The Brooklyn Park City Council approved the "Brooklyn Park 'Jewel of the North' Community Plan" during their March 10 meeting, establishing six key goals to guide the city's direction over the next five to ten years.

The comprehensive plan focuses on creating an inclusive and engaged community, maintaining public safety, ensuring equitable outcomes, developing beautiful places, fostering a thriving economy, and maintaining innovative government. City Manager Jay Strobel emphasized that the plan will serve as the organization's "true north" for strategic priorities beyond day-to-day operations.

The council also introduced six new Community Incident Intervention Specialists who will work under the police department. Police Chief Mark Ruley presented the new hires, noting that the community intervention unit is "up and running" as the city prepares for summer. The specialists bring diverse backgrounds including mental health, criminal justice, and community service experience.

In other business, the council approved a $2.90 monthly increase to recycling utility charges to fund a new organics recycling program launching March 31. Recycling Manager Tim Pratt said the rate represents the lowest organics charge of any metro city. The council also approved a joint powers agreement with Minneapolis for prevailing wage investigations and authorized community development block grant funding allocations.

The meeting concluded with council members expressing appreciation for community engagement and highlighting upcoming events, including the national Veterans wheelchair games that will use Brooklyn Park's Bowlero facility in July.