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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 11-25 CCM Work 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/WORK SESSION NOVEMBER 25, 2013 CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study/Work Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Carol Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Finance Director Nate Reinhardt, Interim Finance Director Greg Andrews, 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 Mary Mullen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked, with regard to Agenda Item 6d, whether the owners of Denny's Restaurant intend to sell the property, as part of the easement being vacated. City Manager Curt Boganey stated he is unsure whether the action was prompted by a sale. Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug stated the property is not actively being sold, but an action was recorded by the County, which prompted the vacation of the street easement. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson referred to Agenda Item 9a, in the Planning Commission Minutes of November 14, 2013, Page 2, 2nd paragraph, 3rd line: Chair Burfeind "has concerns with the parking of semis on the Sears lot." She asked whether staff has any further information regarding the trucks parked near the old Barnes & Noble location, and whether parking will be allowed there under the proposed site plan. Mr. Boganey stated staff has had conversations with both the developer and the property's new management company about this issue. He added this needs to be addressed by the property owner. Councilmember Kleven asked whether the City could enforce a "no parking" policy at the site. Mr. Boganey stated he is unsure whether the City has an ordinance related to the short-term parking of trucks on private property. Mayor Willson stated the City Council could register its opinion on parking at that location. Mr. Boganey stated staff is working with the owners and the new management company to encourage them to take action with regard to the parking of large trucks in the parking lot. 11/25/13 -1- Councilmember Myszkowski requested the following deletion from the November 12, 2013, Study Session minutes: Page 2, Miscellaneous, "Fines Imposed for Garbage Burning," 3rd paragraph, line 3, delete"as she will continue to call Councilmember Kleven." Mayor Willson requested the following change in the Regular Session minutes of November 12, 2013: page 10, Mayor's Report, 5th item, replace"430"with"403." Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated, with regard to Item 6b, Licenses, she was pleased to see license Type IV properties that had been formally moved down to better license types. MISCELLANEOUS Metropolitan Cities Legislative Policy Review Councilmember Ryan stated he was unable to attend the Policy Adoption meeting hosted by Metropolitan Cities on November 20, 2013. He added he participated in Metro Cities Legislative Policies Review, and urged the City Councilmembers to view the policy at their earliest convenience, as it is thorough and well-written, and worthy of support. Pigeons Kept As Pets Councilmember Kleven stated she saw an article in the November 14, 2013, Minneapolis Star Tribune regarding the City of Plymouth's decision to prohibit residents from keeping pigeons as pets ("Plymouth to Couple: Pigeons Aren't Pets'). She added this issue has been raised in Brooklyn Center as well. Introduction of Nate Reinhardt,New Finance Director Mr. Boganey introduced the City's new Finance Director Nate Reinhardt and invited him to address the City Council. Mr. Reinhardt stated he has worked in local government for the past ten years, including positions as a government auditor for various cities, Assistant Finance Director of Carver County, and Finance Director in Waseca. He added he holds a Finance Degree as well as advanced degrees in Finance and Accounting. Mr. Reinhardt noted staff has been extremely welcoming and helpful, and he looks forward to working with City staff and City Council. Mr. Boganey thanked Mr. Greg Andrews, Interim Finance Director, for his hard work on behalf of the City. Mr. Andrews addressed the Council and thanked them for the opportunity. He complimented City staff, adding the City is fortunate to have such dedicated employees. He noted the positive direction in which the City is going. Meeting with Luther Automotive—December 9,2013 Mr. Boganey stated a presentation will be given by Luther Automotive Group on December 9, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. He added this presentation will precede the City Council's regular meeting. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS GARBAGE HAULER—MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY (MPCA) PRESENTATION 11/25/13 -2- Mr. Boganey welcomed Peder Sandhei from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Resource Management and Assistance Division. Mr. Sandhei gave a presentation regarding organized waste collection arrangements. He stated the MPCA does not have a specific policy or position regarding this matter but recognizes the environmental benefits to organizing collection at the local level. He added State law allows cities to regulate waste collection, and it can be an effective tool for local governments to manage solid waste in their community and reduce costs for their residents. Mr. Sandhei reviewed State Statute 115A.94, which was modified in the last session, and offers cities and counties the authority to organize collection. He added the old process included a long, detailed timeline that was onerous for cities, and 100% of cities decided not to proceed with the modification as haulers were generally opposed and residents expressed a desire for freedom of choice. Mr. Sandhei stated the new statutory process utilizes a consortium method, under which all existing haulers are given existing market share but only one truck is allowed on each street. He added, instead of the 180-day timeline, cities have a 60-day review period during which they must establish a committee to provide recommendations to the City Council. He added the intent is to preserve the market share of a city's existing haulers, but with reorganization that ensures route efficiency. He noted the consortium method removes the confrontational nature of the previous process, but it has not been implemented by any city since it was ratified. Mr. Sandhei stated cities are interested in organized collection because it reduces the amount of