Agenda
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
FINAL AGENDA
. July 5,2000
7:30 p.m.
THIS FINAL AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
UNTIL THE START OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Schedule: 7: 15 - HRA Meeting
7:30 pm - City Council meeting
Work session at conclusion of City Council meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. OPEN AGENDA. PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS
(Public must fill out a Speaker Request Form. Three minute limit for each person)
III. REPORTS - COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
1. Zoning and Planning Commission
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
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Minutes of June 20, 2000 regular City Council meeting
Minutes of June 27,2000 work session
Ratify prior month's disbursements
Award bid, Thermo Tech storm sewer, (CR2000-1 09) - Gessele
Approve engineering construction services agreement, Thermo Tech storm sewer,
(CR2000-111) - Gessele
Award bid, Lake Street bridge reconstruction contract, (CR2000-114) - Stadler
Final payment, 1999 street and utility improvement project, (CR2000-1 08) -
Gessele
Reject bids sidewalk repair, (CR2000-116) - Gessele
Approve easement agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway, Thermo Tech storm
sewer, (CR2000-112) - Gessele
Vote: Brausen
Jensen
Maxwell
Hesch
Johnson
V. OATH OF OFFICE
John Frane, Roger Johnson; Charter Commission
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1. Revision of City Charter Ordinance 2000-840, (CR2000-1 06) - Genellie
. 2. Revision of City Charter Ordinance 2000-843, (CR200-1 07) - GeneJlie
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CALL THE RAZZLE LINE - 939-1421
(The Razzle Line is the City of Hopkins voice message system)
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VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Authorize feasibility report, parking lots 500 and 600 reconstruction, (CR2000-
115) . Gessele
Vote: Brausen
Jensen
Maxwell
Hesch
Johnson
2. Approve non-union wage budget adjustment, (CR2000-11 0) - Mielke
Vote: Brausen
Jensen
Maxwell
Hesch
Johnson
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
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A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on June 20, 2000 in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Also, present were staff members Mielke, Genellie, Stadler, Kerrigan,
Hartshorn, and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. REPORTS - COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
1. Human Rights Commission
Bob Samples reported that the Commission has completed the logo sticker. They
were presented to the Hopkins Business Association. Mr. Samples said that
Commission members participated in the Vision process and that the commission
would like very much to assist in the development of a Heritage Festival. The
Commission is working at setting a date for the Hopkins High School Diversity
Specialist to visit the Commission.
The City Council discussed the logo stickers. Jim Genellie said that if anyone wants a
sticker that they should call City Hall. If there is a demand for it, more can be printed.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of June 6, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of May 30, 2000 Work Session
3. Minutes of June 13, 2000 Work Session
4. Second Reading, Miscellaneous Zoning Amendments (Memo)
5. Second Reading, Ordinance 00-844, Rezoning North Annex Site (Memo)
6. Award Bid, Lift Station #6 (CR2000-1 05)
7. Final Payment, Hilltop Park Storm Sewer Project (CR2000-1 03)
8. Approval of State Contract Authorizing Hopkins Fire Department Hazmat
Participation (CR2000-1 02)
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
June 20, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes
Page 1
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Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
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v . OATH OF OFFICE
Richard Neimann gave the oath of office to serve on the Park Board
VI. PRESENTATION
Michael Phillips and Nancy Rasmussen presented Raspberry Festival T-shirts,
programs, and buttons to the Council. Mr. Phillips said that Jerre Miller was chosen
to be the Grand Marshall this year. The slogan for 2000 is "Berried Treasure,
Summer Pleasure". There will be more marching bands in the parade this year. July
5th will be Raspberry Festival night at the Dome. A picnic will be held at Central Park,
and busses will take participants to the game, The Raspberry Royalty will throw out
the first ball. This year's Festival will begin on the 6th of July and end on July 16th.
VII. OLD BUSINESS
1. Approve Parking Changes, Central Business District (CR2000-99l
Jim Hartshorn said that Public Works staff has identified traffic hazards entering 11 tll .
Ave N between Mainstreet and 15t St N. Mr. Hartshorn said that staff reviewed the
changes with the effected business owners. Mr. Hartshorn also said that a
compromise removing only three stalls has been reached and that staff was now
proposing to remove only the two stalls between the two entrances and the one stall
just south of the south entrance. Mayor Maxwell said that they would discuss one
location at a time and vote on them separately. Council Member Jensen asked if Lot
500 could be redesigned and why that had not been considered. Mr. Stadler said that
a report will be brought to the Council addressing the redesign of Lot 500.
