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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 06-14 CCM Study Session MINUTES 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 JLJNE 14, 2021 VIA ZOOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmembers Marquita Butler and Kris Lawrence Anderson were excused. Also present were Acting City Manager Reggie Edwards, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Acting City Manager Reggie Edwards noted that Councilmembers Butler is out this evening and Councilmember Kris Lawrence-Anderson is out with a family medical matter so neither will be in attendance. Dr. Edwards stated he would like to modify the Regular Session agenda to get dates and times for Listening Sessions. He reported that Common Sense is no longer available on June 26, 2021, for the Council retreat so another date and time is needed. Dr. Edwards suggested that Regular Session agenda Item lOb., Resolution Authorizing a Community Engagement Pilot Program with Community Partners for the Opportunity Site, and Work Session Item 2., Community Engagement Framework Discussion, be removed from the agenda as a result of only three Council Members being present. He explained the purpose of these items was to build consensus with the entire City Council, which cannot be achieved with the full City Council not being present. Dr. Edwards stated Regular Session agenda Item 10e, City Manager Appointment, was brought forth by Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson at the special meeting, and with only three members present tonight, the City Council may want to move that item to the next meeting. Councilmember Ryan stated in light of what Dr. Edwards has shared with the City Council, he thinks it is appropriate to move those items to the next meeting agenda. Councilmember Graves concurred. Mayor Elliott recommended also moving Work Session agenda Item 1, Commission Appointment, 06/14/21 -1- to a meeting when the full City Council is in attendance. Councilmember Ryan referenced Regular Session agenda Item lOd, Commission Appointments, and asked Mayor Elliott if he will be making appointments tonight. Mayor Elliott stated he will be making reappointments tonight, not appointments. Councilmember Ryan stated he appreciates that as it was discussed earlier and coincides with the Work Session agenda Item 1, Commission Appointments. He stated he does not have a problem if it is reappointments but if they are new appointments, he would very much like to see a resume and application. Mayor Elliott stated yes. , Councilmember Ryan stated he is fine with moving forward with reappointments to keep the Commissions staffed. The consensus of the City Council was to approve the agenda revisions as recommended by Dr. Edwards and Mayor Elliott. MISCELLANEOUS NEXT BUDGF.T MEETING Mayor Elliott noted next budget meeting is scheduled for Monday,July 5,which is the observance of Independence Day. He asked the City Council whether there is another day that same week that would work for this joint budget meeting. Councilmember Ryan stated he would be fine with Tuesday, July 6, as he wants to get things rolling promptly. Mayor Elliott asked if Wednesday, July 7,would work as well. Councilmember Ryan replied that either would work as his schedule is pretty flexible. Councilmember Graves stated she is not 100% sure but Wednesdays are usually better than Tuesdays in the evening. Mayor Elliott noted two members are not present but asked staff to look tentatively on the evening of Wednesday, July 7, 2021. He asked the City Clerk if she would confirm that date with the other two Council Members. City Clerk Barb Suciu stated she will do that. Mayor Elliott stated if Wednesday, July 7, does not work, maybe they will look at Thursday, July 8. He asked Council Members to check their calendars. Dr. Edwards stated he will ask Finance Director Mark Ebensteiner to communicate with the Financial Commission, as this is a joint meeting, to make sure Wednesday, July 7, 2021 works for 06/14/21 -2' them as well. LISTENING SESSIONS WITH CITY STAFF Councilmember Ryan asked who would have the preferred dates for the two upcoming Listening Sessions with City staff. Dr. Edwards stated he put the dates in the last Weekly Update but there has not been much feedback from staff. He noted this week will not work but he would like to propose Monday,June 21, 2021, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. or Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. He also asked the City Clerk to verify that no other meetings are occurring during these two times. Councilmember Graves stated her preference for June 23, 2021. Councilmember Ryan stated he could make either of the dates work as his schedule is flexible. Mayor Elliott stated June 23, 2021 works for him as well. Dr. Edwards stated the second date would be Thursday, June 24, 2021, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. He explained he would like to offer staff a morning opportunity and an evening opportunity. Mayor Elliott stated he has another commitment on June 24, 2021, at 9 to 11 a.m. so he would need to leave by then at 9 a.m. He stated if that date works for everyone else,then we should make it work. Otherwise, that Friday morning works for him as well. Councilmember Graves stated on either day, she has a 9 a.m. work-related commitment. Dr. Edwards suggested using a timeframe of 8 to 9 a.m. Councilmember Graves stated she would be available earlier and if they could be done by 9 a.m., that would work for her. Dr. Edwards asked about a timeframe of 7:30 to 9 a.m. Mayor Elliott stated that would work for him. Councilmember Graves stated that will work for her but she would appreciate a reminder. Councilmember Ryan stated June 24 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. works for him. Dr. Edwards stated he will work with Councilmembers Butler and Lawrence-Anderson to determine if these two dates and times will work for them. DISCUSS CHAT FEATURE ON ZOOM REMOTE MEETINGS Councilmember Ryan asked if the City Council reached a consensus on what it wanted to do about the chat feature on Zoom remote meetings. 