06-20-00A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on June 20, 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,
Hartshorn, and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
1. Human Rights Commission
Bob Samples reported that the Commission has completed the logo sticker. They
were presented to the Hopkins Business Association. Mr. Samples said that
Commission members participated in the Vision process and that the commission
would like very much to assist in the development of a Heritage Festival. The
Commission is working at setting a date for the Hopkins High School Diversity
Specialist to visit the Commission.
The City Council discussed the logo stickers. Jim Genellie said that if anyone wants a
sticker that they should call City Hall. If there is a demand for it, more can be printed.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of June 6, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of May 30, 2000 Work Session
3. Minutes of June 13, 2000 Work Session
4. Second Reading, Miscellaneous Zoning Amendments (Memo)
5. Second Reading, Ordinance 00-844, Rezoning North Annex Site (Memo)
6. Award Bid, Lift Station #6 (CR2000-105)
7. Final Payment, Hilltop Park Storm Sewer Project (CR2000-103)
8. Approval of State Contract Authorizing Hopkins Fire Department Hazmat
Participation (CR2000-102)
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
June 20, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
V. OATH OF OFFICE
Richard Neimann gave the oath of office to serve on the Park Board
VI. PRESENTATION
Michael Phillips and Nancy Rasmussen presented Raspberry Festival T-shirts,
programs, and buttons to the Council. Mr. Phillips said that Jerre Miller was chosen
to be the Grand Marshall this year. The slogan for 2000 is "Berried Treasure,
Summer Pleasure". There will be more marching bands in the parade this year. July
5t" will be Raspberry Festival night at the Dome. A picnic will be held at Central Park,
and busses will take participants to the game. The Raspberry Royalty will throw out
the first ball. This year's Festival will begin on the 6t" of July and end on July 16tH
VII. OLD BUSINESS
1 . Approve Parking Changes, Central Business District (CR2000-99)
Jim Hartshorn said that Public Works staff has identified traffic hazards entering 1 1tn
Ave N between Mainstreet and 15t St N. Mr. Hartshorn said that staff reviewed the
changes with the effected business owners. Mr. Hartshorn also said that a
compromise removing only three stalls has been reached and that staff was now
proposing to remove only the two stalls between the two entrances and the one stall
just south of the south entrance. Mayor Maxwell said that they would discuss one
location at a time and vote on them separately. Council Member Jensen asked if Lot
500 could be redesigned and why that had not been considered. Mr. Stadler said that
a report will be brought to the Council addressing the redesign of Lot 500.
Mr. Hartshorn said that the changes on 12t" Ave S were being proposed at the
request of residents from the City Gables. The changes on 12t" Ave S were
supported by all concerned. Once again, a compromise to remove only four of the
initial seven spaces was arrived at. The Council and staff discussed the distance
from curb cuts that is required by statute. A resident that lives on 12t" Ave S came
forward to say that it is very difficult to find parking in the area. Council Member
Brausen asked why the City cannot use St. Joseph's parking lot and where the
discussion on that is at. Mr. Mielke reviewed the dialog that took place last year
between St. Joseph, City Gables and staff and the funding and maintenance issues of
the proposal.
The City Council directed staff to put St. Joseph's lot on a work session agenda for
discussion and direction.
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Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
refer the issues relative to Lot 500 in Exhibit A to the Lot 500/600 Parking Lot Study
that will be ongoing and that the City Council will soon authorize. A poll of the vote
was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, nay; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
.motion carried.
Mayor Maxwell moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to eliminate
parking from five feet north of the access point at the City Gables to five feet south
of the southerly access to City Gables. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Brausen, nay; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye;
Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Tax Increment Policy, RE: Tax Abatement
Jim Kerrigan said that recently, staff and the City Council/HRA have discussed the
use of tax abatement for projects. The abatement process was approved by the
State Legislature in 1997. It allows the City, and potentially the county and school
district, to return their proportional share of all or a portion of a building's property
taxes to an owner or a developer. In the 2000 session, the legislature revised the law
to allow for abatement for up to 15 years if less than all three taxing jurisdictions
agree to the abatement. If all three agree to the abatement, the maximum is ten
years.
Mr. Kerrigan said that Sid Inman of Ehlers & Associates has recommended that prior
to use of tax abatement, the City should adopt a tax abatement policy.
Changes have been made to the proposed policy as a result of comments made by
City Council at a recent work session. Mr. Kerrigan reviewed the changes.
Council Member Jensen asked that section 4.01 be changed to "adequate parking for
businesses and residents". Mr. Kerrigan said that he would do that.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2000-33, revising the City of Hopkins Tax Increment policy to
include language concerning tax abatement. 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.
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IX. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member
Jensen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:28 p.m.
ATTEST:
~;~~
Eugene J. axwell, Mayor
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