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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 02-10 CCM Regular SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 10, 2020 CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL CALL TO ORDER INFORMAL OPEN FORUM The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Informal Open Forum called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:45 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Kris Lawrence -Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. Mayor Milte Elliott opened the meeting for the purpose of the Infor�rrral Open Forum. A resident stated she received information regarding the Highway 252 exchange plan for 73ra Avemue. She added she understands that nothing has been decided on the Highway 252 exchange plan. She asked how much of her property would be taken, and what will be done about the elementary school where children will be crossing a very busy street. She added she does not understand how malting Dupont Avenue a 34ane road will solve anything, as there is dready a lot of traffic and speeding. She noted she understands that 252 is difficult to drive on but widening the streets and ruining a residential neighborhood is not the answer either. The resident stated overpasses should be considered, and exchanges should be placed where they malte sense, and not in residential neighborhoods. She added the Taslt Force should consider other options. Councilmember Graves aslted for the resident's name. She stated her name is Michelle Schwartz. Mr. Boganey stated, for purposes of clarification, there is not a proposal currently under consideration that would put an exchange on 73ra Avenue. He added a number of different scenarios were presented at the last City Council meeting, but there is no 73ra Avenue exchange proposal at this time. 02/10/20 -1- Councilmember Ryan asked whether the current proposal, under alternative 2, identifies 66'h Avenue as the location for the exchange. Mr. Boganey confirmed this. Mayor Elliott asked Ms. Schwartz what information she had received, and where it came from. Ms. Schwartz produced a copy of a letter she received regarding plans for exchanges at 85t1, Avenue and 73rd Avenue. She added everyone on her block received the letter, and they are confused. Mayor Elliott reviewed the letter and stated the letter was distributed by the Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park 252 Safety Coalition. He added the letter lists Mayor Tim Willson as the primary contact. Former Mayor Tim Willson, 7007 Dallas Road, stated he is part of a Coalition of residents that distributed fliers to the neighborhoods on Dupont Avenue, 73rd Avenue, and Humboldt Avenue. He added the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, and the City of Brooklyn Park is supportive of the proposed 66th Avenue exchange. He added a Task Force that was appointed to review the potential project and has expressed opposition to an exchange at 66th Avenue as 4-5 Task Force members live in that area. He noted it is bizarre and unwise to run freeway traffic of up to 32,000 cars per day down 73rd Avenue and through residential neighborhoods, which will not solve traffic problems but create them. Fohrner Mayor Willson stated he has spent many years studying this proposed project, and in his opinion, highway traffic should stay where it can flow better without diverting it through neighborhoods. He added the fliers were distributed to neighborhoods on the west side of Highway 252, to encourage residents to come forward to speak out and ask for information. He noted the Coalition is a large group of concerned residents from Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. A resident affiliated with the Task Force stated they are still gathering data on traffic volumes, and recently had a very good meeting with representatives fiom MnDOT and Hennepin County. He added it is nonsense to suggest that over 30,000 cars would be diverted daily. He noted other safety standards need to be addressed, such as the distance between exchanges, and standards for on and off -ramps. The resident stated the Taslc Force is not advocating for an exchange at 73rd Avenue, but there are concerns and problems related to a potential exchange at 66th Avenue. He added that the claim that 35,000 cars will be routed the neighborhood off of 73rd is not based on fact. Councilmember Butler stated the City Council talked about having another work session on this subject. She requested that all residents who want information and would like to attend should be sure to leave their name and contact information, including email address, so they can stay 02/10/20 -2- informed. She asked that the City Staff put the information on the City website and social media. A resident, who lives on 73rd Avenue, stated the street does not get 32,000 cars a day, and will not get much more than the current traffic of 3,000 cars a day. He added he recommends moving forward with the plan that MnDOT has proposed. He noted there is a similar exchange in Brooklyn Park at Highway 169 and 101 st Avenue, with approximately the same distances