IV.2. Minutes of the February 2, 2016 Work Session following Regular Meeting ProceedingsMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
AT CONCLUSION OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cummings called the meeting to order at 7:57 p.m. Council Members and staff present at
meeting included the following:
x Mayor Cummings x Council Member Campbell
x Council Member Kuznia x City Manager Mornson
x Council Member Halverson x Planning and Development Dir. Elverum
x Council Member Gadd x Community Dev. Coordinator Beekman
The following updates were provided at the meeting:
Planning and Economic Development:
Mayor Cummings discussed ideas from Peter Kageyama’s “For the Love of Cities” presentation
on how to engage residents to invest emotionally in their cities. Mr. Mornson explained that staff
could take the ideas to the Marketing Committee for further discussion.
Staff and Council discussed the following ideas:
• Paint and adopt a fire hydrant
• Photo wall of people with love notes to Hopkins
• Faces of Hopkins
• Small brass Hopkins raspberry art pieces located throughout town
• Give trees an email address to encourage public communication
• Rain art message on the sidewalk
• Video selfie competition/promotion
• Short selfie videos “Hopkins as my Hometown” submitted by residents, build a video with
the clips and host a film festival
• Projection art on a public building
• Formal dinner in an outdoor public space
• Way finding signs that include distance to local landmarks
• Flooding a basketball court for a skating rink
• A civic organization mini-Olympics
• Ninja competition
• Best lemonade stand contest
There was discussion regarding investigating legalities and security issues.
Community Development Coordinator Beekman discussed the Irrigate – Springboard for the
Arts program. The program connected artists and the business community during a major
construction project. Staff commented that grant funding may be available for a similar
program.
Planning and Development Director Elverum discussed ideas such as a community herb garden
and expanding the Farmers Market indoors in the winter or to other areas of the City. Ms.
Elverum discussed improving alley spaces for bike parking and patios, giving customers
improved access to businesses through the alley.
Ms. Beekman discussed the idea of a professional produced marketing video to show what is
happening in Hopkins and potentially attracts customers and businesses to Hopkins. Ms.
Beekman discussed the outdoor screen and sound system to show movies in the park. The
equipment will be made available to community groups to be used in public spaces. A movie
license would have to be purchased. Staff will be working on a policy and bringing it to Council
for review.
Ms. Elverum discussed that the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) plans are at 90%
completion and are being reviewed by staff. Staff will keep the Council updated. There was
discussion regarding creating a Historical Designation District, funding for public art and the
Housing Strategy Resolution of Support. These items will be on the Council agenda in March or
April.
City Council:
• Council Member Campbell discussed Caucus location and time.
• Council Member Gadd discussed the upcoming CMC meeting regarding SWLRT station
naming. Council consensus of the station names: Shady Oak Station, Downtown Station and
Blake Road Station.
• Council Member Gadd was investigating applying for the Metropolitan Council
Transportation Advisory Board.
• Council Member Halverson discussed a residents concern over police presence at a
neighborhood home. Staff will investigate further with the Police Department.
• Council Member Kuznia was nominated for the GEARS Award.
• Council Member Kuznia discussed the Empty Bowls event.
• Mayor Cummings commented on the great State of the City event.
• Mayor Cummings met with staff at Dow Towers regarding dumpster and smoking area
improvements. Staff is looking at options for plantings and screenings for the area.
• The World Culture Festival, promoting cultural richness, will be held at the Minnetonka
Community Center on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
• Mayor Cummings will be at the Congress of Cities conference on March 9, 2016 and will
miss the City C ouncil Work Session. Pro Tem Mayor Halverson will preside.
• Mayor Cummings will be absent from the Race and Equity meeting in March. Council
Member Campbell will take her place.
• Mayor Cummings will be attending the Ehlers Conference with Council Member Gadd.
• Community Development Coordinator Beekman will be updating the Mayor on the 2015
statistics.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Gadd,
seconded by Kuznia, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
ATTEST:
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Molly Cummings, Mayor Amy Domeier, City Clerk