06/14/21 -3- Mayor Elliott stated the City Council had that discussion a few times now and it is probably one that should be revisited. Councilmember Ryan noted it may be better to revisit when all on the City Council are present. Mayor Elliott concurred. Councilmember Ryan stated he was unclear about this and appreciates Mayor Elliott verifying it is still an open issue that can be pursued at another time. Dr. Edwards stated staff will bring this topic back as well as a conversation as it relates to when the City Council will go back to meeting in person, and how that will be structured. These two topics will be on the next meeting agenda. Mayor Elliott stated they are looking at a hybrid system so members who have to be remote can still participate. Dr. Edwards stated on that issue, working and operating virtually was permitted primarily during the COVID state of emergency but State Statute prohibits the City Council and Boards from operating virtually. He explained the meetings can be offered virtually as it relates to public accessibility so more can access and participate at City Council meetings. However, it would not serve as a means for Council Members to regularly participate without being present. He advised that State Statute is fairly strict around that as it relates to emergencies or vacations but it is very limited in being able to conduct Council business from a distance. Mayor Elliott thanked Dr. Edwards for that important clarification. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS Mayor Elliott noted the City Council had determined to reschedule the two items on the Work Session agenda to a time when there is a full City Council. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 6:23 p.m. 06/14/21 -4- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COLJNTY 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 June 14, 2021. 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 June 28, 2021, Regular Session. /- -/ _ C ,� Barbara Suciu, ity Clerk ike Elliott, Mayor 06/14/21 -5- reliant on an expensive car so they can live a more prosperous and healthy life and feel more connected to their community. Mr. Dresdner stated in general, the land use plan proposes two land uses: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as well as business mixed-use. He displayed a map showing three-quarters or two-thirds of this site is TOD and one-quarter to one-third is business mixed-use. With TOD, the land use is defined in the City's Comprehensive Plan and supported by the Met Council's significant investments in its C & D line that comes up next to the site. TOD is often associated with housing but the outcomes of TOD development patterns are as much about creating neighbors and center of the community as they are about creating just housing. Mr. Dresdner noted there is great demand for housing so they have created a framework that will allow the City to leverage its stake in its properties to pursue these important housing goals. The TOD land use will also support gathering spaces, community amenities,retail, and services for residents,which are other essential elements to a healthy neighborhood and a vibrant center to the community. Mr. Dresdner displayed a proposed TOD land use map of the subject site, noting it is primarily housing with uses mixed in such as neighborhood parks(one being the Three Rivers Park District's park) as well as smaller areas for small commercial. The main street in the middle of the site would be John Martin Drive and a little retail would surround the Three Rivers Park District's park. He explained these uses for walkable and healthy mixed-use neighborhoods can be codified into the Zoning Code as the City moves into the implementation portion of this plan. Mr. Dresdner stated they evaluated three different and possible TOD land use outcomes for the southeast segment that is 20 acres in size. The first option is a concept to attract a large regional recreation. Before the pandemic, it was a promising proposition but also an expensive option that would no doubt have required a regional and potentially State lift to get it done. Since then, the pandemic put a damper on this option due to economic uncertainties,so while it is still a possibility, they don't believe it is a near-term possibility. Mr. Dresdner stated the second alternative is business mixed-use. He noted the City receives regular inquiries from potential developers on locating employers and jobs to the site. This may be due to its central location in the region, access to regional roadways, and probably and most importantly, its proximity to the nearby workforce. They think