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04-23-02 WSApri123, 2002 Page 1 MINUTES CITE' CO~JNCII., WORD SESSION - APRII, 23, 2002 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on Apri123, 2002, at the City Hall. Council members present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Brausen, Jensen ,Johnson and Rowan. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Housing Coordinator Elverum, Assistant to City Manager Stahmer and Publications Director Hartfiel. Also present were George Serumgard and Steve Mahowald of Metro Transit; and Herman Strauch, John Cooley and Tina Johnson of the Design Committee. Metro Transit Update Mr. Stahmer said there were three issues to be discussed: the route on 5`'' Ave. N., budget cutbacks of Metro Transit, and the 8`h Ave. hub design. Mr. Mahowald gave figures showing the percentage of small buses used on Route 609 in April, ranging from a low of 62 percent 4/13 to 100% on 4/8. He said the week-end rates should be easy to raise as he feels it is due to garage help not being informed that small buses are to be used on this route. He added that this route had a medium priority on small buses, and he foresaw no problems getting it changed to high priority. He cannot guarantee 100% small buses, but figures he can promise 99 %. Answering Ms. Johnson, he said the lower percentages were not due to bus breakdowns. The option of rerouting to Washington Ave. presents problems in that there are regular riders at Minnetonka Mills who would have to have input. Mr. Mielke added the change could generate complaints from the residents along a new route. Mr. Brausen said he thinks most complaints have been channeled through him; he thinks 99% small buses would satisfy complainants. Mr. Mahowald said Metro Transit faces $2 million in service cuts alone. First tier of cuts is those that repay less than 10% of the cost from fares. Second tier is those with 20 passengers or less per revenue hour. Routes 607 and 660 will be eliminated in St. Louis Park, which may affect some Hopkins commuters. Hopkins routes 609 and 618 will have some runs cut, but will remain in service. Minor cuts will be made in Route 670 and 662. He is still trying to find a way to keep 609 intact, but fears he cannot. Responding to Ms. Jensen he said there has never been a governor so behind mass transit as Gov. Ventura, the big problem is Republican legislators. Mr. Mielke said he feels it is out-state legislators who outnumber metro area legislators. Mr. Serumgard showed a rough drawing of the now-proposed hub. Hennepin County Regional Rail demanded that Metro Transit sign liability not only to clean any environmental pollution uncovered at the site, but pay for clean-up to any pollution source, something Metro Transit would be unable to do. Thus the site had to be redesigned to not use any of their land. The official life span of the project is 5 years, with relocation when the light rail comes through; he feels 7 years is more realistic. With the new scheme, buses will be unable to turn around in the lot, but will loop through from the highway. Some buses will simply stay out on Highway 3. The car parking is still being worked out with city staff, there may be less than the origina144 stalls. This new option will be more expensive as it will require more concrete and bus shelters. Plans should be ready in 3-4 weeks, and he hopes construction will start by July. Answering Council members, Apri123, 2002 Page 2 he said plowing and maintenance would be Metro Transit's responsibility; the reconfiguration of parking raises water quality issues that need to be solved; there will be restrooms for the bus drivers as the previous plan; they have been made aware of Knox property possibilities; he is talking to city staff if Zoning and Planning need to be involved. Mr. Brausen remarked that he had seen the original plans when he was on Z&P on an information basis. Mr. Mielke said Mr. Stadler had said the new plan will not have all traffic exiting on 8`'', which is an improvement. Ms. Jensen suggested Metro Transit look into partnering with local garden clubs on landscaping. General Consensus: Mr. Mahowald will keep statistics for the next 30 days on Route 609 and see city staff gets them on short bus usage. Design Committee Guidelines Housing Coordinator Elverum said the committee has decided to draft guidelines, which are not enforceable but only recommended, and standards, which would be enforceable. They would apply to a special downtown area bounded by 7`" Avenue and 13`'' Avenue, and 15` St. North and 15C St. South. The goals are to preserve the unique character of Mainstreet, complement existing historic architecture, and to enhance pedestrian orientation. Any building, parking area or sign in place when the final ordinance is passed would not be affected; it is intended for new building, exterior improvements and signage that require building permits, and new or reconstructed parking areas of more than 5 spaces. Tina Johnson said while restrictions are being put in place, she feels that over time it will enhance business downtown. Mr. Cooley said they feel input from tenants and landowners is important. There was general discussion on temporary signs. Mr. Strauch said the boundaries of the overlay area along Mainstreet were decided by what the committee thought "felt the same," that the character of the buildings changed at those points. He later added they had set the boundaries at 15` St. N and 15f St. S thinking future redevelopment would be there off Mainstreet. Mayor Maxwell commented he felt people would need examples to understand the requirements. Mr. Mielke asked if the proposals would apply to public property. Mr. Cooley said the city had a streetscape guideline. Mayor Maxwell said he felt the city should go by the signage regulations, etc. Answering Mr. Mielke, Ms. Elverum said anybody getting public assistance