Brooklyn Park City Council report

By Annabel Kamalu Contributing Writer

In response to public comments regarding code enforcement, including a 2020 CCX News interview in which residents asked for increased code enforcements, resident Steve Marsoleck talked about the previous year’s action on this matter. An ongoing concern was the lack of personnel to effectively enforce city codes.

Resident Collete

Hamper said that many residents are concerned about property assessment and taxes. She made a request for formal equal opportunities in education, for both kids and adults. She said the legislature requires the school district to support low-income residents, senior programming and programming for the disabled. Hamper questioned how tax revenues were being allocated. She said Brooklyn Park has three times the number of residents, than some nearby municipalities so there should be more services than are currently provided. On another matter, Hamper said Brooklyn Park has authorized 45 Cannabis licenses, a number she described as far too huge considering the escalating drug usage.

The Council introduced four new employees with the following responsibilities:

Community Development: Seng MouaProgram assistant who will serve as Economic Development Authority (EDA) secretary

Police: Alison Arneson- Program Assistant II, Front Counter Clerk Recreation and Parks: Michelle Chang - Community events specialist

Finance: Grant Halonen - Commercial Appraiser II

The Council recognized and thanked the outgoing commissioners for their work and contribution to Brooklyn Park: Syed Husain Planning Commission, Monica Dillenburg, Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission, Maggie Borer, Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission, and Christy Sandberg, Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission

610 Corridor Development Study Scope Paul Mogush, Brooklyn Park Planning and Development Director, announced a 6-month study in the North of 610 and West of 169. They will study strategies that contribute to development between 2030 to 2040.

Tasks identified in Brooklyn Park includeTour suburban communities and high-density residential settings

Do baseline exercises on North of 610 and West of 169; putting in place infrastructure and having detailed planning for development.

In the Gateway Area, work with Real Estate Equities on their multifamily housing proposal and engage with St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church on their development plans. In the Oak Grove Station Area, re-engage with Target Corporation on their future plan for the area, learn from the existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) that is already in place. For Business Park Properties, ensure the land is developed efficiently, look at the land uses to ensure they are of high value, as well as recommend changes to the zoning district requirements.

610-Zane - engage with the community on the next version on the area’s future vision. Also, create 3 development scenarios for the remaining developable land in this area, then conduct a financial feasibility of each of the concept. The scope’s timeline runs from the date of the meeting (April 10th to November.)

Central District Council Member Boyd Morson asked about the transportation details on the 610-Zane. In response, Paul Mogush said the ongoing work to ensure the automobile systems support development in the area. However, he agreed there are other considerations to be made, and more work still in store.

After the responses, the council members approved the 610 development study scope and directed staff to conduct the study.

Land Use Application for Decatur North and South Apartments

Real Estate Equities had applied for a zoning text and map amendment. Last month, the planning commission and staff recommended approval of the following four applications; Rezoning, Preliminary Plat, Condition Use Permit, Site Plan at the Northeast Quadrant of Jefferson Highway North and Decatur Drive North Council member Morson wanted to know how they will address the issue of parking in the units for the residents. The company said that the parking ratio is around 1.8:1.8 parking spaces per unit, for both the surface parking and parking underneath, a number accommodating visitors.

Friends of the Children-Twin Cities will begin working with children ages 4 to 6 in Hennepin and Ramsey counties who identify as Black and Indigenous and have been impacted by systems like child welfare or the justice system. Each child selected will be paired with a Friend whose fulltime job is to spend four hours a week with each child holistically – at school, at home and in the community. Friends will support youth and, by extension their families, building trusting relationships through a traumainformed lens that provides critical social, emotional and academic support.

“We have taken great care to build strong relationships with community, government, nonprofit organizations and business leaders from across Hennepin and Ramsey counties to successfully launch Friends of the Children-Twin Cities,” says Buckner. “We’re excited to partner with child wellbeing leaders throughout our

By Brett Buckner Guest Commentary

It’s an accepted fact that many innovative state development projects which will improve the lives of residents require some of their funding to come from taxpayers. Most of the time, the increases are marginal and diversely spread throughout the taxpayer population, so no one feels too much of a burden.

Unfortunately for Minnesota residents, this is not one of those times.

A controversial bill is currently making its way through the state legislature, seeking to add a 75 cent tax to every delivery made in the state; whether it be food, groceries, retail goods, an Amazon package, or a custom made good from a small business. This tax is applied unilaterally to all deliveries - it doesn’t matter if a millionaire or a struggling single mother is making the purchase, both parties will pay the same 75 cent tax. This applies to the quantity of goods as well - ordering either a family size sofa or a paperback book will both incur the same tax.

The motivation behind this bill is that the tax has the potential to generate over $120 million by 2027 according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, which would go towards funding for road and transportation projects. But this sizable amount is meaningless when it is money taken directly from the hands of people who need it the most. The individuals that rely on grocery, food, and household item deliveries are not the upper middle class families we may be thinking of. In fact, it is typically historically underserved and minority communities which depend the most on delivery services and would be the most severely affected by such a tax. This is because underserved communities typically lack quality grocery and retail stores, and as such community members may find it easier to have these necessities