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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 12-14 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 DECEMBER 14, 2020 CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Kris Lawrence -Anderson did not respond. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Police Chief Tim Gannon, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Elliott stated the first agenda item, "Regular Session Agenda Items", would be addressed after "Miscellaneous". CONTINUATION OF RETREAT PHASE 2 WITH COMMON SENSE CONSULTANTS City Manager Curt Boganey stated the City Council, after a 2-day retreat early in 2020, had expressed a goal of pursuing their work and additional coaching with Common Sense Consultants. He added Common Sense, the retreat facilitator, is interested in continuing that discussion with the City Council. He asked requested feedback and comments from the City Council on this issue. Councilmember Butler stated she thinks it is a good idea. She added she felt refreshed after the retreat and supports revisiting some of the issues that the City Council has experienced over the past year, learn ways to work through such issues, move forward, and be more productive. Councilmember Graves agreed. She stated she is ready to re-engage in some of that work. She noted the community has been through a lot since the first City Council retreat and is ready to reinvigorate that practice and go a little deeper, addressing issues and moving forward. She added she supports continuing the City Council's work with Common Sense. Councilmember Ryan stated he agrees with his fellow Councilmember's remarks. He added the dynamics of virtual meetings are positive in many ways but also challenging, and there may be more work to be done. 12/14/20 -1- Mayor Elliott asked for a response from Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson. There was no response. OATH OF OFFICE FOR JANUARY 2021 Mr. Boganey requested the City Council's consideration of swearing in the two returning City Councilmembers in January 2021, either virtually or in person observing social distancing measures. He requested feedback and comments from the two City Councilmembers who will be sworn in. Councilmember Butler stated she is fine with either in person or virtual meeting, but she would prefer to do it in person if possible. She added, however, she wants to be respectful of City Staff and their safety, and whether they are comfortable with an in -person swearing in ceremony. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff can accommodate either virtual or in person swearing in, depending upon the City Council's preference. Mayor Elliott stated Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson had not yet joined the meeting to provide her comments. He added City Staff can reach out to her to get her thoughts. 2021 MEETINGS ZOOM VS WEBEX Mayor Elliott made comments but was not audible. He made a statement regarding City Council meetings, which are currently held via Webex. He stated many residents have confirmed that they prefer Zoom. Councilmember Butler stated she has not been able to access Zoom meetings on her City -issued tablet. She added it will be necessary to ensure that the City Council's tablets are capable of uploading Zoom meeting videos. Councilmember Ryan stated Zoom has been giving him problems, and Webex is easier to use. He added he is unable to upload Zoom meetings to his tablet, but he has no problems getting into Webex meetings. He noted his preference would be that the City Council uses whichever platform works best, but he is happy with Webex. He asked whether IT staff could figure out why Webex is not working for Mayor Elliott. Mr. Boganey stated, if the City Council chooses to go forward with Zoom, IT staff can ensure that everything possible will be done to make the transition back to Zoom as easy as seamless as possible. Councilmember Graves stated she is having a hard time hearing Mayor Elliott. She added she is unable to get Zoom on her tablet. She noted she does not care very much either way, but she does not have Zoom. Mayor Elliott stated he would like to switch to Zoom, as it is easier to use and provides a better way for residents to connect to City Council meetings. 12/14/20 -2- Councilmember Ryan stated it would be easier for IT to fix the Mayor's Webex technical issues than to switch the other Councilmembers' tablets back, to Zoom. He reiterated his support for whatever works for everyone and is user-friendly. Mayor Elliott stated IT can easily put the app on tablets remotely. He added let's do a trial run with Zoom. DISCUSSION ON RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE MINNESOTA ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITIES OF AFAR, OROMO, SOMALI AND TIGRAY Mayor Elliott requested the addition to the Regular Session Agenda of a Resolution expressing support for Minnesota's Ethiopian communities. He added this item is a proposed Resolution supporting advocacy in the community with other elected bodies to support an end to violence in Ethiopia and a return to peace talks. He requested this item be added as Agenda Item 1 Ob. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS EDA Cancelled Mr. Boganey stated the Work Session item related to Ocean Buffet has been removed. City Clerk Barb Suciu confirmed this, adding the EDA meeting has been cancelled for this reason. Mayor Elliott asked why the item was pulled. Mr. Boganey stated interested parties had last minute questions that require resolution. Regular Session Agenda Item 6f — Juvenile Probation Client Delinquency Prevention Initiative Councilmember Graves requested clarification on Consent Agenda Item 6f, related to juvenile females. Police Chief Tim Gannon stated this agenda item relates to a proposal for an agreement with the cities of Brooklyn Park and Crystal with funding from Hennepin County, to review a wholistic process for diverting runaway juvenile females into support services. Councilmember Graves thanked Chief Gannon. She stated she would like to learn more about that initiative when it is up and running. Chief Gannon agreed to provide more information. City Council Book Club Councilmember Graves stated, as a reminder, the City Council's book, club meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 16, 2020. She added she has been missing some of her fellow Councilmembers in those meetings. She noted she hopes to see more of the City Council present at the meeting as they finish discussing the book. 12/14/20 -3- Mayor Elliott stated it is difficult for him with his schedule to attend the book club meetings. He added it