would need to adhere to recommended materials, etc. Ms. Johnson mentioned the false fronts of Maple Grove businesses. Mr. Cooley said they are applying guidelines to the whole building. Ms. Johnson said it is important to outreach to those not in HBCA or Twin West. Ms. Jensen suggested information be given out to the public at gatherings such as Raspberry Festival. General Consensus. Council was pleased overall with the work so far. Community 1Vlarketing Campaign Ms. Hartfiel asked for feedback and questions on her proposed strategies and tactics. Ms. Jensen asked if she had looked at the suggestions given during the visioning process; Ms. Hartfiel said not yet but she planned to. Strategy l: All agreed finding a way to partner with the schools and the faith community were important. Strategy 2: Answering Mr. Brausen, she said the "neighborhood toolbox" was literature about what the city offers; Ms. Johnson termed it an updated Welcome Wagon and Ms. Hartfiel concurred. Ms. Jensen said she had heard comments that the web site links "dead-ended" at one Apri123, 2002 Page 3 place and suggested college website links should be studied. Ms. Hartfiel said she foresees the web site will need a marketing strategy of its own; Mr. Mielke added a "24-hour City Hall on the Web" could be expensive and sees a need for "linking" policies. Mr. Rowan added information on restaurants, etc. is available on Map Quest or Yellow Pages and is not needed, but the Art Center is a city building. Strategy 3: Open House All agreed the last one had not met its goals. Mayor Maxwell suggested the next be held after the new police building is completed. Citizens Academy Mayor Maxwell said he felt it was too expensive to keep it as it is. Mr. Brausen suggested it be done biannually; Ms. Hartfiel said alternate programs could be offered every other year. Ms. Johnson asked if cable tv could be used instead. Later she suggested it be continued with a lower budget. Volunteer Recognition All agreed this should be kept using this year's format.. Citizens Academy Graduate Course All agreed the suggested format would not work. All also agreed that keeping the people from the academy and the vision process was essential as they would be the future council and board/commission people. Mr. Mielke said plans are to send a letter to them; consensus was it should include board and commission openings. Quarterly City Cable Show Mayor Maxwell felt that before the cable show could be considered, the number who watch should be determined and suggested a questionnaire in the next newsletter. Ms. Johnson suggested acheck-off on the utility bills. Mr. Mielke mentioned while he was in North Mankato a radio recap after council meetings had been used. Ms. Jensen said she would rather see a cable show with a brief recap of city issues and a focus put on places like the Art Center and Depot. Mr. Brausen commented a recap would get more viewers than the whole meeting. Breakfast All agreed the breakfasts with city officials was a failure in the past and should be scrapped. Strategy 4: All agreed that developing a community vision task force was a good idea. Strategy 5: Mr. Brausen said staff-Council relationship is important. Ms. Johnson suggested that staff get information on HCA and a recap of the council meetings. All agreed this was important. Mr. Mielke asked about strategies that get past Hopkins boundaries. Ms. Johnson said in the past few months Hopkins has been spotlighted for its antiques in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine and for Cornerstone in the newspaper. Just doing things right markets Hopkins. Mr. Brausen said the Depot and Art Center cost the city money and need to be pushed to counter that. Mayor Maxwell and Ms. Johnson both suggested car dealers be approached about putting brochures in their cars. Mr. Brausen said a monthly column in the local paper would be good. Ms. Johnson said somehow all the different festivals have to communicate with each other and coordinate their events, adding Hopkins has the 3rd largest parade in the state. Ms. Jensen suggested involving service clubs. Ms. Hartfiel said she had hoped to get more new ideas. Council members agreed they had not realized that was requested, and said they would forward any ideas to her. Mr. Rowan said he would volunteer to help with any quarterly cable show if it is done. General Consensus: Citizens Academy needs to be looked at closely. Public will be told the open house is cancelled due to budget cuts. Brainstorming on ways to keep the vision and Citizens Academy people involved as well as recruit new people is important. Council/staff communication is important. Volunteer Recognition should be continued like this year. Council members will forward any ideas to Ms. Hartfiel. Ms. Hartfiel should continue with responsibilities and budget. April 23, 2002 Page 4 Mr. Mielke wants feedback as to whether the plan meets Council goals. Other Ms. Johnson said Caring Youth was a success although she was disappointed it was held in the Minnetonka Council Chambers. She hopes it will rotate among the cities involved. Mr. Rowan asked when U-Haul will actually close. Due to the problems the county has had, Council felt the neighborhood should be updated. Mayor Maxwell asked about fireworks. Consensus was staff should work on this. Mayor Maxwell reminded Council members that as long as the red light is on in Council chambers, the microphones are "live." Mr. Mielke asked Council members to tell him if they are going to the League of Cities meeting in Rochester June 18-21. Mr. Mielke mentioned the city-school celebration at GoldenValley/Meadowbrook Community Center last Wednesday. It was suggested that attendance to those meetings be rotated among Council. Ms. Johnson moved adjournment; Ms. Jensen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Kasey Kester, Secretary ATTEST: d Eu ne J Maxwell, Mayor