02-24-04 WSFebruary 24, 2004
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -February 24, 2004
Mayor Gene Maxwell called a work session of the Hopkins City Council to order at 6:30 p.m.
on February 24, 2004, at the City Hall. Council members Brausen, Johnson, Rowan and Thompson
were present. City personnel present were: City Manager Steve Mielke, Recycling Coordinator Penny
Cleve, Assistant City Engineer John Anderson, Public Works Director Steve Stadler; Police Chief
Craig Reid and Connie Kurtz.
Review of Recycling Program
Ms. Cleve said the single cycle recycling is doing what it was hoped it would do. Regular
refuse has decreased; recycling has increased from 63 % to 72 % participation and from 7261bs. to
8151bs. per household per year. Alleys are cleaner. The areas of concern -cart size, pickup alternate
weeks and off-week cart storage -have been handled. Waste Management has been fantastic - in
80,000 stops there have been only 100 misses, and those were taken care of promptly. Both Ms.
Johnson and Mr. Brausen commented they have had very positive feedback from the public.
Answering Mayor Maxwell's questions, Ms. Cleve will check and see if Waste Management could
pinpoint addresses where they never pickup recycling; the $6,000 saved for recycling is "probably a
wash";rates will stay the same unti12005. Mr. Mielke asked about every week collection; Ms. Cleve
said it would increase cost; Ms. Johnson said she thinks the public likes every other week pickup now
that they have adjusted to the change.
Multiple Assessments
Mr. Anderson showed a map of Hopkins marked with various assessment levels. He said staff
thought of three ways to equalize multiple assessments for residential property: a cap on amount
assessed to a property; a maximum per foot frontage rate assessed; a maximum total number of
special assessments in a given period. The first two would require complicated computations. Staff
favors the last as it is easier to explain to the public and the data analysis is fairly simple. They are
suggesting a cap of two assessments in 10 years, these applying to city-generated assessments.
Petitioned assessments would not be counted. In checking the city, they did not foresee any triple
assessments, but feel the policy would still be a good guideline for the future.
Ms. Johnson asked about Regency assessments. Mayor Maxwell added Parkside. Mr. Stadler
said they would be complex, but not as complex as the parking lot assessments were. Mr. Rowan
asked about 2"d St. NE; Mr. Stadler said staff has not gotten to detailed plans yet. Mr. Mielke added
Minnetonka Mills would be another area to look at. Mr. Brausen said it seems owners are always
paying assessments; Ms. Johnson said she felt most would prefer higher rates and shorter terms. She
added 2"d St. seems to be always torn up and people feel they aren't getting what they paid
assessments for. Mr. Stadler said roadwork might start backup north so 2"d St. "has more time. " Mr.
Rowan asked if it would be possible that 2 small assessments could be followed shortly by a large
third, which owners could not be assessed for. Mr. Brausen noted that could be the case for property
he recently sold. Mayor Maxwell wondered if then the city could forgive the smallest. Mr. Anderson
noted that his map is coded only for total assessments without regard to time frame. Mr. Thompson
asked why have policies if a problem isn't foreseen; Mr. Stadler replied he understood Council
wanted to show they were sensitive to the issue. Mr. Brausen felt it was good to have it in writing.
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Mr. Stadler added he is considering doing a presentation to Council on the pavement program. Mr.
• Anderson said he feels "residential" needs to be defined better and treatment of apartment buildings
needs to be worked on. Mr. Stadler said he and his staff will work toward having the policy ready by
early May when the ls` St. N. hearing is scheduled.
General Consensus was the policy is a good idea, and favored a two assessment limit for 10
years with provisions for voluntary assessments and emergencies.. The May deadline is good.
Dispatch Consolidation Study Discussion
Police Chief Reid said his concern about the state report is that when it becomes public,
Hopkins may receive bad publicity due to the high 911-call cost. This is because Hopkins apportions
all costs; many cities do not, so their 911 programs do not include costs for dispatch space, etc. The
report also says consolidation needs to be looked at when capital upgrades are necessary, etc. He
pointed out Hopkins opted for the Vision program, rather than Logos, when a change was necessary
due to cost restraints. However it does cause problems for emergency overload situations; the County
will take over 911 calls and dispatch to fire and police, but that is all they will do. If Hopkins could
route non-emergency calls elsewhere, like Minnetonka, it would be very helpful.
