VII.3. First Reading Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Hopkins City Code Regarding Salaries; Lenz
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-064
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager
Date: June 20, 2023
Subject: First Reading: Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of Hopkins City Code
Regarding Salaries of the Mayor and City Council and Compensation for
Park Board and Planning and Zoning Commission Members after January
1, 2024
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO adopt for First Reading Ordinance 2023-1193 Amending Chapter 2 of
Hopkins City Code Regarding Salaries of the Mayor and City Council and
Compensation for Park Board and Planning and Zoning Commission Members after
January 1, 2024.
OVERVIEW
In 2017, the Council decided on a new method of salary review for the City Council. On
or before September 1 of each odd numbered year, staff would review and bring to the
Council an ordinance to adjust salaries effective January 1 of the following year. Salary
adjustments have to be passed and take place after an election cycle. The salaries
must equal the limit for the prior year, increased by the percentage increase contained
in the Compensation Limit for Local Government Employees annually published by the
Minnesota Office of Management and Budget, pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 43A.17.
According to the statute the salary limits are increased by the Consumer Price Index for
all-urban consumers.
The salary was last adjusted in 2019, because the Council decided in 2021 due to the
pandemic and unknowns in the budget to not make an adjustment to Council wages.
The current wages are $9,751 for the Mayor and $7,472 for council members.
If the current method is followed, the adjustment for this year (2023), would be based
off last years (2022) compensation limit of 6.2%. The 2023 adjusted wages would be
$10,356 for the Mayor and $7,935 for council member.
However, this method of only adjusting by the CPI every other year, is not keeping up
with the compensation of our neighboring communities and from a pay perspective the
City has made significant efforts to stay competitive with wages. The City has a goal to
engage underrepresented populations. Staff believes that lower wages could be a
barrier or major factor in someone’s ability to serve on City Council. Below is a table of
our neighbors current or proposed* wages compared to the City of Hopkins (*some of
Administration
these communities may also adopt compensation changes this year before their own
elections).
City Council Pay Mayor Pay Notes
Eden Prairie
$
13,351.10
$
17,245.07 Will not update until after 2024 election
Edina
$
12,700.68
$
15,964.53 Will not update until after 2024 election
Golden
Valley
$
10,952.00
$
14,634.00 Will not update until after 2024 election
Minnetonka
$
18,000.00
$
23,500.00 Just updated Salaries Effective 1/1/24
St. Louis
Park
$
14,344.98
$
20,739.96
Estimated - Will adjust in 2024 in the
amount equal to the cumulative
adjustments for non-organized city
employees since the last adjustment (the
increase from 2022 + the recommended
adjustment in 2023)
AVERAGE
$
13,869.75
$
18,416.71
Hopkins
$
7,472.00
$
9,751.00
Based on the review, staff is recommending adjusting Council Salaries to $12,500 and
the Mayor’s salary to $15,000.
The City has made significant efforts to stay competitive with wages, and to engage
with underrepresented populations. In order to remove financial means as a barrier or
major factor in someone’s ability to serve on a Board & Commission, the City is
implementing a per meeting stipend of $50 for every meeting attended for the following
Boards & Commissions: Planning and Zoning Commission and Park Board.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Draft Ordinance 2023-1193
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1193
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF HOPKINS CITY CODE REGARDING
SALARIES OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND COMPENSATION FOR PARK
BOARD AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEMBERS
AFTER JANUARY 1, 2024
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:
SECTION 1. That Article II, Section 2-19 is hereby amended by deleting the stricken
material and adding the double-underlined material as follows:
Sec. 2-19. – Salaries of mayor and council members.
(a) Mayor. The salary of the mayor is $9,751 $12,500 per year, payable bi-
weekly.
(b) Council Member. The salary of a council member is $7,472 $15,000 per
year, payable bi-weekly.
(d) Salary review. On September 1 of odd-numbered years beginning in 2019
2024, the salaries in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be reviewed for
possible adjustment with an effective date of the following January 1. The
proposed salaries must equal the limit for the prior year, increased by the
percentage increase contained in the Compensation Limit for Local Government
Employees annually published by the state office of management and budget,
pursuant to M.S.A. § 43A.17. Any such proposed salary adjustment for the
mayor and council members must be approved by ordinance of the city council.
be the cumulative adjustment of non-union employees for the prior two years in
increase percentage. Any such proposed salary adjustment for the mayor and
council members must be approved by ordinance of the City Council.
SECTION 2. That Article II, Section 2-68 is hereby amended by deleting the stricken
material and adding the double-underlined material as follows:
Sec. 2-68. – Planning and zoning commission.
(a) Establishment of the planning and zoning commission. The planning and
zoning commission is created and continued.
(b) Members; qualifications. The commission shall consist of seven persons
of which no less than six shall have been a resident of the city for one year or
more on the date of appointment and up to two ex-officio non-voting youth
members. At the sole discretion of the city council, one member may be a
manager, owner or have substantial ownership stake in a business that is
located within the corporate limits of the city. The commission shall also have
one staff liaison to be appointed by the city manager. Each member except the
staff liaison and ex-officio youth members shall have the right to vote on all
matters before the commission. Members who discontinue legal residency in the
city or fail to maintain the requirements eligible to serve as a business
representative shall automatically be deemed to have resigned from the
commission as of the date of such discontinuance.
