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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 07-11 CCM Study 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 STUDY SESSION JULY 11, 2011 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Carol Kleven, Kay Lasman, Tim Roche (arrived at 6:03 p.m.), and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Fiscal and Support Services Dan Jordet, Public Works Director /City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, Police Chief Kevin Benner; and Carla Wirth, Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Ryan requested discussion of Item 6c, Resolution Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids, Improvement Project No. 2011 -10 Contract 2011 -G, West Palmer Park Building Replacement. He asked when the structure at Orchard Lane Park will be included in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). City Manager Curt Boganey stated that park structure should have been included the CIP and will be part of the review this fall. Councilmember Roche arrived at 6:03 p.m. Councilmember Roche requested discussion of Item 6b, Licenses, and asked if the garbage haulers are new or renewal licenses. Mr. Boganey advised they are renewal licenses. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Lasman referenced the letter on recreational fires, noting the fire is to be immediately extinguished, and asked if there is a financial consequence for repeat offenders to discourage that behavior. Mr. Boganey advised that the City has the ability to issue a fine and the Fire Chief's letter indicates there have been few calls and fewer repeat offenders. Councilmember Lasman noted the letter does indicate a violator is subject to a fine and asked if it is always imposed. Mr. Boganey stated he is unsure but thinks the first offense offers an educational opportunity and a fine is issued if it is a second or repeat offense. 07/11/11 -1- Councilmember Kleven thanked Mr. Boganey for copies of the letters and a -mails on outstanding issues. She stated she was disappointed that the Sun Post article didn't include Brooklyn Center in the list of area farmer's markets. Councilmember Roche stated the list may have identified community- sponsored farmer's market. He reported that the Humboldt Square farmer's market had four vendor stands. Mayor Willson reminded the members of the July 13, 2011, CEAP ground breaking event. Councilmember Ryan thanked Mr. Boganey for preparing a resolution in recognition of the Earle Brown Days Committee. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO.2 Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel introduced the topic, advising that Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District No. 2, which is a redevelopment district created in 1985, closes December 31, 2011. The discussion tonight will show options and opportunities for the Council He noted the public hearing for an amendment to the TIF Plan for TIF District No. 2 is scheduled for August 8, 2011. Jennifer Wolfe, Springsted Financial, provided a presentation that detailed the history and current status of TIF District No. 2, noting the GO bonds were repaid in 2004 so there are no existing obligations. There has been no spending activity, other than debt, since the early 1990s. The presentation included an overview of the proposed draft amendment, which acknowledges the Spending Plan, as authorized by the 2010 Minnesota Jobs Bill and approved by the Council and EDA on April 28, 2011, as well as the budget amendment that enables the use of the 2011 tax increment to fund the following items: $150,000 for the Brooklyn Boulevard Corridor Transportation Study; $350,000 for property acquisitions; $170,000 for public improvements including intersection improvements, street lighting, and streetscaping; and, $60,000 for other EDA authorized Transportation/Land Use Studies. Ms. Wolfe indicated the amendment provides a TIF No. 2 budget that allowed TIF No. 5 (Shingle Creek Crossing) future repayments to the TIF District 2 Spending Plan inter -fund loan for the following future public improvements: the Brooklyn Boulevard Corridor, the 57 Avenue Corridor, and the Humboldt Avenue Corridor. The Council discussed the proposed amendment and asked questions of Ms. Wolfe relating to the City's bonded indebtedness. She explained this District has accumulated a fund balance so the amendment provides an opportunity to spend down about $3 million. Ms. Wolfe described the TIF District spending experience, revenue available with the amendment, and the impact to taxing jurisdictions. The Council noted the City had expected more increment but the tax rates were compressed so the District lost some of its tax capacity. Ms. Wolfe indicated this is correct; however, tax rates have recently been increasing. She concluded the presentation by describing next steps that 07/11/11 -2- culminate with the Council's consideration on August 8, 2011, whether to authorize the TIF Plan modification. HIGHWAY 252 UPDATE Director of Public Works /City Engineer Steve Lillehaug introduced the item by reviewing the Council's past consideration of how to address the multiple transportation issues associated with the Highway 252 corridor and staff's recommendation to look at the corridor in three phases: perform a feasibility study to identify issues the City and region experience, develop solution concepts for interim and