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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 08-24 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 AUGUST 24, 2020 CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Milce Elliott at 3000 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex. ROLL CALL Mayor Milce Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence - Anderson, and Dan Ryan. 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. -None. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS MISCELLANEOUS Use of Shipping Containers Councilmember Butler stated she forwarded an article to the City Council about an initiative in downtown Cleveland using shipping containers as affordable spaces for small businesses. She added she would support looking at using shipping containers for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Brooklyn Center. She asked if the City Council has had a chance to look at the article. Mayor Elliott stated he reviewed the article briefly, and the container shops in Cleveland looked nice. He added he did not read the article in depth. Councilmember Ryan stated he read the article and it is an interesting concept. He added, like similar innovative concepts, it would require execution and oversight. He noted often the containers themselves are rough and unattractive, and would require exterior treatments, but their robust structure would be appropriate for the uses suggested in the article. Councilmember Ryan stated this concept would require some research and vetting by City Staff, and right now their time is stretched very thin, but he would be interested in looking into it. Webex Access Mayor Elliott stated he has received inquiries from the general public who are having difficulty logging in to the meeting, as there are two separate Webex meeting notices on the online City 08/24/20 -1- Calendar. City Clerk Barb Suciu agreed to forward the meeting information to Mayor Elliott via Webex chat function. Use of Shipping Containers - continued Councilmember Graves stated the shipping containers concept is interesting, She asked City Staff for the cost of building the additional commercial space next to the liquor store, as a point of A eference, Community Development Director• Meg Beekrrran stated the shell space was constructed at a cost of $330,000. She added City Staff are working on a plan for a build -out, which would be an additional cost. She noted there are many different potential models for that space, and one concept is to provide an incubator for food entrepreneurs in a community kitchen -based model. Councilmember Graves stated she is excited about that idea, and she is not opposed to it if it is a good fit for the City and its businesses. Mayor Elliott stated it is an appealing idea that should be reviewed, to see if it can be done at a reasonable cost and provide access for small businesses. Councilmember Butler stated, in response to Councilmember Ryan's comment, the containers do look rough in their regular state. She added there is a container outside the Brooklyn Park library that has been painted and decorated by a local artist. City Manager Curt Boganey stated City Staff has reviewed the shipping container concept. He added the issue is timing and location, and when it would be appropriate to present something like that to the City Council, with all the other issues facing the City right now. He noted City Staff would be happy to bring back additional information in the future. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS HIGHWAY 252 PROJECT UPDATE Mr. Boganey requested that the Highway 252 Presentation be moved to the first item on the Work Session agenda as Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) representatives have joined the meeting and are available and ready to proceed. Mayor Elliott agreed. Mr. Boganey stated this is a follow-up presentation from the MnDOT staff presentation a few months ago. City Staff and MnDOT representatives felt it was important to communicate with the City Council about how the process is going and get further direction on issues, including goals and the engagement process. He introduced April Crockett, Chris Hoberg and Jerome Adams from MnDOT. Ms. Crockett stated the purpose of this presentation is to provide a brief update on the Highway 252 project, and request discussion regarding project goals and engagement efforts. 08/24/20 -2- Mr. Hoberg stated the environmental impact statement (EIS) process focused on four key milestones: establishing the purpose of the project and transportation needs; evaluation criteria, a scoping document to define alternatives and evaluate them for inclusion in the draft EIS to be further evaluated to a single recommended alternative; and formal documentation of the decision - making process and determination of acceptance or rejection of that alternative and the overall project. Mr. Hoberg stated there will be a lot of evaluation in the EIS, which is scheduled for publication in 2023. He added, once the decision -malting process is complete, planning and development will begin with a target of 2025 for potential construction. He noted the goals are to improve safety, mobility, walkability and bike -ability across Highways 252 and I-94, and to ensure that