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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 02-27 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 FEBRUARY 27, 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 6:02p.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 Business and Development Gary Eitel,Police Chief Kevin Benner, Assistant City Manager/Director of Buildingand Community Standards VickieSchleuning, and Carla Wirth, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Lasman requested discussion on Agenda Item 6d, Resolution Establishing the Brooklyn Center Centennial Amphitheater Fundraising Task Force and Defining Duties and Responsibilities, and suggested a revision to Subdivision4,Membership/Composition, to indicate: “The membership of the group shall be limited to the current membership, plus a City Council and/orstaff liaison.” The consensus of the City Council was to support this suggestion. Councilmember Lasman requested discussion on Agenda Item 7a, Police DepartmentYear End Report, and expressed concern that the incidence of burglary is up 616%.City Manager Curt Boganey indicated he meets with Police Chief Benner on a monthly basis and hasdiscussed the increase in burglaries, which is a result of a combination of factors, one being the ease of copper theft. The other factor is that many criminals have found burglary to be the crime of choice when compared to crimes that carry a more severepenalty such as robbery or drug sales. He indicated it is the City’s practice, as part of the registration of vacant properties,to notify surrounding property owners. Police Chief Kevin Benner concurred the biggest increase is with scrap metals, especially copper, due to ease of theft and turning it into the scrapyard. He described the structural damage resulting from copper theft, which is another issue.Police Chief Benner explained that metal/copper isaccepted by scrapyards and recycled so it is difficult to prove theft. He indicated the Legislature is considering a bill that would add regulation and placemore conditions on scrap yards to require identification. Police Chief Benner indicated they are pursuing this legislation because if the scrap yard market is shut off, it will greatly reduce this type of theft. 02/27/12-1- Mayor Willson asked about pawn shop regulation. Police Chief Benner explained the Police Department has an automated pawn shop service so when a burglary occurs, police officers are able to determine items pawned and identify the person making the transaction. Police Chief Benner indicated it has been seen that burglaries are being committed at different times of the day, later in the evening when people are not at home, so the Police Department will reeducate the community about the new target time for burglaries. Councilmember Ryan referenced Item 10c, Resolution Making Findings of Fact and Order th Relating to 6331, 6401, and 6425 Beard Avenue North and 3401 47AvenueNorth, in particular the additional information provided indicating the property owner had paid delinquent taxes and utilities in full.Mayor Willson indicated this information will be considered at the City Council meeting. Mayor Willson stated the City received positive press coverage when the FBI building opened; however, it also received negative press coverage when the child care business closed, a resident was shot and killed in his home, and two teenagers were knifed. Mayor Willson stated, due to the high number of police incidents, the City needs to take a stronger stand with the Metropolitan Council relating to control of the transit center during evening hours. Mr.Boganey stated he and Police Chief Benner met with the City’s MetropolitanCouncil representative about that very issue and laid out,in detail,the issues and City’s concerns with respect to the transit station. He indicated there has been some followupsince that meeting but agreed this needs to be addressed and a more permanent solutionfound. Mayor Willson stated concern the transit center is a magnet for the area and results in using the City’s resources so he would like to determine how to apply pressure to the Metropolitan Councilto take action. Police Chief Bennerindicated the Chief of Metropolitan Transit Police recently retired and the person assigned to Brooklyn Center was reassigned to another location. He explained that staff met with and informed the Metropolitan Transit Police of the City’s standards andwhile some changes have been made, it is not yet enoughto resolve the problem. The City Council discussed bus routes in Brooklyn Center that experience a high number of assault incidents. Police Chief Benner indicated that two bus routes are the most problematic. The City undertook a pilot program and determined it lowered the number of incidents if more police officers rode those buses so the City will be asking MTC to increase the number of officers. The City Council agreed with Councilmember Kleven that this problem needsto be addressed before Walmart opens. Mr. Boganey indicated that Metropolitan Council CommissionerSchreiberwas informed that the Shingle Creek Crossing developer was making close to $100 million of improvements and 02/27/12-2- Commissioner Schreiber was sensitive that the metro bus terminal should not be an impediment to the redevelopment of the shopping center. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Ryan reported he was invited to appear on Anita Hoff’scable television show on March 7, 2012. He requested staff provide him with information on items to present the City in good light. Councilmember Kleven asked if theEDA/HRA Specialistpositionhas been filled. Mr. Boganey indicated applications have been received and are currently under review. Councilmember Kleven asked why the City Watchspring edition did not include recreational information. Mr. Boganey explained there was a joint decision to not include that information in the spring edition, which will reduce the cost. He noted the Recreation Department has indicated they got equal or better results by combining some of the issues.Mayor Willson noted staff had previously commented that are more on-line offerings that have been very successful. Councilmember Kleven expressed concern that senior residents don’t use computers.Assistant City Manager/Director of Building and Community Standards VickieSchleuningadvised the next City Watch, which will be mailed in about a month and a half,includesthe recreational programs and senior trips. Councilmember Myszkowski reported on her meeting with Maya Ignabode, who had made comments duringan ISAIAH meeting. She explained a realtor did steer Ms. Ignabodeto Brooklyn Center, saying she would be able to qualify more easily for financing and her children would not be discriminatedagainst in Brooklyn Center.Councilmember Myszkowski clarified that Ms. Ignabode did not mention City administration during her comments and had offered to provide the script of hercomments.Mayor Willson stated Ms. Ignabode was also part of his meeting with John Winkelmanduring which they questionedtheracialmix of the City Council and City staff. In response to a question by Councilmember Lasman, Mr. Boganey indicated the City Council would tour the FBI building onMarch 5, 2012. Councilmember Lasman reminded the City Council to providethe name and address of the person providing the invocationso staff can send aletter of guidelines and make the formal invitation.She also noted the Historical Society had sent a letter inviting membership. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS PROGRESS REPORTS ON ACHIEVEMENT OF STRATEGIC GOALS Mr. Boganey introduced the item and explained that it is not the expectation that allstrategic goals will be fully reached. He indicated this information is being presented to give the City Council an idea of progress made with the intention that it will be discussed at the upcoming City Council retreat to provide input on desired outcomes. 02/27/12-3- The City Council indicated it appreciates receiving this information prior to the retreat and requested staff provide a summary of census data at the retreat.The consensus of the City Council was to raise questions and provide input at the upcoming City Council retreat. 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 Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:56 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. LIQUOR LICENSE FEE REFUND Mr. Boganey introduced the item and asked the City Council to provide direction regarding the request of Mike Tupa, former owner of the Oak City Restaurant, for an amendment to the City Licensing Ordinance to allow for a prorated refund ofa Liquor License Fee. Mr. Boganey referenced staff’s research of other municipalities that found a variation inhow such refund requests areaddressed. He indicated the ordinance currently does not provide for consideration of a liquor licenserefund so if the City Council supports the request, it would require an ordinance amendment. The City Council discussed the request and asked questions of staff. Mr. Boganey explained that while the liquor license cannot transfer with the property, in some cases the license holder has retained rights as part of the sale transaction to allow use of the liquor license during the term of the license. Discussion of this item continued and reached conclusion during the February 27, 2012, Work Session. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Kleven seconded toadjournthe Study Session at 7:00p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 02/27/12-4- i 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 27, 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 March 12, 2012, Regular Session. ti City Clerk Mayor 02/27/12 -5-