's If you wish to vote absentee by A second part of the Charter would degree in industrial technology from mail, please call City Hall at 569- include the following: North Carolina A & T State Univer- 3300 to request an absentee ballot sity, and is a master's degree candi- application. Once the completed 2.05 A ... I If the unexpired term of the date in criminal justice at the Univer- application is received, a ballot will sity of South Carolina. He plans to be mailed to you. (Continued on Page 2) complete this degree in Minnesota. _ 1 Proposed City Charter Changes... (Continued From Page 1) council vacancy is one year or longer, a In 1986, the City Charter was the Charter Commission, the con - special election shall be called by the amended by popular vote to make clusions were: Council ... If more than two candidates file ile the term of office of Council members . Appointment to fill a City Council for the unexpired term, a primary elec- a four year term. Regular municipal vacancy should be limited to tion shall be held. elections were changed to the even- unexpired terms of less than one year. numbered years. A result of this When the original City Charter was change was that the unexpired term • The right of the people to have adopted Brooklyn Center, the term of a vacated council position could be representative local government w office for elected council members nearly two years in length and an would be better served by providing uled was two years. Elections were sched- appointed, not an elected, council for a special election if the unexpired that yearly. The Charter provided member could be representing the term is one year or longer. that any vacancy in the City Council people of Brooklyn Center for that The Commission endorses these would be filled by appointment and length of time. changes as in keeping with the ideas then by the voters at the next regular g P g election (within a year). After extensive consideration by expressed in the original charter and enhancing the changes made in 1986. The Brooklyn Center Charter Com- BROOKLYN PARK BORDER m issio n encourages all voters In v� Brooklyn Center to vote yes on these 4� J 4' 3 charter changes in the November 4 cQ = election. 89TH AVE. N. 89TH AVE. N. ui cc 8 Q 0 1-94 z 4i�2' y'NQ <F o o ri.. } fie, c9 �Fti A o y P q I I a 9 W 5 G Z �O �Oq � 88TH AVE. N. G Y 83RD AVE. N. O 9 C` 2 y m 81 ST AVE. N. W y 58TH AVE. N. 58TH AVE. N. Instructional 1 Basketball Program An instructional basketball pro - m 53RD AVE. N. gram has been designed for children 8 in grades 3 to 6. Emphasis will be W placed on sportsmanship, learning of '< skills and fundamentals of basket - X ball. cc X Classes are one -hour in length and ROBBINSDALE BORDER will be held at Garden City School, with a registration fee of $20 for 10 sessions. POLLING PLACES ; PRECINCT 1 Lutheran Church of the Triune God, 5827 Humboldt Third and fourth graders wi ga on Thursday, November 5, starting at � Avenue North. 6:30 p.m.; fifth and sixth graders will PRECINCT 2 Earle Brown School, 5900 Humboldt Avenue North. begin on Thursday, November 5, PRECINCT 3 Evergreen Park School, 7020 Dupont Avenue North. starting at 7:30 p.m. PRECINCT 4 Willow Lane School, 7020 Perry Avenue North. PRECINCT 5 Orchard Lane School, 6201 Noble Avenue North. Registrations are accepted imme- PRECINCT 6 Garden City School, 6400 Brooklyn Boulevard. diately at the Brooklyn Center Com- PRECINCT 7 Cross of Glory Church, 5929 Brooklyn Boulevard. munity Center, 6301 Shingle Creek PRECINCT 8 Northport School, 5421 Brooklyn Boulevard. Parkway. Please call 569 -3400 for more information. 2 City Council Adopts Preliminary Budget and Property Tax Levy For 1993 On August 24, the City Council get. The preliminary tax levy was set at November, and the City Council will adopted a preliminary budget and $6,636,929, and that is approximately hold a public hearing on the budget property tax levy for 1993. an 8 percent increase over the 1992 on November 3. Residents are en- The preliminary budget and tax levy levy. couraged to attend both the work sessions and the public hearing. is required by law, and the purpose of The tax levy increase is due to the the preliminary levy is to enable the following factors: a state sales tax County to notify taxpayers of what which applies to cities for the first their approximate property taxes time; a decision to cut back on bor- might be if each taxing jurisdiction rowing for equipment purchases; a _ adopts its preliminary tax levy. first time levy for the City's Economic Development Authority; and new fi- The County is required by law to nancial management policies that re- � • notify taxpayers of their potential strict the use