10-10-06 WSOctober 10, 2006
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -October 10, 2006
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:30
pm in the Raspberry Room at City Hall. Council members Bruce Rowan, Kristi Halverson, and Cheryl
Youakim were present; Council member Jay Thompson was absent. City personnel present were City
Manager Rick Getschow, Community Services Director Jim Genellie, Housing and Development
Coordinator Kersten Elverum, Public Works Director Steve Stadler; and Jill Vdall from Hi1dy Consulting.
Branding and Marketing Initiative.
Housing and Development coordinator Elverum provided an update to the Council on the Marketing
and Branding Initiative. The development of a brand and marketing plan for Hopkins was discussed with
the City Council in early 2006. There was a recommendation of a marketing committee made up of local
residents that a marketing and redevelopment plan be put together to increase the City's visibility. The
Hopkins Business and Civic Association has contributed dollars toward this effort. The City selected City
Image as a consultant to develop a branding and marketing plan. They conducted an on Line survey, one-
on-one interviews, and had several focus groups that researched current communication tools along with the
City's history. The Marketing Committee and City staff have met several times with City Image through
2006 to develop this branding and marketing plan. Elverum then provided the Council with information on
the results of the survey, and also provided much of the marketing materials that have been developed to
date.
It is anticipated that the final branding and marketing plan for approval by the City Council will be
brought in December of this year. The "Think Hopkins" Initiative will kick off in early 2007.
OPEB Review; Actuary Jill Vclall
Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie provided background to the City Council on the early
retirement plan through the retirement program that was put in place in 1985. The Council has discussed in
previous work sessions, the history of the early retirement program and the effects that GASB 45 and the
rising cost of health insurance has had on this early retirement program. A proposal was brought forward
to adjust the program starting in mid-July. The City Manager is proposing a change in the personnel policy
that affects those eligible in the program that have yet to retire from the City. Council consensus was in
agreement with the proposed change to the personnel policy adjusting the early retirement program.
Sanitary Sewer Dump Station
Steve Stadler stated that the cities of St. Louis Park, Edina, Hopkins, and the Met Council have been
planning together on an initiative to construct a facility to dump sanitary sewer and storm sewer creek
material so that it can be properly disposed of. The dump station would be located in St. Louis Park just
north of Excelsior Boulevard and east of Powell Road. It would be owned and operated by the City of St.
Louis Park. There would be an agreement whereby each of the four participants would contribute equally
toward the design and construction cost. The Hopkins cost would be $62,000. The cost of the material
disposal service would be shared equally until it is shown that a more equitable cost sharing system is
eeded. The per-city annual cost of the disposal is estimated to be less than $1,000. The facility is
essentially a building with large containers where the cities sewer cleaning truck could be dumped, and the
solids and liquids are separated with the solids picked up and disposed of periodically by a contractor.
October 10, 2006
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Stadler provided the Council with an agreement that had been reviewed by the City Attorney with minor
comments. If the agreement is approved, the cost would be included in the 2007 sanitary sewer budget.
Council consensus was that this was a good example of participation among local government agencies .
' Stadler was allowed to bring the agreement forward for approval at a regular City Council meeting.
There being no further business to bring before the Council, on a motion by Thompson, and a second by
Halverson the meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Rick Getschow, Secretary
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ATTEST:
Eugene J. Ma well, ayor