11-15-05On November 15, 2005, the City Council convened as the Election Canvassing
Board at 7:30 p.m.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Thompson, and
Rowan. The City Clerk gave the election results.
Council Member Rowan moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
declare Eugene J. Maxwell, with 1261 votes as the winner of the Mayor's race and
declare Cheryl Youakim with 1217 votes and Kristi Halverson with 902 votes as
winners of the City Council Race. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan,
aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Maxwell adjourned the canvassing board to the regular City Council Meeting
at 7:32 p.m.
A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on November 15, 2005, in
the Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Thompson, and
Rowan. Also, present were staff members Getschow, Genellie, Stadler, Kerrigan,
Harkess, and City Attorney Jerry Steiner.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
There were none.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1 . Minutes of November 1, 2005 City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of November 1, 2005 City Council Work Session
3. Resolution Declaring a Vacancy on the City Council
4. Appointment of Mayor Pro Tempore
November 15, 2005 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
5. Approve Snow Storage Lease Between Hopkins and SuperValu (CR2005
15 51
City Manager Rick Getschow explained the resolution declaring a vacancy on the
City Council and the process for selecting an appointee. Mr. Getschow also
explained the appointment of the Mayor Pro Tempore.
City Attorney Jerry Steiner answered Council Member Rowan's question about the
SuperValu lease, stating that if the property were sold, the lease would remain in
effect for the term.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Rowan seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Proposed Refuse Rate Increases (CR2005-151)
Yard waste and brush pick-up programs are being subsidized by the rates charged
for the disposal program. The rate increases proposed are intended to offset a
portion of the operating costs of these two programs and relieve the burden on the
disposal program. The proposed increases are from 51.00 to 52.00 per bag of
yard waste, from 55.00 to 58.00 for up to 5 cubic yards of brush, and from
515.00 to 520.00 for five cubic yards to 17 cubic yards of brush.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Thompson seconded a
motion to adopt Resolution 2005-112, approving increases in refuse rates effective
on billings rendered from and after January 1, 2006. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council
Member Rowan, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Approve Sanitary and Storm Sewer Rate Adjustment (CR2005-151)
Sanitary sewer rates have not changed since 1999, when the rate was set at
52.25 per 1000 gallons of water used. After reviewing the sanitary sewer fund,
the projected expenditures, and capital needs, staff has determined that a rate
adjustment is necessary to maintain the current level of service and provide for
scheduled capital needs. While rates have remained stable over the last six years,
operating costs have increased 29% and revenues have decreased by 18%.
November 15, 2005 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Storm Sewer rates will change from $4.00 per residential equivalency factor (REF)
per month to 54.50 per REF or 513.50 per acre per month. The last rate increase
of 5.60 per residential REF was in 1999. The rate adjustment is necessary to
maintain the current level of service and provide for scheduled capital needs. Over
the past six years, expenditures have increased 34% while revenues have
increased 9%.
Council Member Brausen asked staff to explain the method of determining summer
sewer rates, so as not to include water that is used to sprinkle lawns in the
newsletter.
Council Member Thompson moved and Council Member Rowan seconded a motion
to adopt Resolution 2005-110, increasing the sanitary sewer rate by 5.25 per
1,000 gallons of metered water usage and Resolution 2005-111, increasing the
storm sewer utility rate by 51.50 per residential equivalency factor effective on
billings rendered from and after January 1, 2006. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council
Member Rowan, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
City Attorney Jerry Steiner clarified that the SuperValu lease can be cancelled with
a thirty-day notice from SuperValu. If the property is sold, SuperValu could choose
to break the lease. The City would receive a refund of a portion of the lease if it
were broken before the term ends.
3. TIF District 1-3 Litigation
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Thompson seconded a
motion to adjourn to the closed-door session to confer with attorneys about TIF
District 1-3 litigation at p.m. The meeting was closed at 7:45 p.m.
The closed-door session was adjourned to the regular meeting at 8:40 p.m.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Brausen moved and Council
Member Rowan seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was
adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:41 p.m.
November 15, 2005 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Respectfully Sub
erry Obeyer, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Euge a J. axwell, Mayor
November 15, 2005 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4