08-09-05 WSAugust 9, 2005
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -August 9, 2005
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell
at 6:35 p.m. on August 9, 2005, at the City Hall. Council members Brausen, Rowan and
Thompson were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow; Public
Works Director Steve Stadler; and Finance Director Chris Harkess. Also present were Jim
Rhodes, Director of Hopkins School District Business Services; David Tripp, Hopkins School
District Transportation Supervisor; David Olds of Buetow and Associates, Inc.; and Eric Hansen
of Pinnacle Engineering.
Hopkins School District Bus Depot Facility
Public Works Director Stadler said Hopkins School District has obtained a concept level
approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and is trying to meet
requirements for a state grant with a November 1, 2005, deadline. The latter will probably
require a resolution of support from the Council. City staff concerns include: (1) traffic
congestion on 11th Avenue; (2) city bulk item drop-off program impact; (3) negative impact to
Westbrooke Patio Homes (noise and fumes). Benshoof and Associates have done a traffic
analysis and feel the increased traffic can be handled by an increase in the curb radii at 7th St.
There should be only minor drops in service at the intersection (later he said this could be 10
seconds longer). School officials are willing to work with the city on the bulk drop off program,
and have suggested using spring break in April and MEA week in October as dates. Details will
need to be worked out. Staff has not yet received the information on impacts to Westbrooke,
which is about 300 feet away. Chief Reid has expressed concerns about traffic on 11th as he
already gets some complaints from Westbrooke residents. Mr. Stadler added the morning buses
should have no traffic impact as they mainly run 6:00-7:00 a.m. The City will also need to
decide what a fair compensation for long-term lease would be. This could be based on increased
street maintenance costs, property appraisals, paying real estate taxes, etc. He noted Hopkins
residents will have tax savings like all School District residents. He feels a good next step is to
plan amid-September public informational meeting.
Mr. Rhodes said he hopes the District can come back in October for approval. In 1998-9
the school district realized they were paying a great deal for bus transportation but could see no
solution. Later when they asked for bids, they asked what the bid would be if they provided
parking for the buses and found they would save $350,000 besides having reduced fuel costs.
They have worked with city staff, MPCA and engineers. MPCA is pleased with the concept.
This facility will not take property off the city's tax rolls. He feels this could be an economic
boost for the area as many bus drivers are hired locally. The larger curb radii may help in future
development of the area.
Mr. Hansen said no one has worked on a closed landfill in Minnesota before so MPCA is
involved. The landfill has never been capped, so it does not prevent infiltration of groundwater
or keep methane gas from escaping. MPCA says the setbacks from residents are the smallest in
the state. MPCA has been trying a plastic barrier and a methane collection system. In the past
two weeks they have reprioritized the site so they can properly cap the property
The school district will have about 80 buses, 30 small gas buses and 50 diesels; the latter
would be kept at the far end of the parking lot. The nearest home would be 500-600 feet from the
diesel buses. The parking lot will be on the old waste area, but almost all of the building will not.
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The whole site is 26 acres; the facility will use only six acres on the north end. A retaining
wall berm is planned to screen the facility from the neighborhood. He feels that, at most, 9 or 10
homes will have any direct impacts.
Answering Council questions, he said employee parking does not connect with bus
parking. The berm will have a 3:1 ratio and a 4-6 foot fence on top of that; this height will help
with air dispersal. It will also have a soft surface for effective noise control. The building will
have a facing much like the Art Center. The office area will be two regular stories; the bus area is
a very high one story, with fake windows near the top to continue the office portion lines. He
would tell Westbrooke residents the facility will help their tax rate and reduce their risk of
contamination from the landfill as it will be properly capped. Mr. Stadler commented the site had
been low on MPCA's priorities because all nearby residents were on city water so the
groundwater contamination was not a high issue. Mayor Maxwell commented it had seemed like
capping was 25 years away when he talked to them; the school district savings seemed to be the
key. Mr. Rhodes commented most of the green space will remain. He feels the school is a
"friendly industrial" user instead of an unknown future entity. There will be a predictable traffic
pattern, unlike an industry with commercial trucks. He again emphasized many local people will
become bus drivers. City Manager Getschow said the informational meetings will be important
and should include education on the clean-up and the benefits to Hopkins. He suggested the
school district contact other bus depots and find what issues they faced; he asked if there is a way
to get a quantitative reading on fumes. Mr. Hansen said an air dispersion modeling is possible.
Mayor Maxwell said the noise issue must be discussed; perhaps showing the different route
options would be helpful. Mr. Tripp noted the buses are staggered and do go in different
directions; also they run only 170 days a year. He said in 20 years he has never had complaints
about smells except when buses are idling in front of a school. He asked if nearby residents
understood the dangers of the landfill. Mr. Getschow said he feels some do, but many don't. Mr.
Stadler agreed it would be good to explain the methane migration and the water issues.
Mr. Brausen said he saw a lot of "wins" here for both the city and the school. Education
on how the landfill was monitored in the past and how capping is better is crucial. The dispersal
of bus traffic also needs to be emphasized. Mr. Thompson said the fact Westbrooke is not the
best part of town might be brought up. He felt the savings to the school are "eye-opening."