hauler traffic and impact on roads, and monthly rates are reduced as the city negotiates on behalf of all residents. He added small haulers are generally opposed to consolidation, but large multi- national companies will support it. He noted residents pay one fee for both recycling and garbage collection in organized cities, as cities do the billing and, as in the case of the City of Robbinsdale, additional revenue is generated that is earmarked for street improvements. Mr. Sandhei stated studies have shown that hauler traffic has a higher impact on residential streets where they are a higher percentage of total traffic; and in high traffic areas there is less impact. He added MnDOT is working on a road impact calculator that will assess impact on roads for various types of vehicles, using streets and mileage. Mr. Sandhei stated average monthly household collection rates are lower in organized systems and they are beneficial to cities in terms of road wear, fuel consumption, air pollution and amount of hauler traffic. He added the city has greater control over the system, recycling and solid waste can be unified,and funding can be raised to support other services. He noted, with an organized system, the city ensures that all residents are covered for garbage collection service. Mr. Sandhei stated some advantages of open collection are citizen choice and preserving a connection with their hauler, as well as low or no administrative cost to local government. Mayor Willson asked how haulers can increase their market share under a consortium system and whether fees are fixed. Mr. Sandhei stated the fees are fixed for the duration of the contract. 11/25/13 -3- He added, for example, the City of Minneapolis has been operating a consortium model for decades, which makes it difficult for them to expand in that market. He noted White Bear Lake originally had six licensed haulers, which was reduced to two haulers, as consortium members have been purchased by larger companies. He stressed that this can happen in open cities as well. Mayor Willson asked how the market share is divided up between a certain number of haulers. Mr. Sandhei stated that is up to the city to decide during the 60-day negotiating period, and generally involves an even distribution of households. Mayor Willson expressed trepidation regarding additional funds that are collected for another purpose, which is basically the same as a tax to individuals. Mr. Sandhei stated the City would not have to collect additional revenue but it is a unique feature that some cities have adopted. Councilmember Ryan asked whether any cities have adopted a consortium since the statute was changed. Mr. Sandhei stated no cities have attempted to organize collection since the system changed. Councilmember Ryan referred to a neighboring city that attempted to change to the consortium method and experienced resistance from residents. He questioned whether the public and the city's current haulers would accept the new system. He added an advantage of the organized system is that rates would be under contract, so consumers can pay their bill without worrying whether rates have increased. Mr. Sandhei stated, under the competitive system, rates have a tendency to creep up over time, and that would not occur in an organized system, as the city would negotiate fixed prices on behalf of all residents. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Myszkowski moved and Councilmember Kleven seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Myszkowski seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:47 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. GARBAGE HAULER—MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY (MPCA) PRESENTATION—CONTINUED Councilmember Kleven requested clarification regarding the formation of a community review committee. Mr. Sandhei stated it is a new process that has not been attempted and is not laid out in the statute, so the city can decide exactly how they want it to be done. 11/25/13 -4- Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson requested clarification regarding the potential of inverse condemnation legislation, which would allow hauling companies displaced by government interference to be reimbursed by the community. Mr. Sandhei stated such legislation has been introduced by the hauling industry but has never passed through the State legislature. Councilmember Ryan stated the projections presented by Mr. Sandhei suggest there would be substantial savings to residents under the consortium method. Mr. Sandhei confirmed this. Councilmember Ryan asked whether the City should conduct its own study before making a decision to proceed with negotiations. Mr. Boganey stated the City could gather further information regarding current pricing and market share for the City's ten haulers. Mayor Willson stated he would be interested in seeing that data. He added a survey could be included in resident utility bills. Mr. Boganey agreed that has been done in the past. Mr. Sandhei stated a Maplewood councilmember conducted an extensive study on his own time, collecting numerous residential hauling bills, and determined that residents were paying significantly higher rates than those published by the hauling companies. He cautioned that the published rates are not always what are being paid by residents. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she has spoken with Maplewood City Manager Chuck Ahl regarding this issue, and they have been operating under the organized collection method for 14 months. She added that Mr. Ahl indicated they regretted not conducting a citizen survey in advance, although residents are realizing a large decrease in their annual bill. She noted that Allied Hauling does all the billing, so the city does not incur administrative expenses. Mayor Willson requested that this issue be raised at a future Work Session for further discussion. He thanked Mr. Sandhei for his presentation. Mr. Sandhei encouraged the City Council to contact him with any additional questions or for additional information. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Myszkowski moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study/Work Session at 6:55 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 11/25/13 -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/Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on November 25, 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 December 9, 2013, Regular Session. R i a City Clerk Mayor 11/25/13 -6-