08-04-2008A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on August 4, 2008, in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Youakim, Brausen, Rowan, and
Halverson. Also, present were staff members Getschow, Genellie, Stadler, Elverum,
Harkess, Anderson, and City Attorney Jerry Steiner.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. OATH OF OFFICE
1. Savan Jain, Human Rights Commission
Savan Jain gave the oath of office. Mr. Jain was appointed to the Human Rights
Commission. Judy Reinehr, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, presented flowers
and a Commission name badge to Mr. Jain.
IV. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
1. Zoning and Planning Commission
The Commission held public hearings on two items; Preliminary/Final Plat and Variance for
133 Oakwood Rd and recommended approval of both.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
1 . Minutes of July 15, 2008 City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of July 15, 2008 City Council Work Session
3. Minutes of July 22, 2008 City Council Work Session
4. Approve Appointment of Brian Furan to the Park Board
5. Ratify Checks for the Month of July (Memo)
6. Appointment of Election Judges for 2008 State Primary Election to be held on
September 9, 2008 (CR2008-070)
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council
Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
August 4, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1 . Modification of Redevelopment Project Area 1 (CR2008-069)
In February of this year, the City Council authorized an application to Hennepin County for
Transit-oriented Development funds to build and upgrade sidewalks on Blake Road from
Excelsior Blvd to St Hwy 7. The TOD program requires that the project site be within a
designated Redevelopment Project Area. While some of the proposed project site was
within Redevelopment Project 1, other portions were not.
On July 22, 2008, Hennepin County approved a little over one-half of the requested TOD
funds, or $245,000. The award is contingent on the project site being within a
Redevelopment Project Area.
The City of Hopkins is also analyzing the Blake Corridor for a future tax increment
financing district. TIF districts must occur within Redevelopment Project Areas as well.
Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 7:44 p.m.
No one came forward.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
close the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at 7:44
p.m.
Council Member Rowan moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2008-042 modifying the Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Project
No. 1 . A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council
Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1 . Approve Preliminary/Final Plat - 133 Oakwood Rd (CR2008-071)
The applicant, Charles Watts, is proposing to raze the current structure and construct a
new home. The current home is sitting on two lots and is straddling the lot line. At the
time the home was built, it was allowed. But, current zoning regulations do not allow a
building to straddle the lot line. Mr. Watts is proposing to combine the two lots into one.
The Zoning and Planning Commission recommended approval. The proposed replat is in
compliance with both the Zoning Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan.
August 4, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Mr. Watts came forward and presented elevations of the proposed new construction. He
stated that they looked at remodeling, but because of structural issues, decided to
rebuild.
The Council discussed similar situations of buildings straddling lot lines over multiple lots
in the City.
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2008-043, approving apreliminary/final plat for 133 Oakwood. A poll
of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen,
aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye.
The motion carried unanimously.
2. Approve Variance - 133 Oakwood Rd (CR2008-072)
The applicant, Charles Watts, is proposing to raze the current structure and construct a
new home. The current home is sitting on two lots and is straddling the lot line. At the
time the home was built, it was allowed. Current zoning regulations do not allow a
building to straddle the lot line. Mr. Watts is proposing to combine the two lots into one.
The minimum lot size in the R-1-C Zoning district is 12,000 square-feet. After combining
the two lots, the size will be 10,642 square feet.
Without the variance, the lots would be unbuildable. This would be an undue hardship.
Granting the variance will provide the applicant a reasonable use of the property.
The proposed building will meet all set-back requirements.
The City Council and Nancy Anderson, City Planner, discussed the possibility of lowering
the area requirement in the R-1-C Zoning Districts to 10,000 square-feet to accommodate
homes in similar situations.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2008-044, approving an area variance for 133 Oakwood Rd. A poll of
the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye;
Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
3. Report from Auditors for the 2007 CAFR (Memo)
Finance Director Christine Harkess presented the 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report. Brock Geyen of LarsonAllen, LLC reviewed the results of the 2007 audit.
No action was taken.
August 4, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
4. CIP Approval (CR2008-073)
The Capital Improvements Plan is a planning document intended to help the City
anticipate major capital items and to consider the financial impact of proceeding with
those planned improvements. Additional approvals would be required for projects in the
plan to proceed. Approving the adoption of this plan would authorize staff to begin
efforts to implement 2009 projects by including them in the 2009 budget process.
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
adopt the 2009-2013 Capital Improvements Plan. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan,
aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
5. Second Quarter Financial and Investment Report (Memo)
The Finance Director, Christine Harkess, gave a presentation of the second quarter
financials.
No action was taken.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member
Halverson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
,'
Eugen J. axwell, Mayor
August 4, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4