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03-28-06 WSMarch 28, 2006 Page 1 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -March 28, 2006 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:30 p.m. on March 28, 2006, at the City Ha11. Council members Bruce Rowan, Kristi Halverson, Jay Thompson and Cheryl Youakim were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow and Public Works Director Steve Stadler. Also present were Park Board members Josh Montgomery and Kari Kyllo; and George Watson of Brauer and Associates. Hopkins Dog Park Mr. Montgomery said Mr. Stadler checked with Hopkins and Minnetonka Recreation Departments about athletic fields. More parking is needed than would be available at the dog park site; and as it is in the floodplain, it is not a good playing field site. The Board feels the natural area at Valley Park could be gradually developed into a real asset with a boardwalk, etc. Therefore, the Board feels the dog park is a good use for the space. Signage and license fees have not been decided on yet. Ms. Youakim noted the Board minutes noted they had discussed changing the direction of the archery range. Mr. Stadler said the archery range needs 25 yards beyond the bales so that idea was discarded. Mayor Maxwell said he feels the range should be fenced so children cannot chase a dog into bow range. Mr. Stadler agreed it was a good idea. Answering Mr. Thompson, Mr. Getschow said the money for the dog park will come from the money set aside to pave the hockey rink in Valley Park. Mr. Stadler added he has received some feedback that users do not want the rink paved as it is used for whiffleball. Mr. Rowan said he feels the dog park will increase the number of licenses sold. Mr. Montgomery added that would mean there would not need to be a special fee to use the dog park. Mr. Montgomery asked about nonresident use. General consensus was a Hopkins license would be needed to use the dog park. Mr. Stadler noted the suggested fees were his own idea; Council members agreed his suggested $12/1 year, $20/2 years, $28/3 years fees were good. Ms. Kyllo asked for Council feedback on closing hours as the park is open until 10:00 p.m. Mayor Maxwell thought as there was no lighting, that would be too late. He suggested closing time be discussed at the neighborhood meeting. He also said the Board should have both the city attorney and the insurance carrier look at proposed rules and Signage. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Stadler said the fencing would go out for quotes. He will provide Council with a complete total for the dog park. Ms. Youakim asked if the signs would be dual language. General consensus was to have the Signage only in English, but brochures could be multilingual. Mr. Montgomery asked about publicity. Mr. Stadler suggested the Highlights and a targeted mailing. Mayor Maxwell suggested the Sailor. General Consensus was the dog park was a good idea, and the suggested fees were accepted. The public informational meeting will be at the Park Board meeting on May 15. March 28, 2006 Page 2 City Hall Site Improvements Mr. Stadler noted the CIP has $50,000 for improving the front of City Hall. Mr. Watson said he tried to coordinate the City Hall landscape improvements with the pedestrian improvements in the city streetscape. The benches would match those in the park. The black decorative fencing at the entry level has the same decorative rings as other city fencing. The fencing would have a bronze handrail at the entry level, and the city logo would be incorporated into it. The present lighting bollards would be kept. The present planting on the steep slope would be kept. The crabapples have been a maintenance issue and would be replaced with a type of dogwood, which would be approximately the same size. Plantings between the two staircases would emphasize color, and would be composed of perennials and flowering shrubs. Mayor Maxwell asked about winter color. Mr. Watson said the northern exposure and lack of light limits plant choices. He suggested using lighting, etc. for winter color. Ms. Youakim said she finds juniper to be scraggly and wondered if something else would work. Mr. Watson said total cost is estimated at $45-46,000, which includes a 10% contingency. He suggests breaking the bidding up to control costs and quality. Mr. Stadler said he will get quotes on rail work, landscaping, and concrete. He thinks he can get low quotes by incorporating the landscaping and concrete into Excelsior Blvd. streetscape work. He added the cost is kept down because the city will keep the current steps. Mr. Rowan noted the steps are steep. Mr. Thompson asked if they could be resurfaced so they are not so slippery in the winter. Mr. Watson said grooving could be done, but could cause faster deterioration; he suggested using epoxy coating, even though it needs to be redone periodically. There was some discussion about a handicapped ramp from the west parking lot. Mr. Stadler said he thinks he will have bids and be able to start work in June. It should take a month or so to complete. Mayor Maxwell asked if the removed trees could be replanted in the dog park. Mr. Stadler will check into it. General Consensus was to continue to move ahead with this 2006 CIP project as proposed. Other Mr. Thompson asked that a congratulatory letter be sent to Katherine Wiley for receiving a scholarship for study abroad. Mr. Rowan said the Caring Youth awards went well and had a good turnout. Mr. Rowan would like to have a future discussion about a handicapped ramp from the west parking lot of city hall. Ms. Youakim noted there are many motorized wheelchairs in Hopkins. City Manager Getschow said the Senate passed Bill 2750 about eminent domain. Their version is less restrictive than the House one. The Senate bonding bill contains funding for the train switching yard in Glencoe. This will, however, also need federal money. Mr. Getschow said the bus depot is moving ahead. MPCA is considering using money other than the bonding money. The school district needs to sign an agreement with MPCA. They hope to get going by the end of summer. March 28, 2006 Page 3 Mr. Getschow said that at the CDBG hearing, the issue came up that the money left over from 2005 be contributed to ICA. It will be a contribution from the city at the next meeting. Ms. Youakim asked about Hop-a-Ride funding. Mr. Getschow said we contract for services. Ms. Youakim had questions about Minnetonka Dial-a-Ride along with the Hopkins program, which Mr. Getschow will check out. Mayor Maxwell asked that the Highlights include a notice to residents that graffiti removal is available. He also asked that the buy-a-bench for the park be promoted again. Mr. Getschow said staff is drafting a proclamation for both the boys' and girls' basketball teams. On motion by Ms. Halverson and second by Ms. Youakim the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. on a vote of 5-0. Kasey Kester, Secretary COUNCIL MEMBERS: