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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 11-25 CCM Work SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WORK SESSION NOVEMBER 25, 2019 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Mike Elliott at 9:21 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor/President Mike Elliott and Councilmembers/Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence -Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Police Chief Tim Gannon, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. UPDATE FROM POLICE CHIEF GANNON — CRISIS INTERVENTION METHODS Police Chief Tim Gannon stated the City Council had requested additional information regarding mental health response. He added he gave a presentation on this issue to the City Council in June 2019, and some key questions were raised. Chief Gannon reviewed crisis intervention methods and training, including COPE, a system involving embedded mental health workers. He added other cities had issues with how calls are coded. The City of Brooklyn Center has Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) -trained officers and a crisis negotiation team and engages in monthly in-depth online training. The Police Department has seen a marked difference in law enforcement's perception of and reactions to people with mental health issues, and this is still evolving. Chief Gannon stated officers have access to a phone app called "Vitals," which allows them to obtain information and notices regarding individuals with mental health issues to de-escalate situations. He added use of this app has been successful, as the individuals update the app themselves regarding their diagnosis and ways to support them. Chief Gannon stated the city of St. Louis Park has engaged in a public relations campaign to get more people in the community to use the beacons, and the Brooklyn Center Police Department is in contact with COPE to find out how they can help support the City's officers, including embedded social workers. He added many cities are reporting some success with these efforts, including a decrease infrequent callers. 11/25/19 -1- Chief Gannon stated he intends to pursue the social worker program, and continue efforts to have the entire Police Department trained in CIT. Mayor/President Elliott asked what the cost would be for an embedded social worker. Chief Gannon stated the City would only consider a seasoned social worker with benefits, so approximately $60,000. He added he hopes there is the possibility of partnering with another agency. Mayor/President Elliott asked about the cost of the phone app. Chief Gannon stated the app was free until a few months ago, but Vitals is now billing on a sliding scale. He added there are different levels within the app, and it is a one-time fee of approximately $20. An in-service training was conducted for the Police Department, but it is more of an awareness issue. He added the City engaged in a 3 -year contract for a total of $5,000 per year and is currently enrolled in Vitals, although the officers do not have the app on their phones yet. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan thanked Chief Gannon for his presentation. He added he supports the concept and understands Chief Gannon will work out the details. He said he is pleased that Vitals is going to be used, as he saw a demonstration on cable television of the City of Plymouth's use of the app. He asked whether the funding will affect the Police Department's request for additional officers. Chief Gannon stated that is a separate request. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated she is pleased with this progress, and she likes the idea of having an embedded social worker program, which addresses the need for extra services with an approach that is not law enforcement. She added she likes that the officers are getting trained in CIT. She requested a copy of the new "hold" form, and whether Chief Gannon created it. Chief Gannon confirmed this and agreed to provide copies. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson thanked Chief Gannon for his report and his eloquent communication regarding recent suicides. She commended Chief Gannon for taking on a leadership role in malting sure that the Police Department staff know what resources are available to them. COUNCIL MEETING DISCUSSION Councilmember/Commissioner Butler stated she does not support moving the meetings to Tuesday nights as there are many other events and activities, and some Commission meetings would have to be changed. She added she agrees it would be helpful to have additional time to get more information about important issues that will be reviewed at upcoming meetings, and she would support receiving the meeting packet a day earlier. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler stated she has a tough time with the 11:00 p.m. meeting end time. She added it has a negative impact on her family and also presents safety issues when 11/25/19 -2- leaving the building at such a late hour. She said she is not opposed to having an additional Work Session as required. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson stated she does not support having a third meeting every month. She added the issue is how to be more expedient and tone down the volume and length of the current meetings. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated the Opportunity Site Work Session was not well-run and included residents who were invited to participate in the dialogue. He added he would like to see an improvement in the way the City Council's Work Sessions are conducted. He noted it might be appropriate to add an additional Work Session, as needed, as long as they are run more efficiently. Councilmember/Commissioner Butler stated she would support rolling back the cut-off meeting time from 11:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson stated she does not have an issue with the timing of the meeting packet, but she is okay with whatever is decided. Mayor/President Elliott asked whether there was an indication that an additional meeting would be beneficial for City Staff. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff have indicated that an additional Work Session would be favorable if it reduces the length of the City Council meetings. Mayor/President Elliott stated the additional meeting would just be focused on Work Session items and would not be another City Council Regular Session meeting. Mayor/President Elliott stated the City Council meetings could be started earlier, and Work Sessions would not be held on the same night. There was a majority Consensus of the City Council to change the City Council meeting cut-off time from 11:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Mayor/President Elliott stated he is okay with reconsidering this at another time. He added he understands that adding an additional meeting every month is a lot to ask. He requested that the City Council consider this further. There was a majority Consensus of the City Council to instruct City Staff to distribute meeting packets on the Wednesday before City Council meetings. Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson stated she would support having extra Work Sessions as needed, as there will be a lot of additional work coming soon, but she does not support setting policy about it right now. She added the first Monday of the month would be the best option. 11/25/19 -3- Mr. Boganey stated the City Council could commit to putting a limit of 2 hours on every City Council meeting, and an additional Work Session meeting if necessary. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he provided copies of the Minnesota League of Cities Magazine article in 2019 entitled "Strategies for Successful City Council Meetings. " He recommended that the City Council and City Staff read this article. He asked why the City Council should continue to have ineffective Work Sessions, with the solution of adding more ineffective Work Sessions. He said this issue could be reviewed at the City Council's upcoming retreat in 2020. He noted this issue was discussed, and consensus was reached. He expressed frustration that the discussion should not be continued after arriving at a consensus. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he could support having an additional Work Sessions as needed, and receiving the meeting packet one day earlier. Mayor/President Elliott stated he supports the idea of limiting City Council meetings to two hours. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated she is skeptical that it was possible, especially when conversations go on too long. She agreed with Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan that the discussion should end when consensus is reached and should not be discussed again. Mayor/President Elliott stated this issue could be discussed at a later date. HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK DISCUSSION Councilmember/Commissioner Graves moved, and Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence - Anderson seconded to table the Housing Policy Framework discussion. Motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson moved, and Councilmember/Commissioner Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 10:12 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 11/25/19 -4- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Cleric of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on November 25, 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 December 9, 2019, Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Mike Elliott, Mayor 11/25/19 -5-