Mr. Hartshorn said that the changes on 12th Ave S were being proposed at the
request of residents from the City Gables. The changes on 12th Ave S were
supported by all concerned. Once again, a compromise to remove only four of the
initial seven spaces was arrived at, The Council and staff discussed the distance
from curb cuts that is required by statute. A resident that lives on 12th Ave S came
forward to say that it is very difficult to find parking in the area. Council Member
Brausen asked why the City cannot use St. Joseph's parking lot and where the
discussion on that is at. Mr, Mielke reviewed the dialog that took place last year
between St. Joseph, City Gables and staff and the funding and maintenance issues of
the proposal.
The City Council directed staff to put St. Joseph's lot on a work session agenda for .
discussion and direction.
June 20, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes
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Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
refer the issues relative to Lot 500 in Exhibit A to the Lot 500/600 Parking Lot Study
that will be ongoing and that the City Council will soon authorize. A poll of the vote
was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, nay; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried.
Mayor Maxwell moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to eliminate
parking from five feet north of the access point at the City Gables to five feet south
of the southerly access to City Gables. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Brausen, nay; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye;
Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Tax Increment Policy, RE: Tax Abatement
Jim Kerrigan said that recently, staff and the City CouncillHRA have discussed the
use of tax abatement for projects. The abatement process was approved by the
State Legislature in 1997. It allows the City, and potentially the county and school
district, to return their proportional share of all or a portion of a building's property
taxes to an owner or a developer. In the 2000 session, the legislature revised the law
to allow for abatement for up to 15 years if less than all three taxing jurisdictions
agree to the abatement. If all three agree to the abatement, the maximum is ten
years.
Mr. Kerrigan said that Sid Inman of Ehlers & Associates has recommended that prior
to use of tax abatement, the City should adopt a tax abatement policy.
Changes have been made to the proposed policy as a result of comments made by
City Council at a recent work session. Mr. Kerrigan reviewed the changes.
Council Member Jensen asked that section 4.01 be changed to "adequate parking for
businesses and residents". Mr. Kerrigan said that he would do that.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2000-33, revising the City of Hopkins Tax Increment policy to
include language concerning tax abatement. A poll of the vote was as follows:
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch,
aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
June 20, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member
Jensen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:28 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
June 20, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JUNE 27,2000
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on June 27, 2000,
at the Hopkins City Hall. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen,
Hesch, Jensen and Johnson. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Public Works
Director Stadler, City Planner Nancy Anderson, Finance Director Lori Yager, Economic
Development Director Kerrigan. Zoning and Planning Commission members Ross Bartz, John
Szuba, Roger Gross, Erick Rudolph, Bruce Rowan, Randy Engle, "Dorothy Boen, Jay
Thompson, Maureen Allen and Maura Swanson attended the first section. Also present were
Lloyd Johnson, David Braslau, Mary McGlinch, Jim Benshoof and Sher Azizi for the
SuperValu presentation; and Jay Strachota, HCA facilities manager.
Joint Discussion, City Council/Zoning and Planning Commission
SuperValu perishable expansion, Jim Kerrigan, presenter
Mr. Kerrigan said this issue will be before the Commission on July 25; the Council
could be presented with it as early as the first meeting of August.
Mr. Azizi of SuperValu said the plan has been revised to 120,000 sq. ft. instead of
165,000. The former Country Club property negotiations are nearly concluded (Mary
McGlinch added July 26 is set for the closing); this area will be graded down 10 feet;
demolition should be completed by mid-September. The proposed traffic pattern would require
vacating 6th Ave. from 5th Ave S to 5th St S. A ramp would be built behind the berm (which
will continue to the driveway) to the storage area, and the present 6th Ave. would be used for
shuttle trucks; 5th Ave. would be realigned. A sidewalk would be incorporated along SUI on
the south side of the property.
Answering questions, he added further information. There will be 18 new bays, with
the present 25 relocated. 11th Ave S will remain the main route; moving that to j'h isn't
possible because that would require trucks to V-turn in a crowded area. 6lh Ave S will stay at
its present height because of sewer and water mains; the city would retain easement for those.
