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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-08 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 FEBRUARY 8, 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 6:04 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, Director of Community Activities, Deputy Director of Building and Comn-iunity Standards Jesse Anderson, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, and Denise Bosch, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Myszkowski asked for an explanation of the applicants' numerical rating system for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Agenda Item No. 8a. Deputy Director of Building and Community Standards Jesse Anderson stated that all the applicants scored high and the City had received good applications. Councilmember Ryan stated that there were very qualified applicants this year with a good track record of being capable of meeting all of the reporting requirements. Mr. Anderson agreed that most of the applicants had some experience with funding sources and grants. Councilmeniber Myszkowski pointed out a phrase that was repeated several times in the Yes, Inc. application. She wondered if it was an endorsement by the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance. Discussion took place regarding conversations between Youth Success Coaching (Yes, Inc.) and Brooklyn Bridge Alliance; the Alliance's efforts to find ways to build the capacity of other organizations; what Yes, Inc. is bringing to the table as a service provider; and, the anticipated presentation by Yes, Inc. at tonight's meeting. Councilmember Ryan talked about working with Habitat for Humanity. 02/08/16 -1- Mr. Boganey suggested that the City should evaluate its participation in funding public services after this year given the limitations that exist and the fact that the City will never be as helpful as it would like to be. Mayor Willson stated that he thinks it is valuable to support this organization. He commented that Food and Nutrition Services (CAPT USA) and Housing Counseling Services (Lao Assistance Center of MN) are geared toward the Laos and Hmong population within the City. He stated that he struggles with Yes, Inc. because he doesn't think they have a well-established program and support from other entities. He stated that the Student Afterschool Counseling and Activities (Brooklyn Center Timber Bay/Youth Investment Foundation) was focused on afterschool programs and that is a need. He asked if more entities would be added to Option Two next year. Mr. Boganey stated that Hennepin County has said that four organizations is the maximum and $7,500 is the lowest grant amount unless the organization is funded by another CDBG fund and these are the parameters to work with. Councilmember Ryan stated he appreciates the need for re-evaluations. He talked about the amount of work done by volunteers in the Meals on Wheels (CEAP) organization. He asked if we can justify a contribution if there is a gap in our immediate area. Discussion took place regarding the maximum amount of entities that could receive funds and Mr. Boganey stated that staff could get more clarification from the county. Councilmember Graves talked about the number of years that the City has funded certain programs. She thinks they are good programs, especially CEAP. She stated that Household Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) and Tenant Advocacy Services (HOME Line) are good programs but are located outside of the City and serving other cities. She feels like there is a monopoly when something has been the same for many years especially considering that there can only be three or four grantees. She thinks that this should be discussed and asked if the City Council agreed. Mayor Willson stated he doesn't look at the years, but what the service is and if there is a need for the service, he is all for it. He stated that there is a huge need for the services of H.O.M.E, CEAP, and HOME Line and last year Brooklyn Avenues (Avenues for Homeless Youth) was added. He stated that the City Council has agreed in the past that they want to force-multiply those dollars. These organizations are larger than the local organization so they have more resources to draw from. Councilmember Ryan thanked Councilmember Graves for raising the issue. He suggested that the representatives of H.O.M.E. and HOME Line should be asked if the City's contribution is proportionate to their activities in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Boganey stated that any recipient that receives CDBG funds has to show the County that they are using funds to service Brooklyn Center residents. 02/08/16 -2- Mayor Willson stated he is not opposed to talking about this issue, but is pointing out his thought process. Councilmember Graves stated that she doesn't think past fund distributions have been bad decisions. She talked about possible favoritism and making sure everyone is getting an opportunity. Mayor Willson stated that he objects to the term favoritism because he purposely steers away from it and looks at the services that are provided. Councilmember Graves responded that after 20 years, people are going to think that. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she looks at how many people are being served and possible redundancies. She stated that CEAP and H.O.M.E have benefited from CDBG money, but they serve our elderly community and she would not take them off. Councilmember Myszkowski stated that this grant money is a small amount of money in a very low-income community and the organizations probably do feel like it is favoritism when we say no. But the City Council has to make a hard decision and they are focused in on the three that have been funded the longest. The City Council does the best it can with the money but it is not enough and the expectations are skewed. Mayor Willson asked Mr. Boganey if he was saying that we should not continue with the CDBG program. Mr. Boganey replied that would be in the staff's best interest if they could have a Work Session to explore options and alternatives that are available and hopefully come to a City Council consensus. When the application process for next year is developed, it can be written based upon the City Council's consensus of importance. It would also be helpful for applicants to know the criteria. Mayor Willson stated that this is an on-going issue and he is not opposed to sitting down with staff and working on the issue, but the City Council is charged with making a decision and all applications have to be accepted. He stated he is not sure what direction Mr. Boganey is going with criteria when looking at the applications. Mr. Boganey replied that when you look at the application process and you look at the improved quality of the applicants, you find that there are significantly more quality applicants than in the past. The applicants could get frustrated and stop applying or we will continue to reject good applications. He thinks it would be worth it for the City Council to have a conversation with staff so that they can write an application that helps differentiate one applicant from the next. Mr. Boganey pointed out that if we wind up with seven or eight qualified applicants and we keep coming back to the same three or four that we have previously funded, people would question what it is about those that we keep funding and what differentiates them. He asked if we can be more explicit in the RFPs. 02/08/16 -3- Mayor Willson stated he is looking at the services an organization provides and doesn't care whether they have been funded by the City for 20 years; if he feels they meet a community need, he will vote for them. Councilmember Ryan recalled that Yes, Inc. was definitely of the opinion that they were presenting something that aligned with the City Council's goals and they claimed they were reaching the same youth as Brooklyn Bridge Alliance. That would drive them to ask us why they are not receiving grants. He stated that what we have given in the past really reflects the priorities we have for the limited money. Councilmember Graves stated that we are staying with the bigger organizations because they serve more people and we are putting money where we can get more for it. She stated that she would like to go with organizations that look like our community. She is not trying to change the game plan but is asking for debate and discussion. ADJOURNMENT The Study Session adjourned to Informal Open Forum with the City Council at 6:45 p.m. 02/08/16 -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 Study/Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 8,2016. 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 February 22, 2016, Regular Session. Ii / 2 City Clerk Mayor 02/08/1602/08/16 -5-