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Home My WebLink About2020 07-13 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROW LYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION DULY 13, 2020 CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 3000 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Counciimembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence - Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Public Works Doran Cote, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist, CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember Ryan requested, under Agenda Item 6b, that the Resolution recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday be read in its entirety. Mayor Elliott stated that will be added as Agenda Item l0a under Council Consideration Items. Mayor Elliott requested that a new Agenda Item lOb be added to discuss the June 8, 2020 meeting minutes. MISCELLANEOUS Testing of the Webex Muting S s City Manager Curt Boganey stated City Staff has reviewed online meeting protocol, as a resident indicated that they were unable to unmute themselves throughout the City Council's last meeting. He added, as a matter of protocol, anyone who has joined the meeting will be asked to test their ability to unmute their microphone. He noted City Staff will be able to identify whether the system is functioning properly. Mr. Boganey stated anyone who is unable to unmute could be instructed to add a note in the chat function or send an email to the City Clerk. He added this is not currently included in the meeting opening statement, but it will be added for future meetings. Schedule Work Session to Follow Up from Attorney General's Report Mr. Boganey stated the City Council's recent Work, Session included a presentation from Elizer Danis, a local activist and member of Attorney General Keith Eliison's Police Violent 07/13/20 -1- Encounters Taslc Force and related outcomes. He added the City Council agreed to hold a related Work Session on this issue. He noted one of the additional meeting dates that the City Council added to their schedule might be appropriate. City Cleric Barb Suciu stated September 8, 20205 is the next additional meeting date. Mayor Elliott stated perhaps there is a date over the next few weeks. He suggested July 21, 22, or 29. Councilmember Butler stated the online City Calendar is showing City Council meetings every night next week, July 20-23, including a joint meeting with the Financial Commission, Mr. Boganey stated the only meeting next week is on Monday, July 20, 2020, with the Financial Commission. Ms. Suciu confirmed this. There was a majority Consensus of the City Council to hold a Work Session to review the Police Policy presentation on July 22, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Schedule Work Session on Shopping Center Cleanliness Mr. Boganey stated Councilmember Butler requested that the City Council schedule a Work Session regarding shopping center cleanliness. Councilmember Butler expressed concern about trash which is not something new as she has brought it up several times. She added she has also noticed a lot of comments on Facebook about trash. She noted she would like to spend some time thinking through creative long-term solutions, especially malting businesses more accountable for keeping their property clean. Councilmember Butler stated some stores have employees that go out and clean their properties, but others do not. She added the City cannot depend upon the people who own the development, although the problem is not only in Shingle Creek Crossing, and trash is a problem all over the City. She noted the City has spent a lot of money on revamping its image, and this is an image factor that has yet to be addressed. Councilmember Butler aslted whether the City Council would support being fiirner on requesting businesses to deal with trash and garbage. She added she does not want to discredit the work that has already been done that the City Council is not aware, of. Mr. Boganey stated this issue could be addressed at one of the City Council's upcoming Work Sessions. He added City Staff has information and recommendations for the City Council to consider. Mayor Elliott stated he supports Councilmember Butler requesting this Work Session as it is very much needed. He added a group of citizens volunteer to clean parts of the City regularly, and businesses should be doing that themselves. He noted this goes beyond commercial 07/13/20 -2- properties, as there are also residential areas where trash collects. He agreed it is important to come up with a strategy for how to deal with how to keep the City clean. Councilmember Graves stated she would like to see what other cities are doing. She added she knows some cities have local students do clean-up in residential areas. She noted she is concerned about the condition of the road near Auto Zone. Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson stated she agrees with Councilmember Graves and thanked her for bringing that up. She added there are potholes that are 2 feet in diameter in the roadway From Brooklyn Boulevard into the parking area. She noted she is unsure who is responsible for that area but it could be very dangerous and should be addressed. Mr. Boganey stated the City is not responsible for roadway maintenance on private property, but there may be some action that can be taken from a regulatory standpoint. He added City Staff can share ideas and suggestions with the City Council regarding clean-up on private property which is easier to address. He agreed to provide more information on this issue at the City Council's next Regular session. Mr. Boganey stated the City has not hired the usual number of parks employees this season due to budgetary constraints, so that may be a factor in terms of cleanliness in the City's parks. He added City Staff can look into that to see what can be done. Councilmember Graves stated the Parks Commission may have additional knowledge about which parks and areas need to be cleaned up. She added Commissioners could engage with Parks seasonal employees to strategically focus on these areas. She noted this may be the most efficient and effective way to do parks clean-up. Mr. Boganey stated he hoped that the City's full-time Community Engagement staff can be supplemented with some part-time employees. He added community engagement efforts in the City's neighborhoods were interrupted by the pandemic. Councilmember Ryan expressed his appreciation to Councilmember Butler for taking the lead on this issue. He added Councilmembers all share the same concerns about the appearance of the City and implications for its image. He added he has been involved with the Lions Club for many years, and he could advocate for a parks clean-up effort to be organized by the Lions. Mayor Elliott stated the City Council can all play a role in this solution. He added he is excited for the discussion. Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Boganey whether he would like to receive emails from the Councilmembers with suggestions and ideas before the discussion. Mr. Boganey agreed, adding City Council ideas and suggestions are welcome. Power Outage 07/13/20 -3-