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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 01-26 CCM Study/Work SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEP1N AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY/WORK SESSION JANUARY 26, 2015 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers April Graves, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, Director of Community Activities, Recreation and Services Jim Glasoe, Recreation Supervisor Sue LaCrosse, Assistant City Manager/Director of Building and Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Carla Wirth, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Ryan requested the following correction to the Work Session minutes of January 12, 2015: Page 2, third paragraph, strike second sentence and insert "...anticipates receiving a lot of questions. He stated that if the City Council/EDA determines to have a public dialogue on police community relations, we should first have an educational presentation where a spokesman for the Brooklyn Center Police Department could explain how they work and how their philosophy of community policing guides their work. That could facilitate such a dialogue, but the best forum where that could occur would be at a meeting hosted by the JCPP/MAC. In that way..." Page 4, second line "...with the Area Minister's Association..." Page 4, third line ". . .as well as the Joint Community Police Department Partnership and Multi Cultural Advisory Committee that was created for this purpose." Councilmember Myszkowski requested the following correction to the Regular Session minutes of January 12, 2015: Page 13, third paragraph: 01/26/15 -1- "...asked if she was contesting the assessment. M Leach answered in the affirmative..." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the correction the January 12, 2015, Work Session and Regular Session minutes. Councilmember Graves requested discussion on Item 6c, Resolution Changing Polling Locations for Precincts 4, 6, and 7, in particular whether there is a difference in voter turnout between those two polling places, even demographically. City Manager Curt Boganey reviewed the packet information and stated staff will provide the City Council with voting results. Councilmember Graves supported advertising this change in polling locations at least 25 days in advance of the election and even advertising twice to assure residents receive notice and remember the change in polling locations. Mayor Willson suggested posting this information to the City's website and including it in a newspaper notice. Mr. Boganey commented on the benefit of not advertising too early before the election so it is not forgotten. In addition, households can change and should that occur, the new resident will not receive the notice. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she is the Council's liaison to the Housing Commission and at last meeting they discussed the 63 id Avenue road project and whether a sign within the redevelopment area will be posted indicating it is an area for redevelopment as not everyone knows that is the intent. Mayor Willson commented on several other areas of redevelopment that could be similarly posted. Mr. Boganey explained that the notification signs posted in Brooklyn Park serve as another form of public notice beyond legal notification in the newspaper when a public hearing is scheduled and Brooklyn Park is seeking input on a rezoning or some other form of action before the City Council. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that may be the type of posting the Housing Commissioner was recommending. Mayor Willson stated both options are rather appealing and he would support posting signage for both situations, and commercial as well as residential. Mr. Boganey reported the City received three applications to participate in the Brooklyn Center University's Experience Your City Government. He asked the City Council to encourage applications as the submittal deadline is February 14, 2015. Mayor Willson stated he will make that announcement under tonight's Council Reports. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson supported discussion at a future Work Session on security measures for both municipal Liquor Stores, for both employees and patrons. Mayor Willson 01/26/15 -2- stated he would first like input and a recommendation from Police Chief Benner as well as the Liquor Store employees. Mr. Boganey recommended staff provide a report on current security measures, potential deficiencies (if any), and recommended/suggested changes (if any). If the City Council supports additional dialog, it can be scheduled for a future Work Session. Councilmember Ryan commented on the interview of City Manager Curt Boganey by Channel 12, stating it was straight forward and encouraged people to sign up for the Citizen's Academy. