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04-24-07 WSApril 24, 2007 Page 1 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - Apri124, 2007 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:35 p.m. on April 24, 2007, at the Hopkins City Hall. Council members Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Jay Thompson and Cheryl Youakim were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Police Chief Craig Reid and Police Services Liaison Kathy Magdal. Also present were Ron Helgeson and Doug Datta of the Park Board. Park Board Update and Discussion Park Board Strate i.~ c Plan Public Works Director Steve Stadler said the Park Board has identified goals for its 2007-08 Strategic Plan. The first is to protect natural resources and passive open spaces. They will use existing aerial maps to plot all city- and privately-owned natural, open spaces in the city. The second is to~ renew and maintain parks. They will conduct a resident survey, which is discussed further below. They will assign feasible replacement frequencies and costs, and define 2008-2012 CIP projects. The third goal is to provide quality athletic and recreational opportunities and facilities. This will include assessing the trail system. On May 21 they will participate in updating the Comprehensive Plan. They will continue working with the Hopkins-Minnetonka Joint Recreation Board as well as review facilities and programs not in that program. They will work with Hopkins Youth Hockey on outdoor ice at Central Parlc. The fourth goal is to enhance long-term Park Board development. They wish to increase public awareness of the Board initiatives. Ms. Youakim noted Buffer and Harley Hopkins Parks have no equipment though it is allowable. Other parks could have benches but do not. She asked if the trails have good connections to the parks; Mr. Stadler said a trail and sidewalk master plan was done a few years ago. She asked if one park could be made "pet friendly," one where pets would be leashed, but could at least get exercise. Mr. Stadler said he would look into it. Mr. Getschow noted the open space mapping would include privately owned property so the City can know what might be developed. Mayor Maxwell added perhaps some property adjoining parks could be researched to be bought at a future date to enlarge parks. He asked if Dave Johnson works with the Park Board between Joint Recreation meetings. Mr. Stadler said he does. Mayor Maxwell asked about the 2010 Shady Oak project. Mr. Getschow noted it is the biggest item in the CIP for parks, and it will take a a big piece of the park dedication money. Mr. Stadler stated it would cost a total of $540,000, with Hopkins' share being $180,000. Mayor Maxwell said he served on the task force for the last major work there and feels one should be formed for this project. He said Minnetonka had fronted the money and Hopkins had reimbursed them over multiple payments. Would they do that again? Mr. Stadler will suggest it. April 24, 2007 Page 2 Neighborhood Parks Improvement Plan The Park Board wants to get feedback by mailing a questionnaire to residents within a half mile of a park, except for Cottageville Park as the Blake Corridor Wilder Study is underway. The results would be the basis for along-term improvement plan. He showed a sample questionnaire. Ms. Youakim asked if there is a standard for acres of park per so many people. Mr. Stadler said the National Park Association has set guidelines, but they are not mandated. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Stadler said the general city survey has around thirteen general questions on parks, but the Park Board survey gets into specifics. The Board has discussed not raising expectations, and has crafted their letter to say the Board is not promising anything but using the information for planning purposes. Mayor Maxwell noted the Steiner property was not on the park list. Mr. Stadler agreed it should be added as a natural resources area. Mr. Datta asked if the land to be deeded to the city by Opus would be classed as park land. Mr. Stadler said it could be classed as natural area as it is open. Mayor Maxwell noted the CIP amounts go down to $3500 by 2012. Mr. Getschow stated that this is a conservative estimate based on future redevelopment. The Mayor stated that another method may be needed to support parks other than park dedication fees in the future. Mr. Getschow stated staff could conduct an analysis on revenue sources for park, recreation, and open space uses besides dedication fees. General Consensus was to do so. Mayor Maxwell asked about the agreement with Zion Lutheran about parking for Burnes Park. Mr. Stadler noted the city sweeps the lot twice a year and re-stripes it as needed as part of the agreement, which has run its course. He will talk to the new pastor about another long-term agreement. Police Department Discussion Items Drub Paraphernalia Police Chief Craig Reid said City Attorney Wynn Curtiss has researched the issue and says the present tobacco ordinance can be extended to include "tobacco products," the term the store owners use to cover items used for drugs. Enforcement would be the same as is done now. Staff had looked at the Bloomington ordinance that completely outlaws the sale of paraphernalia and found it not enforceable. He has not drafted an ordinance as he wants Council feedback before doing so. Ms. Youakim noted state statute allows sale of a "pipe for tobacco" but not a "crack pipe." Mr. Rowan said his main concern is the "not under the age of 18" provision; Chief Reid agreed. Mr. Rowan added he sees no difference between selling tobacco and selling tobacco products. Ms. Magdal noted the ordinance would avoid the court system. It would follow state mandates for compliance checks. Mr. Rowan asked how under-18 teens are recruited