is an important discussion, and he will try his best to make it. Councilmember Ryan stated he has attended all the book club sessions, but he has a more flexible schedule than other Councilmembers. He added he appreciates all the comments of the participants during book club sessions. January 4, 2021 Work Session Mr. Boganey stated the date of January 4, 2021 has been set aside as a non -regular City Council meeting to address any broad work session item. He added City Staff would like to suggest a discussion on the Opportunity Site development. He noted the City Council had considered a continued discussion regarding a potential police review commission. He asked for feedback and comment fiom the City Council on this issue. Mayor Elliott stated he has been in conversation with the people who can facilitate the police review board discussion. Consent Agenda Items Mayor Elliott requested that the Consent Agenda item related to coronavirus relief fund expenditure report be moved to the Regular Agenda. Mayor Elliott requested that Consent Agenda item related to setting salaries also be moved to the Regular Agenda. City Cleric Barb Suciu stated, for purposes of clarification, that Agenda Items 6n and 6g would be moved to Items 1 Oc and 1 Oc. Mayor Elliott agreed. Tobacco -Related Issues Councilmember Ryan stated the City Council reviewed tobacco -related issues at their November 23, 2020 meeting, including a license for a hookah lounge for Jambo Africa, and potential restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco. He asked whether there was a consensus among the City Councilmembers to revisit those issues as soon as City Staff deems it reasonable, and the economy is no longer distressed due to the pandemic. He added he supports restrictions on tobacco sales to youth and prohibiting the possible issuance of another hookah lounge license. He noted a recent hookah license was approved by the City Council as a matter of regulatory fairness. Mayor Elliott the consensus was that the City Council was interested in revisiting this issue when things have settled down, and the economy is more normal. Councilmember Ryan agreed that was his recollection. Mr. Boganey agreed that was his recollection, but a date was not set for that discussion. He asked whether the City Council would like to set a time frame for addressing that issue. 12/14/20 -4- Councilmember Ryan stated the hookah lounge aspects of the licensing ordinance can be addressed sooner, and the flavored tobacco issue can be addressed later. He added the City Council had discussed the fact that it would be unfair to prohibit the use of tobacco with increasing prices and limiting products, which are seen to be a stress reliever, during a very stressful time. Mayor Elliott stated a comprehensive discussion is in order regarding hookah lounges, flavored tobacco and the number of tobacco licenses. Councilmember Graves stated she is not clear on what further discussion is needed specific to hookah lounges, but she is willing to discuss it sooner rather than later, which is in line with Councilmember Ryan's recommendations. She added, to be honest, neither discussion feels very urgent to her right now. Snow Ememencv Ordinance Mayor Elliott stated he has received feedback from residents who have had their car towed when they parked their car on a City street during a snow emergency. He added this can have negative effects on people's lives and financial situations and raises issues of fairness in terms of which neighborhoods get plowed first. He requested a review of the snow emergency Ordinance, and consideration of removing the Ordinance. Councilmember Graves stated she is open to discussing this issue again, which was reviewed before Mayor Elliott tools office, and she abstained from voting as there was not enough information to come up with equitable outcomes. She added she has not had any residents who have told her that they have been towed, but she knows residents who have had their cars removed from parking lots at apartment complexes where they live and have a parking permit. She agreed this can have financial implications for people. She reiterated she is open to having this discussion, and considering all the related issues. Councilmember Ryan stated Mayor Elliott's audio is cutting out a lot. He stated, in response to Councilmember Grave's comments, a resident who is being towed from a parking lot where they have a permit is a different but related issue and sounds like a failure on the part of the apartment property management operations to treat residents fairly. He added, with regard to the snow emergency Ordinance, the City Council has been made aware of the extraordinary efforts of the Police Department to assist residents in getting their cars off the streets during snow emergencies, and towing numbers have been greatly mitigated due to these efforts. He noted he is satisfied with the direction the City has gone but would be interested to hear other suggestions or examples of what can be done better to help people not get towed. Councilmember Butler stated she agrees with Councilmember Grave's statements, as she too abstained from voting when this issue was reviewed by the City Council. She added it is a hard call, because clean streets are an important priority. She added the argument that was used that was emergency vehicles needed to have access, but the report did not indicate whether that was an issue prior to passing the Ordinance. She stressed the importance of finding a solution about the lack of adequate parking around apartment complexes. 12/14/20 -5- Mr. Boganey stated he provided a report containing data and documentation regarding tows over the past few years, which indicated that the City has towed 10 unclaimed vehicles in each of the past 2 years. He added City Staff makes an exceptional effort notify residents about snow emergencies before any towing is done. He noted a new process will be implemented this winter that gives people the most generous payment terms in retrieving their car after it has been towed. He stated the City's goal is to tow as a last resort. Councilmember Graves expressed appreciation for City Staff s efforts specific to snow emergencies. She added policies are not always perfect, as it is imperative to balance needs and services in an equitable manner, and to serve residents where they are at. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 6:58 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: 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 December 14, 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 January 11, 2021, Regular Session. City Clerk 12/14/20 -6-