(c) Terms. Member terms of office shall be for two years. Three members of
the commission shall be appointed on July 1 of each odd-numbered year and
four shall be appointed on July 1 of each even-numbered year. Members
appointed to complete a current term of office will not be considered a term of
office. Members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms of office. The
youth member(s) shall be 14 to 18 years old at the time of selection, serve a
one-year term, and shall be eligible for reappointment if in good standing at the
end of each term.
(d) Compensation. The commission shall serve without compensation other
than such compensation as its members may receive for other services
performed for the city. Compensation for the members shall be $50 per meeting
attended.
(e) Appointment. The appointments shall be made by the city council and any
member of the commission may be removed by a majority vote of the council for
misconduct or neglect of duties.
(f) Officers. The commission shall elect a chairperson from among its
members and such other officers as its bylaws may provide. The chairperson
shall not be the business representative unless that member is also a resident of
the city. The administrative assistant of the community development department
shall act as secretary of the commission and the city attorney shall act as legal
counsel for the commission.
(g) Bylaws. The commission shall adopt bylaws governing its procedures.
(h) Duties. The commission is the board of adjustment and appeals as
provided in city zoning regulations and has the powers and duties assigned to it
by the zoning code and by law.
(i) Advisory body. The commission is advisory to the city council.
SECTION 3. That Article II, Section 2-69 is hereby amended by deleting the stricken
material and adding the double-underlined material as follows:
Sec. 2-69. – Park board.
(a) Established; members. There is created and continued a park board for
the city, consisting of seven members to be appointed as follows: Seven
members at-large, each to serve for no more than two consecutive terms of two
years. Four of the at-large members of the board shall be appointed on July 1 of
each odd-numbered year and the other three at-large members, shall be
appointed on July 1 of each even-numbered year. The commission shall also
have one staff liaison to be appointed by the city manager. The membership also
includes up to two ex-officio non-voting youth members. All appointments, except
those otherwise hereinabove provided, shall be made by the city council. A
member of the board may be removed by the city council for misconduct or
neglect of duties. Each member except the staff liaison member and ex-officio
youth members shall have the right to vote on all matters before the board.
(b) Compensation; term. Members of the board serve without compensation
Compensation for the members shall be $50 per meeting attended. And their
Members respective terms of office shall expire at the end of the time for which
they are appointed, not to exceed their term of office for which they have been
elected to the respective governing bodies. A member who is appointed to fill a
vacancy to a term will not be considered a term of office.
(c) Officers, rules and meetings. Immediately following appointment of and
acceptance of such appointment by all members of the board, the board shall
meet and/organize by electing such officers as may be necessary, and adopt
such rules, by-laws and regulations for the conduct of its work as it deems
necessary and advisable. The board shall meet at least once each quarter.
Three members present at a regular or special meeting of the board shall
constitute a quorum.
(d) Secretary. The director of public works may, with the approval of the
manager, serve as the executive officer of the board and may act as its
secretary, in a relationship similar to that of the superintendent of schools to the
board of education.
(e) Program, facilities and operation. The board shall advise the council in
conducting a public recreation program for the city and its immediate vicinity and
to that end shall advise in the providing, conducting and supervising of recreation
areas, facilities, services and programs for public recreation in its broadest
sense, including playgrounds, parks, playfields, swimming pools, beaches,
camps, indoor recreation centers and any and all other recreation facilities and
activities either within or without the corporate limits of the city upon property
under the custody and management of the city or on other public or private
property with the consent of the owners of such property. The board shall advise
the council in the operation of parks and recreation areas and facilities now
owned or hereafter acquired by the city and may advise the city to enter into
agreements of a cooperative nature with other public and private agencies,
organizations or individuals when, in the judgment of the board, such procedure
would prove advantageous.
(f) Reports and recommendations. The board shall, annually on or before
September 1, render a full report to the council covering its operation for the
preceding 12 months, together with its recommendations and an estimate of the
funds required for its work for the ensuing year. The board shall also render such
other regular or special reports, advisory recommendations, or make such
investigations as it deems advisable or as may be requested by the council.
SECTION 4. In accordance with Section 3.03 of the City Charter and Minn. Stat. §
412.191, subd. 4, due to the significant length of this Ordinance, City staff shall have
the following summary printed in the official City newspaper in lieu of the complete
ordinance:
On July 11, 2023, the Hopkins City Council adopted Ordinance 2023-1193 that amends
Chapter 2 of the Hopkins City Code. The purpose of amending the City Code was to
amend City Council salaries and compensation for Park Board and Planning and
Zoning Commission members.
A printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection during regular business hours
at Hopkins City Hall and is available online at the City's web site located at
www.hopkinsmn.com.
SECTION 5. The effective date of this ordinance shall be January 1, 2024.
First Reading: June 20, 2023
Second Reading: July 11, 2023
Date of Publication: July 20, 2023
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: January 1, 2024
By: ___________________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk