04-14-00 WSMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -MARCH 14, 2000
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:00 p.m. on March 14, 2000, at
the City Hall. Council members present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Hesch,
Jensen, and Johnson. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Community Relations
Coordinator Bobbie Hartfiel, Economic Development Director Jim Kerrigan, Public Works
Director Steven Stadler, and Jim Parsons. Also present were Mary McGlinch, Reuben Johnson
and Pat Pelstring of SuperValu.
Citizens Academy, Bobbie Hartfiel
Ms. Hartfiel presented a proposed outline for Academy sessions, which will be open only
to Hopkins residents and be on Wednesday evenings. It will be publicized in the Highlights and
with news releases, postcard mailings and personal invitations to boards and commissions
members. Ideas brought up in discussion included putting tours at the beginning of sessions,
having three-ring binders with boards and commissions information, involving boards and
commissions members whenever possible, limiting sessions to adults, implementing an evaluation
system. It was stressed Council members should attend the September 6 session, try to attend at
least one other session, and also be present for the graduation ceremony.
General Consensus
Plans should go ahead as laid out.
State of the City, Bobbie Hartfiel
Ms. Hartfiel noted Mayor Maxwell would do the introduction and ending. At the end of
the session topics were allotted as follows: Diane Johnson, Overview of vision process; Karen
Jensen, Business group response; Fran Hesch, Summary of other groups responses; Rick Brausen,
Where do we go from here. This will be held March 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Oath of Office of Gordon Klingbiel
Police Chief Reid spoke on the responsibilities Mr. Klingbiel will be assuming with the
new rank, stressing sergeants are watch commanders and therefore responsible for the city on their
shifts. Assistant City Manager Genellie administered, the oath. Mrs. Klingbiel pinned his new
badge on Mr. Klingbiel.
SuperValu Perishable Warehouse Expansion, Jim Kerrigan
Mr. Kerrigan reported the traffic study should be completed in the next week. The second
phase of the noise study will start soon. SuperValu is still negotiating on the Country Club
warehouse property; if they do not work out the Council may still be approached about exercising
eminent domain. Anew issue has arisen, that of a new TIF.
Mary McGlinch of SuperValu summarized her negotiations so far. She is trying to work a
trade for Fargo, North Dakota, property. She also showed a new drawing of the expansion.
She noted about 8 feet of the buildings would show. In answer to Ms. Johnson's question, she
said the fencing would be same or similar to that already in place. In answer to Mayor Maxwell,
she said she hoped negotiations would be completed in the next two weeks.
Karen Jensen and Diane Johnson noted they felt the Council should see study results before
the concept review on April 4. Jim Kerrigan noted he will send the traffic study results to the
Council next week.
Reuben Johnson stressed the additional TIF would not affect the North Annex redevelop-
ment TIF. Pat Pelstring said that while SuperValu could not commit to a campus plan, they have
tried to develop as the city desires; and they are not asking for a subsidy but for help with "excess"
costs of the new warehouse. They are willing to commit to the following standards: 1) funding
shall be "pay as you go"; 2) verifiable excess costs will be the basis, which include demolition
costs and off-site public improvement such as aligning Fifth Street; 3) North Annex redevelopment
will not be compromised, only the actual warehouse site will be the basis. After Mayor Maxwell
pointed out that only part of the site was in the TIF district, Mr. Pelstring said he had based all his
figures on the whole site. Mr. Kerrigan noted this could mean stretching out the time involved.
Ms. Hesch noted at first SuperValu said they would need help only if they had to pay for
businesses on 11th; this is a big change. She also raised several issues on eminent domain. Mr.
Kerrigan noted that full control of the present site will not happen unti12006, which would need to
be worked around. Mr. Mielke noted that the eminent domain process for the landfill resulted in
three times the assumed value so it doesn't always save money. Karen Jensen said she felt the
Council had promised the public they would not do another TIF for SuperValu. She also
commented the outside storage costs saved had not been given.
General Consensus: The study results should be seen before concept reviewal if at all
possible. The following questions need to be answered by SuperValu before concept reviewal:
Will condensers, etc. be visible on the roofline? Where will the holding area for trucks be located,
and will that be included in the noise study? Were all neighbors included in the meetings?
Before TIF discussion, the following need to be answered: 1) why the thirteen years of increment
rather than 7 years; 2) does the "150 new jobs" represent jobs in the new expansion or include the
past one; 3) eminent domain costs, etc. need to be laid out; 4) how would Mr. Pelstring's figures
look figured on the actual TIF area; 5) what other possible funding sources are there. The Council
also wants the financial consultant to look at the proposal and report back. Zoning and Planning
has a concept review March 28; Mr. Mielke will be sure a public notice is given for that meeting.
County Road 3 Update, Steve Stadler
This was an information update. Mr. Stadler noted financing the project is still very
feasible with the sale of $1.5 million in state aid bonds in 2002. Purchase agreements are done for
Murphy Oil and Admiral Realty. U-Haul wants to stay in business through the summer. County
acquisition of East End Bottle Shop is on hold at present. Construction is scheduled to start
spring, 2001. Murphy Oil tanks should be out by April. All businesses should be out by the end
of October. Steve Mielke noted that Mr. Stadler has gotten the County to commit to $150,000
more than they originally agreed to. The County wants to turn part of Blake Road (CSAH 20)
back to Hopkins as part of the agreement. Staff will continue to work on this part.
Alley Issue
Mr. Stadler informed the Council that the alley at 9 Van Buren has become an issue as
there is no way to negotiate the turn there without crossing onto private property. That owner has
installed a wall to prevent that, and wants the city to close the alley and vacate part of it to her.
He suggests that the city wait till Spur is gone, when traffic can be redirected. He will be sending
out a letter to that effect to those neighbors.
Depot/City Relationship, Steve Mielke
Mr. Mielke noted the city is responsible as leaseholder for such items as insurances.
Hopkins bears the most financial liability, but Health Systems does most of the actual funding.
Fran Hesch thinks Council needs to take some burden off staff members for feeling they
committed the city by putting some policies in place on issues such as safety. In reply to her
mentioning 501c3, Mr. Mielke said he felt a joint powers agreement among the partners would be
abetter answer. Diane Johnson noted the partners' agreement was to be reviewed biannually, and
never has been. Mr. Mielke noted Depot staff feedback is very positive and business is steadily
improving. Answering Mayor Maxwell, he said the Y is not a partner, but would like to be.
Steve Stadler said Hennepin Parks is working on involving the Depot in their skateboard park;
Kathleen is in favor. His department is considering including the Depot in their public works
along with HCA, the pavilion, etc. During discussion of a recent incident allegedly involving
drinking, Mr. Parsons said school district policy is "call the police," partially to avoid liability if
a student seen drinking is hurt after leaving.
General Consensus: There should be a written document involving all the partners and
the students setting forth policies, etc. Ground rules for the Depot itself need to be agreed upon,
and the students should take responsibility for their enforcement at the Depot. The Y should
become a partner. Mr. Mielke will start a dialogue with the partners and students with the goal of
greater participation by all partners. He will bring up the idea of having Stacy Horowitz work on
grant writing for the Depot. Mr. Mielke will report back to the Council in 60 days.
Other
Phase II Visioning
The first deadline was changed to March 27.
Fran Hesch moved adjournment; Diane Johnson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
Kasey Kester, recording secretary
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTEST:
Eugene J. axwell, Mayor