as the proposed exchange at 66Ih Avenue, John Kline, 1100 Woodbine, stated he lives close to the intersection of 73rd Avenue and Dupont Avenue. He added his biggest concern is about getting information. He noted he received the flier and he is very angry because it affects him worse than a lot of people due to the location of his home. Mr. Kline expressed concern that there are a lot of utilities in Dupont Avenue, and if it were to become the exchange, there would be a lot of traffic using it, and it will be under construction for a long time. He stated any proposal that involves 73rd Avenue should be denied right here by the City Council. He expressed concern that the plans are not feasible, and more information is required. Mayor Elliott stated there is a lot of misinformation. He added, as Mr. Boganey previously stated, there are no plans for a 73rd Avenue project at this time. He added it was unfortunate that the flier was sent out with incomplete and misleading information. Mr. Kline stated he also received a copy of a letter from the Mayor of Brooklyn Parlc to their City Council. He added a gentleman stopped by and gave it to him. He noted there will be extreme resistance from his neighborhood if 73rd Avenue becomes a viable option. He noted these types of alterations should have been done during the original construction of Highway 252. Mr. Kline stated he does not believe this proposal would even work, and he would prefer to sell out to the City before living in a neighborhood into which freeway traffic flows. Mayor Elliott stated homes and businesses would be taken if the project were to go forward at 66tt' Avenue, including the Holiday gas station. He added taking a combination of homes and businesses is a proposition that would be difficult for any City to do. He stressed the importance of ensuring that everyone has all the information, as the project will impact residents, homes and businesses, no matter where the exchange is located. Mr. Kline interrupted Mayor Elliott and expressed his frustration that the situation with Highway 252 reconstruction has been going on for many years. He added the Mayor does not have any history and does not understand what has happened in the past. He noted businesses that are affected by this will bring lawsuits against the City for taking away their business. 02/10/20 -3- Mr. Kline stated it would be better to buy out his neighborhood and make it a commercial area. He added he is close to retirement and does not want to pay taxes on this project, which was a total surprise to him. He noted Mayor Elliott should bring himself up to date on the history of Highway 252. Mr. Kline stated the project is nobfeasible at 73`d Avenue. He asked whether there is currently a plan that the cities have agreed upon. Mayor Elliott stated there is no agreement at this point. Councilmember Graves stated the process is a little over halfway complete, and an environmental review will be completed soon, followed by a public comment period. She added she appreciates all the residents who came in to express their opinion on the project. She noted she unsure about the right option and she plans to continue to learn the history of the area from community members and get advice from the experts. 2. INVOCATION Councilmember Graves offered the following quote fiom Theodore Roosevelt for the Invocation. She added she changed the masculine pronouns to make the quote more gender -neutral. "It is not the critic who counts; not the person who points out how the strong person stumbles; or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." 3. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Regular Session called to order by Mayor Milce Elliott at 7:24 p.m. 4. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Kris Lawrence -Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. 5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 02/10/20 -4- The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Butler seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda, as amended, with amendments to the Regular Session minutes of January 27, 2020, as well as the addition %J Regular Session Agenda Item 1Oa, and the following consent items were approved: 6a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. January 27, 2020 — Study Session 2. January 27, 2020 — Regular Session 3. January 27, 2020 — Work Session 6b. LICENSES INTOXICATING & SUNDAY SALE LIQUOR Minn Hotels, LLC 2200 Freeway Blvd )BA Radisson Brooklyn Center MECHANICAL LICENSE 7 Metro Heating & A/C Air Comfort Specialists Inc Amp's Future Inc A DBMr. Rooter Plumbing of the Twin Cities SIGN HANGERS LICENSE Leroy Signs Inc Brooklyn Center 55430 609 1 SOth Ave NE Ham Lake 55304 662 116th Lane NE Blaine 55434 5155 East River Rd Ste 418 Fridley 55421 6325 Welcome Ave N Brooklyn Park 55429 TEMPORARY ON -SALE LIQUOR LICENSE St. Alphonsus Catholic Church 7025 Halifax Ave N Event Date: April 18, 2020 Brooklyn Center 55429 RENTAL INITIAL (TYPE III —one yeas^ license) 6051 Halifax Ave N Oyewale Ilsanmi / Supreme Living Homes 6407 Orchard Ave N HPA Borrower 20184 MS LLC INITIAL (TYPE II — Nvo yeas° license) 3213 62nd