Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 01-09 CCM Study SessionMINUTES 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 JANUARY 9, 2012 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, 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, Assistant City Manager /Director of Building and Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Carla Wirth, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS City Manager Curt Boganey presented the new handout for Item 6g, Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Ethnic Populations and Heritage Celebrations, that included the most recent census information. Mr. Boganey presented staff's recommendation to remove Item 3b from the EDA agenda because several changes were not included in the final draft, which will be updated and considered at the next EDA meeting. The consensus of the City Council was to revise the January 9, 2012, EDA agenda to remove Item 3b, Resolution Authorizing Third Amendment of the Food Service Management Agreement with Flik International Corp. Councilmember Lasman asked whether the Chaska Convention Center is a competitor. Mr. Boganey answered that it is at a great enough distance to not be considered a competitor. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Lasman asked whether the Fire Department had instituted the smoke detector and alarm program. Mr. Boganey stated his understanding is that the issues have been addressed and the alarm program is now operational. He indicated he would provide the City Council with an update. Councilmember Ryan noted a tobacco license was being considered for the Brookdale Holiday Store at Bass Lake Road and Xerxes Avenue and asked how well the store's personnel is trained to resolve disturbances. Mr. Boganey stated he will follow up with the Police Department and provide the City Council with an update. 01/09/12 Mayor Willson stated the U.S. Mayors Association has listed Brooklyn Center's population as being under 30,000 and asked staff to assure that is corrected. Mayor Willson stated the Open for Business Program has been finalized through Hennepin County. He explained the ISAIAH Group had indicated minorities want to be better informed. Mayor Willson suggested a distribution through churches would be in order to disseminate information. Councilmember Lasman stated at the last meeting she had asked staff to provide a brief summary on that program, which was provided, but perhaps a more expanded announcement could be created once that information is available. Councilmember Kleven stated she noticed a sign at the New Hope Golf Course indicating they rent their Club House and asked whether the City rents its Club House. Mr. Boganey stated the City does not rent its Club House but it is worth looking into that option. Councilmember Lasman asked about the status of the liquor license for Mr. BBQ. Mr. Boganey indicated there had been some contact with the City Clerk over the last several months and he thinks they are getting the building's interior ready but have not given definitive information on when they plan to reopen. He stated he will follow up with the City Clerk and provide the City Council with an update. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS YOUTH PARTICIPATION REQUEST Mr. Boganey introduced the item, reviewed the history, and presented the offer of the Brooklyns Youth Council to serve as a resource for the City Council to reach some of its annual goals and discuss issues impacting the community. He presented the Brooklyns Youth Council's meeting schedule. He stated they are not necessarily looking for a permanent liaison but would like a Councilmember to attend a meeting, if the City Council is willing. Once more information is gained, the City Council can determine if it would like to appoint a permanent liaison. It was noted that many times the Brooklyns Youth Council meetings conflict with the City Council meeting schedule but January 30 and February 6, 2012, were the least encumbered dates. The City Council discussed availability and Councilmembers Ryan and Kleven volunteered to attend the meeting on February 6, 2012, to gain more information. The majority consensus of the City Council was to authorize Councilmembers Ryan and Kleven to attend a meeting of the Brooklyns Youth Council. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS Mr. Boganey introduced the item and reviewed key issues identified and questions raised during the last discussion. The City Council discussed whether to change /clarify the definition/criteria of eligible recipients. Currently an eligible recipient does not have to be a Brooklyn Center resident but the random act of kindness needs to involve a Brooklyn Center resident. Also, currently the person making the nomination does not need to be a Brooklyn Center resident. 01/09/12 -2- Councilmember Lasman supported limiting the number of nominations that one person can make and presenting only one award per person that lists multiple random acts, if appropriate. Councilmember Kleven concurred and stated she supports allowing one person to nominate up to four random acts of kindness, combining awards on one certificate, and not recognizing the same act for two consecutive years. Councilmember Lasman supported leaving business contributions as an eligible recipient. Councilmember Kleven stated she felt a business giving out items with its logo was a promotion and form of advertising so it should not be recognized as a random act of kindness. She noted that businesses /organizations donating funds were already acknowledged and formally thanked, as appropriate. Mayor Willson stated he does not support changing or clarifying the definition/criteria. The consensus of the City Council was to make no changes to the definition/criteria of eligible recipients or acts. The City Council discussed what is an eligible act and whether it had to be random in nature. Councilmember Ryan stated this may be too difficult to define. He noted this program is popular so he would favor only making the most necessary changes acknowledged by the City Council. He indicated that ultimately the program depends on the good judgment of the citizens to recognize someone going out of their way to help someone else. Councilmember Ryan stated he was not concerned about the definition of "random acts" but felt the City Council could look at other issues that are definable, such as whether a business should receive an award. Councilmember Lasman supported honing down the list to include the more dramatic examples that all would respect as being a random act and give a better idea of what act is appropriate for nomination, which may also help quantify the threshold. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Lasman seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:50 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 01/09/12 -3- RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS — CONTINUED Councilmember Kleven stated at one time she thought "random" should be taken out of the title but now thinks it should stand. She felt it was beneficial for the City Council to depend on the good faith and judgment of people who have been touched by an act of kindness without personal gain and that they should be honored. Councilmember Kleven did not think a list of examples was needed because it may be confusing. Councilmember Lasman supported revising the wording to clarify that the list is examples only. She suggested the list of examples be refined and pared down, perhaps eliminating half of the list. The City Council discussed whether to define a threshold to assure the acts are significant /meaningful enough. Councilmember Kleven restated her support to eliminate the list and instead rely on the good faith and judgment of the residents /nominees. Councilmember Ryan indicated this may be another example of something that would be difficult to define, as he had mentioned at the Work Session. He felt adjusting the list of suggested acts would be the best way to address it. The consensus of the City Council was to make no changes to define whether the acts are significant /meaningful enough. The City Council discussed whether to make changes to the list of examples and consensus was reached that changes should be made. Councilmember Lasman noted the list currently contains 20 -27 examples and suggest the list be reduced to 7 good examples and to keep wording general so the nominator knows this is only a list of examples. The consensus of the City Council was to reduce the list, not eliminate it, and each member provided staff with the examples they would like to remain on the list. This discussion continued at the January 9, 2012, Work Session. Motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Kleven moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 6:59 p.m. 01/09/12 -4- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) 01/09/12 -5- ss. Certification of Minutes 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 January 9, 2012. 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 January 23, 2012, Regular Session. Mayor