Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 04-30 CCM Special 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 SESSION APRIL 30, 1979 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a special study session and was called to order by Mayor Dean Nyquist at 7:34 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Dean Nyquist, Councilmembers Tony Kuefler, Bill Fignar, Gene Lhotka, and Celia Scott. Also present was City Manager Gerald Splinter, Director of Planning and Inspection Ron Warren, Acting Director of Public Works James Noska, Director of Finance Paul Holmlund, Building Inspector Andy Alberti, Fire Marshal Linus Manderfeld, and Administrative Assistants Mary Harty and Brad Hoffman. DISCUSSION The City Manager noted the Council had requested that a special study meeting be held and the Mayor and the City`Manager scheduled that special meeting for April 30, 1979. The City Manager explained the meeting was for the purposes of providing an update to the Council in several pertinent areas as well as provide a time for questions and discussion. The City Manager explained it was the consensus of the Council that the meeting was not for the purpose of taking formal action but for the purpose of review and discussion. Betore proceeding with the agenda --- asked the Council to review a housekeeping matter. *me icy manager Vivvided LiLc Council with a list of office equipment and asked that the office equipment listed be declared surplus equipment. He also provided the Council with a list of items which will be auctioned at the City auction. Th--re was a motion by Councilmember Scott and seconded by Councilmember Kuefler to declare the listed office equipment as surplus equipment. Voting in favor: Mayor Nyquist, Councilmembers Kuefler, Fignar, Lhotka, and Scott. Voting against: none. The motion passed unanimously. PLANNING PROCESS ON FUTURE HIGHWAY 169 The City Manager introduced Mr. Dick Wolsfeld, of the consulting firm BRW. Mr. Wolsfeld explained the current .study which has been undertaken by BRW is concerned with two major items; first, the identification of various alternatives for major transportation facilities in the T.H. 610 and T.H. 169 corridors and second, the documentation of the environmental impacts of the alternative including the social, economic and physical er,�:ironments in an environmental impact statement. Mr. Wolsfeld explained in the last ten to fifteen years, studies have been conducted which have analyzed the transportation problems in the area and documented the need for implementing major transportation improvements. He noted the current study effort will draw from the results of these past efforts. Mr. Wolsfeld explained the methodology used to accomplish the ultimate identification and impact analysis of the several transportation alternatives in the T.H. 610 and T.H. 169 corridors begins with a generalized "first level" assessment of all potential facility location and design alternatives, and the elimination of alternatives which are found to be unacceptable. He stated the - objectives of the first level analysis and evaluation are to: identify alternative transportation facilities in the T.H. 610 corridor and the T.H. 169 corridor which appear to offer potential transportation benefits; conduct a preliminary analysis and evaluation of these alternatives to determine if there are significant negative impacts which would preclude an alternative from further consideration; select for 4 -30 -79 -1- detailed evaluation and impact analysis those alternatives which survive this first level evaluation. Mr. Wolsfeld next presented the pros and cons for the various options to be studied for the T.H. 169. Mr. Wolsfeld explained various evaluation criteria which were used in studying the alternatives. The evaluation criteria include the level of service criterion, the safety criterion, and the air quality criterion. Following the presentation, the Acting Director of Public Works explained a resolution is currently being prepared which will document the BRW study and include alternatives for location and recommendations for location. The Acting Director of Public Works stated the City of Brooklyn Park has taken a lead in formulating the resolution and the resolution will be considered by the Cities of Champlin, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center for approval. REVIEW OF PROPOSAL FOR NORTHWEST SUBURBAN CONVENTION CENTER The Mayor introduced Mr. Lee Van and Mr. Chuck Rogers who were in attendance at the Council meeting to explain a possible proposal for a northwest suburban convention center. Mr. Rogers, President of the Brooklyn Park Chamber of Commerce, explained members of Chambers within the northwest suburban area have been discussing the feasibility of some sort of northwest suburban convention center. At this point the center is in the discussion stages and the Chamber.is interested in knowing whether such a convention center is feasible. The Chambers of Commerce in the northwest suburban area have decided it would be beneficial to raise money to fund a feasibility study for a convention center in order to determine whether or not it is