03-20-07A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on March 20, 2007, in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Youakim, Thompson, Rowan, and
Halverson. Also, present were staff members Getschow, Genellie, Stadler, Anderson, and
City Attorney Jerry Steiner.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:35 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 March 6, 2007 City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of March 6, 2006 City Council Work Session
3. Minutes of March 13, 2007 City Council Work Session
4. Approve Cooperative Agreement with 9 Mile Creek Watershed and Engineering
Services Agreement with WSB City Project 2006-05 (CR2007-032)
5. Second Reading of Ordinance 2007-984, Electric Franchise Ordinance (Memo)
In resporwse to Council Member Youakim's question, Public Works Director Steve Stadler
stated that he negotiated with Xcel and that they didn't want the change he requested,
but that he was satisfied with the final result.
Mr. Stadler reviewed the highlights of the Cooperative Agreement with 9 Mile Creek
Watershed District.
Council Member Rowan moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Youakim, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council
Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
March 20, 2007, City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
V. NEW BUSINESS
1 . Approve the Preliminary Plat for the Marketplace & Main Development
(CR2007-029)
Last March a preliminary Plat and site plan was approved for the Cornerstone Group on
the former Hopkins Honda site. The development plans included condos, town homes,
and retail. The preliminary plat expires six months after approval. The Beard Group is
purchasing the site, and as part of the purchase agreement, the preliminary plat needs to
be approved. The applicant will have to have the final plat approved before any
construction can begin. The plat is in conformance with the zoning ordinances and with
the Comprehensive Plan. The Zoning and Planning Commission recommended approval.
Council Member Thompson moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2007-019, approving a preliminary plat for the Marketplace & Main
Development. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council
Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Moratorium Ordinance (CR2007-030)
The City has been faced with issues concerning the appropriate zoning and location for
tobacco sales. In order to provide an opportunity for the City Council to fully examine
these issues, it is necessary to impose a moratorium on the issuance of certain licenses.
The moratorium gives the Council the opportunity to objectively study these issues
without the constraint of having to consider pending license applications. Without the
moratorium, the Council could be faced with the need to act on a license application
during the study process. The moratorium will not affect current license renewals. The
moratorium is set to expire in one year.
Jerry Steiner, City Attorney, reviewed the changes to the ordinance that were placed on
the Council table before the meeting from the ordinance that they received in their
packets.
Council Members discussed the amount of time for the study, what the study is expected
to accomplish, getting input from those who will be affected by changes to the ordinance
as well as "Reduce the Use" and the School District, and the Zoning and Planning
Commission. They also discussed possible outcomes, the existing licenses and how they
will be affected, the requirement of grandfathering existing license locations, and whether
or not to allow new licenses in the event of the sale of an existing licensed business.
The Council agreed that locations that currently held licenses should not be prevented
from selling their business because of the moratorium and that the length of the
moratorium should be 180 days.
March 20, 2007, City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Yousef Abumayaleh and Ahmed Wahbi came forward to give comments about the
moratorium.
City Attorney, Jerry Steiner said that before the second reading of the ordinance, he will
make changes to reflect the Council's wishes.
Council Member Thompson moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
approve Ordinance 2007-988, establishing a moratorium on the issuance of any new
licenses for the sale of tobacco with the changes as stated by City Attorney, Jerry
Steiner. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, nay; Council
Member Thompson, aye; Council Member Rowan, nay; Council Member Halverson, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried.
3. Deny the Application for a License to Sell Tobacco, Back Door Tobacco, 1023
Mainstreet (CR2007-031)
Back Door Tobacco, currently located at 813 Mainstreet, has applied for a license to sell
tobacco products at 1023 Mainstreet. The owners are currently leasing space at 813
Mainstreet and wish to move the business to the 1023 Mainstreet location. This is a new
license. Because of the moratorium, staff is recommending denial. The resolution that
was placed on the Council Table before the meeting, Resolution 2007-021, would have a
two-fold purpose. The first would be to freeze action on any applications to sell tobacco
and tobacco products between this day and the day when the moratorium ordinance
would become effective. The second would be to deny the application for Back Door
Tobacco.
City Attorney Steiner stated that the language of the resolution would be changed to
reflect the change to the moratorium ordinance.
Yousef Abumayaleh and Ahmed Wahbi came forward to comment on the application.
City Council Members agreed to separate the two actions and would vote on the
application first.
Council Member Rowan moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion to
approve the application for Back Door Tobacco. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Thompson, nay; Council Member Rowan,
aye; Council Member Halverson, nay; Mayor Maxwell, nay. The motion failed.
Staff stated that if the intention of the Council was to deny the license, the action would
be to approve the resolution.
March 20, 2007, City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Council Member Rowan moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion adopt
Resolution 2007-021 with the changes stated by City Attorney Steiner. A poll of the
vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Thompson, aye;
Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Halverson moved and Council Member
Thompson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Eu ne .Maxwell, Mayor
March 20, 2007, City Council Meeting Minutes
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