HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 Edition 205 Fall IN THIS ISSUE
1st Saturday Market 2
Art and Health Dialogues 3
Random Act of Kindness
Nominations 3
WomenVenture Partnership 4
I Love BC 5
Earle Brown Days Recap 6
Community Safety 8
Explorer Program 8
Neighborhood Area Meeting 8
Back to School Safety 9
Living Green 10
Recycling Unwanted Clothing 10
Focus on Pets 11
Preventing Sewer Backups 11
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City of Brooklyn Center
Celebrating the news, events & cultures that connect us AUGUST 2018, Edition 205
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
CITY OF BROOKLYN
CENTER HIRES
16 BROOKLYNK
SUMMER INTERNS
Pictured above: Six of 16 Brooklynk
2018 Summer Interns
ELECTIONS 2018
(Things You Should Know)
Primary Elections will be held on
Tuesday, August 14. Polls are open
from 7 am to 8 pm.
For polling locations or additional
information, please refer to
the City’s website at www.
cityofbrooklyncenter.org. Also, feel
free to contact the City Clerk at
(763) 569-3306 or email cityclerk@
ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us.
GETTING BROOKLYN CENTER YOUTH IN THE JOB PIPELINE!
For the second year in a row, the City along with city, school and business partners
has taken on more than 100 BrookLynk Interns this summer. The City has hired 16
youth to work in various departments throughout the City.
What are interns learning so far?
• According to an intern in the Community Development Department,
understanding community health issues and neighborhood implications related
to hoarding has been a valuable lesson learned. “There are approximately 8
to 11 cases of hoarding in the City per year,” said the intern during a verbal
presentation of lessons learned.
• The engineering intern in the Department of Public Works believes understanding
the value of properly documenting and retaining street and site plan maps in a
digital age is invaluable. “Digitizing maps from decades ago is a big deal,” stated
the intern during a verbal discussion among intern peers.
• Learning about how budgets are developed and addressing the challenge of
striking a balance between the needs for services and cost constraints has been
a great learning experience for the Administrative Department intern. “There
are many things to know that goes into a budget,” said the intern during one-on-
one discussion with a department director.
Almost every department at the City is currently hosting one or more of the 16
BrookLynk Interns, which exposes the interns to an array of career opportunities
ranging from law enforcement to business development. The interns will complete
a capstone project at the end of the program in order to demonstrate what they
have learned. They will each conduct a presentation during the National Night Out
Kick Off Party held on Monday, August 6, 2018 at Brooklyn Center’s Centennial Park
(6:00 pm to 8:00 pm). Thank you to all of the interns. Way to go!
Curt Boganey, City Manager
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Community Engagement
1ST SATURDAY MARKET SPOTLIGHT
The 1st Saturday Pop-Up Market is a city-sponsored event
that will take place the first Saturday of each month from July
through October. The event will feature local vendors selling
various goods, food tents, food trucks, live entertainment,
and a family fun zone. The family fun zone includes large
inflatables, a balloon artist and face painting – all at no cost!
Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Located
at 5801 Xerxes Ave, Brooklyn Center (across the street from
Cub Foods). Hours of the event are from 11:00 am to 5 pm
and the event will take place rain or shine. Free parking for
the event will be available on-site.
Additional information regarding the event can be found at:
www.popupsaturday.com. If you are interested in becoming a
vendor at a future event, please contact Brett Angell, Business
and Workforce Development Specialist, at (763)569-3301 or
bangell@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us.
For more event photos, visit the 1st Saturday Market album
on our facebook page at facebook.com/BrooklynCenterMN.
3 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
BROOKLYN CENTER ENGAGES COMMUNITY THROUGH ART AND HEALTH DIALOGUES
Two public dialogue sessions with different topics were held in
June as part of the City of Brooklyn Center’s Inclusive Community
Engagement effort. The first dialogue session was held at The
Sanctuary at Brooklyn Center on Wednesday, June 27. The
second dialogue session was held at the West Fire Station in
Brooklyn Center on Thursday, June 28. Attendees participating
in the discussions brainstormed ideas on either Community
Art or Community Health. It was important to know from their
perspective what's important to them when it comes to improving
their health and or engaging in the arts. Another focus was how to
engage individuals who live, work or play in the Brooklyn Center
community.
