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Home My WebLink About2019 03-11 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 MARCH 11, 2019 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers, April Graves, Kris Lawrence -Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Butler was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, and Mary Mullen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. MISCELLANEOUS City Manager Curt Boganey requested that the April 3, 2019 Joint City Council/Commission Meeting be rescheduled as the second City Development Workshop is also scheduled for that date, which is open to the community, and which City Councilmembers and Commissioners are encouraged to attend. Councilmember Ryan suggested April 2 or April 4, 2019 as alternative dates for the Joint City Council/Commission Meeting, at the same time and location. It was the majority consensus of the City Council to reschedule the Joint . City Council/Commission Meeting from April 3, 2019 to April 2, 2019. Councilmember Ryan stated he will be out of town from April 9-14, 2019. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Mr. Boganey stated this item was first on the agenda but was not discussed. It was the majority consensus of the City Council that there were no agenda items or questions to discuss. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS 03/11/19 -1- BUSINESS SUBSIDY AND CITY PUBLIC FINANCING POLICY DISCUSSION Community Development Director Meg Beekman reviewed the City's Business Subsidy Policy, specifically language related to minimum wages and prevailing wage. She stated the City Council discussed potential changes to this policy at a recent Workshop. She added, in reviewing the Business Subsidy Policy, City Staff believes the policy is narrow in scope and should potentially be broadened to cover financial subsidies from a development perspective. She noted this will provide guidance and parameters for developers. Ms. Beekman stated this will be the first of three such discussions regarding a City-wide public financing policy. She added City Staff hopes that through discussion and consideration a draft policy will be adopted that provides more guidance for the development community or any applicant who might request subsidy from the City of Brooklyn Center. She welcomed Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates, and invited her to address the City Council on this issue. Stacie Kvilvang presented a review of State Statute related to business subsidy and City public financing policy. She added a formal agreement is required, and most communities use a multiplier of the minimum wage as well as job creation goals. She reviewed policy basics and public financing assistance best practices, most notably no assistance for overpayment of land. Ms. Kvilvang stated the City Council will be given homework related to this issue, in the form of a survey of priorities for redevelopment goals due back to City Staff by March 25, 2019. She added the policy should be flexible so the City Council can decide how they want to move within the policy to create development opportunities. She noted the survey results will be reviewed by the City Council at their April 8, 2019, meeting to begin the process of setting a framework for a new policy. Mayor Elliott asked whether the City Council might be pigeonholing themselves by setting specific policy goals. Ms. Kvilvang stated the policy's broad-based parameters for the community will typically encompass most projects. Councilmember Ryan stated the challenge is to understand this type of financing. He added going through this process will help City Staff as well as the City Council gain understanding of long-term consequences, basic financing, and ways to protect the City's interests. Mayor Elliott thanked Ms. Kvilvang for her presentation. CITY SNOW PLOWING Mr. Boganey requested that the City Council address Work Session Agenda Item 4 as all parties are present. Mr. Boganey stated, at a recent Public Open Forum, a resident expressed concern regarding current snow removal on Metro Transit routes in Brooklyn Center. City Staff agreed to provide 03/11/19 -2- the City Council with a review of current snow plowing policies and receive feedback and comment regarding existing policies and any potential modifications. Director of Public Works Doran Cote reviewed the City's snow plowing priorities, which are a functional classification system based on type of roadway. He added streets that are local collectors are maintained by the City and provide neighborhood access to higher functioning streets. He noted within the priority map there are some anomalies, including the area of concern that was brought forward by the resident. Mr. Cote stated the resident indicated that his bus route is not plowed. City Staff contacted Metro Transit regarding this issue and was assured that all routes with concentrated populations are regularly maintained. Mr. Cote stated plowing schedules could be modified, but there would be implications, including interrupted driver familiarity with routes and schedules, and School District schedule changes. Councilmember Graves stated she understands the importance of driver familiarity. She asked how plowing of routes is addressed and which areas of the City are plowed first. Mr. Cote stated it depends upon the snow event. He added drivers plow their priority route, and then start on residential roads where they end up. Councilmember Ryan stated the men and women doing the plowing should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding execution. He asked whether drivers can adjust their plowing schedule to ensure that Dupont Avenue gets cleared, which is the road that was referred to in the resident complaint. Mayor Elliott stated the City Council has expressed transit accessibility as an important policy goal for the City, especially in certain neighborhoods. He added this could be an opportunity to increase accessibility for certain areas by ensuring that they are plowed. Mr. Boganey stated the system in place appears to be working well. He added he has heard repeatedly during his 20 -year tenure in Brooklyn Center about the excellent quality snow removal that residents receive and have come to expect. He noted he does not recommend a change in policy unless the City Council feels that transit routes should be given a higher priority. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Graves seconded to close the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 03/11/19 -3- 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 Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on March 11, 2019, 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 March 25, 2019, Regular Session. (4au6mv Barbara Suciu, City Clerk 03/11/19 -4- { Mike Elliott, Mayor