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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 02-24 CCM Special WorksessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 24, 2020 CITY HALL - COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM irn (SIll JI1 The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Special Work Session called to order by Mayor/President Mike Elliott at 5:47 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence-Anderson and Dan Ryan, City Manager Curt Boganey; Deputy City Manager Dr. Reggie Edwards; Finance Director Mark Ebensteiner; Public Works Director Doran Cote; Community Development Director Meg Beekman; Director of Community Activities, Recreation and Services Jim Glasoe; Police Chief Tim Gannon; Fire Chief Todd Berg; and City Clerk Barb Suciu. Also present were Representative lihan Omar and members of her staff. REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR Mayor Elliott welcomed Representative Omar and thanked her for coming to the Work Session. Representative Omar stated she feels strongly about the importance of having connected conversations and staying closely engaged with the constituents she serves. She added she plans to collectively engage in ways that can best serve the people in the constituencies she serves. Representative Omar stated she was in Brooklyn Center in 2019 for meetings related to the DED, and the struggles related to the temporary status of Liberians, to which a permanent solution has been found in the form of a collaborative amendment. She added the "Dream and Promise" Act was brought forward last year, to assist temporary status or DED status immigrant residents who want to have a permanent pathway to citizenship and residence. Representative Omar stated there has been discussion regarding an overhaul of the immigration system, to create a system that is more humane and uplifting, helping the community advocate for themselves while keeping their values and principles intact. Representative Omar stated other important issues are federal support for criminal justice reform, eliminating incarceration and dealing with the mental health opioid crises in the communities she 02/24/20 -1- serves, and support for climate change legislation. She added she introduced a piece of legislation to create a grant program for municipalities to assist in creating a zero-waste program, as many municipalities need the resources to implement these initiatives. She added she sits on the Education and Labor Committee, and the sub-committee Higher Education and Job Creation, supporting funding for training and the creation of jobs. She stressed the importance of debt cancellation for students, to enable students to get an education for free. She noted she has supported grant opportunities and federal funding for minority-owned development. Representative Omar stated municipalities have asked her to address housing as a priority issue. She added legislators worked collaboratively to come up with a plan to deal with the homelessness crisis throughout the country; to address tenant issues and landlord abuses, and how to deal with prohibiting renting or homeownership due to a criminal record. She noted legislation has been introduced called "Homes for All", which would guarantee the promise of housing for all. Federal funding of $1 trillion is being asked for this initiative, for the creation of affordable public housing and wrap-around services and support for people who experience chronic homelessness. This legislation also deals with the issue of gentrification, which would ensure that communities like Brooklyn Center have the resources to support themselves and combat gentrification, which is a direct result of development and redevelopment. Representative Omar stated she approved funding for transportation and infrastructure. She added communication infrastructure should be available to everyone, and not just the urban core communities. Representative Omar stated she is aware of the Highway 252 issue that is currently being addressed by Brooklyn Center, and it is a critical conversation and a priority. She added she has supported federal funding to make the project happen. She noted she has supported legislation to support public transportation and funding for bike lanes and walkable communities. Representative Omar stated she is interested to learn about the priorities of the Brooklyn Center community, and if there are additional items that would benefit from collaboration. Mayor Elliott thanked Representative Omar, adding she covered most of the items on the City's list of priorities. He stated affordable housing is a critical need, and he fully supports addressing that issue. He added, with regard to gentrification, Brooklyn Center is currently working on development projects that will increase home values and negatively impact residents on fixed incomes. He stressed the importance of building capacity to enable residents to be able to start and grow their own businesses in Brooklyn Center. Mayor Elliott thanked Representative Omar for her support on the Highway 252 project, Mayor Elliott stated the Brooklyn Center Police Department is actively working on mental health issues and the opioid crisis and finding ways to work collaboratively with other members of the 02/24/20 -2- community. He added the Police Department recently added a phone app for their officers that notifies them when they are within range of someone who has a mental health issue. Mayor Elliott stated the City is working on all these issues, and she is glad they are transferring to the federal level as well. Councilmember Butler stated the City's Opportunity Site development project is a huge area with the potential for some type of housing. She added she does not feel gentrification is necessarily a bad thing; however, the displacement of residents is to be avoided, not just in the Opportunity Site, but the whole City. Councilmember Butler stated tenant protection is a serious issue with support from the State and Federal governments, Councilmember Ryan stated he agrees with Councilmember Butler that the home finance provisions in the IRS Code that provides incentives for investors to support these efforts. He added he hopes Representative Omar and her staff will keep an eye on that, to ensure important support for affordable housing is not undermined. Councilmember Ryan stated Social Security benefits are important for retirees, especially for the one-third of Americans for whom it is currently their sole source of income. He added this fund will be insolvent within 15 years if revenues are not adjusted. He noted the Social Security Act appears to be a good approach to enhancing revenue streams and staying solvent. Representative Omar stated wage inequality is being discussed at the federal level, and the Minimum Wage Act was recently passed, of which she is a chief architect, raising the minimum wage to $1 5/hour. She added there is an opportunity for conversations about persistent income inequality that exists in the United States, how to address it. She noted another architect of that legislation will be in Minneapolis for a Town Hall meeting on this issue, and she invited the Councilmember Ryan to speak about what is important on behalf of constituents. Councilmember Ryan agreed as this is an issue of real concern. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson thanked Representative Omar, adding she appreciates that she sits on the Education and Labor Committee. She asked when the $15/hour minimum wage increase would go into effect. Representative Omar stated it would take effect immediately, but the bill has not passed in the Senate, although it passed in the House. She added 435 bills were sent to the Senate, and 375 bills are still sitting there. She noted she recently went to a picket line of school support staff who are making $20,000/year for a full-time job, and serious conversations are necessary with businesses and institutions about how to adequately take care of their employees. She expressed her hope that this will change. Councilmember Graves stated the issues of gun violence and domestic violence affect all communities, regardless of age, race, or how people identify. She added Representative Omar 02/24/20 -3- had mentioned "wrap around" services for chronic homelessness. She asked whether there is discussion at the federal level about increasing those types of services for victims of violence. She noted preventative measures early on could ensure that these situations do not end in arrest or loss of life. Representative Omar stated two pieces of legislation were passed recently that address those issues. The sensible gun law legislation, HR8, has passed the House and is sitting in the Senate. She added this type of legislation is not a violation of 2'" Amendment rights, but rather a way to protect the lives of vulnerable people in our communities. She noted gun violence and domestic violence will continue, and our community's most vulnerable members will continue to die because there is no productive way to adequately address the issue of guns in the United States. There is a gap between the crises in communities and the ways they are addressed by some members of Congress. Representative Omar stated advocacy is needed to address these issues in a holistic manner. She added the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is due to be re-authorized and includes a "boyfriend clause", which has caused this piece of legislation to get stuck in the Senate and has not been reauthorized. She noted resources that would go to communities to assist and protect women facing domestic violence every day is not reaching them, and the issue is not being addressed. Councilmember Graves requested clarification regarding the "boyfriend clause". Representative Omar stated domestic violence laws did not extend to boyfriends, but rather family members, so there was a discrepancy in the way relationships were identified, that the police would be able to utilize. She added this legislation has been expanded to include boyfriends, but it is not moving forward. Police Chief Tim Gannon stated the definition in legislation is whether you live with the person, are a family member or in a significant sexual relationship. Representative Omar agreed, adding many people are not protected because they do not fit into this definition, and there are people who will exploit loopholes, and continue to create vulnerability for people in the community. A resident stated his community is experiencing an increase in crime, and the majority of residents in his area are unemployed or on disability. He added one of his neighbors had his car towed, and the fee to retrieve it was $289, which the resident could not afford. He noted this is too much money to get your car back, considering the environment and economic challenges. Congresswoman Ilhan stated this is an important issue related to income and equality that must be addressed. She added many people experience hardship because they are not able to pay exorbitant fees. She noted there could be opportunities to set up a community fund. She stressed the importance of addressing income inequality and creating an equitable system. 02/24/20 -4- A resident stated Liberians are hoping that new development in Brooklyn Center will be affordable for them and that they will not be forced to leave the community to find affordable housing. He requested consideration of opportunities for Liberians to stay in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Boganey stated Representative Omar' s staff members have done a great job of keeping City Staff informed on legislative issues. He added the City partnered with Liberians in Minnesota, participating in an event and celebration in recognition and celebration of the act that Congresswoman Representative Omar was instrumental in passing through the Senate. Mayor Elliott thanked Representative Omar for her dedicated service and contributions to the Liberian immigration pathway to citizenship. He added this collaboration was initiated between OLM and the City of Brooklyn Center. A plaque was presented to Representative Omar on behalf of the City and OLM for her contribution for providing immigration pathway for Liberians. Congresswoman Representative Omar thanked the community and City Councilmembers who came and heard the conversation. She thanked the delegates for representing constituents so well. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. 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 Special Work Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 24, 2020. 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 9, 2020, Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk / Mike Elliott, Mayor 02/24/20 -5-