These dialogue sessions were held in partnership with the Brooklyn
Center Community School District. These were the first of many
conversations.
Pictured top right: (left to right) Miamon Queeglay, Community Liaison (Brooklyn
Center Police), Mykella Auld, Community Schools Site Coordinator (Earle Brown
Elementary School, Brooklyn Center Early College Academy), Dr. Angel R. Smith,
Communications Coordinator (Brooklyn Center), Ginny McIntosh, City Planner/
Zoning Administrator (Brooklyn Center) and Dr. Reggie Edwards, Deputy City
Manager (Brooklyn Center)
Pictured bottom Health Dialogue attendees discuss vision for a collaborative
community program
CITY COUNCIL MEETS WITH CONGRESSMAN ELLISON
Brooklyn Center Councilmembers and City staff met with
Congressman Keith Ellison on March 26, at City Hall, for an
annual meeting to discuss the City's Strategic and Legislative
priorities and Federal updates.
Pictured above (left to right) Councilmember Dan Ryan, Mayor Tim Willson,
Councilmember April Graves, Congressman Keith Ellison, Councilmember Kris
Lawrence-Anderson and Councilmember Marquita Butler.
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS NOMINATIONS
Do you know someone whose compassionate deed has
made Brooklyn Center a great place to live and work?
The City Council wants to hear these stories.
To nominate someone who has performed an act of
kindness in the past year, you may send a card, letter,
drawings or photographs of people performing kind
acts, or use the City's nomination form which can be
found on the City’s website search Random Acts of
Kindness.
Please submit your Random Acts of Kindness
nominations by Thursday, September 20, 2018. The
City Council will recognize Random Acts of Kindness
nominees at an October meeting and present each
recipient with a certificate acknowledging their kind act.
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City News
2040 Comprehensive Plan.
The City of Brooklyn Center is in the process of updating its
2040 Comprehensive Plan. This is an extensive process that
requires input and investment from the community.
Why Update the City’s Comprehensive Plan
now?
The Metropolitan Land Planning Act requires all cities and
counties in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to adopt a
Comprehensive Plan, and to update and amend those plans
every ten years. The Plan is required to comply with the
Metropolitan Council’s regional system plans that include
transportation (highways and transit), wastewater services,
airports, parks and open space. The Plan update must
be submitted to the Metropolitan Council for review and
approval, and then be adopted by the City.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan establishes a community’s long-term
vision, goals, strategies and policies for guiding future changes
and investments. The Plan is intended to serve as a roadmap
for the City for the next 20-year planning period. The Brooklyn
Center Plan Update will address future land uses, housing,
economic development, transportation, parks, trails, open
space, natural resources and city services/facilities.
The process involves the following steps:
• Review of Brooklyn Center’s current 2030 Comprehensive
Plan to determine updates
• Background Report preparation, issue identification,
visioning and goal setting
• Identification of specific issues and plan components
• Comprehensive updates of the Plan
• Review of the plan by surrounding jurisdictions
• Submittal to the Metropolitan Council for review and
approval
• Public Hearing by the City’s Planning Commission
• Final Adoption by the City Council
Planning Commission is the primary working group that is
in charge of updating the plan, with public engagement and
public input opportunities to help shape the draft Plan.
The City has created a website where residents can find
out more information about the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
process. www.brooklyncenterplan2040.com The City will be
soliciting input from residents in the form of three different
online surveys that will examine different elements of the Plan:
1) Image, Land Use, Redevelopment & Housing; 2) Mississippi
River Critical Corridor Area; and ) Transit, Transportation,
Parks & Trails and Infrastructure. Check the website for more
details and to take the surveys.
