05-20-97A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on May 20, 1997 , in the Council
Chambers of Hopkins City Hall.
Present were. Mayor Redepenning and Council ,Members Maxwell, Hesch, Johnson, and
' Jensen. Also present were staff members Mielke, Genellie, Stadler, Gessele, Parsons, and
City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Redepenning called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS
There were none.
III. PRESENTATION
Slide show documentary, Depot Coffee House
Recognition of Depot Coffee House Board members
Mayor Redepenning announced that this presentation would me made later in the meeting.
1V. CONSENT AGENDA
1. May' 6, 1997 regular meeting minutes
2. Disbursements, Prelist 1014
3. Award bid 1997 alley improvements (CR97-95)
4. Approve resolution 97-52, order public hearing on Charter amendments (CR97-
84)
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen 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, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye;
Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion was carried unanimously.
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Consider County Road 3 segment improvement plans (CR97-96)
Steve Stadler told Council that segment 3 (Hwy 169 to Blake Road1 of the Excelsior
Boulevard improvement project which is scheduled for 1999 - 2000 is progressing and
that plans for the area need to be approved by Hopkins. Mr. Stadler gave a presentation of
the plan and of staff recommended changes to the plan. Jim Benshoof, Transportation
' consultant, attended to answer questions. Mark Koegler, Planning/Landscaping consultant
May 20, 1997 City Council Meeting Pege 1
for the project, Craig Twinem, Hennepin County Project Manager and Dave Swenson,
Hennepin County Real Estate Manager were also present to answer questions.
Several people appeared to speak in favor of the plan and residents of the East End
Neighborhood spoke against the project. They expressed concern that the loss of the
businesses on the south side of Excelsior Boulevard would remove the noise and sight
buffer that the buildings afford.
The Council discussed the changes and the safety factors that warranted those changes
and how the changes would improve safety. They also discussed other issues about the
project.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Maxwell seconded a motion to
approve the preliminary design items, Excelsior Boulevard -Segment 3, as presented by
staff with the direction to look at the possibility of another stop light being added between
Blake Road and Highway 169, the Milwaukee/Monroe intersection and the possibility of
leaving a retail section on the south side. 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 Depot Coffee House board members appeared at this time. Suzanne Lundeen, a board
member, presented a video tape that she put together for a school project. It was a
documentary showing the history of the Hopkins Depot, now being converted into the
Depot Coffee House.
Mayor Redepenning and Council Member Hesch presented Certificates of Appreciation and
letters of recommendation to the Depot Coffee House Board members.
Joe Margolis, Depot Coffee House Board Member, said that he attended the Minnesota
Partnership Awards and received a letter of recognition from Governor Carlson for the
Depot Coffee House project. He read the letter and presented a letter of achievement that
was also received from Minnesota Partnership Awards to Sargeant Tony Hanlin, Hopkins
Police Department for the efforts of the police department in the project.
2. Approve Phase I, transportation feasibility study (CR97-97)
Steve Mielke said that on April 2, at its regular meeting, Council discussed a proposed
transit study. Council asked staff to investigate means of funding the study. To date,
staff has not secured a source for funding. He said that he is still investigating other
sources and suggested that Phase I could be funded by the general fund.
Council Member Jensen moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
approve Phase I of the transportation study as detailed in the LSA Scope of Work, dated
march 24, 1997. 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.
May 20, 1997 City Council Meeting Page 2
VI. NEW BUSINESS
-~ 1. Approval of reimbursement for landfill (Memo)
Jim Gessele introduced Dick Nowlin, Doherty, Rumble and Butler, who reviewed the
history of the landfill closing and told Council that staff's recommendation was to accept
the negotiated settlement. Steve Mielke, City Manager, commended Jim Gessele for the
work that he did in resolving the landfill issue.
Council Member Maxwell asked Jerre Miller, City Attorney, if he had reviewed the
settlement and what his opinion was. Mr. Miller said he had and preferred the settlement
to litigation.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion to accept
the proposed settlement for the Landfill Cleanup Act reimbursement. 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.
2. Shady Oak Beach architectural plans (CR97-94)
Dave Johnson said that in November of 1996, phase I improvements to Shady Oak Beach
were completed. Along with staff from Public Works, Recreation staff interviewed
architectural firms and chose the Cunningham Group to develop Phase II plans. Mr.
Johnson introduced Jeff Schoenbauer of Brower and Associates and Steve Phillipi of the
Cuningham Group. Mr. Schoenbauer and Mr. Phillipi gave an overview of the plans. Dave
said that the Joint Recreation Board reviewed the plans and recommended them to
Council. Dave explained that, as it was shown, the project is over budget but that they
were here to receive direction from the Council on what the priorities to retain are and
where to cut costs.
Council Members discussed the amenities and the buildings. They strongly suggested that
the amenities were a priority over the buildings and felt that they did not have enough
information about the cost of items listed to make a decision now. They directed staff to
gather that information and put the item on the agenda again in two weeks.
3. Approve resolution, train switching in Hopkins (CR97-98)
Steve Mielke told Council that the City of St. Louis Park is working with the Twin City and
Western Railroad Company to move the switching operations now in the Edgebrook Park
area to somewhere in Hopkins. Approval of Resolution 97-59 would express opposition to
moving that operation to Hopkins. The resolution will be forwarded to St. Louis Park, the
railroads, HCRRA, MnDot, and local legislators.
May 20, 1997 City Council Meeting Page 3
Mayor Redepenning moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to approve
Resolution 97-59, expressing opposition to moving train switching operations from St.
Louis Park to Hopkins. 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.
•
VII. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
Mayor Redepenning announced that the Depot Coffee House Sock Hop that was held
during Mainstreet Days was successful.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Jensen moved and Council Member
Johnson seconded a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous
consent at 10:58 p.m.
Respectfully
fitted,
ier, City Clerk
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTF.~T:
Charles D. Redepenning, Ma~~r
1
May 20, 1997 City Council Meeting
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