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02-07-2017 Work Session after City Council MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS AT CONCLUSION OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, February 7, 2017 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a work session of the Hopkins City Council was held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 8:52 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 First Street South, Hopkins. Mayor Cummings called the meeting to order with Council Members Kuznia, Halverson, Gadd and Campbell attending. Staff present included Ciry Manager Mornson, City Clerk Domeier, Planning and Development Director Elverum, Assistant City Manager Lenz and Public Works Director Stadler. The following updates were provided at the meeting: Public Works Public Works Director Stadler explained that the Park Board meeting would like to move from the 3`d Monday to the 4�h Monday of the month. The changes would need to be made in the By-Laws. Staff will keep Council updated about the change. Mr. Stadler commented that there is a vacancy on the Park Board. Mayor Cummings will check with the existing pool of applicants regarding their interest and keep the Council updated. Administration City Clerk Domeier discussed Charter Commission membership. Currently there are 2 members, 4 potential applicants and openings for 6 members. The Charter Commission meets once a year in April. Ms. Domeier reviewed the application process and commented that staff and Council could recommend appointments. Council members can submit possible candidates to City Clerk Domeier. The Mayor would then recommend appointment of the following individuals which would be reviewed by the Chief Judge of the district court. City Clerk Domeier reviewed the 2017 filing dates and election schedule. November 7, 2017 is Election Day. Staff will update the City website. There was discussion regarding City Council salaries. Adjustments would need to be made prior to the election and would require an ordinance change. The last salary adjustment was 2 years ago. Staff recommendation is to adjust salaries based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). There was discussion about Council salaries in comparison to other cities. Assistant City Manager Lenz commented that the current Council salaries are below the average. There was Council discussion about implementing salary adjustments based upon the CPI and to become more in line with other cities. Council can send additional comments to Ms. Lenz. There was also discussion about the lengthening the Mayors term to 4 years. Staff will investigate this further. City Clerk Domeier discussed the LTD request to review and amend the policy regarding Sidewalk Cafes and permanent patios. Currently LTD is no longer eligible for a Sidewalk Cafe per the policy. Council Member Campbeli asked the seating size of the permanent patio. Council Member Gadd commented that the intent of the policy was to protect Mainstreet parking and LTD is located off Mainstreet. Council Member Gadd commented that the Sidewalk Cafes enhance downtown, slow down traffic and bring customers to other businesses. Council Member Halverson expressed concern that other restaurants would want larger outdoor areas. Council Member Kuznia asked about parking along the 8`h Avenue Artery. Public Works Director Stadler commented that the Sidewalk Cafe would fit along 8`" Avenue Artery but parking would be lost on the west side of the street. There was Council discussion about upgrades to the Sidewalk Cafe walkway. City Clerk Domeier commented that staff would be addressing that in the renewal letter. Mayor Cummings discussed the concern of parking loss, LTD business hours and impacts on parking to other businesses. Mayor Cummings commented that the Sidewalk Cafe is taking up prime parking during prime parking hours and that the Council needs to be careful not to favor one business. Council Member Gadd commented that parking would be available when LTD was not open and that only 2 parking spots are being taken by the Sidewalk Cafe. There was discussion about other restaurants off Mainstreet that could possibly ask for additional outdoor seating. City Clerk Domeier will work on the policy, discuss issues further with Public Works and Engineering and bring back a draft policy for City Council review. Community Development Planning and Development Director Elverum discussed an application for a concept review at 434 Blake Road. Ms. Elverum explained that staff would bring the concept back to a City Council Work Session for further review. The property developer is looking for feedback from the City. The current 34 unit building would be expanded to 140 rental units, 6 floors with underground parking. The developer is currently working on a project in Edina. Ms. Elverum commented that the project would require a PUD zoning change allowing the City to negotiate conditions with the developer. There was discussion about the number of affordable units, size of the units and parking ratio. The developer will be meeting with the Watershed District. The Council should send feedback to Ms. Elverum. Raspberry Ridge is seeking grant funds for rehabilitation of their property and seeking a letter of support from the City. Ms. Elverum will be attending a City of Minnetonka neighborhood meeting regarding the Ring Property on Shady Oak Road. The proposal is for a 54-unit, 3-story mid-range rental apartments. Council can direct feedback to Ms. Elverum. Staff is working on the suggestions that came from the Keeping It Real Committee. Staff will be discussing the Fagade Loan program, storefront improvements and an ArtSpace market study for artist studio and housing. Staff will update the Council at a March Work Session. There was discussion regarding Mainstreet School vacating the St. Gabriel School property. Staff has reached out to the church regarding property but has not had any feedback. Ms. Elverum updated the Council on the Public Art Committee. Staff will be bringing the recommendations to a future Council Work Session. Administration Assistant City Manager Lenz gave an update on Cooling Tower Registration Legislation. Ms. Lenz commented on the difficult process to locate cooling towers and that City staff has put together a registry of cooling towers in Hopkins but there still is a potential risk from other cities if there is another Legionnaires outbreak. Ms. Lenz gave an overview of the basic State legislation regarding cooling towers and commented that State Representative Cheryi Youakim is asking that the City of Hopkins make a statement and testify regarding the legislative bill. There was discussion about potential controversy and litigation. Council commented on the importance of being proactive and that the legislation would speed up the process to locate cooling towers. Council consensus was to support the legislation and would not be opposed to the City Manager making a statement regarding the legislation. Mr. Mornson discussed an email the Council received regarding making a statement on diversity. There was discussion about focusing on what the City is already doing to promote diversity and making the City's vision statement more prominent on the City website. Staff will work on making the City's mission and vision on the website easily accessible with available links to resources and events. There was Council discussion about email responses to citizen concerns and the consensus is that one point person should respond. City Council: Council Member Gadd gave an update on the Ehlers Conference. Developers are making positive comments about Hopkins. Council Member Halverson attended the PIP ribbon cutting event. Council Member Kuznia commented that streetlights are out on Excelsior Blvd between 11 th Avenue and the Depot Coffee House. Staff will investigate. Council Member Kuznia will be attending the Met Council Pigs Eye Waste Treatment Tour on Friday. Council Member Kuznia will be attending the Minnehaha State of the Creek Address. Council Member Kuznia shared the Interlachen Neighborhood newsletter with the Council and staff. Council Member Kuznia thanked City staff for the social media updates. There was discussion about an 11`h Avenue traffic count with the increase in traffic due to the 169 road construction and bridge closure. Mayor Cummings attended the Police Department banquet. Mayor Cummings shared a thank you note from Ginny Miller. Mayor Gadd commented on the street pole lights on Mainstreet. Administration: City Manager Mornson provided the following updates: The Police Department is hosting a community academy with the League of Women Voters. The new Recreation Director is Kelly O'Dea. The Hopkins School Board is considering support of the Pavilion updates and possibly looking for use of classroom space at the Pavilion. The Waiser dealership has moved the vehicles that were parked in violation of the City Ordinance and stafF has scheduled a meeting with Luther. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Gadd, seconded by Campbell, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:36 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Vold ATT�� �L � ,,� y ,+,cz�� �� ���--Q,�..�/1� Moll� ings, Mayor Amy Domeier, City Clerk