of accumulated fund p property tax so that the taxpayer can balances. • �,pFR� respond to the proposed taxes by at- tending "Truth In Taxation" hear- The City Council is allowed by state ings which each of the taxing jurisdic- law to decrease the preliminary tax DARE Program tions is required to hold. The mailed levy before the adoption of the final g notice will include the hearing dates. budget and tax levy. The City Coun- IS Underway cil cannot increase the tax levy. The taxing jurisdictions are required The Brooklyn Center Police Depart - to set both a date for the initial public The 1993 budget process started in ment is geared up for another year of hearing and a continuation date if the late spring and will continue into De- D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance hearing is continued. The final tax cember. The City staff is now in the Education). levy must be established at either the process of refining the City Manager's initial hearing or at the continuation proposed budget that will be pre- Officer Messenbrink will be teach - hearing. The "Truth In Taxation" sented to the City Council in October. ing the 17 -week program to fifth grad - hearing dates are listed below. ers at Earle Brown, Northport, and The proposed budget will contain Evergreen Elementary Schools in The hearings for the City of Brook- revenue enhancements and spend- Brooklyn Center. lyn Center will be held at 7 p.m. at ing cuts which were included in a the City Hall, 6301 Shingle Creek prioritization process that was re- Officer Messenbrink will be work - Parkway. The locations for the hear- cently completed by the City's Finan- ing with approximately 350 students, ings of the other taxing jurisdictions cial Commission. The Financial Com- who will learn how they can resist will be given on the tax notification. mission is a group of seven Brooklyn pressure to trying or using drugs. You also may call the other taxing Center residents appointed by the Students will practice "SAYING NO" jurisdictions for the time and loca- City Council to advise the Council on to drugs when role playing with other tion of their hearings. financial matters. students. The preliminary budget was set at The City Council and the Finan- $11,349,767, and that is less than a 1 cial Commission will hold several percent increase over the 1992 bud- budget work sessions in October and TAXING JURISDICTION INITIAL HEARING CONTINUATION (IF NECESSARY) Hennepin County December 8 December 15 School District 011 December 14 December 21 School District 279 December 3 December 16 1 This newsletter represents the School District 281 December 7 December 14 !City of Brooklyn Center's con - School District 286 December 14 December 21 cern for conservation of re- City of Brooklyn Center November 30 December 10 sources and energy. This issue is printed on 100% recycled paper. 3 October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Domestic violence is a widespread There are at least 65,000 requests in form a three -city intervention pro - problem, and research estimates that Minnesota each year for emergency gram. This program is called Project 382,000 to 566,000 women, in Minne- assistance (including advocacy, shel- P.E.A.C.E. (Protect, Educate, Advo- sota alone, are battered. Each year, ter, and support), and 28,000 requests cate, Comfort, and Empower). Project the Minnesota Department of Cor- for legal advocacy services (obtain- P.E.A.C.E. provides 24 -hour on call rections receives police reports on ing orders for protection or assistance advocacy, legal advocacy, educa- 132,000 assaults. in dealing with the criminal justice tional /support for women, referrals Domestic violence, or battering, is system). to counseling centers, and public edu- not the result of one person having a Currently, 51 out of Minnesota's cation on the issue of battering. " 87 counties do not have battered short fuse ".Battering is a combina- If you are in need of assistance, tion of tactics used by people who women's advocacy programs, with please call the 24 -hour crisis line at have power and control over their existing programs around the state 569 -3339. If you would like to volun- partners and families. These tactics being obviously overwhelmed. In teer your services, or would like range from .physical abuse to isola- fact, in the metro area alone, two- someone to speak to your organiza- tion, intimidation, and sexual abuse. thirds of all women seeking shelter tion, please call our business line at are turned away due to lack of space. 