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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 01-11 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION JANUARY 11, 2016 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, Planning and Zoning Specialist Tim Benetti, Assistant City Manager/Director of Building and Community Standards Vickie Schleuning, and Denise Bosch, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Mayor Willson stated that there was a mutually acceptable change under Council Consideration Item No. lOc "Mayoral Appointments of City Council Members to Serve as Liaisons to City Advisory Commissions and as City Representative/Voting Delegates for Other Organizations for 2016" with Councilmember Graves serving on the Adhoc Youth Advisory Commission and Councilmember Myszkowski serving on the Crime Prevention Program. Councilmember Ryan referenced Consent Agenda item 6m "Resolution Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertising for Bids, Improvement Project Nos. 2016-01, 02, 03 and 04, Palmer Lake West Area Street, Storm Drainage and Utility Improvements" and stated that he had talked to City Manager Curt Boganey and Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug about the concerns brought up at the Public Hearing on December 14, 2015 regarding safety at 72nd and Woodbine where they join West Palmer Lake Drive. He noted that staff had assured him that the safety precautions currently planned will be sufficient for the volume of traffic and pedestrians and that at this time nothing else is warranted. He stated that he wanted to call attention to the issue and wanted citizens to know that all measures have been taken to address safety issues. He thanked Mr. Lillehaug for his explanation of the issue. Mayor Willson requested the following clarification to the December 14, 2015, Study Session minutes on page two: "Mayor Willson asked Mr. Boganey if he distributed the Liberian Vice President's letter." 01/11/16 -1- It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the correction to the December 14, 2015, Study Session minutes. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson referenced Council Consideration Item No. 10d "Hearing and Consideration of an On-Sale Class B Intoxicating Liquor License, 2 A.M. Liquor License, and Sunday Liquor License for Jammin Wings LLC, 2590 Freeway Boulevard" and stated her confusion on how a business isn't able to separate deposits from different business locations. She asked if having the deposits segregated going forward is something that can be required. Mr. Boganey stated that this was not added as a condition but it was discussed. He stated that it does seem appropriate that the City Council could add that as a condition of the license and it wouldn't seem like an undue burden for the business and an unreasonable condition. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that she doesn't think it is a cost issue but is concerned from a management and financial standpoint that it doesn't look right. Mr. Boganey stated that the fact that the deposits weren't segregated further complicated the City's ability to audit and discern what was going on. Mayor Willson stated that the City Council can't dictate how they manage their business but it does need to know whether they are meeting the ratio of food and liquor sales. If they can't prove that with actual documentation, then they are not in compliance. He stated that it seems that the City Council should take an action on the whole business and have them come back in six months. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that it seems confusing and that standard operating procedure is to have separate books for each location. Mayor Willson stated that the burden of proof is on them to prove there is the correct ratio and they haven't been able to do that. Councilmember Ryan stated he concurs with Mayor Willson and Councilmember Lawrence- Anderson and asked if the City Council should insist on a clearer reporting procedure by the business. Mr. Boganey stated that the ordinance mandates that businesses have to make available to the City upon request the documentation necessary to confirm they have met the food/alcohol ratio. The burden of proof is on the business. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Ryan encouraged Councilmembers to attend the Legislative Breakfast hosted by the City of Crystal on January 30, 2016. Councilmembers handed in documents related to Auditor's Compliance Declaration Week. 01/11/16 -2- Mayor Willson stated that the State of the City address will be given on January 14, 2016, at Edinburgh Golf Course. Councilmember Ryan stated that Councilmembers were asked to RSVP to the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Ryan stated that he had distributed informational documents regarding Work Session Item No. 3 "Discussion Regarding Proposed Pedestrian Bridge at Co. Rd. 81 and 63rd Avenue North as Part of the Proposed Metro Blue Line Extension Light Rail Project" that he hopes will assist in the discussion. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS Mr. Boganey suggested that the City Council start with Work Session Agenda Item No. 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT CO. RD. 81 AND 63RD AVENUE NORTH AS PART OF THE PROPOSED METRO BLUE LINE EXTENSION LIGHT RAIL PROJECT Mr. Boganey stated that he had received an e-mail from Councilmember Ryan who had a conversation with Brooklyn Park Councilmember Rich Gates about an upcoming meeting on January 19, 2016, to discuss the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail. Councilmember Ryan had asked that it be put on the Work Session agenda for further discussion. The Brooklyn Park City Manager had indicated that Brooklyn Park will also be having a discussion about this item this evening and will have a staff recommendation on a pedestrian bridge. Public Works Director/City Engineer Steve Lillehaug made contact with the Metro Transit staff person who is familiar with the project and process. He stated that it is fair to say that the Met Council staff recommendation is not to include the bridge due to costs and that the City of Brooklyn Park would have to be the owner. They are questioning the cost benefit of the bridge and have several different layouts. Some layouts would increase the time to make it to the transit stop, and it is fair to say that the pedestrian bridge would add a measure of safety. He stated that Met Council staff seem to be taking the position that the cost benefit isn't there, but it is not a decided action and there will be a Public Hearing and if the City is going to weigh in, it probably doesn't want to delay. Mayor Willson stated that these are Public Hearings that are held by entities that have jurisdictions along the Blue Line. He stated that he serves on the Corridor Management Committee and they have come to the same conclusion and recommended to the Met Council that they approve the plan without the pedestrian bridge. The Met Council is now in the latter stage of the approval process. He stated he is not opposed to having citizens going to the public meetings, but the City has a voice on the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail through the Corridor Management Committee. He is wondering why Councilmember Gates chose to resurrect the issue given where the process is and should the Met Council decide to go back it will have significant impact on timing. 