04-20-04A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on April 20, 2004, in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Thompson, Johnson,
and Rowan. Also, present were staff members Mielke, Genellie, Stadler, Kerrigan,
Yager, and City Attorney Jerry Steiner.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. PRESENTATION
1. Human Rights Essay Awards
Herb Gibbs and Robert Samples presented these years Human Rights Essay awards.
There were 64 contestants this year. Third place went to Rachel Calvert; Second
place to Riley Beggin; and First place to Andrew Lentz. Andrew's essay will go to the
state contest.
2. CAFR Award Presentation
Steve Mielke, City Manager, presented the Government Finance Officers Association
(GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Financial Reporting to Lori Yager and the City
of Hopkins. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the
area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The City also received the GFOA's Certificate of Recognition for Budget Preparation.
This award reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the
highest principles of governmental budgeting.
IV. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
There were none.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of April 6, 2004 City Council Meeting
2. Appointment of Robert Edmunds to Park Board (Memo)
3. Authorize Renewal of 2004 Insurance Policies (CR2004-063)
April 20, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
4. Second Reading, Rezoning for Condos, Halley Condo Project (Memo)
5. Second Reading, Zoning Amendment, Currency Exchange Businesses
(Memo)
6. Second Reading Moratorium Ordinance (Memo)
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Rowan seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1. Issuance of Revenue Bonds for St. Joseph's Church, Re: Hopkins
Mainstreet School for the Performing Arts (CR2004-061)
St. Joseph's Church is proposing to lease the John Ireland School to a new charter
school. The new school, Mainstreet School for Performing Arts, is a public school
and will be sponsored by the School District and the Hopkins Center for the Arts. To
accomplish this, the church needs to complete improvements to the existing school.
The total cost of the improvements will be 52.4 million. The first year will have two
grades (ninth and tenth) and will add two more grades (eleventh and twelfth). The
City will have no financial obligation in the event the church defaults on the loan. The
City has the authority to issue tax-exempt revenue bonds to facilitate projects that are
beneficial to the community.
Stephanie Galig, Bond Council, Dick Miller, Wells Fargo, and Marvin Sparks, Church of
St. Joseph, came forward. Mr. Miller stated that the bonds are ten-year bonds. The
bonds were sold and closed at 4.38%. Mr. Sparks reviewed the project.
Staff recommended that the fees associated with the application be waived for the
project. The Council discussed the uniqueness of the project.
Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 7:52 p.m.
Don Roesner, 618 Park Valley Dr W, came forward. Mr. Roesner asked the amount
of the fees to be waived. Staff responded that the application fee is 55,000 and the
administration fee is 1 /8 of one percent of the outstanding balance. Mr. Roesner also
asked if this would set a precedent for other church schools. Staff responded that
this is not a church school, but a public charter school. The church will be leasing the
space to the Hopkins School District.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
close the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at
7:55 p.m.
April 20, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2004-031, authorizing the issuance and sale of revenue bonds to
provide funds for a project on behalf of the Church of St. Joseph, subject to staff
conditions as detailed in Council Report 2004-061. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council Member
Rowan, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Resolution Approving Amendment to Legislative Policy 8B, Roadway
Improvements (CR2004-061)
As a result of discussions that have come up, the City Council has decided to
consider a change to the current policy. The proposed change will limit multiple
assessments to property owners to a maximum of two assessments within aten-year
time period. This will not include assessments that are petitioned by property
owners, nor will it include assessments that are the result of road or alley
construction or reconstruction that are deemed as emergency work. The policy will
not affect the City's ability to maintain and plan improvements as needed.
A discussion was held on emergency work. In the case of an emergency, the City
would immediately proceed with the emergency work that needed to be done. The
assessment process would follow and be carried out as normally done.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Rowan seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2004-032, resolution amending Legislative Policy 8B, Roadway
Improvements, to limit the number of special assessments to residential property
owners. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council
Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Johnson,
aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye.
2. First Quarter Financial Report (Financial Report-
Lori Yager, Finance Director, reviewed the current revenues and expenditures in
comparison to previous years. City expenditures are up. Increased spending in
capital for the facilities project is the majority of the increase. Revenues are up 4.8%
compared to last year. Economic Development received a grant from the Met Council
to help with clean up costs associated with the Excelsior Tech Center project. The
City of Hopkins is maintaining its current financial position. This is a result of quick
actions to offset deep state aid cuts and the flexibility to make adjustments to future,
plans.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
April 20, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
There being no further business, Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member
Rowan seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:27 p.m.
Respectfully Subm
Ob~iaier, City Clerk
HI It51:
!~
Euge e J axwell, Mayor
April 20, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
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