SPOTLIGHT
The City of Brooklyn Center and WomenVenture have
recently partnered together to provide free business and
lending consultations monthly at Brooklyn Center City Hall
(6301 Shingle Creek Parkway). Consultations typically
last between 20-30 minutes. There is no appointment
necessary and no cost to participate. WomenVenture will
be providing the consultations at Brooklyn Center City Hall
the third Monday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
WomenVenture is a Minneapolis-based organization
focused on empowering entrepreneurial women with tools,
capital, and support needed to lead businesses and achieve
economic success through small business ownership.
Additional information regarding WomenVenture can be
found on their website: www.womenventure.org.
5 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
“I LOVE BC” BRANDING MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL
Show your BC pride with one of these
limited-edition “I Love BC” items. Both Mugs
/T-Shirts are available for purchase now at City Hall.
Mugs / T-Shirts (YS, YL, Adult S-XL): $10 each
BROOKLYN CENTER KICKS OFF "I LOVE BC" CAMPAIGN
As part of the rebranding effort, the City of Brooklyn Center
launched an “I Love BC” Campaign in June during the Earle Brown
Days community celebration week. Both event attendees, City
interns and employees were able to show their BC pride. For
more event photos, visit the I Love BC album on our facebook
page at facebook.com/BrooklynCenterMN.
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The 36th Annual Earle Brown Days Community
Celebration was held Thursday, June 21 - Saturday, June
23. The event featured a variety of activities including a
parade, golf festival, beer and wine tasting event, 5k race
and family festival. We ordered great weather and it was
delivered.
Community members cheered on 62 units as the parade
marched through Brooklyn Center including high school
bands, Zuhrah Shrine band and antique cars, drumlines,
local business and community groups, public safety and
politicians. The 2018 Grand Marshal was Arvid “Bud”
Sorenson, a 46 year Brooklyn Center resident who has
been an active volunteer with the Jaycees, Lions Club
and Parks & Recreation Commission. Thank you to the
Brooklyn Center Lions Club for volunteering with the
parade.
The Red, White and Brew event had a great turnout!
Attendees raved about the great location and fun times
had including an engaging dueling pianos group, great
food and the variety beer and wine samples. Tom Agnes,
Brooklyn Center Liquors Manager stated, “I think our 1st
year of doing this went very well. Let’s keep it rolling and
grow into a bigger, greater event every year”.
Days 20
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8
7 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
After the Kids 1k Fun Run, neighbors, friends and families raced
around Palmer Lake Park at the Run, Jump or Fly 5k. Racers
and their fans enjoyed refreshments, massages, lawn games
and dancing after crossing the finish line. This superhero
themed race benefited Special Olympics Minnesota and Earle
Brown Days. Thank you to Brooklyn Center businesses for their
support of this event: Showdown Displays, Dettling Chiropractic,
Walmart, Caribou Coffee and Cub Foods.
The 36th Annual Earle Brown Days Community Celebration
concluded with the family festival at Centennial Park. Event
attendees strolled through the community market, explored
City vehicles, played games, enjoyed tasty food and danced the
night away with Belladiva Show Band before ooh-ing and aaah-
ing at the grand finale, fireworks!
Every department at the City of Brooklyn Center works together
to create the annual community celebration and wishes to
extend appreciation to the vendors at each event, we hope
you return again next year. The City would also like to thank
the sponsors of the 36th Annual Earle Brown Days Community
Celebration: Minneapolis Northwest Tourism, Luther Auto,
Showdown Displays, Brooklyn Center Business Association,
Dettling Chiropractic, Women’s Club of Brooklyn Center, Curves
of Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Center Rotary.
Thank you to each of the residents of Brooklyn Center that
attended the celebration, you are what makes these events a
success. We hope you had a great time and welcome you to
celebrate Brooklyn Center with us again next year!
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
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Community Safety
2018 POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOOD AREA MEETING
September 11 | West Palmer Lake Park | 6:00-7:30 pm
For more information contact 763-503-3272
EXPLORER PROGRAM
The Brooklyn Center Police Explorers Post #3888 are
currently accepting applications for youth who wish
to become a Police Explorer. Police Explorers are
comprised of youth ages 14 years old to 21 years old
with an interest in law enforcement. Police Explorers
take part in many community events within the City of
Brooklyn Center and surrounding cities. Other activities
include weekly trainings, parades, security events, ride
along with police officers, and many more. They are
supplied with a uniform, all necessary equipment, food
and beverage, and much more. It is a great way for
youth to meet new friends and experience what it is like
to be involved in a career in law enforcement. Anyone
who is interested is encouraged to contact Officer
Gregg Nordby via email gnordby@ci.brooklyn-center.
mn.us or phone at 763-503-3224 for information.
