12-19-00A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on December 19, 2000,
in the Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Also, present were staff members Mielke, Genellie, Stadler, Kerrigan,
Yager, Gessele and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
ll~ OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
Mona Draper, Site Manager for Meadow Creek Condos, presented a letter to the
Council from Lowell Williams, president of the Board of Directors. Ms Draper
read the letter. The letter commended the fire department for the professional,
efficient, way they approached a fire at the condos. The fire department also
was commended for doing very little damage and for cleaning up after the
incident.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
There were none.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of November 28, 2000 Work Session
2. Minutes of December 5, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Minutes of December 5, 2000 Work Session
4. Minutes of December 12, 2000 work Session
5. Minutes of Budget and Tax Levy Hearing, December 1 1, 2000
6. Miscellaneous License Applications
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion
to approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch,
aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
V. PRESENTATION
Pat Olsen, Co-Chair of the Human Rights Commission, presented the
second annual Human Rights Award to Vanessa Brown. Ms. Brown°s
contributions were listed as working with international newcomers and persons
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
of color who live in multifamily housing, currently serves on the Schools and
Communities in Partnership (SCIP) Committee, and is currently a representative
from SCIP to the Hennepin County Alliance for Families and Children. Through
the Alliance, she has secured money for parent leadership. Her work with the
Hopkins School District has included supporting and encouraging famfl`oes of
color to be involved in school life. She was instrumental in initiating the
Ramsgate Homework Helper Program. Ms. Brown also serves on the
Community Grant Committee.
Ms. Brown said that her motivation is her children. She works to make the
community a better place for them.
\/I. IVEVV Bl1SIIVESS
1. Accept Lot 500-600 Feasibility Report, Order Public Hearing (CR2000-
200)
Steve Stadler introduced Gary Brown, RLK-Kuusisto, Ltd., the consultant to the
City for the feasibility study concerning improvements to parking lots 500 and
600. Mr. Brown reviewed the scope of the project. He highlighted the following
iSSUIeSe
• The curb line was pulled back on 1 1th Ave to allow for the addition of
three stalls.
• There was an 8% loss of the total number of stalls
• Most of those removed were the perpendicular stalls along 10th Ave
• For the most part, business owners recognized the safety issues along
10th Ave and supported those changes
Mr. Brown said that the assessments were discussed at the December Stn
Meeting with business owners and that most thought the cost was too high.
They were able to reduce the amount by 18% by removing the cost of storm
sewer improvements and the majority of landscaping on 10th and 1 1 th Avenues.
Mr. Brown also said that at the meeting, the group discussed spreading out the
costs to the greater business district by forming a taxing district, but that most
of those in attendance favored aone-time assessment.
Steve Stadler said that the assessment policy of a 70/30 split would be followed
for the street assessment. The amount for streets would be based on square
footage instead of front footage. The assessment on the parking lots is also
proposed to be a 70/30 split.
Council Member Brausen said that he would like more background information.
He would like to review the history of the area with staff and Council Members.
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Council Members discussed the possibility of closing 10th Ave, crosswalks,
signage for pedestrians, sanitary sewer changes, access to alley side storefronts
and the possibility of lowering costs further.
Several business owners expressed concerns over the cost of the assessment
and if the cost will be prohibitive for retail stores. Bob Miller stated that the
decision might change the make-up of the Central Business District.
Council Member Johnson asked if Council Members could discuss the issues at a
work session and have the public hearing on the 16th instead of the 2"d. Council
Members discussed the notification process and questioned if the decision had
to be made the night of the public hearing. The time line was discussed.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion
to adopt Resolution 2000-91, Resolution Ordering Public Hearing, Parking Lots
500 and 600 and 10th and 1 1 th Avenues Improvements, Project 98-12 with the
hearing date set on January 16' 2000. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member
Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion
carried unanimously.
2. Accept Feasibility Report, Order Public Hearing, 2001 Street
Improvement Project (CR2000-203)
Jim Gessele said that Council authorized Bolton and Menk, Inc to prepare a
feasibility study concerning street improvements on 8th Avenue from 1St St N to
Exc Blvd, on 1 1 th Ave S from Smetana Rd to Landmark Tr S, on 14th Ave N from
4th St N to S Service Dr, and on 16th Ave N from 1St to 2"d St N. Mr. Gessele
said that Marcus Thomas, Bolton Menk, has completed the study and introduced
Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Thomas reviewed the scope of the project, the estimated cost of the project
and the estimated amounts on the assessments.
Council Members discussed the notification process. Staff indicated that two
meetings had been held and that attendance was high and that two associations
have placed the project in their newsletters.
Council Members discussed the time line and it was determined that delaying the
public hearing for two weeks would have an impact on the project schedule and
on the bidding process. The public hearing will be held on the 2"d of January.
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion
to adopt Resolution 2000-90, Resolution Ordering Public Hearing, 2001 Street
Improvements, Project 00-10. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch,
aye; Council iviember Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
3. Adoption of 2001 Budget and 2000/2001 Tax Levy (CR2000-204)
Lori Yager reviewed the budget process and presented the budget components.
Ms. Yager explained what percentage of the tax dollar goes to each agency and
presented the expenditures of the City by department showing how the City°s
portion is utilized.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion
to adopt Resolution 2000-89, Adopting the 2001 Budget and the 2000 Tax Levy
Collectible in 2001. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye;
Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
4. Approve 2001 Meeting Calendar (CR2000-199)
Steve Mielke said that the assumption is made that a regular council meeting is
held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and that work sessions are
held the other Tuesdays of the month. Mr. Mielke said that staff anticipates
certain conflicts and brings them to Council's attention. August 7th coincides
with National Night Out. The recommendation is to schedule the council
meeting for the 8th. November 6th is City Election Day. The recommendation is
to hold the council meeting on November 7th. December 25th is a holiday. The
recommendation is to cancel the work session.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion
to adopt the year 2001 meeting calendar. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member
Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion
carried unanimously.
5. Approve Liquor License Renewal for Northern Lights Food (CR2000-
205)
Terry Obermaier explained that the application was under the New Business
portion of the agenda was because the application had been received the day
before the meeting. The reason for the delay was because of the uncertainty of
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
the remodel project that was being planned for the Hopkins House. Ms.
Obermaier said that the certificate of insurance had been received and that
Captain Liddy of the Hopkins Police Department had reviewed the application
and had found no reason to deny. Ms. Obermaier also said that the motion
given in the report failed to mention supporting licenses held by the applicant,
such as food establishment, Sunday liquor, and dance floor.
Council Member moved and Council Member seconded a motion to approve a
liquor license renewal for Northern Lights Food, Inc dba Raspberries at the
Hopkins House Hotel, 1501 State Highway 7 and to also approve a Food
Establishment License, a Dance Floor License, and a Sunday On-sale Liquor
License. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye;
Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member
Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Approve a Charitable Gambling Premises Permit for the Raspberry
Festival at the Hopkins House, Raspberries, 1501 State Highway 7
(CR2000-206)
Terry Obermaier said that because of the proposed remodel project at the
Hopkins House, the Raspberry Festival was asked to remove the pull-tab
operation. They cancelled their permit with the State Gambling Control.
Gambling Control said that if they wanted to resume pull-tabs at the Hopkins
House they would have to go through the process of obtaining a new permit.
Ms Obermaier said that the permit will expire when the gambling license expires
in 2001.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion
to. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council
Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson,
aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously,
7. Approve Nomination of Fran Hesch to the Hennepin County
Community Health Services Advisory Committee (Memo)
Steve Mielke said that currently there is an opening for a local official on the
Hennepin County Community Health Services Advisory Committee. Mr. Mielke
was contacted by Suzanne Gaines from Hennepin County Community Health
Services with a request that we consider nominating Council Member Hesch for
a position on the advisory committee. The appointment is a two-year
appointment.
Council Member Jensen moved and Council Member Maxwell seconded a motion
to nominate Council Member Hesch to serve on the Hennepin County
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5
Community Health Services Advisory Committee. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, abstain; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye.
The motion carried unanimously.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Johnson moved and Council
Member I-lesch seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was
adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:57 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
erry Ob~j naier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
i~~'
Eug e J axwell, Mayor
December 19, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6