01/11/16 -3- Councilmember Ryan stated he didn't conclude that just by having conversation with Brooklyn Park Councilmember Rich Gates that a pedestrian bridge is the solution, but after having contact with a couple of Met Council staff who serve as Community Outreach Coordinators, he made the supposition that their information would be up to date and they seemed to indicate that it was something that was being actively considered. He would like to attend these hearings and focus on safety and connectivity issues. He stated he was not aware of the Mayor's involvement with the Corridor Management Committee and that it was recommending that there be no bridge. Mayor Willson stated that there seems to be a Met Council staff conflict. He does understand the issue and is not opposed to the bridge other than the cost and what the City of Brooklyn Park would have to do to build and own it. He is wondering where and how much we want to get involved in the Public Hearings and to bring this issue before other government bodies. Councilmember Ryan stated that there will be a meeting on January 19, 2016 with the Hennepin County Board, Met Council, and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. He thinks that at these meetings issues such as pedestrian bridges would be brought up and he may choose to raise the concern of safety. He understands that there is a time element. Mayor Willson stated that the debates have already taken place within various committees that have had City representatives. He is not concerned with Councilmember Ryan attending as a private citizen but would have concerns about him acting on behalf of the City considering that the process has been completed. Councilmember Ryan stated that he would not want to do anything that was not in accord with the City Council's consensus. Mr. Boganey stated that the City Council can take a position or no position. He stated that staff believes that the bridge adds a measure of safety but it is not in a position to say that it is cost effective. Mayor Willson stated that the City Council could show its support of the City of Brooklyn Park if they pursue going forward with the bridge. He doesn't want the issue to hold up the Blue Line process. Councilmember Myszkowski stated that a bridge would have a significant impact on an apartment complex not far from the intersection. She had assumed that those residents would have a safe way to cross. She is guessing that they would also benefit from the Blue Line. She stated that she wishes she would have engaged in this issue sooner than today and she suspects that those most impacted would be people with small children or the elderly. She doesn't know if it's too late, but if the City of Brooklyn Park votes in favor of the bridge, then she is all for it. Councilmember Ryan stated that he should have contacted the City of Brooklyn Park and City of Crystal City Managers to find out their staff position. He felt that from what he learned from the Met Council staff members that it was worth it to raise the issue due to safety concerns. He stated that it may be best for the City Council to wait and see what the City of Brooklyn Park determines and he got the impression that the City of Brooklyn Park was in favor of it. 01/11/16 Mayor Willson stated he hasn't heard that yet and it sounds like they will discuss it tonight. He stated that the Brooklyn Center City Council won't meet before January 19, 2016, and the dilemma is that if the City of Brooklyn Park wishes to pursue and take ownership of the bridge, then the City Council should meet prior to the January 19th meeting to determine how it will support the City of Brooklyn Park. He feels that the meeting on January 19th would be the meeting to attend. Councilmember Graves stated that the Health Equity Engagement Cohort that she is a part of has been doing a lot of engagement around the Blue Line project and she knows they made a strong effort to connect with the apartments regarding the Blue Line. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated that safety is of paramount importance and talked about the number of accidents on the Green Line. She stated that we will have to see what the City of Brooklyn Park decides. Mayor Willson stated that this isn't the only place along the Blue Line that a pedestrian bridge is being discussed and asked how the Councilmembers would like to proceed. Councilmember Ryan stated that the City Council could determine the City of Brooklyn Park's position and should they decide in favor of pedestrian bridge, then the City Council should help them advocate for it. He stated that he brought this up at the risk of some embarrassment not knowing all of the details of the planning process, but after speaking with members of the Met Council Blue Line Project Staff. The City Council could meet prior to the January 19th meeting and perhaps send a letter in support of the decision. Mayor Willson stated he is not worried about any personal embarrassment and thinks they worked well in committee. His observation was that there was not support in committee to go forward. Councilmember Ryan stated that he was speaking for himself because too often people step into situations without knowing details. This issue had been brought to his attention by a City of Brooklyn Park City Councilmember and he felt it would be worth bringing it forward. Mayor Willson suggested that the City Council meet on Thursday or Friday of this week and decide on an appropriate action. Councilmembers decided to meet January 14, 2016, at 4 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Myszkowski seconded to adjourn the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 01/11/16 -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: 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 11,2016. 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 January 25, 2016, Regular Session. / ) City Clerk Mayor 01/11/16 -6-