09-21-99A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on September 21, 1999, in
the Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Redepenning and Council Members Maxwell, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Also present were staff members Mielke, Genellie, Stadler, Tom Anderson,
and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Redepenning called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
Terry Sweeney, Chair of Chemical Health Commission, reported for the Commission.
Mr. Sweeney said that as a result of the poor outcome of the liquor compliance
checks done in 1998, Council directed the Chemical Health Commission to work with
liquor licensees and establish educational aids for those licensees. The Commission
has been working on seminar geared to prevention of sales of liquor and tobacco to
minors. They have also been working on a handbook to give to all that attend the
seminar.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. September 7, 1999, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
2. August 10, 1999, Work Session Meeting Minutes
3. August 17, 1999, Work Session Meeting Minutes
4. Adopt Business Subsidy Criteria (CR99-166)
5. Approve Raspberry Festival Gambling Licenses (CR99-169)
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Maxwell seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, eye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
V. OATH OF OFFICE
1. Chemical Health Commission
Koreen Wallis and Sue Steinman gave the oath of office for the Chemical Health
Commission.
September 21, 1998 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
2. Police Civil Service Commission
Michael Gerdts gave the oath of office for the Police Civil Service Commission
appointment.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1. Nuisance Abatement Hearing, 133-12~' Ave S (CR99-168)
Tom Anderson said that the owner of the property, Mr. Dale Wojcik, has cleaned the
property. There are just a few items that Head to be cleaned up. Council Member
Johnson asked about the trailer that is sitting on tha street and is full of debris. Mr.
Anderson said that for these reasons, he is recommending a continuance of this item
to the next meeting.
Mayor Redepenning opened the public hearing at 7:43 p.m.
No one came forward.
Council Member Maxwell moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
close the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at
7:44 p.m.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion to
continue the item until the first October meeting. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch,
aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redapenning, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
2. Nuisance Abatement Hearing, 255/257 - 18~' Ave N 1CR99-167)
Tom Anderson said that the inspection has been working with the owner, Mr. Mahlon
Osburn, to bring the property into compliance with the nuisance ordinances.
Deadlines have not been met. A formal complaint has been filed with Hennepin
County Court and is yet unresolved. Mr. Anderson said that the estimated cost of
cleaning up the property is X500. Council Member Jensen asked if the allowance for
boats, trailers, and icehouses is the same for duplexes as for single family homes.
Staff answered yes. Ms. Jensen stated that that is not really fair and requested that
the issue be placed on a future work session agenda
Mayor Redepenning opened the public hearing at 7:58 p.m.
No one came forward.
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Council Member Maxwell mov d and Council Memb r Johnson seconded a motion to
close the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at
7:59 p.m.
Council Member Maxwell moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 99-086, declaring that a nuisance exists at 255/257 - 18~' Ave N
and ordering the nuisance abated and costs assessed as a special assessment. A poll
of the vote was as follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member J Haan,
aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning,
aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VII. OLD BUSINESS
1. Complete Action, Excelsior Boulevard Preliminary Layout, (Memo)
Steve Stadler said that on September 7, Council approved a portion of the preliminary
layout for Excelsior Boulevard, Phase II improvements. Mr. Stadler reviewed the
issues.
Several representatives from Blake School responded that the impact to Blake School
would be much greater than anticipated. John Brooks, Board Chair, said that they
were frustrated with the short amount of time given to assess the impact.
Council Member Maxwell moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 99-92, Resolution approving Excelsior Boulevard reconstruction
preliminary plans, Layout D1, Hennepin Project No. 9227 and prohibiting on street
parking along this segment of Excelsior Boulevard. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jansen, aye; Council Member Hesch,
aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Engineering Services Agreement, Excelsior Boulevard Landscape
and Streetscape Improvements (CR99-172)
Steve Stadler said that there is a need to continue landscape/streetscape
improvements along Excelsior Boulevard from 9~' Ave to Blake Road. The agreement
would authorize Hoisington-Koagler Group staff to complete alandscaping/streetscape
concept design. The fee is ~ 11,500 and would be funded from the Municipal State
Aid Account.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
authorize th Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agr em nt with Hoisington-
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Koegler Group, Inc. for preliminary design services r garding Excelsior Boulevard
landscape improvements. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Revise License and Permit Fees (CR99-170)
Terry Obermaier said that fees for health licenses have not met expenses. The health
fees have been revised to reflect categories of risk and size of establishment. These
two affect the amount of time an inspector spends at the location. Ms. Obermaier
said that the new definitions and schedule will simplify the process. Other fees that
will change are false police alarms, mechanical amusement devices and motels,
hotels, and lodging house-per unit. Council Member Maxwell asked for the definition
of a lodging house. Staff did not have an answer, but will review that portion of the
ordinance and make any necessary changes before the second reading.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
adopt ordinance 99-830, an ordinance amending section 1010.13, Food and Food
Sales License Fees, 1010.27,7, Felse Alarms and 1010.11,11, Mechanical
Amusement Devices. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Maxwell,
aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member
Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Railroad Study, Blocking Operations (CR99-173)
Stev Mielke said that Hopkins has been working with the cities of Minnetonka and
St. Louis Park to solve the problem of noise that is caused by reilroad switching in
residential neighborhoods. Moving the switching operations to anon-residential area
of Hopkins is a short-term fix. The long-term solution that is being sought by the
three cities is to move these operations out of the area of all three cities. The
resolution limits the use of the switch to a two-year period from the installation
completion date and requires agreement upon an operations plan.
Lee Koppe, RLK, was also present to answer questions.
Council Member Jensen moved and Mayor Redepenning seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 99-091, adopting a position on the installation of a switch for train
blocking purposes on the CP rail line in West Hopkins with the following conditions:
(1) That the operational plan addresses (1) the issue of avoiding the noise of the
movement of the arms with the bells ringing at i~rt~.aections along with noise from
whistles; (2) when the two year period is over how will the new switching area be
moved and who will be responsible for that removal; (3) that as much switching as
possible will be moved from the Blake Road, East End area to the new location; and
(4) the switching operations will be concentrated in the new area, which is an
September 21, 1999 Chy CouncN Meednp Minutes Pape 4
industrial area. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Maxw II, aye;
Council Member Jens n, ay ;Council Member Hesch, ay ; Council M mb r Johnson,
aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member moved and Council Member
seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 9:57 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
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Terry O~'~ rmaier, City Clerk
COUNCIL MEMBERS
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Charles D. Redepenning, M,: •or
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