569 -3434, Monday through Friday, Twenty years ago, domestic vio- Brooklyn Center, Champlin, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This program is lence was a family's secret problem, Robbinsdale have joined together to administered by Lisa Growette. not to be talked about and certainly not to get involved in. But, as aware- ness of the devastating effects of bat- tering on the family grew, so did the Flu Immunization Clinics Set understanding that communities as a whole must respond and let it be Special influenza immunization influenza immunizations. People known that battering is not accept- clinics will be offered throughout should receive pneumococcal shots able behavior. Hennepin County in late October only once in their lifetime. Seniors and early November by the County should check with their physicians to Communities have responded by Community Health Department. find out if they need pneumococcal starting domestic abuse intervention immunizations. Tetanus - diphtheria projects or shelters. These projects The U.S. Immunization Practices boosters, which all adults should re- offer education, support, and legal Advisory Committee recommends ceive every 10 years, also will be avail - options to families who are battered, annual vaccinations for people who able. and referrals to groups who counsel are at high risk for developing com- batterers. plications from influenza. A donation of $5 for each influenza, Those people who are considered pneumococcal or tetanus- diphtheria to be at highest risk include adults immunization is requested, but no Win $50 and children with chronic heart, lung one will be refused. or metabolic problems, including Clinics and dates are as follows: For Recycling asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, and weakened immune systems. October 19—Brooklyn Center Com- The Hennepin Recycling Group munity Center, 6301 Shingle Creek (HRG) selects one Brooklyn Center Vaccination is also recommended Parkway, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. residence, at random, to win $50 each for residents of nursing homes and week. The selected household is chronic care facilities, and for chil- October 22— Robbinsdale High checked between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 dren and adolescents receiving long- School Resource Center, 3730 Toledo a.m. to see if the recyclables are at the term aspirin therapy. The health de- Avenue North,1 p.m. to 4 p.m. curb. partment clinics will offer immuni- zations to anyone in these groups, October 27— Robbinsdale High The winners for July were: Eileen and to all senior citizens, 62 years of School Resource Center, 3730 Toledo Gurry, Cliff Wendt, Elmer Noyd, age and older. Avenue North, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wayne Finley, and Jeffrey Brewer. All clinics also will offer pneumo- For more information about other The winners for August were: coccal immunizations. Pneumococ- clinic dates and locations, contact Brian Walker, Edward Pierson, Lee cal shots will be available to the same the Hennepin County Community W. Anderson, and Paul Kunnick. groups of people who are listed for Health Department at 348 -2741. 4 I Highway 100 Reconstruction Will Improve Traffic Flow, Safety, And Meet Future Demands The Minnesota Department of approach a group of vehicles that are impact, soil and groundwater con - Transportation (Mn /DOT) has pro- stopped at an intersection. Addition- servation, stream and lake modifica- duced a newsletter that details the ally, frequent access points along the tion, traffic, transit impact, vegeta- progress of the Highway 100 recon- route without merge lanes do not tion, visual quality (aesthetics), wa- struction project, from Glenwood provide adequate room for vehicles ter quality, wetlands, and floodplain Avenue to 50th avenue North, in the to accelerate or decelerate. The short impact. Cities of Golden Valley, Crystal, access lanes and differing vehicle Robbinsdale, and Brooklyn Center. speeds create safety hazards for driv- After the DEIS is released and a ers and also add to traffic congestion. public meeting is held, a preferred This project, along with the current alternative will be selected and a I -394 construction and other planned This reconstruction will benefit final EIS (FEIS) will be produced. 