ultimate solutions, and coordinate with partners to identify funding strategies. This study would cost approximately $60,000. Mr. Lillehaug explained that Phase 2 would implement interim solutions, such as intersection improvements, with estimates, and Phase 3 would be the ultimate plan, or ultimate solution for the corridor which may be 20 years into the future. Mr. Lillehaug reported that Brooklyn Park indicated it is generally not interested in participating in a Phase 1 feasibility study since interim solutions have already been completed in its section of the corridor with the exception of one area. It was noted that Brooklyn Park sees the Highway 252 corridor as an expressway. With regard to partnering with Mn/DOT, Mr. Lillehaug advised they are not interested in contributing funds for a Phase 1 study but would be available on the technical side with traffic analysis and regional traffic data. Mr. Lillehaug stated staff's workload is busy especially when the Brooklyn Boulevard corridor starts so staff is tasked out until the end of fall when they could pursue this type of study at a staff level. He noted that funding of $60,000 could potentially be available from TIF District No. 2 or the. General Fund balance. He requested Council direction regarding transportation planning for the Highway 252 corridor. Councilmember Roche stated he did not support undertaking a Phase 1 study at this time since there were no funding partnerships; however, he believed a project was needed and did not want it to fall by the wayside. He suggested this matter be considered again when, perhaps, funding is available. Councilmember Ryan stated that while he appreciates Councilmember Roche's thoughts, he would be concerned with sitting back and doing nothing if it results in other jurisdictional entities making the decisions on what will or will not be done in the Highway 252 corridor. Mr. Boganey indicated if the City does nothing, it would have to react to what the State proposes at some point in the future. Councilmember Ryan stated that in a better world, Highway 252 would be thoroughly upgraded and become an extension of the metropolitan freeway system. He believed this should have been corrected in the past because the City is now in the unenviable position to decide what it can do to make some interim improvements within limited funding. He reported that the House Transportation Reauthorization Bill was slashed one -third over the next six years and there have been similar cuts at the federal level. Councilmember Ryan stated he thinks the City needs to do the initial study but would prefer to see the $60,000 used elsewhere. 07/11/11 -3- Councilmember Lasman stated the Council has been well aware, for quite some time, about the issues within the Highway 252 corridor and is not willing to accept it as a long -term situation; however, at this time there are no partners willing to assist. She indicated that she shared Councilmember Roche's opinion that now is not the time to fund a Phase 1 study due to time constraints, the City having to bear the entire study costs, and staff is already over tasked. Councilmember Lasman stated the Council's discussions and position will be recorded in tonight's meeting minutes and available for consideration by future Councils when it is decided whether to embark on the project. Councilmember Kleven stated her agreement with the comments of fellow Council Members. Mayor Willson concurred that there is room for improvement on Highway 252 and the City needs to look at it. However, it would be difficult for Brooklyn Center to move forward if there are no willing partners with Mn/DOT or Brooklyn Park, due to the costly implementation. In addition, a $60,000 study conducted today may not be relevant in five to ten years and require another study to be conducted. Mayor Willson agreed that it is not the time to prepare a study today but he would like this issue revisited on an annual basis. The Council indicated that it understands the severity of the problems with the Highway 252 corridor, knows there is a need for work in that area of the City, and intends to work positively with its partners when and if the time is right to undertake a joint project. The Council stated its intent to revisit this matter on an annual basis to assure it stays on the City's "radar" and determine whether there are funding partners. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Kleven seconded to close the Study Session at 6:44 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Kleven seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:52 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. HIGHWAY 252 UPDATE — CONTINUED Discussion continued on the Highway 252 corridor relating to the current heavy work load of City staff and the Council's united support that improvements are needed in the Highway 252 corridor. Mayor Willson noted consensus had been reached that this item will be reviewed annually so staff's workload and potential funding partners can be considered. 07/11/11 -4- ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Kleven seconded to close the Study Session at 7:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 07/11/11 -5- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on July 11, 2011. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its July 25, 2011, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 07/11/11 -6-