Brooklyn Park Discusses Council Travel
This week the Brooklyn Park City Council discussed the possibility of new rules to govern council member travel. This topic came up when the council discussed approving a request for council member Wynfred Russell to represent the city at an international conference in Portland, Oregon.
Currently, the city budgets $12,400 for travel. There is room in the budget for Russell’s trip, which is estimated to cost between $2,300 and $3,150. The Council must approve travel in advance, and some members questioned this trip. They questioned the subject matter, the international focus, and the fact that there aren’t enough requirements to impart information learned after the council member returns home.
“I’m not against us traveling,” said council member Tonja West-Hafner, who represents the central district. “I just think we need to sit down and figure out a procedural thing about exactly how the conferences are going to get picked, how much they can cost and what is expectation when they come back from conference.”
The council approved Russell’s trip with a 5-2 vote. West-Hafner and Mark Mata, who also represents the central district, voted against the trip.
Wynfred Russell represents the West district. He will be attending the International Making Cities Livable Conference in June.