a sound idea. The Chambers have decided they are willing to rase $20,000 in seed money to pay for such a feasibility'study. Mr. Rogers reviewed soz e of the predicted dollar amounts in hard pledge money and soft pledge money which had already been i.ni�.o r7 Mr Rnnorc n—n ni"oA tlip rhamhPrc canal rl rni GP- the monev and they Wo uld like c o corn Ul U1011ey UVCL LV a 2ACICLLC l VlLLIU LLB Va wav wvuiu — — -- + a feasibility study done. The Chambers have been in touch with the Mayors from Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Osseo and Maple Grove and the Mayors have expressed interest. The Chambers would like to see a committee appointed by the Mayors of the four communities in order to serve as a steering committee. Mr. Rogers commented it may happen that the feasibility study determines that this sort of a convention center is not feasible for the northwest suburban area and that would be an acceptable conclusion but no action can really be taken until a study is conducted. Mr. Van noted he was speaking as an interested citizen of Maple Grove but had also been the Chairman of the committee for the Duluth Civic Arena. He explained the process that the City of Duluth had gone through including a feasibility study before the Duluth Convention Center was built. He explained this was definitely in its very beginning stages and presently the Chambers and various other interested citizens were looking for support from Councils and Mayors within the four communities. The Council concurred that they would like to investigate the feasibility of a north- west suburban convention center. Mr. Van stated this type of convention center, if feasible for the area, would bring business to the communities and compared to the situation in the south suburban area where the airport, the zoo, the sports center and stadium were located. The Mayor asked the Council to make suggestions to him for appointment to a committee for the northwest suburban convention center. BROOKDALE TEN The City Manager referred the Council to a memorandum from the Building Inspector. The memorandum explained on March 22, 1979 the Inspection and Fire Departments conducted an inspection to review the progress performed on a-priority list given to the City Council October 30, 1978 by Mr. Rozman. A copy of the priority list was attached for the Council's reference. The memorandum states that performance on the priority list 4 -30 -79 -2- is as follows: on the list of items for fall 1978 completion, only item #2 has been completed; on the list of items for winter 1979 completion, only item #12 has been completed. It was noted on the memorandum that on April 20, 1979, an inspection was conducted at the request of the City Attorney and a list of violations as noted in the inspection was attached for the Council's review. The City Manager explained currently the City is tagging on all violations. The City Manager stated the Council should consider what they wished to do with regard to the renewal of the rental license for Mr. Bennie Rozman. Councilmember Scott stated she was very concerned with unused refrigerators which have been left in the laundry room at Brookdale Ten with the doors still on. She stated she was concerned that a child might get inside and suffocate. The Building Inspector stated Mr. Rozman had been tagged on March 24 concerning those refrigerators but Mr. Rozman had not removed the doors or removed those refrigerators as of yet. The Building Inspector stated he had spoken with the Police Department on this matter and he was unsure whether or not the City could take additional action because additional tagging would be a show of harassment. Councilmember Scott said she was concerned for the safety of children and was also concerned that the City might be sued if the City does not take some preventative action. Councilmember Fignar questioned the Building Inspector as to whether or not he had had contact with Mr. Rozman personally. The Building Inspector stated he has spoken with Mr. Rozman and Mr. Rozman has informed him that he wished that the City would deal with his personnel. The Director of Planning and Inspection stated the City was presently requesting a formal complaint on all violations at Brookdale Ten. Mr.- Clelland from the City Attorney's office has stated he does not see a problem with the Council revoking Mr. Rozman's rental license based on the .fact that Mr. Rozman has not met his perfor- lT1an('P AgYPP711Pnt' In discussion of the implication of revoking the rental license, the Building Inspector stated if the license was revoked no vacant apartments could be rented from the time of the revocation of the license. Vacated apartments would be red tagged and could not be rented. The Building Inspector stated he would have access to the rental list and he would have to go through the buildings on a daily basis to make sure that red tags had not been removed and that tagged apartments had not been rented. Councilmember Fignar stated he felt the Council has been as sympathetic as they can be and at this point it is necessary to take stronger action. The Fire Marshal stated he was concerned with the City's