Mayor Maxwell asked about routing to the fire department. Ms. Kurtz said the license would
be $18,000, plus equipment costs; she feels $30,000 would be a reasonable total cost estimate. Chief
Reid added it would also help the fire department as building blueprints, etc. could be run when they
get a call. Grant money for such a project would be unlikely as emphasis has been on radio. Mayor
Maxwell said he felt it was a better option than going to another city, as it would keep local people in
control. Ms. Johnson concurred, saying consolidation expenses seemed very high in the report. Chief
Reid added some in the county system are unhappy with the service. Mr. Brausen said he feels the
city must lie out a strategy to counter any possible bad publicity and that Hopkins needs to be
proactive. Mr. Mielke said Hopkins should monitor other options such as "virtual consolidation",
where each participant keeps its own facility but they act as a single unit, This option was not looked
at in the study and may be something to look into as Bloomington and Edina are doing. Golden
Valley, St. Louis Park, Brooklyn Center and Richfield want to "go to the next step," but he doesn't
know what it will be. Mayor Maxwell said the decision now is not permanent but $30,000 for four
years until consolidation questions are answered seems a good investment. Answering Ms. Johnson,
Chief Reid said the County wanted in only as a vendor, not as a partner. Mr. Mielke noted when
Chief Reid was hired, Council stressed the importance of community policing; he is concerned how
consolidation would affect that. Ms. Kurtz added the study focused on 911 calls; she feels the police
are a big part of Hopkins' PR people. Mr. Thompson said he would not want to see Hopkins go
elsewhere, but maybe if cities drop out of the county program, they would want to join Hopkins; Ms.
Kurtz noted dispatch could handle that as there is room for another console.
General Consensus: Staff needs to get answers to issues raised by the report, including
consolidation is years away, the better service given by Hopkins, getting people who have been
helped to speak up for Hopkins. Other options as they come up in the future should be looked at; Mr.
Mielke should check with other cities and keep Council updated.
Other
Mr. Rowan asked that he receive information on health benefits by department. If there are
differences, between departments or organizational levels, he wants to know the reasons for the
differences.
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Mr. Brausen asked if anyone got an invitation to the Arts Board farewell for Nelson Berg. No
• one had. He noted the Activity Center invitation went to his old address.
Ms. Johnson mentioned Caring Youth on March 16. Three Hopkins youths will be
recognized.
Mr. Thompson said he appreciated the Public Works effort on the sidewalk. He had been
contacted about the tax burden; Mr. Mielke had been also. Mr. Thompson asked about the parking
problems due to Elder Homestead letting groups use their room; Mr. Mielke said it is likely one side
of the road will be posted "No Parking."
Mayor Maxwell said he has a Park Board prospect.
Mr. Mielke said state law says fireworks stands must be treated the same as other transient
merchant licenses. Citrus is the only one that normally gets such a license. Ms. Johnson asked what
if someone wanted to sell fireworks at a festival, such as Raspberry -could the whole festival have
one license that says, "cannot have..." Mr. Maxwell asked if strictures such as zoning, distances
from schools, etc. could be used. He asked if it would be a policing issue; Chief Reid said it is more
of a fire issue. General Consensus: Staff needs to come to Council with options.
Mr. Mielke said things are going well with both Luther projects; Knox site and Mainstreet
site. Zoning & Planning was having concept discussions tonight. The Planning Commission will hear
formal applications in April; Council will hear them in May, as well as get the PUD for
redevelopment, etc. Hennepin County staff seems agreeable to a crossing at 8d', although it still needs
official approval.
Retreat: After discussion it was agreed the Staff/Council Retreat would be held March 9 if the
Depot staff can come on the 23rd; otherwise, it will be held March 23.
Mr. Mielke reminded everyone State of the City is Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
Mr. Brausen moved adjournment. Ms. Johnson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Kasey Kester, Secretary
ATTEST:
Eug ne J axwell, Mayor
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