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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 02-13 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 FEBRUARY 13, 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, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Fiscal and Support Services Dan Jordet, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, Director of Community Activities, Recreation and Services Jim Glasoe, City Clerk Sharon Knutson, 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 Councilmember Lasman requested discussion on Agenda Items 10c, Hearing for Nelia Schaff Regarding Rental Property Located at 7018 Brooklyn Boulevard, and 10d, Hearing for Commers-Clover 11 LLP Regarding Rental Property Located at 6331, 6401, and 6425 Beard Avenue North; and 3401 47th Avenue North, specifically relating to whether the transaction listing reflected penalties and late payments. City Manager Curt Boganey advised there is a ten percent penalty on late payments of City utilities. Mayor Willson noted both properties have many late payments. Mr. Boganey concurred and advised this was not typical but may reflect a property owner who was having a difficult time paying bills. Councilmember Ryan requested discussion on Item 10e, Consideration of Type IV 6-Month Provisional Rental License for 6116 Aldrich Avenue North, specifically relating to the history of this applicant only being eligible for a Type IV license. He reviewed past considerations on this property and indicated it appeared the property owner had difficulty in being able to attend ARM meetings required as part of the Mitigation Plan. Assistant City Manager/Director of Building and Community Standards Vickie Schleuning explained the issues with this property involved attendance of ARM meetings, completing security improvements, inspection to assure items identified as outstanding on the original inspection are addressed, and submitting monthly updates. She indicated the property is in better condition; however, this is the third time this property has been considered for licensing so a citation was issued for each item not completed in the Mitigation Plan. 02/13/12 -1- Councilmember Ryan asked whether staff did everything possible to make the process clear to the property owner. Ms. Schleuning answered in the affirmative and reviewed staff s recommendation as contained in the staff report. Councilmember Ryan commented that it is important to communicate clearly why the fines and procedures are followed to the letter and it speaks well of staff, based on the research conducted,to support the recommendation. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Kleven referenced a Friday, February 10, 2012, newspaper article indicating Minnesota will receive $280 million for mortgage assistance and asked if any of those funds will "trickle down" to Brooklyn Center. Mr. Boganey explained the beneficiaries will be private property owners, not government entities. Councilmember Kleven referenced information about the goal of the Single Creek and West Mississippi Water Management Commission to delist the City's lakes from MPCA/EPA/PCA by proving improved lake water conditions. Councilmember Lasman indicated she will be out of town from February 15-22, 2012. Councilmember Lasman referenced information on the Metropolitan Council's sanitary sewer collection and increase found after rain events. She asked how rain water would infiltrate the sanitary sewer. Mr. Boganey explained this is an issue of Inflow/Infiltration (1/1) where cracks/openings into the sanitary sewer system allow infiltration or there are unlawful connections between storm water downspouts and the sanitary sewer allowing inflow. He indicated that some cities required by the Metropolitan Council to reduce I/I have performed block-by-block testing of the sanitary sewer lines to identify locations of inflow and infiltration. Mayor Willson stated his concern relating to a comment made during Sunday's ISAIAH Group meeting, during which the Governor, senators, and representatives were in attendance, lamenting the fact that people are pointed to Brooklyn Center, and not in the best of terms, and that Brooklyn Center does not have people of color in its administration. Mayor Willson noted both comments are not true and he intends to follow up. Councilmember Lasman noted the City started a program in February relating to starting new businesses, which is an issue of concern with the ISAIAH Group, so she had assured the Group was provided with that information. She stated it offends her to hear those comments were made. Councilmember Myszkowski stated she attended that meeting and explained the speaker felt she, as a woman of color, was steered to live in Brooklyn Center because she could not find appropriate housing in other suburbs. The speaker did not comment on business opportunities, but, perhaps, she misunderstood the comment. Councilmember Myszkowski stated she also did not hear mention of City administrative staff and thought the speaker was referencing elected officials. The City Council expressed its concern with the perception these types of unfounded comments create for Brooklyn Center and employees. Councilmember Kleven stated she attended a meeting with the ISAIAH Group and found that none of the members from Brooklyn Center had issues. 02/13/12 -2- Councilmember Ryan stated his impression that the ISAIAH Group, not unlike many contacts the City Council has with public, does not understand all the "moving parts" in government and is seeking services for which the City is not charged to provide. Mayor Willson stated he takes strong exception when Brooklyn Center is singled out during a meeting where the Governor and legislators are in attendance, and he intends to register a complaint with the ISAIAH Group relating to these untrue statements. Councilmember Myszkowski stated she does not think the ISAIAH Group scripted the speaker's comments and indicated she will contact the speaker. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS DRAFT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL AMPHITHEATER FUNDRAISING TASK FORCE Mr. Boganey explained tonight's agenda includes receiving the report of the Centennial Memorial Amphitheater Fundraising Task Force on their efforts and recommendation. He explained the Committee has asked, now that the Centennial Committee has ceased operation, that the City Council designate their group as an Advisory Task Force so it can continue fundraising efforts to complete construction of the amphitheater. He recommended, if the City Council determined to enable such a committee, that it be undertaken by a resolution with identified parameters. Mayor Willson asked if it would be similar to the organization of the Centennial Committee. Mr. Boganey answered in the affirmative. The City Council discussed the request and indicated support to appoint such a Task Force, especially since the current ten volunteer members work so well together, are effective, and have ideas in how to move the amphitheater project forward. It was noted such appointment would also be supported by the public since no public dollars will be spent on the amphitheater, but will be funded through contributions. Dr. Duane Orn, Brooklyn Center Centennial Amphitheater Fundraising Committee Chair, agreed their members comprise a dynamic group that functions and works hard together. He noted last year they collected almost one-half of the funding needed through donation or in-kind service and hope to reach the funding goal next year. It was noted that donations are deposited to the City as a tax deductible contribution and the Committee has taken the position that if adequate funds are,not generated,the contributions will be returned to the donor. The City Council indicated its support to consider this action through an enabling resolution. Mr. Boganey recommended several parameters to be contained within the resolution. Discussion of this item continued and reached conclusion during the February 13, 2012, Work Session. 02/13/12 -3- 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 February 13, 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 February 27, 2012, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 02/13/12 -5-