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11-27-01 WSMINUTES CIT 1' (:t~UNC1L WUKK SESSiuN - NuVEIV"iBEFc L7, 2U~1 Mayor Maxwell called a special meeting of the City Council to order at 9:30 pm at the Hopkins City Hall for the purpose of evaluating the City Manager. Council members present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Brausen, Hesch, Jensen and Johnson. A motion was made by Hesch, seconded by Johnson to close the meeting to the public for the purpose of discussing the performance evaluation of the City Manager. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion included a review of aself-appraisal by the City Manager, the peer evaluation results, the goals established for the City Manager after the last evaluation, a discussion of progress to date on those goals, as well as a discussion of future expectations for the Manager. After discussion, it was agreed that Council Member Hesch would summarize the proposed goals for 2002, to be presented to the City Manager at a later date. The issue of compensation was then discussed. A motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Hesch, to adjust the City Managers car allowance to $450 per month effective January 1, 2002, and to award merit pay in the amount of $2,500. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Brausen moved adjournment; Ms. Hesch seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m. Eugene Maxwell~,~Ma/yor ~/~ c~G, ~' November 27, 2001 Page 1 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -NOVEMBER 27, 2001 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on November 27, 2001, at the City Hall. Council members present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Brausen, Hesch, Jensen and Johnson. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Finance Director Yager, Public Works Director Stadler, City Planner Anderson, Economic DirectorKerrigan, Assistant City Engineer Bot and Park Superintendent Vogtman. Also present were Joni Giese and Mike McGarvey of SRF Consulting Group, Inc. During the joint session Zoning and Planning members Ross Bartz, Bruce Rowan, Jay Thompson, Eric Randolph, Maureen Allen, Mary Hatcher and John Szuba were present. Joint Zoning and Planning Commission and Council Session This was a joint discussion of the proposed ordinance for vehicle parking. City Planner Nancy Anderson said one goal was to limit the number of cars on a residential lot, even if all vehicles were operable. The commission recommends limiting cars parked outside to three, with the exception being if there are more than three licensed drivers in a household the limit would be the number of licensed drivers plus one. They have also limited the number of accessory buildings on a lot to two. The proposed ordinance allows boat parking in driveways during summer months, but there is no provision for snowmobile parking. Enforcement of any ordinance provision would be on a complaint basis. Ms. Allen pointed out the new definitions for types of vehicles. Ms. Jensen asked for clarification on RV's. Ms. Anderson said the provisions are actually more lenient in the proposed ordinance, allowing larger RV's to be parked, but there would be a requirement for screening larger ones. They would need to be at least 5' from a lot line. Ms. Johnson questioned the difference in treatment of boats and snowmobiles. Mr. Brausen suggested there be a seasonal provision that would cover both, specifying allowed parking dates for each. He also asked if there were going to be exceptions, such as the Park Valley area where there are no side areas. Ms. Jensen said she feels public reaction will be the city is infringing on citizens' right. Mr. Thompson said that was his initial reaction; but he also realizes one citizen cannot bring down another citizen's property values by having junk cars, overcrowding, etc. He feels the commission worked hard to keep the requirements as liberal as possible while still eliminating the problem properties. Ms. Hesch said she liked the proposed ordinance except that she felt snowmobiles and boats should be treated equally. Mayor Maxwell asked about storage buildings; Ms. Anderson said the ratio to lot area is the same, but a limit was put on the number so that property owners would not put many tiny storage sheds in a yard instead of one larger one. Mr. Mielke said he felt it important there be language allowing a trailer to be parked in a front yard driveway, etc. for 48 hours to allow loading and unloading for trips. He stressed the goal of the ordinance is to be respectful of property rights so values of adjoining property owners are not affected. Mr. Rowan said some owners had asked that no final action be taken on the ordinance during the winter as they would be in the south those November 27, 2001 Page 2 months and wanted to be able to have input at a final hearing. Mr. Mielke said some have asked him that the car section be put in place right away. Mayor Maxwell asked for feedback from the commission and council members to get a general consensus. Mr. Ross noted Park Valley has some commercial vehicles that must park on the street, which the new ordinance would prohibit, but there is no way for them to park off-street. General Consensus: The ordinance should be kept as one unit, not split into car/non-car sections. Requirements should be spelled out clearly in a brochure that could be given to property owners. A seasonal section should cover both snowmobiles and boats. The idea of just limiting the number of vehicles, rather than designated passenger/non-passenger should be considered. Public hearings/implementation should wait till spring. Hopkins Trail Plan Review Assistant City Engineer Steve Bot said the proposed brochure was the focus of this presentation. A report on the trail development will be given to the council in January. SRF has been working