for the compliance checks. Ms. Magdal said she uses teens she knows, teens from Reduce the Use, etc. Chief Reid noted Polaroid photos are taken before they go to a tobacco shop so police can show the teens did look younger than 18. General Consensus was for Chief Reid to draft the ordinance. Security Cameras Chief Reid said the Minneapolis ordinance has standards for surveillance cameras. He showed video clips taken by a cheap camera and a good one, noting good April 24, 2007 Page 3 cameras allow deciphering of car license numbers. He noted the Hopluns ordinance would be different in that it asks for car license numbers. Some local businesses do not have cameras compatible with police equipment. A good place to start a camera requirement would be the 24-hour businesses. Many drug transactions and assaults take, place on their parking lots. Hopkins police enforce the juvenile curfew. These incidents involve young people 19- to 20-years old who gather in the parking lots in the small hours of the morning. Ms. Youakim noted the Minneapolis ordinances uses "licensed businesses." Would that be bars and tobacco shops? Chief Reid says he does not want to "go there." He just wants the 24-hour businesses. If they had good cameras, many of the crimes could be solved through car license numbers. Signage "this area under video surveillance" is a deterrent. Ms. Youakim asked if the cameras would be internal and external. Chief Reid said yes. Mr. Rowan asked if one camera would be enough. Chief Reid said multiple cameras would be needed. Mr. Getschow asked if the businesses are really fighting the idea or if they want to go to corporate headquarters and say "It is required by the city." Chief Reid said he feels it is the latter. Mr. Rowan asked if the police force has enough evidence to say "these are problem businesses" so the only criterion is not they are open 24 hours. Chief Reid said he can show statistically these businesses have crime in the early morning hours. He does not want to include other businesses as he would not have the statistics to show the need for them. Ms. Youakim asked if those businesses could close one hour to avoid the ordinance. Chief Reid said Mr. Curtiss has said he can draft around that. Mr. Thompson asked about camera cost. Chief Reid said stationary ones that would meet ordinance requirements are $650; outside ones that do not get frosty lenses go up to $2800..The three businesses involved all could use inside cameras focused outside as they all have large windows. He would tell them that by doing so, they save $4,000 compared to outside cameras. Mr. Rowan asked how many would be needed. Chief Reid said Walgreens would need two to cover most of the lot; White Castle would need one for the other side of the lot. He added Minneapolis has had 400 arrests based on cameras. Not one went to court after the defense attorney saw the video clips. Mr. Rowan asked about city cameras. Chief Reid says he is in the process of studying the parking ramp so he can make recommendations. Mr. Rowan said he feels if we ask businesses to use cameras, the city must also do so. Mr. Getschow noted cameras are in City Hall and the Art Center and asked about their quality. Chief Reid said the City Hall ones are good. Mr. Rowan said he would like the city to help the businesses with expertise or money. Mr. Thompson agreed. Mr. Getschow asked if grants could be available. Chief Reid said Minneapolis had gotten Target grants. Target presently helps Hopkins by developing their film without cost. He will ask about grants. Ms. Youakim said she doesn't want general fund money used as it would lead other businesses to demand help. Mr. Thompson suggested a crime prevention fund might be the answer. Ms. Magdal noted that this is not about clients as clients are not outside the businesses. Mr. Getschow noted that an argument can be made for no direct city funding if statistics show being open 24 hours makes businesses a magnet for activity and the need for more police resources, then it becomes a business expense as that is their choice to be open all night. He feels technology assistance is a better way to help than money. General Consensus was to draft the ordinance and look into ways to help. Mayor Maxwell noted that getting prices, etc. for the businesses would be one way to help. Apri124, 2007 Page 4 Other Mr. Rowan asked Chief Reid about the Mainstreet School for the Arts robbery. Chief Reid supplied background information. 1VIr. Thompson asked that congratulatory letters be sent to Jeffrey Shockley, National Merit scholar, and to the 8th grade Hopkins team that took third place in the First Lego League World Festival. Ms. Youakim talked about the Jones' fire Monday afternoon, noting by 7:00 p.m. neighbors had found housing, furniture, clothes, etc. for them. Mr. Getschow noted the Hopkins Crossroads closing at the Highway 73/Highway 5 bridge. The only bid for the Surge property was too low. Rejection of the bid will be on the consent agenda next Tuesday. He suggested using an MLS listing. Mr. Thompson noted there should not be a set price, but "$1 or more up to $ "Mayor Maxwell added not enough publicity had been done this time. General Consensus was not to rush the sale just to get it sold. Mr. Getschow noted that at the last Council meeting Hennepin County had given a presentation on volunteer programs. Family Resource Center has already contacted them to set something up in Hopkins. At the legislature, taxes and transportation are "veto issues." The tax bills of the House and Senate are very different. The House version of the smoking ban includes smoking rooms by city permits. This unfunded mandate is a concern. On motion by Ms. Halverson and second by Mr. Thompson, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. on a vote of 5-0. Kasey Kester, Secretary