1 projects to the south will result in a adjacent neighborhoods by improv- continuous freeway with no at -grade ing drainage, noise levels, air qual- The EIS incorporates comments street entrances or signalized inter- ity, and pedestrian mobility. from the public and government sections along the entire length of agencies. Finally, after Mn /DOT and Highway 100, from I ngt in A new drainage system will im- the Federal Highway Administration prove storm water control Bloomington to I- 694 -94 in Brooklyn due the drainage of sediments determine and Record c of De adequacy on is produced that Center. The reconstruction of High- way Center. will ultimately improve tr h- pollution into area lakes and streams. formalizes the selected alternatives, fic flow and accommodate future traf- Noise barriers will reduce the traffic and the construction process begins. fic demands. generated noise levels in the residen- tial neighborhoods along the High- The public review is planned for Since 1950, when traffic volumes way. The high levels of carbon mon- the winter of 1992 -93, followed by increased, Highway 100 has been oxide generated by the congestion of the public information and hearing progressively upgraded. However, vehicles at intersections and ramps in the spring of 1993, and the final unimproved sections of Highway should be considerably reduced by EIS in the fall of 1993. 100 are continuing to deteriorate, eliminating the at -grade entrances causing traffic congestion and un- and improving traffic flow at inter - safe traffic conditions. sections. Drop Off Yard The proposed reconstruction will The proposed grade separated in- Waste In Maple improved roadway efficiencies, as the terchanges will allow pedestrians to highway is upgraded to freeway stan- cross over Highway 100 on inter- Grove dards to improve safety, and reduce change bridges instead of through The Maple Grove yard waste drop - congestion and delays. traffic at the existing signalized inter- off site will remain open, weather sections. permitting, until November 30. The roadway between Glenwood Avenue and 50th Avenue is the only Environmental impact issues will Brooklyn Center residents may section of Highway 100 with signal- be addressed in an Environmental drop off leaves, grass clippings, gar - ized intersections and at- grade street Impact Statement (EIS). The goal is den waste, and branches less than entrances that are major contribu- to determine the best balance be- one -inch in diameter at this site. There tors to traffic congestion. tween meeting the transportation is no charge, but residents will be needs of the region and minimizing requested to show proof of residency Delays are common at the 36th the environmental impact as much when arriving at the site. Avenue and County Road 81 inter- as possible. sections during peak travel hours. The site hours are as follows: Mon - The abrupt change from freeway to The Highway 100 draft EIS (DEIS) day through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 roadway controlled by signals also will provide in depth analysis of the p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. presents dangerous conditions to mo- following issues: air quality, bicycle torists who are unfamiliar with the and pedestrian movement, construc- To get to the site, take County Road highway. tion impact, fish and wildlife, histori- 81 north to County Road 121. Turn cal and archaeological impact, land left onto County Road 121 and take The potential for rear -end collisions use, noise, parklands (recreational), the first right onto 101st Avenue N. is high when rapidly moving vehicles right -of -way impact, socio- economic and follow the signs to the site. 5 Home Rehabilitation Grant, Deferred Loan Program Is Available In Brooklyn Center The City of Brooklyn Center, HOUSEHOLD SIZE PROGRAM INCOME LIMITS through the Brooklyn Center Eco- 1 $20,700 nomic Development Authority, ad- ministers a home rehabilitation 2 $23,040 grant /deferred loan program to as- 3 $25,920 sist Brooklyn Center residents of 4 $28,800 modest income with improving the 5 $31,080 quality of their homes. 6 $33,420 7 $35,700 The program provides up to $10,000 g $38,040 per home for rehabilitation and re- pair. Funds for this program have Eligible improvements are basic and under the program. Based on a com- been allocated from the City's Com- necessary improvements which re- plete inspection, a set of bid specifica- munity Development Block Grant late to items such as health and safety, lions will be developed to detail the Program which is funded through livability and energy efficiency. Ac- improvements that need to be made. the Federal Department of Housing cessibility improvements for disabled You will then be required to obtain and Urban Development, and in con- residents are also eligible. bids for the work from qualified con- junction with Hennepin County. This Examples of the types of improve- tractors, selected by you, who will program is an important part of the re use the bids specifications in ar- City's effort to maintain the quality of ments made under the program are in their bids. P P oldr housing in the City. as follows: furnace replacement, roof g repair and replacement, window re- Final inspection of