Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 10-12 CCM Study/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 OCTOBER 12, 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 6:04 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, Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, Deputy Director of Building and Community Standards/HRA Specialist Jesse Anderson, and Denise Bosch, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Mr. Boganey stated that Sheriff Stanek had a prior commitment this evening and may not be here until around 7:30 p.m. It was decided to place his presentation on the agenda when he arrives. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Myszkowski requested the following change to the City Council minutes of September 28, 2015 on page number 16 under her Council Report: "Gave a presentation with Brooklyn Park Councilmember Rich Gates at the BYC on Government Structure." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the correction to the September 28, 2015, Regular Session minutes. Councilmember Ryan stated that he had received notice of a League of Minnesota Cities meeting on November 18th and he was curious if Mr. Boganey planned to attend. He stated that this meeting is also when metro cities vote on various policies. He requested that if Mr. Boganey was unable to attend,that he has direction on how to vote on the policies. Mr. Boganey will verify that he will attend the meeting. He stated that it is up to the City Council to determine the vote and asked if the policies were available. Councilmember Ryan stated that he didn't think they were available but would forward them to Councilmembers when he receives them. He stated that there is a portion of the meeting where voting members from various metro cities vote on a range of policy statements that the metro 10/12/15 -1- cities assembled through their policy committee process and then they send these policies to the Met Council. Mr. Boganey stated that he is pretty sure they will get draft policies before the meeting. He will plan to put the item on a Study/Work Session so the City Council can give direction on how they want to vote. Councilmember Ryan stated he will make inquiries regarding the status of the policies. Mr. Boganey stated that he had a conversation with Attorney Myron Orfield who indicated he is expecting the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to be in town at the end of the month to discuss what is going on in the Twin Cities. He will provide Councilmembers with dates. Councilmember Ryan stated he really supports the concept of the fire department creating a task force for the purpose of further defining their strategic plan and he is looking forward to learning more about this. Mr. Boganey replied that he thinks it will take six months before they finalize their plan. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked about the completion date of the construction project on 63`d Avenue. Mr. Boganey replied that the project is behind schedule but expects the project to wrap up before the end of the year. They are tentatively anticipating a finish date of late October to mid-November. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that residents are experiencing problems with getting into their driveways. Mr. Boganey stated that staff is trying to work closely with the contractor to minimize problems as much as possible but the overriding concern is to get the project finished this year. He recognizes that it is an inconvenience but it is being done because they think it is best way to expedite the project. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS FIRE TRUCK DONATION TO SISTER CITY Mr. Boganey stated that he received an e-mail from Pastor Collins indicating that the Vice President was going to be coming into town and was interested in any plans the City would have. One thing that was suggested was the need for fire trucks. He stated that the City does have a fire truck that has been replaced this year and it has the option of trying to sell it in the open market at an estimated salvage value of$5,000-$10,000. He stated it was put up for bid recently and only one call was received and when the person realized the amount of extensive repairs that were needed, they never called back. He stated that he talked with the Assistant Public Works Director about whether or not the truck had any true value and they agreed that with the expectation they will have to spend $40,000 in repairs, it has no real market value. He referenced a policy regarding the disposal of City property and stated that he has had a 10/12/15 -2- conversation with the City Attorney and he concurs it is a property that can be lawfully disposed of as a transfer to the City's sister city. Mayor Willson stated he has no problem with donating the fire truck to the City's sister city and asked if a resolution was needed. Mr. Boganey stated that the policy allows him to proceed but he wouldn't if there were any objections from Councilmembers. Councilmember Graves asked if it's not valuable to a City, why it would be valuable to anyone else. Mr. Boganey stated that the repairs are aesthetic and the truck runs but needs some broken lights repaired to be functional. Mayor Willson asked if the cabinets are empty. Mr. Boganey replied that there is no equipment in the cabinets and it was probably moved to the new truck. He will check to see if there is any equipment that can be donated. Mayor Willson stated that he thinks donating the truck is a great idea. Councilmember Ryan stated he assumed that because the firetruck is a Freightliner, repair parts for truck and specialty equipment would be available for repair and maintenance. He asked if the folks in Liberia would assume responsibility for shipment. Mr. Boganey replied affirmatively and that it will cost $15,000 to ship and that cost will be borne by the New Horizons Resource Group who will be accepting it. Councilmember Ryan stated that the disposal of property policy language is clear that Mr. Boganey has the authority to donate the truck. Councilmember Graves asked if there was a reason the City could not use a damaged truck such as a code compliance. Mr. Boganey replied that the City could give the truck to a rural Minnesota fire department, but he thinks there will be some insurance and liability issues because the body is not totally intact. Councilmember Graves stated she is happy it will be used. Mayor Willson stated that it doesn't have enough value to fix up because of the accident. The only other option would be to scrap it. Councilmember Ryan stated this piece of equipment was due to be retired relatively soon anyway. Councilmember Myszkowski stated it makes sense and it occurred to her that there are many cargo ships that fly the Liberian flag. She stated that she is pretty certain this truck will be used as a multi-purpose vehicle, it is pretty exciting, and she loves that the truck will have Brooklyn Center on it. 10/12/15 -3- Mayor Willson stated that it will be used more as a first responder vehicle. Councilmember Myszkowski stated that this might be the largest municipal vehicle Voinjama has ever owned. Mr. Boganey stated that he thought there was one other fire truck in Liberia. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she supports the donation, is glad the City will not be incurring the cost of transportation, and she is happy to give it to a community in dire need. She asked about any liability the City would have. Mr. Boganey replied that when the title is transferred, it would be done on an "as is" basis. He will check with the City Attorney to make sure there is nothing else that needs to be done. Mayor Willson stated that it is one of the few things we have been able to do for our sister city and it is substantial. He has wanted to put together some sort of Skype communication but doesn't think the school budget would accommodate it. Councilmember Graves asked if the students could be pen pals and Councilmembers discussed the benefits and whether or not Liberian students had phones. Councilmember Myszkowski stated that when she met with the Liberian students and showed them a phone, the students had never seen one. She stated that the community college had no technology infrastructure. Mr. Boganey stated that after the City Council action regarding the establishment of a Brooklyn Center Sister Cities Commission, he is hoping to see the creation of a Voinjama Committee and those are the kinds of things the Committee could work on. Councilmembers discussed computer donations. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that perhaps we find ways a 501c (3) organization would take the computers and distribute them. Mayor Willson stated it is a matter of getting into that stream and the Committee can work on it. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that a half full container is as expensive to ship as a full container and perhaps the City could find another organization to partner with so they could stack the container and the Committee can work on this. Mayor Willson stated he is concerned with the container not making it to its intended destination. Y g Mr. Boganey stated that is why it is important to have the sister city connection on the other side to track the shipment. He also stated that Pastor Collins could not be here tonight. Councilmember Graves asked Councilmembers if they were familiar with the Liberians of Minnesota Facebook page. She stated that it was a good resource. Mr. Boganey asked if it was different than Organization of Liberians in Minnesota. Councilmember Graves responded affirmatively. 10/12/15 -4- Mayor Willson stated that we are now working with immigrants from Liberia and he suspects we will be working with immigrants from Syria soon. There was a majority consensus to concur that the disposal of property policy as it is written applies to this donation. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson seconded to adjourn the Study/Work Session at 6:39 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 10/12/15 -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 October 12, 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 October 26, 2015, Regular Session. J(wa ° .-.� City Clerk Mayor 10/12/15 -6-