with the Park Board at the various stages of planning. Joni Giese of SRF explained the mapping, noting destinations (such as parks, schools) and amenities are highlighted, different colors are used for regional, city, sidewalk, off-street trails. Present trails are solid; those recommended for future development as a comprehensive trail system are dashed. The goal is to link areas of Hopkins to regional trails, to employment centers, to schools and to trails of adjoining communities. A logo for signage has been developed. Mike McGarvey pointed out the promotional sections of the brochure -photos of Hopkins attractions such as HCA, the Depot, the clock tower. A schedule of annual events had been considered but was discarded as it would make brochures out of date too rapidly. Answering questions, Ms. Giese said there is no coordinated color code for such maps among the communities. Mr. Bot added Hopkin's map focuses on regional trails; that of Minnetonka, for example, focuses on a loop system. Ms. Johnson suggested directions be indicated on the signage, and asked if all dashed trails are really in the planning stage. Mr.Bot said this will be looked at more in January. Mr. McGarvey noted the Park Board had also asked if proposed trails should be shown on the map, and had asked that water fountains and restroom designations be added, as well as some basic phone numbers. Mr. Mielke noted that if "planned trails" are printed, the public will expect them. Ms. Johnson asked that a list of all proposed trails be drawn up so each could be discussed at a future work session. Park Superintendent Vogtman added the proposed trails had been put in as a way to document where they would like trails; he feels none would be controversial. Mayor Maxwell said he liked the thickness of the paper as it would holdup well and keep the map from becoming a "throwaway. " He suggested public phone locations might be designated. Mr. Vogtman noted it would be easy to change the brochure as it is computerized; Mr. McGarvey added it is based on the city's GIS system and could be put on the city's web site. Large laminated versions could be made and put at trailhead locations and the Depot. Public Works Director Stadler said his department is already looking at locations such as 8"' Ave/1st St. for such placements. Ms. Hesch asked that it be kept in mind bike racks can be esthetic. Mr. Mielke said this year's budget had cut $20,000 from trail projects, but the city will look for grants; Mr. McGarvey noted Hennepin Parks has doubled their matching grant funds. Mr. Bot said he is meeting with the Park Board Jan. 14 and hopes to have the proposed November 27, 2001 Page 3 projects ready to present that month also. He hopes to have the brochure ready to publish this spring. General Consensus: Council members were impressed with the brochure and the way it promoted the whole city. Proposed trails will be discussed in the future. 2002 Budget Discussion Finance Director Yager showed the original "cut list. " If the council wants to lower the levy from 9.8 % she would recommend cutting the HRA levy by $50,000. There is still a chance Hopkins will get a $600,000 grant for the Kost block. City Manager Mielke said the grant would not reduce the Koss block cost, but is "enhancement money" and is not in favor of cutting out the $50,000. Ms. Hesch said she felt this was the year to leave the levy at 9.8 % rather than risk economic development to get the levy lower. Ms. Johnson said she would rather cut the HRA and add to the police; Ms. Yager said that is not an option as they are different funding mechanisms. Ms. Yager and Mr. Mielke said it might be possible to get an additional $14,000 from the cable fund so that another policeman could be hired this spring, which would be the earliest possible time to complete the hiring process. Mr. Mielke noted that the $5,000 for the Alice School playground had been among the cuts. Ms. Jensen noted the project was no longer so popular. General Consensus: HRA levy should be cut $50,000 to get to 8.9%. Reallocate $14,000 to get the policeman as soon as possible. Ms. Yager should bring the budget to the Council meeting at the 8.9% levy level. There will be a review presentation Dec. 4, and final adoption Dec. 1$. ®ther Civil Service Board City Manager Mielke said City Attorney Curtiss now says the review committee cannot be implemented and so it will not be brought to the Council Dec. 4. After discussion, Mr. Mielke was directed to have Mr. Curtiss look into changing the City Charter. Curran School Parking City Manager Mielke reported he had met with school personnel. He had gotten an overall positive response. Their issues are: (1) they don't like the present bus/vehicle interaction; if the city solves this they think it would be a positive change; (2) playground -proposed places to move it to were discussed. The solution may be to move the parking lot closer to the school and move the intersection; another solution could be to the move the lot to the present location of some of the tennis courts. Concept drawings will be done to show the council. Miscellaneous Mr. Brausen asked if there would be a volunteer recognition early next year. Mr. Mielke will check into it. Mr. Mielke said Police Chief Reid had reported tension level over towing due to the snow was much higher than usual; police broke up 2 fights, one person got on the lot and drove his car off. November 27, 2001 Page 4 Mr. Mielke announced St. Joe's plans to be at the work session on the 11`" about the potential vacation. T_~e hopes by the 18`~ the council can decide to build a road or do the vacation. Agenda for work session on the 11`" will be civil service and vacation of the road. Ms. Hesch moved adjournment; Ms. Johnson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Kasey Kester, Secretary AT'TES'T: i~~~ Eugene M well, Mayor COUNCIL MEMBERS