the work will This program provides up to pair and replacement, electrical and be made by City staff and upon sat - $10,000 for a wide variety of home plumbing repairs, siding repair and isfactory completion of the work, improvements. The grant/deferred replacement, and many other non- the contractor will be paid by the loan means that the total amount of cosmetic types of improvements. City of Brooklyn Center. funds you receive for your home e improvements need not be repaid Your home will be inspected by Please contact Tom Bublitz at the you remain in the home for at least 5 City staff to determine the eligible City offices at 569 -3300 foradditional years after the rehabilitation work improvements that can be funded information. is completed. The loan is only repaid if you sell, transfer, or convey title or move from Brooklyn Center the property within 5 years after the work is completed. To qualify: 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway -You must own and occupy the Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 property as your principal place of CITY COUNCIL residence. Todd Paulson ...... ............................... Mayor -Your home must be a one or two Phil Cohen ........ ............................... Councilman family structure and comply with City Jerry Pedlar ....... ............................... Councilman zoning requirements. Dave Rosene ...... ............................... Councilman • Your current annual gross income Celia Scott ......... ............................... Councilwoman must not exceed the dollar amounts Gerald Splinter ..... ............................... City Manager listed. Social Security, pensions and other regular payments such as child SERVICE DIRECTORY support are considered part of your Emergency Number (24 Hours) regular household gross income. POLICE- FIRE - MEDICAL .......................... 911 The value of your assets must be Police (non- emergency, information) ............... 569 -3333 no greater than $25,000. This ex- City Hall Offices .... ............................... 569 -3300 cludes personal property such as TDD Number ....... ............................... 569 -3300 your personal car, household fur- (Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) nishings and clothing, and the prop- Community Center .. ............................... 569 -3400 erty being improved. 6 Resi 1 .• To Cons I • T ax O Beverages Sale Of Food, On Tuesday, November 3, Brooklyn the sale of food and beverages at restaurants. Center residents will be asked to consider a This tax does not apply to food and beverages special issue on the ballot authorizing the City in grocery stores. Council to levy a 1 % tax on gross receipts from Existing Revenues Would Be Used To Preserve Neighborhood Revenues generated from this tax would The median family income in Brooklyn be used to improve specific housing problems Center (based on the 1990 census) is $38,818. in Brooklyn Center, with the intent of Families with incomes up to 80% of the metro strengthening and preserving existing area median, which is $38,600 for a family of neighborhoods in the community. four, will be eligible to purchase homes as part The revenues will be used primarily to of this housing program. expand the acquisition and demolition of The cost of homes to be constructed blighted and deteriorated single family under this program will be approximately properties, and possibly some multi - family $95,000. Currently, the median price of an dwellings. existing home in Brooklyn Center is approxi- The City expects to generate approxi- mately $77,000. mately $200,000 in annual income for this For additional information, please purpose, and in turn, the City will be able to contact the City Manager's office, 6301 offer these lots for new housing. Shingle Creek Parkway, at 569 -3300. The wording on the ballot is as follows: SHALL THE BROOKLYN CENTER CITY COUNCIL 13E AUTHORIZED TO LEVY A TAX OF ONE PERCENT OF GROSS RECEIPTS FROM THE SALE OF _ LIQUOR AND FROM THE SALE OF FOOD AT RESTAURANTS TO FUND APPROVED HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE CITY? YES NO Printed on 100% Recycled Paper PRECINCT 1 Lutheran Church of the Triune God, 5827 Humboldt Avenue North. PRECINCT 2 Earle Brown School, 5900 Humboldt Avenue North. PRECINCT 3 Evergreen Park School, 7020 Dupont Avenue North. PRECINCT 4 Willow Lane School, 7020 Perry Avenue North. PRECINCT 5 Orchard Lane School, 6201 Noble Avenue North. PRECINCT 6 Garden City School, 6400 Brooklyn Boulevard. PRECINCT 7 Cross of Glory Church, 5929 Brooklyn Boulevard. PRECINCT 8 Northport School, 5421 Brooklyn Boulevard. 'Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.