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS HOLLY SUNDAY Mr. Boganey stated staff is prepared to give an overview and response to questions raised following the most recent Holly Sunday. Director of Community Activities, Recreation and Services Jim Glasoe stated in response to the request of City Council, staff has prepared a report relating to Holly Sunday. Recreation Supervisor Sue LaCrosse presented the 2014 Holly Sunday Event report outlining the purpose, history, estimated attendance, related expenses, and success of Holly Sunday. It was noted that the high attendance experienced in 2014 resulted in logistical problems, children being unable to have their pictures taken with Santa as time ran out, and pedestrian congestion. Ms. LaCrosse reviewed 2015 recommendations to order additional cookies, add a third face painter, limit the age to 10 and under to visit Santa, add additional staff for taking pictures with Santa to speed that process, prepare additional goodie bags, start event at 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., and move the staging area to the back corridor to accommodate the hay ride rig. Mayor Willson stated he had noticed more children attended the 2014 event and as demographics change, it may impact the number of attendance. He stated he worries about the impact of having two Santas as it may confuse younger participants. Ms. LaCrosse agreed and stated that suggestion had been discarded. Mayor Willson supported all being able to have a picture taken with Santa, regardless of age. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she appreciated that staff was able to accommodate goodie bags for the five children who were not able to visit Santa at the 2014 event. Councilmember Myszkowski thanked staff for the thoughtful recommendation, stating it works well for her and she thinks 2014 may have been an anomaly with the high number attending. She stated support for the 2015 recommendations. Councilmember Ryan stated support for staffs lead and suggestions. He stated he is encouraged that Recreation Supervisor Sue LaCrosse has worked so well with the Brooklyn Center Lions Club to identify issues that need to be worked out. Councilmember Ryan asked about the 01/26/15 -3- expenses of $3,900, noting the Lions contribute $1,500 so the City paid the balance of $2,400. Ms. LaCrosse stated that is correct and it is paid from the CARS budget. Councilmember Graves asked how outreach and marketing was conducted for 2014 and if additional partners were used in 2014 that may have accounted for the additional turnout. Ms. LaCrosse described promotion of the event, noting it was the same as in past years. Councilmember Graves asked about the option of a two-day event. Ms. LaCrosse stated the cons would be doubling the cost, the hay ride would not be available for a second day, and there may be downtimes during which no one is visiting Santa or getting their face painted. She advised of similar events in neighboring communities, noting they are only for several hours with a charge for refreshments. Councilmember Graves asked about incorporating other holidays beyond Christmas that are being celebrated in the community. Ms. LaCrosse stated during the Earle Brown Days Festival a celebration was held for the City's mascot and during the Centennial Day Celebration there were free events. She stated the issue is with the expense to put on a special event. Councilmember Graves stated she was thinking about collaborating with other organizations and community groups to provide some staffing and/or activities. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she supports the increase in hours and understands it is not feasible to accommodate a two-day event. She volunteered to assist with the Santa visit for 2015. Mr. Boganey stated he had suggested having two Santas, positioned on opposite ends of the building, so confusion does not result. Ms. LaCrosse relayed a conversation she overheard between two boys discussing whether it was the 'real' Santa. She explained that the same Santa has been used for several years so the children are now ued to seeing him. Mayor Willson supported the suggestion of Councilmember Graves to look into the option for a multi-cultural collaboration with community groups to include celebration of other holidays. Mayor Boganey stated it is a very intriguing idea that staff will follow up on. He stated the intent of this agenda item is to provide a report to the Council. Mayor Willson stated there has been an increase over the past three to four years in the number of young people so the City needs to be more accommodating. He supported preparing additional goodie bags to offer children who arrive late and are not able to visit Santa. Mr. Boganey noted this is a free event and residency is not required to enjoy it. Councilmember Ryan stated he has found that many who reside in Brooklyn Center or attend this event, may not be very aware of community boundaries and while some may not live in Brooklyn Center their children attend school in Brooklyn Center. He stated he does not support restricting attendance of Holly Sunday to Brooklyn Center residents. 01/26/15 -4- Councilmember Myszkowski stated she often asks trick-or-treaters who visit her house, between 80 to 100 a year, how many attend school in Brooklyn Center and found many attend Minneapolis schools. Mr. Boganey stated the issue is whether there should be a charge, as the event continues to grow, instead of restricting attendance to only residents. Mayor Willson stated that in view of how little is spent on this event, and because of the multiple school districts serving the City's residents, he would not oppose allocating additional dollars towards this event. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Myszkowski moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to close the Study Session at 6:38 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 01/26/15 -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 January 26, 2015. 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 February 9, 2015, Regular Session. City Clerk Mayor 01/26/15 -6-