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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 12-09 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 DECEMBER 9, 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 8:50 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, Police Chief Tim Gannon, City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, and Mary Mullen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. XERXES/NORTHWAY ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY Police Chief Tim Gannon reviewed concerns brought to the City Council/EDA by a business owner, Mr. Lutz, in Sector 5, the City's main commercial area that has a dedicated team of Police Officers. The business owner expressed concern about loitering and foot traffic at Brooklyn Center Transit Center (BCTC), for which Metro Transit has trained officers on duty seven days a week, including both day and night patrols. He added the current coverage is a significant improvement in staffing at the location. Chief Gannon stated a foreseeable consequence of additional patrols has been that BCTC foot traffic has moved out to surrounding businesses and resulted in a dramatic increase in calls in the surrounding areas. The Police Department is aware of the problem and dispatched a patrol detail in the area of concern for 30 days. Contact was made with 33 individuals, of which 115 were deterred from loitering. Chief Gannon stated Mr. Lutz and other business owners requested removal of benches, which has resulted in an end to loitering. The business owners have been appreciative of the officers' efforts and happy with the results. The Police Department will need to ensure consistent levels of enforcement to ensure that this positive result continues. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan thanked Chief Gannon for his report, and the thorough follow-up, and the fact that Metro Transit made changes to their patrol. He added Mr. Lutz indicated that he always gets a prompt response when he contacts the Police Department. 12/09/19 -1- Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan asked whether Chief Gannon is still considering his earlier recommendation of the addition of two patrol officers. Chief Gannon confirmed this, adding it is important to note that the Police Department is currently at its full complement of 49 sworn Officers. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated many of the people loitering at the Transit Station are young people, as evident in the video presented by Mr. Lutz. She added youth outreach efforts might be pursued by tapping into resources within the community. She noted Brooklyn Park has a youth outreach team, and the Minneapolis Police Department has Youth Officers and Community Navigators. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated it would be helpful to consider different approaches and messaging, assisting the increased police presence. She expressed concern about how this issue affects local businesses. She stressed the importance of showing human kindness in these types of situations. Mayor/President Elliott agreed, adding this could be an opportunity for outreach. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he spoke with Paul Jackson, Manager of Cub Foods, about how they patrol their parking lot. He added they encourage people to move along and only call the Police Department if someone is not cooperative. He noted there are constructive ways to approach how to get young people actively involved in activities and then encourage local businesses to support that effort. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson move and Councilmember/Commissioner Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:15 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 12/09/19 -2- DRAFT STATE OF MR TNESOTA) 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 Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on December 9, 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 January 13, 2020, Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk ike Elliott, Mayor 12/09/19 -3- DRAFT Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan asked whether Chief Gannon is still considering his earlier recommendation of the addition of two patrol officers. Chief Gannon confirmed this, adding it is important to note that the Police Department is currently at its full complement of 49 sworn Officers. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated many of the people loitering at the Transit Station are young people, as evident in the video presented by Mr. Lutz. She added youth outreach efforts might be pursued by tapping into resources within the community. She noted Brooklyn Park has a youth outreach team, and the Minneapolis Police Department has Youth Officers and Community Navigators. Councilmember/Commissioner Graves stated it would be helpful to consider different approaches and messaging, assisting the increased police presence. She expressed concern about how this issue affects local businesses. She stressed the importance of showing human kindness in these types of situations. Mayor/President Elliott agreed, adding this could be an opportunity for outreach. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he spoke with Paul Jackson, Manager of Cub Foods, about how they patrol their parking lot. He added they encourage people to move along and only call the Police Department if someone is not cooperative. He noted there are constructive ways to approach how to get young people actively involved in activities and then encourage local businesses to support that effort. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember/Commissioner Lawrence -Anderson move and Councilmember/Commissioner Graves seconded adjournment of the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work Session at 9:15 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 12/09/19 -2- 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 Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on December 9, 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 January 13, 2020, Regular Session. W�A Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Iae Elliott, Mayor 12/09/19 -3- '