this segment could become a business mixed-use area; however, not in the way that business parks were and currently are built around many suburban areas in the region. They think it would support the creation of a strong neighborhood because it could attract jobs for the people who live in the community and Opportunity Site. If done correctly,this type of land use will help support additional goals related to sustainability, entrepreneurship, and access to living-wage jobs all indirect and immediate proximity to the TOD area. Instead of being separated like many business parks,they think it can be done close and still achieve certain sustainability goals. For example, if done correctly, the rooftops of the buildings can be green rooftops or solar rooftops to help power the entire area and lower the cost of energy for everyone in a clean way. This concept can also work well with stormwater systems. Mr. Dresdner stated design is really important with this concept. They think that business mixed- use and TOD don't need to be separated by distance and buffers but can come together and create 06/07/21 -6- a seam in the neighborhood that pulls together both living and working uses. He displayed and explained a diagram depicting this concept, noting care and concern have to be given to scale design and transitions. He stated if done correctly, it can bring living-wage jobs to the neighborhood approximate to transit and housing. Mr. Dresdner stated the third option is to extend TOD into the remaining 20 acres of the site,which would ensure uniformity of urban form but would decrease the opportunity to create a unique activity center, true downtown to Brooklyn Center, community gathering, and access to jobs as it would be dominated by housing. He stated this is not necessarily a bad thing,just a different thing and there is a tremendous demand for housing so, over time, the entire site could be used for housing. Mr. Dresdner stated the goal with open parks and space is to create an inside-out city where the life and pulse of the city are outdoors and shared by all who live and visit here. That means creating high-quality all-season parks, plazas, and gathering spaces that support the broader goals of this City. The park components include the 3�-acre park funded by the Three Rivers Park District that would be a bridging or gateway park, a way to provide access to regional parks to inner-ring communities where they have none. The open space plan also has neighborhood parks for the area comprised of smaller green spaces for playgrounds, passive space, sitting, and gentle spaces for the community to come together. Another element of this Plan is a garden street that runs through the development sites and links the different neighborhoods and parks. Mr. Dresdner noted the regional greenway trail and stormwater greenway through the site. He explained this is where City life happens with high-quality public spaces where residents as well as visitars come together,mix, and mingle. Mr. Dresdner addressed stormwater and explained it is an important framework since the site is currently out of compliance and a paved over the impervious site where rainfall causes sediments and oils to be flushed into Shingle Creek. He stated stormwater is oftentimes an underground and functional layer of the City that people may not pay attention to. But they see great value in daylighting the stormwater system so it is showcased on the surface and uses rainwater and stormwater as a resource as opposed to a waste product. This framework allows the City to harness rainwater and stormwater and use it in park spaces and greenways for irrigation, habitat, and to replenish the aquifer. Stormwater would be a shared and stacked infrastructure where you can have recreation comingling with the stormwater system, which also allows parcels to develop one by one without individual and uncoordinated stormwater systems. Mr. Dresdner stated the final framewark is accessing and connectivity, noting the goal of streets is not necessarily to move but to get places and provide access and connections between places. This framework establishes the pattern of streets and pedestrian ways through the site. There are currently two or three streets through the site that result in large superblocks that worked for a development pattern of 40 years ago but not today. They want to create a development pattern that is easy to get to and pleasant to be in as well as regionally accessible with locally oriented streets for those who live there and are using the spaces. Ultimately, they want to create and establish a network that enables people to get around easily without the use of a car,if they choose. He noted the access and connectivity plan has a couple of interesting features including the garden street he described that may be lined with townhouses, and a series of other streets to break the 06/07/21 -'7- sale down so it is easier to walk around. Mr. Dresser explained when you have fewer streets, they may be very wide but when you have a lot of streets, they may be very narrow. That tradeoff is one they think is worthwhile if developing a walkable and healthy type of neighborhood or center to a community. He stated a traffic study has been started to ensure traffic works and as the City moves into implementation, an official mapping process would take place with some level of flexibility to direct