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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 07-28 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 JULY 28,2014 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/President Tim Willson at 8:06 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, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Assistant City Manager/Director of Building & Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Mary Mullen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. TOBACCO USE OPTIONS (Continued from Study Session) Mayor/President Willson requested that a proposed increased purchase age and use of e- cigarettes in public parks should be reviewed as separate items, rather than being considered together. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated the City Council set a ban on smoking in City parks during youth activities, as enforcement of an overall ban is problematic. He added any restrictions on the use of vaping devices in City parks should be consistent with the City's current policy related to smoking. Mayor/President Willson agreed. Mr. Boganey stated the City's licensing ordinance does not govern where e-cigarettes or tobacco products can be used. He added the City currently has a policy that restricts the use of tobacco products at certain locations within public parks. He added e-cigarettes could be added to that policy,which would restrict the use of e-cigarettes in parks where youth activities occur. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated the City's policy on tobacco use in parks is ambiguous. She added signage reads, "No smoking when youth are present". She added this issue is raised often at Park and Recreation Commission meetings. She noted she would support an ordinance that encompasses all use of tobacco and tobacco-related products in public parks. Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated she thinks it is a good idea to ban all smoking in City parks, and she would support an ordinance. 07/28/14 4- Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan agreed, adding an ordinance will present a stronger statement of expectations for behavior in City parks. Mr. Boganey stated enforcement is difficult because the policy is not all-inclusive. He added a clear ordinance would be easier to enforce, and would give it some legal authority. Mayor/President Willson stated the Park and Recreation Commissioners were involved in creating the policy, and their input should also be sought now. He requested that City staff and Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski, the Commission's liaison, solicit feedback and comment from the Park and Recreation Commission. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she does not support increasing the minimum purchase age. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he opposes changing the minimum purchase age. He added he would support a change in the State law, but restricting the age of purchase at the City level would not have much impact. Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated she does not support a change in the minimum age to purchase tobacco related products. Mayor/President Willson stated he believes there would be benefit in raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, but he is concerned about the impact of doing so. He added there might be legal ramifications, or devastating economic impact to local businesses. He noted he does not support an ordinance at the local level, but promised work hard at the State level in the next legislative session to convince legislators to come up with something universal for the State of Minnesota. Councilmember/Commissioner Kleven stated she signed a petition asking the FDA to help prevent youth addiction by restricting marketing and banning flavors that are attractive to young people. She added tobacco companies are pressuring the FDA,but local communities can do the same. Commander Gannon stated, as a point of interest, a recent compliance check showed that a number of local businesses are no longer selling cigarillos, or little cigars. He added that indicates that the new ordinance has been successful making little cigars less accessible. Mayor/President Willson thanked Commander Gannon for his hard work in compiling the information he presented to the City Council. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT City Manager Curt Boganey presented this issue, and asked Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug to address the Councilmembers/Commissioners. Mr. Lillehaug stated the City Council had requested that City staff provide a list of environmental sustainability 07/28/14 -2- initiatives that have been undertaken by the City. He added the City is involved in 45 different environmental stewardship efforts. Mr. Lillehaug stated the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has recommended Brooklyn Center for participation in its GreenStep Cities program, for which Council/Commission approval is required. He added Greenstep Cities is a voluntary program that provides support and assistance to cities in achieving their sustainability goals. He asked that the City Council/Commission consider participation in the GreenStep Cities program. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he supports the City's participation in the GreenStep Cities program. He stated homeowners are confused as to whether the maintenance of rain gardens on private property is their responsibility, or that of the City. He added he understands the challenge of clearly communicating sustainability plans and policies to homeowners. Mayor/President Willson stated he is in favor of GreenStep Cities participation. He added he hopes the program will provide some direction for the City regarding possible environmental sustainability measures. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated she also supports joining GreenStep Cities. She asked whether the City's parks have separate receptacles for recyclable trash. Mr. Lillehaug confirmed this, adding trash and recyclables are picked up by City staff, and the receptacles have different lids to facilitate separation of trash and recyclables. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski asked whether all kinds of recyclables can be deposited at the Community Center in the big Coca Cola bottle. Mr. Lillehaug stated he is unsure about specific recycling center locations, as he does not coordinate the City's recycling program. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski stated every City building location should have a recycling center,to make it easy for people to drop off their recycling, and encourage residents to think about recycling and make it a part of their routine. Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski asked whether composting is being pursued by the City. She stressed the importance of achieving zero waste in the community. Mr. Lillehaug stated composting is not currently included in the Hennepin County Recycle Program, but agreed to look into it. He added GreenStep Cities will be a good resource for these types of issues. Mayo/President Wilson asked whether the City makes wood chips available to be used for mulch. Mr. Lillehaug stated tree removal contractors chip all the trees that are removed, and they are used for trails in the City. He added there is a bin of free wood chips at City Hall parking lot that is available for all residents. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson expressed her frustration at the amount of paper waste that is generated in preparation for the City Council's meetings. She asked whether City staff could evaluate the cost of copying and distributing the City Council meeting packets, 07/28/14 -3- and go entirely paperless. She added the meeting documents are available online, and City Council can review documents electronically, and paper copies would not be needed. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he likes getting paper copies of the meeting packet. He added, however, he agrees that the issue should be reviewed if the City Council can save money by going paperless. He added an evaluation by City staff would be unnecessary if the City Council/Commission reaches a consensus. Mr. Boganey agreed. Mayor/President Willson requested that this issue be added to an upcoming Work Session agenda for discussion and review. Mr. Boganey stated he is aware of other cities that have had this discussion. He added City staff can review similar studies that have been done by other cities, and present the results to the City Council/Commission. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan moved and Councilmember/Commissioner Myszkowski seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:07 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 07/28/14 -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 July 28, 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 August 11,2014, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 07/28/14 -5-