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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 04-14 CCM Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/EDA/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION APRIL 14, 2014 CITY HALL—COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/EDA/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President/President Tim Willson at 9:15 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Tim Willson and Councilmembers/Commissioners Carol Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Finance Director Nate Reinhardt, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Assistant City Manager/Director of Building & Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, Police Commander Tim Gannon, City Attorney Mary Tietjen, and Mary Mullen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Also present were Youth in Government Day participants Mayor/President Molubah Seley, Brooklyn Center High School; and Councilmember/Commissioners Craig Kaizer, Park Center High School; Thien Le, Park Center High School; Ernest Luckett, Park Center High School; and Mahad Olad, Brooklyn Center High School. &CIGARETTES DISCUSSION (CONTINUED) Mr. Boganey requested feedback and comments from the Youth in Government Day participants regarding e-cigarettes. Mayor Seley asked whether there are any negative health side effects associated with the use of e-cigarettes. Police Commander Gannon stated there is no data or research on this subject and there are a number of different variables. He added e-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA, and health effects have not been determined. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated an extremely serious health effect of long-term exposure to nicotine is a trichocardia, or surgery to deliver oxygen to the lungs. He added e- cigarettes contain nicotine in a liquid form, and therefore will probably have the same long-term negative health effects as smoking. Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated there have been numerous hospital reports of small children being exposed to the liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes when parents or caregivers have left the devices lying around. She added the e-cigarettes have a chamber for the liquid nicotine that is easy to open if not tightened properly. 04/14/14 -l- Councilmember Kaiser stated he was hanging out at the park recently with his friends, and they saw another kid smoking e-cigarettes by himself for over an hour. He added he believes that other young people do not see e-cigarettes as dangerous to your health, and they will continue to use them. He noted he believes this is a serious issue and young people need to be better educated. Commander Gannon stated e-cigarettes are marketed with fun flavors that appeal to young people. He added the tobacco companies are specifically targeting youth with a product that has not been approved by the FDA and of which very little is known in terms of health effects, Councilmember Kaiser asked whether e-cigarettes could be restricted to stop them from being available to the young people. Commander Gannon stated the City is currently looking at ways to regulate how e-cigarettes are being sold and used in Brooklyn Center. Mayor/President Willson stated that the State legislature is considering legislation that will provide momentum for the City to take some action on this issue. He added the City would look seriously at what can be done to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes if the State legislature is not proactive in enacting acceptable legislation. Councilmember Olad stated he has seen students inside his high school smoking e-cigarettes because they know there are no rules regarding e-cigarettes and they will not get in trouble. He added all the different flavors are enticing to kids. He believes that kids do not think there is nicotine in e-cigarettes, and they will not become addicted to them. Councilmember Seley agreed that people use e-cigarettes because they believe they do not contain nicotine, and yet they become addicted to them. Councilmember Luckett stressed the importance of pointing young people in other directions and recommending better choices. He stated he believes it is important to take action to address possible negative outcomes and change people's opinions. He added he, and other young people, should be out there telling their friends that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and that they are addictive and unsafe. He noted there should be repercussions for young people who use tobacco products because it is against the law. Mayor/President Willson stated he hopes the youth Councilmembers will help to change other young people's perceptions about nicotine addiction and e-cigarettes. He added e-cigarettes are a drug delivery system. Councilmember Seley asked what, if any, consequences are in place for young people who get caught smoking e-cigarettes. Commander Gannon stated Brooklyn Center has a strong diversion program, and also the City is trying to focus on restricting e-cigarette retailers to put most of the responsibility on their shoulders. Councilmember Kaiser asked for clarification on the City Council's recent vote to stop on the issue of e-cigarettes. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated the City Council voted to prohibit the establishment of hookah lounges in the City for 90 days. She added this has 04/14/14 -2- allowed the City to research this issue further. Mayor/President Willson stated the law that was enacted is a moratorium, or a formal agreement that prohibits a certain activity for a specified amount of time. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson reviewed a StarTribune article provided by Councilmember Myszkowski, which asserts that $59 million is currently being spent annually by big tobacco companies to market and promote e-cigarettes. She added big tobacco companies want to create a huge profit by addicting another entire generation to inhaling a substance. She noted the health hazards of e-cigarettes are not known, and may not be known for years, but the City must be proactive even if the State legislature is not. Councilmember Kaiser asked when the State legislature would be voting on e-cigarettes. Mayor/President Willson stated they have a deadline of May 15. He added the City would begin the legislative process of restricting the use of e-cigarettes if the State legislature has not made any progress by then. The Youth Councilmembers left the meeting at 9:35 p.m. Mayor/President Willson requested that the remaining Work Session Agenda Items be tabled due to the late hour. Mr. Lillehaug stated he would like to give a quick video presentation on the progress of the Water Treatment Plant plans, as the design is currently under way. It was the majority consensus of the City Council/EDA to review the Water Treatment Plan video presentation. WATER TREATMENT PLANT VIDEO PRESENTATION Mr. Lillehaug presented the site plan design, including building layout, panoramic views of the building interior, and proposed building materials. He played a panoramic video depiction of the proposed Water Treatment Plant's interior spaces. Mayor/President Willson thanked Mr. Lillehaug for playing the video, which was very impressive. He added he has questions regarding funding and rate increases, especially pertaining to scenarios 1 and 2. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan thanked Mr. Lillehaug for arranging the Andover plant tour and also for presenting the virtual video tour. He asked whether the City Council/EDA could review the City's overall debt position at an upcoming Work Session. He added residents may have questions, and the City Council/EDA should be prepared to answer them. Finance Director Nate Reinhardt stated the City has a good low debt position. He agreed to present more information at the City Council/EDA's next Work Session. WATER TREATMENT PLANT—FUNDING AND RATE STUDY Due to the late hour,this item was not addressed. 04/14/14 -3- WATER TREATMENT PLANT TOUR FEEDBACK Due to the late hour,this item was not addressed. ADJOURNMENT The City Council/EDA/Economic Development Authority Work Session was adjourned at 9:47 p.m. 04/14/14 -4- 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 April 14, 2014. 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 April 28,2014, Regular Session. r City Clerk Mayor 04/14/14 -5-