property owners as to where new streets should be located as they develop sites one by one. Mr.Dresdner recapped his presentation by noting the four systems work together,work separately, and are timed for today's market and the City's goals. Ms. Beekman stated the purpose of tonight's discussion in terms of the value of the infrastructure framework, is that it does a lot of things and the timing is fairly critical. This work will not preempt additional engagement and on June 14, 2021, the City Council will discuss how the community partners and that wark will continue through a robust engagement process through the summer and fall. She stated it will address community benefits and managing displacement risks. Staff is also working with the City's partners at KIRA and the University of Minnesota on the housing study as well as working to understand how to best develop the community benefits for this site. All of that work is ongoing and will be built into the final master plan. Ms. Beekman stated the infrastructure framework provides framing for conversations to move forward as it will guide interagency coordination (i.e., Mn/DOT, Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County) on what the City needs to advocate for this site. It also helps guide early discussions and negotiations with interested parties and property owners since much of the site is privately owned and there has been significant interest but maybe for land uses that don't quite align with the City's vision. The infrastructure framework also positions the City to pursue grant funding through Hennepin County, the State, and Metropolitan Council and because this vision aligns with their goals, this project will be competitive. It also continues to inform the planning and design for the physical infrastructure. Once the framework is in place, the next step will be to refine and design those systems in a way that allows us to identify the costs, exact locations, and move the project forward. She explained it will help focus the community engagement efforts and those conversations. Ms. Beekman stated staff continues to work on updating the Zoning Code that will include the creation of new zoning districts,including TOD,to encompass this site. She explained that getting a regulatory framework around the physical component of the development is important too. Next steps include the City Council/EDA adopting the infrastructure framework at a future meeting based on tonight's conversation, staff continuing with community engagement efforts focused on implementation components, and how the vision gets delivered, (i.e., through a community benefits plan, a regulatory framework, a financial plan). Staff will continue with the planning and designing of the physical infrastructure systems, building them into the implementation section, and focus on how things such as the regional stormwater system will be paid for if installed over time as the property develops, and how the City can recoup expenses or cover expenses by the private sector. The next step is also to complete the zoning for physical development. 06/07/21 -8- Ms. Beekman stated tonight's discussion is focused on the infrastructure framework and specifically the elements presented by Mr. Dresdner and to get direction from the City Council/EDA. She noted Mr. Dresdner had laid out three options for the southeast segment of the site in terms of land uses that have already been explored and detailed in the meeting packet. Ultimately,the question is around the City Council's/EDA's level of comfort with proceeding with the infrastructure framework and moving forward. Mayor/President Elliott thanked staff and the consultants for the presentation, noting the City Council/EDA has been engaged in this work for some time. He stated this is the biggest project the City has had in a while so it is important and needs to be developed in a way to support Brooklyn Center and its residents and driven by that vision so the City is the best place to live in the State. Mayor/President Elliott stated there are a lot of moving parts and he thinks there are good aspects of this plan that speak to many things the City Council/EDA have said over the past few years including the green aspect, energy sustainability, affordability, and access. He stated before a plan is approved, he wants to see community engagement come back as he views it as making sure the community is informing the vision for this site and if that is not done, it is putting the `cart before the horse.' Mayor/President Elliott stated tonight has been a good meeting to get information and see the possibilities but before approving the plan, it is critically important to center equity. He noted several systems were pointed out and discussed, including land use and various layers, looking at outcomes and framework and features, but one system not looked at is one of systemic inequity that is one of the sticky parts of our society and more destructive. Mayor/President Elliott stated unless the right people are at the table and we are intentionally and well integrating that into this outcome framework and features in a way driven by members of our diverse community, then it is missing a very important opportunity that the City cannot afford to miss. He stated this is a once in a lifetime/generation type of project and a historic one for Brooklyn Center to build for the generation of young people at the high school that the City Council met the other day because, in a couple of years, those young people will be the adults in this community. Mayor/President Elliott stated this was a good presentation but he thought community engagement would shape the vision for the site and then the City Council/EDA would move forward. He stated it is incredibly important to get the housing study, since housing is fundamental to everything else, and so there is a good understanding of the overall vision of the site. This study will indicate the level of need and at what levels,what proportion in the plan in terms of single-family versus multi- family versus townhomes, or is it something different. He stated he is not ready to vote on a plan until he sees the engagement portion. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan referenced the three options for the southeast segment: regional recreational, business mixed-use, or extend TOD. He stated if it were the consensus of the City Council/EDA to move forward with the second option, business mixed-use, for the southeast segment, it does not preclude the other uses (TOD development or a parks element) being integrated into that. Mr. Dresdner asked whether he was referring to the southeast segment. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated probably adjacent to it because he understood from the description that it could be managed in such a way that it would mesh with or generate the creation of some favorable neighborhoods and incorporate many of the other planning values. He asked if that is a fair generalization. Mr. Dresdner stated that is correct but concerning regional 06/07/21 -9_ recreation, it has a regional scale and therefore has a big footprint. He stated a smaller recreational piece could be integrated here but initially, that was a 20-acre piece. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated that was the water park concept the City Council/EDA looked at a couple of years ago. He noted there is other green space distributed throughout the Opportunity Site that could be designed in various ways. Mr. Dresdner stated that is correct as well as in the business mixed-use area. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated the City Council/EDA could simply state to go ahead with this planning paradigm and still be flexible in terms of business mixed-use or extended TOD development and asked if that is a fair generalization. Mr. Dresdner stated he thinks so. Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan stated he thinks there has already been extraordinary community engagement going back a couple of years and many studies years before so if taking some steps to move this along, during that time, additional inclusive community engagement that is truly inclusive can take place when the City Council/EDA will hear needs, desires, and expectations from the community. But, at the same time, when looking at development concepts that currently have some traction,to take additional steps to get this going because the worst thing that could happen is if this gets drawn out long enough where there is another bump in the road with the economy and if this gets delayed again, it could be really bad. Councilmember/ Commissioner Ryan stated he would like to go forward with this four-stage infrastructure plan. Ms. Beekman stated to create some context, in terms of the business mixed-use, it is not a surprise there is a significant amount of interest in light industrial land use as it is strong now in the market. She noted Mr. Dresdner has looked at a way to capture a land use and create value on the site that a strong market demands yet carve, hone, and focus it in a way that maximizes the community benefit. When Mr. Dresdner described what it is and what this land use could be, he made a strong point to distinguish it from a typical business park or light industrial business park. This is intended to integrate much smaller footprints to create a more vibrant and walkable space that will create a strong tax base and livable wage jobs. Staff believes this is possible because of the strong market demand so the City can push that market given the visibility on this site, the proximity to downtown, location within the region, which all make this a desirable site. That will allow the City to leverage the high value and is what this concept is predicated on, an urban mixed type land use that creates a lot of value. If that is not possible, then that is not the land use the City has an interest in here. Ms. Beekman stated to Councilmember/Commissioner Ryan's point about there being other options and sites, the staff knows that TOD development and demand for housing are strong and a possibility for this area. The staff knows that having a destination where people will come to this site from other places will create a market as well and has value. She noted all of those things are part of this conversation. She asked the City Council/EDA if there is any value to be found or interest in the business mixed-use concept as defined and described by Mr. Dresdner, noting that indication would provide direction to staff as they hold conversations with interested parties. Ms. Beekman explained that achieving this vision will require a fairly significant amount of work in terms of aligning visions with the private market and bringing it to bear. 06/07/21 -10-