HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 09-23 CCM Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
WORK SESSION
SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work
Session called to order by Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tern Dan Ryan at 10:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tem Dan Ryan and Councilmembers/Commissioners Carol
Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, and Lin Myszkowski. Mayor/President Tim Willson was
absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Assistant City
Manager/Director of Building & Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Carla Wirth,
Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
MISSION STATEMENT REVIEW
City Manager Curt Boganey introduced the item and asked the City Council to provide direction
to staff regarding revisions to the current mission statement. The current mission statement is:
"Our mission is to ensure an attractive, clean, safe community that enhances the quality of life
and preserves the public trust."
Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tern Ryan offered: "Our mission, to ensure a safe, secure,
attractive community that enhances the quality of life for all." He noted that "safe, secure,
attractive" has been part of the City's mission statement for years and "enhances the quality of
life for all" addresses an earlier suggestion by Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski to
"enhance the quality of life for all,"which speaks to inclusion.
Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated "safe, secure" may be redundant and the
word "safe" may be enough. She stated she can live with the suggested mission statement, but
likes the mention that"all will thrive" as it addresses horizontal integration and support systems.
Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated she is looking for a piece that goes beyond
today and looks to the future, something edgier than normally considered as the City is
positioned to excel. In addition, she supports inclusive language to address the City's diverse
population and businesses. She suggested the mission statement be a bit "dreamy" and open to
interpretation.
Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated she also supports use of the word "thrive." In
addition, she felt you cannot thrive without it being a safe community.
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Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated "thrive" is the most prevalent word in the
City's mission statement. She read another mission statement indicating: "To provide quality
public services, facilities and opportunities that create, sustain and enhance a safe, livable, and
vibrant community for its diverse residents,businesses, and visitors."
Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tem Ryan raised the option of emphasizing a learning
environment, noting the use of"thrive"may also produce visioning motivators.
Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated she has been transformed as a public servant
and person in having worked in and toward a mission statement and she would like to see that
opportunity for all in Brooklyn Center. She relayed an incident during a school district budget
meeting when a parent recited the Osseo School District's mission statement from memory. She
noted that level of familiarity holds the organization to that mission and accountability.
Mr. Boganey read several mission statements he found to be compelling that spoke to what the
agencies were about as well as creating a vision.
Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated it is difficult to answer the second
question: How will the world be different as a result of our efforts? She asked how use of the
word"thrive"plays into answering that question.
Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated it may speak to services and/or a support
system such as the food shelf, helping a family navigate the college application process, or
helping a start up business. In the end, the City Council/EDA will want to look at the property
tax base, whether crime is going down (speaks to quality of life), and Code compliance.
Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski noted that results in a creative tension and thinking
in how to address problems so the mission can be furthered.
Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tem Ryan described a presentation by Drew Westen when he
used a polarizing subject but because of his ability to phrase it as being supportive of
fundamental human values, even opposing members polled well.
The City Council/EDA discussed the need for additional time and thought to draft a new mission
statement. Mr. Boganey stated if it is going to fulfill its purpose of motivating and integrating
the organization toward an important result, it is worth investing time.
Mayor Pro Tem/President Pro Tem Ryan stated he would like Mayor/President Willson to weigh
in on this topic as well.
The majority consensus of the City Council/EDA was to consider, at the next meeting, whether
the mission statement should be revised and if so, whether it should be considered during the
retreat in the spring of 2014 or during a separate meeting devoted to this topic.
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ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson moved and Councilmember/Commissioner
Kleven seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work
Session at 10:33 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
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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 Work
Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on September 23,2013.
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 October 14, 2013, Regular Session.
City Clerk Mayor
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