whatever is proposed is consistent with local guidelines. Mr. Hoberg stated the guidelines are focused on minimizing the need to acquire additional property, and to complete the project with as little social and economic impact as possible. He added any impacts that do occur must be balanced, and not disproportionately affect groups or resources. Mr. Hoberg stated another area of focus is transportation issues to be addressed in the environmental assessment. He added the intent is to broaden the language to allow for additional evaluation of transit and multiple modes rather than specific modes, which is how it is laid out right now. He noted MnDOT representatives intend to come back and give the City Council an update when a purpose statement has been prepared. Mr. Hoberg stated factors for consideration include environmental needs; driver safety; pedestrian and bike safety; and vehicle mobility. He added the "purpose and need" evaluation with partners will be under review during fall 2020, followed by a formal "purpose and need" presentation and a scoping document in October 2020. He noted the representatives plan to meet with city councils in December 2020 to review developments and alternatives. Mayor Elliott asked whether the improved safety factors are a new addition to what was previously proposed. Mr. Hoberg stated they are working from the base line of existing conditions. Mayor Elliott aslted whether there will be a review of potential multiple transportation modes on Highway 252. Mr. Hoberg stated this is the beginning point of evaluations, and the EA will provide opportunity to review pedestrian and bike safety. He added there will be opportunity in the process to expand those aspects of the plan. He noted the project goals are not a fully inclusive list, and MnDOT is looking for feedback from the City Council to ensure that project goals are in line with what the City has as its goals for the project. Mayor Elliott stated walkability and multi -modal transportation are important project goals, and he is happy to see they are included as they are ltey goals for the City. He added what he does not see on the list is a goal around the health impacts of car emissions. 08/24/20 -3- Mayor Elliott stated data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that the zip codes that encompass Highway 252 have the highest asthma rates among children and adults. He added a recent report in the Star Tribune showed that Brooklyn Center has the highest Covid4 9 cases. He noted people with respiratory illnesses like asthma are more susceptible to diseases like Covid49. Mayor Elliott stated the community of Brooklyn Center suffers disproportionately because of pollution due to the multiple highways that run through the City. He added there is a real overlap in high daily vehicle counts, traffic, Cov1d49 cases and deaths, and asthma. He noted there is a real question about the fact that Brooklyn Center is where all the highways are located, and the City needs to put the health of its residents front and center of this project. Mayor Elliott stated reducing air pollution and improving the health of the City's residents has to be one of the main goals of the Highway 252 project. Councilmember Butler stated it is time to start the Informal Open Forum. Mayor Elliott stated he would like to invite the MnDOT representatives to come to a City Council Regular Session meeting and be placed on an upcoming Agenda to give a presentation. He added this is a very important discussion, and he does not want to make the MnDOT representatives wait until after later that night to resume their presentation. Jerome Adams, MnDOT, stated they would be happy to meet with the City Council at an upcoming meet. He added they can also stay on tonight. He noted they want to accommodate whatever the City Council wants to do. Mayor Elliott stated the best thing would be for the MnDOT representatives to come back to another meeting. Councilmember Ryan stated the MnDOT representatives have indicated they are fine with staying on tonight's meeting and continuing the discussion after the Regular Session and EDA meetings. He added one of his frustrations has been that the City Council's meetings run unnecessarily long. He noted the City Council can continue this discussion later with MnDOT representatives and move forward with regard to Highway 252 goals. Councilmember Ryan stated this project discussion has been marked by delays. He added he would not want the City Council to suffer from the appearance that there is obstruction or delay in terms of moving forward on safety improvements for Highway 252. Councilmember Graves stated the City Council needs to start the Informal Open Forum as it is 6:51 p.m. Mayor Elliott stated he would like to address Councilmember Ryan's comments. He agreed to start the Informal Open Forum. Discussion of this item continued at the August 24, 2020, Work Session. 08/24/20 -4- ADJOURNMENT Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 6:52 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 Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on August 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 September l4, 2020 Regular Session. ( � ' U2L Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Elliott, Mayor 08/24/20 -5-