Applications can also be picked up at the Brooklyn
Center Police Department.
DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM
The Brooklyn Center Police Department Domestic
Abuse Response Team (DART) was formed in response
to the growing need to address domestic violence. The
team provides support and resources to members of
the community affected by domestic violence.
Members of DART provide follow-up and resources
to nearly every victim of domestic violence, as well
as other family members and sometimes offenders.
DART officers work with victims and their families to
provide safety planning, offer referrals to resources,
provide support. Members may also become involved
in the apprehension of wanted offenders and may
follow-up with to ensure that court ordered no contact
conditions are not being violated.
THE GROWING NEED FOR
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective
crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens
together with law enforcement to deter crime and make
communities safer.
Sponsored by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA),
Neighborhood Watch can trace its roots back to the days of
colonial settlements, when night watchmen patrolled the
streets. The modern version of Neighborhood Watch was
developed in response to requests from sheriffs and police
chiefs who were looking for a crime prevention program that
would involve residents and address an increasing number of
burglaries.
If your neighborhood does not have a Neighborhood
Watch Group it’s easy to start. Neighborhood Watch is a
neighborhood organization made up of neighbors for the
purpose of eliminating crime from their neighborhoods.
There is safety in numbers, the more participants we have in
this program, the more criminals we can keep out of our city.
The police alone cannot fight crime. We need our community
members to be the “eyes and ears” to help the police by
reporting any suspicious activity that you observe. You know
your neighbors best and who does and doesn’t belong in your
neighborhood.
If you want to start a neighborhood watch group, it’s easy
to do; contact Crime Prevention Specialist Becky Boie at
763.503.3272 or bboie@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us for details.
There are many benefits to joining a watch groups, you will
receive the updates on what’s happening in the City, crime
watch signs, and have a great reason to get together with
your neighbors, police and fire officials at least once a year.
Neighborhood Watch Groups are sponsored by the City of
Brooklyn Center and by the Brooklyn Center Crime Prevention
Program. Call today to find out how to start your own group.
9 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS
Riding the Bus
School bus transportation is safe. In fact, buses are safer than cars! Even
so, last year, approximately 26 students were killed and another 9,000
were injured in incidents involving school buses. More often than not,
these deaths and injuries didn't occur in a crash, but as the pupils were
entering and exiting the bus. Remember these safety tips:
• Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the
street.
• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the
driver signals you to enter.
• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away
from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also,
remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back
away from the bus.
• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's
okay to approach.
• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to
follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however,
not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!
Walking and Biking to School
Even if you don't ride in a motor vehicle, you still have to protect
yourself. Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians face a
wide variety of decisions while walking to and from school.
Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:
• Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the
street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.
• Walk your bike through intersections.
• Walk with a buddy.
• Wear reflective material...it makes you more visible to street traffic.
Riding in a Car
You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur close to
home ... they do. Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers
have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.
You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected
from the vehicle in a crash. Everyone needs to be buckled up properly.
That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and
little kids in child safety seats.
Information provided by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association
HEATSTROKE PREVENTION
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and
Safe Kids Worldwide is asking the public to act to
help save lives. Heatstroke is the leading cause of
non-crash related vehicle fatalities for kids 14 and
younger in the United States. In the first six months
of 2017, 26 children nationwide died of heatstroke
after being left in a car.
NHTSA cautions that temperatures inside a vehicle
can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes, which is
why you should never leave a child alone in a parked
car; keep the keys out of a child’s reach and look in
the front and back of the vehicle before locking the
door and walking away.
The agency’s public education campaign “Where’s
Baby? Look Before You Lock” offers these tips.
For Parents and Caregivers: Remind yourself that
the child is in the car.
• Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone next to
the child’s car seat so that you’ll always check
the back seat before leaving the car.
• Call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm
you’ve dropped your child off.
• Have your daycare provider call you if your child
doesn’t arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of
your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone.
For Bystanders: Actions to take if you see a child
alone in a vehicle:
• Always make sure the child is okay and
responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
• If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate
the parents or have security or management
page the car owner over the PA system.
• If the child is not responsive and appears to be
in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist
the child, even if that means breaking a window.
Stay connected with NHTSA: Visit us on Facebook.
com/NHTSA | Follow us on Twitter.com/NHTSAgov
| Contact us at NHTSAmedia@dot.gov or 202-366-
9550.
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Living Green
ORGANICS RECYCLING COLLECTION
The number one item in your trash is food scraps and non-recyclable
paper such as napkins, which are also called organics. Crystal is
required by County ordinance to offer curbside organics recycling
collection by 2022. The Hennepin Recycling Group is working on
plans to roll out the service, but you don’t have to wait. Contact your
garbage hauler to see if they offer the service. Or you can drop off
your organics for free at the Hennepin County Drop-Off Facility, 8100
Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park. There’s more information on what
you can put in your organics recycling at https://www.hennepin.
us/dropoff and click on the “Materials accepted – recycling and
organics” tab.
RECYCLING UNWANTED CLOTHING
Summer cleaning may leave you with a bunch of unwanted clothing. Now you can recycle those items at the curb. Fill up one
of the orange recycling bags with clothes (they don’t have to be reusable), shoes, and household items. Then place the bag
next to your cart on recycling day. Pick up orange bags at City Hall, the Community Center or call 1-866-835-5068 to have some
mailed to you. For a list of acceptable items, visit http://simplerecycling.com/curbside-clothing-recycling/residents/.
RECYCLING AT YOUR EVENT
It’s the season of family reunions and other big get-
togethers. Typically these events include plenty of
food and beverages. So when you’re planning your
party, add one more item to your list – event recycling
containers. It’s pretty easy to put another container for
bottles and cans next to the trash. If you don’t have
extra containers, borrow some for free from Hennepin
County. They even come with clear plastic bags that
allow your guests to see the bottles and cans. This
serves as another visual clue to put your recycling in
the proper place. Reserve your containers a www.
hennepin.us/business/recycling-hazardous-waste/
recycling-at-events.
DID YOU KNOW
Every year, each American throws out about
1,200 pounds of organic garbage that
can be composted.
DID YOU KNOW
Nearly 100 percent of textiles and
clothing are recyclable
11 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
LEAVE THE STREET CLEAN
As beautiful as the leaves are, they mean a lot of yard work for homeowners.
One option for reducing your workload is to use a mulching lawn mower
to mulch leaves into your yard. It is less time intensive than raking and the
shredded leaves act as a natural fertilizer.
While tending to your yard, please take a moment to sweep or rake leaves,
grass and branches out of the street in front of your house. If left in the
street, leaves may clog storm drains, contributing to localized flooding. When
washed into nearby lakes, rivers and streams via storm drains or ditches, the
leaves become a major source of phosphorus, the nutrient that allows algae
to bloom in the summer. Please dispose of leaves by composting them into
your yard, bringing them to a compost facility, or bagging them for curbside
pick-up if you have that service. Keep leaves and yard waste out of the regular
garbage, and never dump them in the wetlands or buffer areas – it’s illegal.
FRIENDLY FURRY FRIEND REMINDERS
Summer is here! The weather is nice and
bright and walks with our furry friends become
more frequent. Let’s keep our community and
furry animals safe and healthy by practicing
good habits of picking up after our companion
animals and keeping them on a leash when
we are out and about with them. This will
help ensure a more beautiful community
and prevent animals and humans alike from
getting into accidents. Off leash animals are
more likely to be involve in a car accident,
cause anxious moments for your neighbors
and yourself. Although you may have built a
trusting relationship with your companion
animal, others may not know this and may
view this as a threat when a dog is off leash.