potential liability if the City continued to cite Mr. Rozman for the same violations again and again and they are never taken care of. The Fire Marshal stated he was concerned if one of the safety violations turned into a bigger problem such as causing some sore of accident or fire what the City's liability would be in this situation. He stated it appears Mr. Rozman defies every order and does not take corrective measures until he is absolutely forced into taking corrective measures. It was the consensus of the Council that they wished to consider the revocation of the rental license at the May 21 City Council meeting. Mr. Rozman will be informed of that intention. UPDATE ON HOUSING LEGISLATION Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman explained the City Council had authorized the staff to seek housing legislation. The City had engaged Mr. James Holmes to draft housing legislation which would enable the City to spend HRA funds in a particular manner. Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman stated the bill had been carried 4 -30 -79 -3- through the Senate by Senators Luther and Humphrey and in the House by Representatives Ellingson and Carlson. As the bill passed through the legislative process it was discovered that over 20 other municipalities were interested in the same type of legislation so it was decided to change the bill from a local bill to a state wide bill. Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman stated the Senate bill differs slightly from the House bill. The Senate bill is basically the same bill but does reflect Minneapolis Special Legislation. He stated the Senate bill was workable but was fairly cumbersome, whereas, the House version was a better bill. UPDATE ON LOGIS The Director of Finance presented information on the history of LOGIS, its origin and an update on the current status of LOGIS or Local Government Information Service. The Director of Finance explained how LOGIS was initiated and who the present members were as well as the various types of membership within LOGIS. He explained presently there are five modules possible through LOGIS, a financial control module, a payroll /personnel module, a utility billing module, a fixed asset management module, and an equipment control module. The Director of Finance stated Brooklyn Center presently utilizes all of the modules except the equipment control module and anticipates utilizing the equipment control module within the very near future. The Director of Finance stated a property data system module is presently under development. He stated it is antici- pated future development in the LOGIS system may include a licensing and permit module, a geographic mapping and analysis module, and a computer modeling capabilities module. The Director of Finance explained the cost of LOGIS and how the charges to the various members were made. He explained LOGIS operates on an annual budget and the charges are divided into administrative charges and capital costs which are shared equally by all operating members and also an operating charge which is based.on the actual U6C by il1C1LLUCLJ• LLC Lcl.LLLCLL LlLG 7.. .. .. ,. --• -. .• amount Brooklyn Center contributes $43,719. The Director of Finance stated it was his belief that the City gains a substantial return on that investment even though the investment in dollar amount may seem large. Without the LOGIS system, the City would more than_ likely need data processing people within our own staff, but because of LOGIS, the data processing staff is with LOGIS rather than with each individual city. Referring again to the actual computer, the Director of Finance stated that LOGIS is in the process of purchasing its own computer and converting to our own system. That computer will be located at 6820 Shingle Creek Parkway and is expected to be operative prior to 1980. DESIGNATION OF PROJECTS WHICH THE COUNCIL WISHES TO HAVE COSTED OUT FOR 1980 BUDGET PURPOSES The City Manager stated the Director of Finance and he would be beginning the budget -process in the near future. The Council would-not review the budget documents until September but the City Manager suggested if the Council wished any particular projects costed it would be helpful to have those projects designated as soon as possible to give additional lead time. Councilmember Kuefler questioned whether or not a 5 year capital improvement schedule could be designated. The City Manager responded a 5 year capital improvement schedule is a requirement as part of the Land Planning Act and the-City is in the process of formulating a 5 year capital improvement schedule. The City Manager requested the Council to let him know if there were any projects which they wished to have costed out for 1980 budget purposes. 4 -30 -79 -4- ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Councilmember Scott and seconded by Councilmember Lhotka to adjourn the Special City Council meeting. Voting in favor: Mayor Nyquist, Councilmembers Kuefler, Fignar, Lhotka, and Scott. Voting against: none. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center City Council adjourned at 10:35 p.m. Clerk Mayor 4- -30 -79 -5-