Ave N Sara Brang /Easton Homes 6626 Camden Dr Xifeng Zhang 02/10/20 -5- 3812 Commodore Dr David Koenig 6100 Girard Ave N Peter Hoeben 5419 Morgan Ave N Nimo Ahmed RENEWAL (TYPE IV —one yeca° license) 4101 70th Ave N Paul Pham 6307 Scott Ave N Kin Chew /Urban Enterprises RENEWAL (Ti'PE III —one yecnlicense) 201 65th Ave N Riverwood Estates Riverwood Estates 6213 Chowen Ave N Nazneen Khatoon 6907 Palmer Lake Dr FYR SFR Borrow LLC - Met Action Plan 6724 France Ave N Jessica Stohl Van Elsen - Missing CPTED RENEWAL (TYPE II — tr�o yeas° license) 3808 61st Ave N Adedamola Ogundipe / Goodness & Mercy Health Services 5600 Judy Lane Nita Morlock - Met Action Plan 4201 Lakeside Ave #311 Mohamed Sagal / Guardian Property Mgt 5509 Lyndale Ave N Brett Hildreth / Dragon Property Mgt RENEWAL (TYPE I — th��ee yeas° license) 5519-23 Lyndale Ave Brett Hildreth / Dragon Property Mgt Met Mitigation Plan 2012 55th Ave N I143 Management - Met Mitigation Plan 6605 Camden Dr Calvin Johnson 5548 Lilac Dr Prosperous Property / Xian Lin 6807 Scott Ave N Gao Qiang Liu / Sam Liew 3613 Violet Ave Gao Qiang Liu / Sam Liew 6c. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-ell APPROVING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER ON BEHALF OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE MINNESOTA HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATORS TASK FORCE (MNHITF) 6d. APPROVAL OF 2020 LEGISLATIVE POLICIES Motion passed unanimously. 7. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/DONATIONS 7a. BROOKI,YN CENTER 2020 CENSUS UPDATE 02/10/20 -6- Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards reviewed the upcoming 2020 Census and related efforts, including a recent Ordinance amendment approved by the City Council to allow Census workers to have access to multi -unit housing facilities. He stated the Census count can affect political representation, community empowerment and civic ownership. A Complete Count Committee Coalition was formed with Brooklyn Center in May 2019, a key operational milestone, with training and education coordinated over the past year. The Coalition has given presentations at schools reaching over 300 local youth, and at local ARM meetings, and plans to host 15 training sessions for Census workers. He stressed the importance of building momentum as the Census Count approaches, with kick-off events beginning on February 28, 2020, Dr. Edwards reviewed the City's "Green Lights Initiative" —distributing green LED lights to renters to be displayed in their windows — which has a dual message of showing renters they are valued and important and deserve to be counted and attracting the attention of the rest of the community. He added City buildings will be "lit up" with green lights on February 28, 2020, as a way of saying the City is conscious and aware and fully active in the Census. He noted activities are planned for April 1, 2020 Census kick-off day, including working with apartment building managers to have access to renters so they can be counted. Mittens printed with "Census" will be distributed to children between the ages of 0-5, to get information back to their Families. He noted efforts are being made to get information to people who would not usually have access to it. Dr. Edwards stated the City is intentional in its efforts to reach out to all undercounted populations, be creative and consistent because the Census is important. He added the City's efforts are also unique, and City Staff have been asked to present information at other City events. Councilmember Ryan thanked Dr. Edwards for his presentation. He expressed his support for Census efforts, as all residents are important and deserve to be seen and heard. He added CDBG funding comes to the City based on its population. Councilmember Graves thanked Dr. Edwards for his comprehensive report. She expressed her appreciation that intentional efforts are being made to count all residents. She asked how many of the joint Coalition efforts are being held in and funded by Brooklyn Center, and how funding is allocated. She asked whether it would be helpful for the City Councilmembers to make messages of support. She asked how many Census workers have been hired by the federal government so far to work in Brooklyn Center. She noted she supports the partnership with Brooklyn Park but asked whether there are opportunities to partner with other neighboring communities as well. Dr. Edwards stated the Coalition has scheduled 4-5 events within Brooklyn Center, but they are not reserved for residents only. He added the City has helped other organizations complete Coalition applications, through funding from the City of Minneapolis. He noted videos from Councilmembers would be welcomed and appreciated. 02/10/20 -7- Dr. Edwards stated he would have to get information to the City Council about now many Census workers have been hired by the federal government to work in Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Butler thanked Dr. Butler for his presentation and commended him and his team for their thorough plan. Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Graves seconded to accept a Presentation of the Brooklyn Center 2020 Census Update. Motion passed unanimously. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS 8a. ORDINANCE NO. 2020-02 ESTABLISHING THE EASTBROOK ESTATES 2ND ADDITION STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT TAX DISTRICT Public Works Director Doran Cote reviewed a proposed Tax District to be established for the Eastbrook Estates 2nd Addition. He added the District, formed by development agreement, would tax the residents of the District for future storm sewer improvements, and give the City Council future options for improvements within the District. He noted a public hearing is required, and the Ordinance would go into effect after 30 days. Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to open the Public Hearing. Motion passed unanimously. No one appeared to address this item. Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember Graves seconded to close the Public Hearing. Motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 2020-02 Establishing the Eastbrook Estates 2"d Addition Storm Sewer Improvement Tax District. Motion passed unanimously. Recess and Reconvene Mayor Pro Tern Butler noted that Mayor Elliott left the Council Chambers during the previous discussion, and called fora 5-minute recess. 9. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS 02/10/20 -8- -None. 10. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS 10a. CDBG ALLOCATION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT Mayor Elliott stated the Mayor of Brooklyn Center has previously served on the CDBG Board, which allocates funding for local projects. He added he would like to appoint Councilmember Graves to the CDBG Board. He noted it is his understanding that the Committee meets until June 30 of each year. Councilmember Graves accepted the appointment. Mayor Elliott moved and Councilmember Butler seconded to appoint Councilmember Graves to the CDBG Allocation Committee. Motion passed unanimously. 11. COUNCIL REPORT Mayor Elliott stated he recently attended the Regional Council of Mayors, at which 22 cities were represented. He added most cities are concerned with affordable housing, and there was discussion about development fees associated with infrastructure. City Attorney Troy Gilchrist stated cities have imposed fees on developers to address the impact that development will have on adjacent streets and infrastructure. He added such fees have been challenged and overturned by courts as an unlawful charge, as new development may cause impacts beyond their borders. He noted it has been determined that challenges of funding for development -related infrastructure should be addressed by cities. Mr. Boganey stated it is his understanding that other types of infrastructure such as storm sewer and sanitary sewer, the City has the authority to charge the developer for some of the costs that go beyond the scope of the project, specifically related to street improvements. Mayor Elliott stated he met with the new Metropolitan Council Chair to discuss the focus on safety. He added the Met Council has a housing authority focused on the goal of availability of housing. He noted the Met Council is interested in discussing ways to collaborate with the City of Brooklyn Center on initiatives to engage local youth at the Brooklyn Center Transit hub. Councilmember Graves stated she attended the Cities United Black History Month Event held from February 7-9, 2020 at North Hennepin Community College Councilmember Graves stated she attended the Legislative Breakfast on Saturday, February 8, 2020, along with Councilmember Ryan, as well as numerous State senators, representatives, and City Councilmembers. 02/10/20 -9- Councilmember Graves stated she and Councilmember Butler met with a resident who serves on the Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee, to discuss the Freedom to Drive initiative. She added this legislative effort is an attempt to make it easier for people to get a driver's license when they do not meet the requirements of the new Real ID. She noted she would like the City Council to review this issue, which can become a safety issue for local residents. Councilmember Graves stated she and Councilmember Ryan attended a year -long training for Government Alliance for Racial Equality (GARE). She added she was selected to attend the GARE membership' meeting, representing Minneapolis as a member City,' in Portland, Oregon, from April 14-16, 2020. Councilmember Ryan thanked Councilmember Graves for mentioning the Legislative breakfast, which he attended, and it was his 13"'time attending. 12. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Graves moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded adjourmnent of the City Council meeting at 8613 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 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 Regular Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 10, 2020. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call A" +1 ce thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its February 24, 2020, Regular Session. Elliott, Mayor 02/10/20 -10-