Or there may be multiple variables that affect
how your dog will react to being off leash. By
keeping your companion animals on a leash,
will mitigate these concerns.
If you happen to encounter an animal off
leash, keep yourself and your dog calm, and
this hopefully will invite a calm behavior
from the off leash animal. If the animal
seems determined to say “hello”, move your
dog away. For more information regarding
off leash tips, please feel free to visit the
Animal Humane Society of MN website at
www.animalhumanesociety.org. To friendly
exercising with your furry friends everyone!
PICK UP THE POOP!
Dog poop is a major contributor to stormwater pollution. Rain and melting
snow flows across yards, dog parks, down trails, etc. on its way to creeks
via our streets and storm drains. Dog poop contains bacteria and is high in
nitrogen and phosphorus. Leaving dog waste on the ground allows harmful
bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local
water bodies. In Minnesota your best bet is to:
Trash it. Seal the pet waste in a plastic bag and dispose of it in your trash can.
Biodegradable bags are fine, but they won’t break down in a landfill so our
vote is to go reused, rather than new and biodegradable.
Flush it. You can flush plain dog poop down the toilet and it will be treated at
a waste water facility or septic system. If you do this, never include a bag or
any other extra material with the poop.
Do NOT put dog or cat poop in your backyard compost pile. The temperatures
in backyard compost piles do not get high enough to kill bacteria that can
make humans sick.
DID YOU KNOW
Storm water pollution is the number 1 source
of water pollution in U.S.
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Public Works
WHERE DOES YOUR DRINKING
WATER COME FROM?
Brooklyn Center relies on groundwater for
providing drinking water to its residents. The
City owns and operates ten wells. These wells
draw water from an aquifer located several
hundred feet underground. Groundwater
aquifers are vulnerable to contamination
from human activities on the surface.
The City is working with residents to protect
drinking water supplies by implementing a
Wellhead Protection Plan. This plan was prepared
in conjunction with several local, county and state
agencies. The Minnesota Department of Health is the lead
agency for the State’s program and will assist communities
with defining wellhead protection areas and developing
plans to protect wells. Minnesota Rural Water Association, in
cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
provides technical assistance to public water suppliers to
help meet the system’s wellhead protection goals.
For more wellhead protection information, contact
Minnesota Rural Water Association or the City’s Public
Works Department.
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER?
Groundwater is the water that fills the small spaces between
rock particles (sand, gravel, etc.) or cracks in solid rock. Rain,
melting snow, or surface water becomes groundwater
by seeping into the ground and filling these spaces.
The top of the water-saturated zone is called the
“water table”.
When water seeps in from the surface and
reaches the water table, it begins moving toward
points where it can escape, such as wells, rivers,
or lakes.
An aquifer is any type of geologic material, such as sand or
sandstone, which can supply water wells or springs.
The groundwater, which supplies wells, often comes from
within a short distance (a few miles) of the well. How fast
the groundwater moves depends on how much the well is
pumped and the type of rock particles or bedrock through
which it is moving.
STREET LIGHT OUTAGES
There are over 1,600 street and park lights
located in Brooklyn Center. Some lights are
City owned and operated and some are owned
and operated by Xcel Energy.
To report a street light that is out, please see
the City’s Website at: www.cityofbrooklyncenter.
org and search Keywords: street lighting. You can also
access Xcel’s Website at: https://odl.xcelenergy.com/ODL/
OUTAGEREPORT/
Follow the link to the webpage which has a map regarding
City owned versus Xcel Energy owned street light locations,
or call the Public Works Department at 763-585-7100 for
assistance.
MOST MINNESOTANS GET DRINKING WATER
FROM WELLS
Wellhead protection is a way to prevent drinking
water from becoming polluted by managing
possible sources of contamination in the
area which supplies water to the public
well. Wellhead protection will be an
ongoing need for communities. Everyone
has an important part to play in protecting
drinking water wells; today as well as for
the future.
HOW WELLS BECOME POLLUTED
Wells become polluted when substances that are
harmful to human health get into the groundwater.
