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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 03-09 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 9, 2020 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Milce Elliott at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Milce Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and I�•is Lawrence - Anderson. Councilmember Dan Ryan was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Mayor Elliott stated he will remove Item 6d, related to Highway 252, from the Regular Agenda and move it to Item 1 Ob. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Boganey requested the City Council's consideration of two potential meeting dates. Both meetings would be held from 6:00 — 6:00 p.m. Meeting attendees should arrive by 5:45 P.M. Mr. Boganey stated the meetings are with the School Board, and Common Sense. He added potential dates identified by City Staff are March 30, April 6, April 20, and May 4. He noted other dates can also be considered. Mr. Boganey asked the City Council to indicate their meeting date preferences for him to tally the results. He added the dates of Apri16 and May 4 are the preferred dates. City Clerk Barb Suciu stated the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2020. Councilmember Graves gave the City Council copies of a Resolution of support and requested their consideration. Councilmember Graves left the Study Session at 6:12 p.m. She noted she would return soon. 03/09/20 -1- Mr. Boganey asked whether the dates of April 20 and May 4 would work. Ms. Suciu stated April 20 is the alternate date for the Board of Equalization. She added all Mondays in April are taken. Mr. Boganey stated the School Board meeting will be scheduled for May 4, 2020, and a date will be sought for the additional meeting. Mr. Boganey stated a webinar, hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities, will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., on the topic of coronavirus. Information will be provided for cities regarding what impact the coronavirus will have on the community and how to mitigate its effects. He noted City Councilmembers are welcome to attend. Councilmember Butler asked whether City Staff have a plan in place for when to cancel City events and take other actions related to COVID4 9. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff will follow the lead of Hemiepin County's declarations. He stressed the importance of being in sync with Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota, in terms of declarations to initiate specific acti Hons. Mayor Elliott stated the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cities and government organizations and how to respond to COVID-19. Mayor Elliott stated he received a request from the Alliance for Sustainability for the City to participate in a grant application for the development of a sustainability plan for Brooklyn Center. He added the City is looking into forming a sustainability Commission. He noted a conference is planned that City Staff and Councilmembers may want to attend, which will address sustainability efforts and how cities can develop a sustainability plan. Mayor Elliott stated he invited the Alliance's Executive Director to address the City Council at an upcoming Regular Meeting. He added the Alliance is focused on implementing sustainability standards that can help cities meet their overall energy goals. Mayor Elliott stated he spoke with Tom Fisher, University of Minnesota Design Center, about addressing the City Council regarding the Design Center's work enhancing sustainability in communities that are actively under development. Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson stated she spoke with Emily Anderson, Minnesota Non - Smokers Association, as well as a representative of the American Heart Association, regarding new initiatives that other cities have undertaken in terms of tobacco -related Ordinances. She added Golden Valley has initiated new legislation, and other cities are limiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. She noted these individuals would like to address the City Council on this issue and provide additional information. Councilmember Butler stated, in January 2020, she brought to the City Council's attention the work of the Twin Cities Cohesion Initiative. She stated a consensus was reached to invite the Cohesion Initiative to address the City Council at an upcoming meeting. 03/09/20 -2- Mr. Boganey stated he does not recall that there was a consensus on this issue, but it was reviewed by the City Council to be possibly added to a City Council agenda. Mayor Elliott stated it should be added to the calendar. Mayor Elliott requested an update on the previously discussed letter of support for the Alliance for Sustainability. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff is looking at it and doing some research, in terms of how the letter of support will fit into the City's work plan for 2020, and whether staff requirements can be met. Mayor Elliott stated his understanding is that the City's commitment would be in terms of staff time and leadership, and an emphasis on outreach to communities in Brooklyn Center, Mr. Boganey agreed, adding the letter of support would represent a commitment on the part of the City. He added the Initiative would help the City accelerate its goal of improving Green Step standing. He noted he wants to get City Staff s perspective. Mayor Elliott asked whether there is City Council support for the grant application, for which the cost would be City Staff time, to move forward with the partnership with Alliance for Sustainability. Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson asked whether there will be an actual cost to the City. Mr. Boganey stated there is the assumption that there will be some costs based upon recommendations that will come out of the report and the work that City Staff will do to meet the recommendations. Mayor Elliott stated he has a sample letter of support from the City of Maplewood. He requested that City Staff look into getting some dates for these presentations. Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson asked whether the City Council will be purchasing a table at this year's prayer breakfast. Mr. Boganey stated the City Council has never purchased a table. Mayor Elliott asked whether a City Councilmember could be reimbursed if they attend such an event. City Attorney Troy Gilchrist stated the use of City funds for reimbursement must be related to official roles and duties. He added government officials over the years have increasingly avoided reimbursement from City funds. He noted he would caution against it. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 6:45 p.m. 03/09/20 -3- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROW LYN 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 Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on March 9, 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 23, 2020, Regular Session. Mayor 03/09/20 -4-