Mayor Maxwell commented the district needs to go "overboard" on landscaping, stress the
dispersal of buses, stress the 175 days instead of 365, and that MPCA capping is a major step for
Hopkins now instead of 25 years away. Mr. Brausen added they need to show why they did not
pick other sites. Mr. Rhodes later commented the district had looked at about 80 sites; most
were in commercial zoning and would take property off the tax rolls. Mr. Stadler says he wants
to see an air dispersion model before the neighborhood meeting and information on other centers
not having problems. We need to be ready to get past those concerns. Mayor Maxwell wants to
meet again before the public meeting. Mr. Stadler noted the MPCA letter mentioned site prep in
fa112006, which is the target date for the district. Mr. Hansen said they are working with MPCA
and added only a small corner of the building is on actual landfill. Mr. Stadler said many in the
neighborhood will be concerned if they will be assessed more in the future because of more wear
on 11th Avenue. It would help if we can say the district will help with street maintenance.
Mayor Maxwell suggested the lease money be put in a street maintenance fund.
Mr. Rhodes summarized six things for the public meeting: how the facility will make the
area better; buffering and landscaping; days in use; air quality here and similar areas; traffic
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study and bus dispersion; what neighbors will see, the terminal itself. Mayor Maxwell added
MPCA support. Mr. Rhodes said he wanted someone from MPCA at the
public meeting. Mr. Stadler cautioned MPCA could get the meeting off track of what the school
district is doing. Mr. Hansen said he is working on a timeline for a November 1 deadline. The
Council will be asked for a resolution of support in October. He feels there should be 2
neighborhood meetings in August/September. Mr. Rhodes suggested both be in September. Mr.
Getschow said staff will work with the district on setting those up.
General Consensus was to go ahead with the project. School personnel will work with
City Manager Getschow on scheduling. Council would like the meeting in a school facility and
suggested Katherine Curren school. Mr. Rhodes again said he would like another meeting with
Council before the public meetings.
2006 Budget Discussions
Franchise Fee
Finance Director Harkess reminded Council that at the next Council meeting they need to
reconsider franchise fees due to the sunset clause in the ordinance. Franchise fees bring in
$290,000/year and have become a major budget factor. She wondered if the sunset clause
shouldn't be removed. Mr. Getschow said at a previous meeting it had been mentioned a sunset
clause could mean a deadline would slip by. The franchise fee would be discussed as part of the
annual budget in any case. He feels the sunset clause tells people it is not planned to be
permanent.
Mr. Thompson said he likes the sunset clause so new Council members realize this is
something special. Mayor Maxwell said the sunset clause ensures they consider if they should
adjust the charge. Mr. Rowan said there is so much in the budget the franchise fee might not get
the attention it needs. Mr. Rowan added the Council had talked about tying it to consumption.
General Consensus was to leave the ordinance as it is except to change the year 2005 to
2007. Ms. Harkess suggested that next year Council could look at changing the rate, noting a
percentage would get a larger number of dollars.
Income from Interlachen Property
Ms. Harkess said net proceeds from the property sale were $71,530.20. The Council, by
law, must pass a resolution on how they should be spent, suggesting equipment replacement
costs, capital improvements and/or the park dedication fund.
Mayor Maxwell suggested using it against the Art Center debt. Discussion followed.
General Consensus: Staff should see if it will work for the Art Center; if so, they can
come back with a consent agenda resolution.
The levy
Mr. Getschow noted the limited market value phase-out has been extended, with a cap of
15% increase in one year. Fiscal disparity information is not yet out for 2006. He and Ms.
Harkess see a scenario much like last year - a "win-win" situation where we use an additional
tax levy but the tax rate is lower. He is seeing 4-15% levy increases in other cities as there are
no levy limits. Mr. Thompson stated that it seems some budget requests are coming in from
departments that may desire to backfill the budget cuts of a few years ago. Mr. Getschow stated
that even though there have been some additional requests for personnel, the budget that will
come forth works from a standard of today and not one that existed prior to the budget cuts or
one that is attempting to restore funds lost from the budget cuts. The LGA money is most likely
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not coming back and most people realize this. Mayor Maxwell asked if the state next year might
limit the city to what it increases the levy this year. Mr. Getschow says it is a possibility. Mr.
Thompson asked about last year's levy limit. Ms. Harkess said she did not have it with her, but
would get the information. Mr. Rowan noted the goal last year had been to keep taxes even.
Ms. Harkess noted they must set the preliminary levy September 6. Mayor Maxwell
suggested an approximate $8.6M levy with the understanding that the levy can be decreased in
December, but it can not increased any further. General Consensus was to accept the mayor's
suggestion. Mr. Thompson noted the chart prepared by Ms. Harkess would be good for the
public. He would like to know what other cities would be like.
Other
Mr. Getschow handed out information on the Council vacancy appointment process and
also answers to questions on Block 64 relocations. He noted that formation of a TIF district does
not trigger relocation.
There was general discussion regarding City Council vacancies.
On motion by Rick Brausen and second by Jay Thompson, the meeting adjourned at 9:15
on a vote of 4-0.
Kasey Kester, Secretary
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ATTEST:
Eugen xwell, Mayor