Water from these wells can be dangerous to drink when the
level of pollution rises above health standards. Many of our
everyday activities can cause pollution. Much can be done to
prevent pollution, such as wise use of land and chemicals. The
expense of treating polluted water or drilling new wells can also
be avoided. Help avoid drinking water contamination by being
an environmentally aware citizen.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR LOCAL GROUNDWATER
Recognize and manage possible sources of contamination on
your property or in your neighborhood. Use hazardous products
as directed and be mindful of proper disposal. Conserve water
whenever possible.
13 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
HELP PREVENT SANITARY SEWER BACKUPS
Recently, staff members in the Utilities
Division have been experiencing
pump failures in the City’s sanitary
sewer system due to clogging by items
not meant to be disposed of either
by flushing or in drains. In order to
minimize the risk of a sewer backup, it
is important for property owners to be
careful about items they flush and put
down drains.
Property owners and managers must
remember that just because it is
possible to get an item down sinks or
flushed down a toilet doesn't mean
it should be put there. Please adhere
to proper disposal methods. When
excessive amounts of grease or other
inappropriate waste are put into the
sanitary sewer system, they can cause
sewer lines to plug and pumps to fail.
This can lead to sewers backing up into
homes and businesses and possibly
causing serious property damage.
How Residents and
Businesses Can Help
Property owners can help keep sanitary
sewer lines clean by only disposing
of appropriate waste in the sanitary
sewer system. Some items that cause
backups are diapers, shop towels, fats,
oils, grease, cloth rags, baby wipes,
cleaning wipes, bandages, feminine
products, prophylactics and stringy
material such as floss or hair.
Please dispose of these items
in the trash so the system
continues to flow properly
and your basements and
businesses remain dry.
Also remember that even
though some products
such as baby wipes are
labeled as “flushable” it is
not appropriate to flush them.
If your sanitary sewer backs up, the
Brooklyn Center Utility Division may be
your initial source of help. If the problem
is in the main sewer line, City employees
will come out to solve the problem. This
service is available day or night, seven
days a week (including holidays) and
there is no fee for this service.
The City is not responsible for
problems in the house or the sewer
line between the main sewer and the
house. Problems in these areas are the
responsibility of the property owner.
Before you call the City, try to determine
where the problem lies. This can be
done by checking to see if the neighbor
directly across the street is also having a
problem. If the neighbor does not have
a problem and the water backs up when
you use it, the problem is likely in your
system. To repair these problems, call a
plumber or a sewer cleaning company.
If water is coming up in the house when
no water is being used, the problem is
most likely in the City main sewer line.
Contact the Public Works Department
at (763) 585-7100 between the hours
of 7 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through
Friday. During other times, emergencies
can be reported by calling 911. The
dispatcher will contact one of the City’s
Public Works employees to resolve the
problem.
Preventing Sewer
Backups
Many residential
sewer problems
can be avoided by
having your sewer
line cleaned
periodically and
taking care of what
goes into your sewer
system. Following are
the most common causes
of blocked sewers:
X Grease and Oils – Store grease in
a container and dispose of hardened
grease in the trash. Use garbage
disposal sparingly and flush with
plenty of water.
X Paper Products – (tissues, paper
towels, “flushable wipes”, etc.) Put
them in the trash, not the toilet.
These items do not dissolve.
X Lint and Hair – Screen all drains and
use a lint trap on your laundry hose.
X Tree Roots – Avoid planting trees or
shrubs over your sewer line. Roots are
the number one problem in
residential sanitary sewer systems.
If you hire a private sewer cleaning
service to remove tree roots, please
notify the City as soon as possible. A
secondary backup could occur when the
roots from the private service become
lodged in the City sewer line resulting in
either a backup into either your house
or a neighbors’ house.
Thank you for helping to keep our sewer
lines moving in the right direction!
14 FALL 2018, Edition 205
NEWS
Ci
t
y
Upcoming Heritage Celebrations
Take time to learn more about the history of ethnic
populations and how they have contributed to the culture
and heritage of our community. Here are upcoming
Heritage Celebration dates.
SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 15
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
OCTOBER
NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH
OCTOBER 6
GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY
NOVEMBER
INDIGENOUS AMERICAN HERITAGE
MONTH
SEPTEMBER 3
LABOR DAY
In observance of Labor Day City Hall is closed on
Monday, September 3.
SHARE YOUR
COMMUNITY
EVENTS ONLINE
Need a place to share your public
event with the community? The City of
Brooklyn Center’s online Community
Bulletin Board might be what you are
looking for. The Community Bulletin
Board is offered as a free public
service. For more information regarding
eligibility or to see latest updates
visit www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org/
BulletinBoard.
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT?
The City of Brooklyn Center is seeking applicants to fill
several positions. Below is a list of current openings.
Don't delay, there is still time to apply!
• Firefighter (Paid On-Call)
• Lifeguard (PT)
• Neighborhood Engagement Liaison (PT)
• Water Safety Instructor (WSI)/Water Safety
Instructor Aide (PT)
For more information visit: www.governmentjobs.
com/careers/brooklyncenter.
DID YOU KNOW
Pending List for Future Council Work Sessions
• Cities United Membership
• ADA Transition Plan
• Liquor/Public Dance
• T-21 Tobacco Regulations
• Hennepin County Library
• Rental License
The Council meets in Work Session at 6:00 pm the 2nd and 4th
Monday of the month at 6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center,
MN 55430. For details visit www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org.
City CONTACTS
Council Members
Mayor Tim Willson
Voicemail: (763) 569-3450
mayorwillson@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
Councilmember Marquita Butler
Voicemail: (763) 569-3446
councilmemberbutler@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
Councilmember April Graves
Voicemail: (763) 569-3448
councilmembergraves@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
Councilmember Kris Lawrence-Anderson
Voicemail: (763) 569-3444
councilmemberlawrence-anderson@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
Councilmember Dan Ryan
Voicemail: (763) 569-3445
councilmemberryan@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
City Manager
Curt Boganey (763) 569-3300
Printed on
recycled paper
City PHONE NUMBERS
Administration ..............................................(763) 569-3300
Community Development ............................(763) 569-3330
Inspections, Code Enforcement, Ownership Services
Public Works/Engineering ............................(763) 569-3340
Parks, Streets, Utilities ...............................(763) 569-7100
Finance .......................................................... (763) 569-3320
Utility Billing .............................................(763) 569-3390
Community Center .......................................(763) 569-3400
Activity Weather Line ...............................(763) 569-3442
Earle Brown Heritage Center .......................(763) 569-6300
Centerbrook Golf Course ..............................(763) 549-3750
Fire ................................................................(763) 549-3600
Police (General Info) .....................................(763) 569-3333
Emergency & Non-Emergency Officer Assistance ......911
City COUNCIL MEETINGS
City Council Regular Session meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7 pm.
Informal Open Forum is held at 6:45 pm before Council meetings for persons who wish to address the City Council about issues
not scheduled on the agenda.
City Council Work Sessions are held immediately following the Regular Session City Council meetings.
City Council Meetings are broadcast live on cable Channel 16. Replays shown Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and Wednesdays at 2:30 am
and 10:30 am. You may also watch City Council meetings on-line, on demand at your convenience through a link on the City
website. Call City Hall to verify meeting dates or visit the City’s website at www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org.
6301 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-2199
www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org
e-mail: info@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us
City Hall (763) 569-3300
Job Information Line (763) 569-3307
TWO TEAMS DECLARED WINNERS AT THE 2018
DUDLEY/BUDWEISER CLASSIC
Although the 2018 Dudley/Budweiser Classic softball tournament sponsored by
Easton held June 28-July 1 was rained out on Sunday morning, the tournament
was a success. After the skies opened up, there was one undefeated team in
the men’s division (Xtreme/Miken from MN), and one undefeated team in the
women’s division (Smash It/Derby Girls from Washington) declared the winners.
Many thanks go out to our sponsors, Dudley Sports, Budweiser, Easton, and Mpls.
Northwest. Brooklyn Center Crime Prevention, Brooklyn Center Little League,
and Brooklyn Center Lions and Lioness clubs benefit from the event.