There will be an 8-10 ft. retaining wall along 6th Ave S. The building should be closed in by
the first week of December; phase 1 should be completed by June 2001. Berming will be
done first to limit noise for residents. Only a gravel roadway for emergency vehicles will be
behind the building; trucks will not be able to use it.
Jim Benshoof reported on the traffic study. There are now about 174 trucks per day
(122 non-SuperValu and 52 SuperVaIu). That will increase by about 44 per day. 11lh Ave S
traffic will remain about the same, however, as SuperValu will move some trucks away from
11th Ave. Neighbors have three main issues: cut-through traffic by non-residents, 6th Ave.
closing, the 6th/lOlh intersection. Closing 6th Ave. would help the neighborhood by decreasing
cut-through traffic and eliminating a major truck route. Fire vehicles will arrive as quickly;
over 2/3 of the police call area would not be affected, and only 50 seconds would be added to
travel time for the rest. The major inconvenience for residents is to pedestrians/bicycle riders;
cars will have only an additional 2000 feet (50 seconds travel time) to drive. He feels the
vacating has more advantages than disadvantages.
In answering questions he added that freeway ramp time should not be affected as semis
mostly use off-peak hours; if there is no vacating, there would need to be a driveway on 6u,
Ave S just north of Sll St S. (Mr. Asizi added not vacating would mean trucks would need to
continue parking at the North Annex, which should be set off in the future.) A
peuestrian/bike path through the vacated area would not be safe. Mr. Stadler added that
SuperValu plans to upgrade the trail at 61h 5t S to 11 III Ave S, and then up to the regional traiL
The 6111/lUh intersection work needs to be done for safety reasons, even if there is no vacating.
Mr. Mielke added that in the past SuperValu had turned 2nd over to the city; also, the
vacating would be part of a total development agreement.
Mr. Braslau reported on the noise study and indicated the noise level will actually be
lower than it is at present as SuperValu will be modifying many of its trucks with noise-
reducing kits. Modified trucks will be loaded nearer the residences; those not modified will
be kept at the far end in the city's commercial area. Only the modified SuperValu trucks will
be allowed in at night. Near residences the noise reducing berm will be 18 feet high and
coated with a noise absorption material. The ramp will be used by the shuttle trucks, which
are low to the ground and move slowly, so shifting down noise will not be an issue.
Public Works Renovation, Steven Stadler, presenter
Mr. Stadler said he would like to enter into an agreement with Howard R. Green
Company for final design services; cost for them and soil testing would be about $80,800. The
project would be funded through a $1.5 million HRA revenue bond; lease payments would
probably be $150,000 per year, which would be funded 53 % by utility funds and 47% by
general funds. The building being replaced is from the 50's, when this was a fair site.
During discussion Ms. Yager said the public safety needs have turned out to be $6
million rather than $3 million, so have had to be pushed back to 2004-5. Other points were
clarified in discussion. The school owns the parking lot by the site so its area is not available.
Utility tax money could be used for this project.
General Consensus: Staff should look into ideas of incorporating interim equipment
storage to help the fire department, as well as seeing if there is a configuration that might place
the fire department there in the future. Concept review should be moved to July 18 to allow
time for this, and the review should be just a public presentation. Actual evaluation of
possibilities should take place in August.
Council Review of CIP, Lori Yager, presenter
Ms. Yager noted the 5-year total is almost $43 million, and includes only $3,390,000
for Public Safety, not the new $6 million needed. $10,189,900 is projected for 2001. She
noted this figure includes streets, buildings, etc., not just equipment. The last payment on
Shady Oak Beach will be in 2001. Mr. Stadler noted public works 2001 projects included
Excelsior Blvd., lllh Ave south end, 500-600 parking lots, St. Joe's parking lot, and the 73/5
intersection. There are no assessments to landowners for mill overlay. There was a $55,000
overrun for salaries. The new plan would require at least a 4 % levy increase, which would
amount to a 6 % increase on the individual taxpayer.
General Consensus: The Council would like a detailing of what is new in the CIP;
this will be provided by staff. The CIP should come back to one more work session before
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action at a regular Council meeting.
Public Works Facility Management Reorganization, Steve Stadler, presenter
Mr. Strachota said in December 1999 the pavilion manager, activity center coordinator
and he met to discuss COIlUTIon issues. Later discussions involved Mr. Stadler, the recreation
services director, the parks superintendent, the buildings and equipment superintendent and the
Depot Coffeehouse manager. The outcome of these meetings is they would like to see the
formation of a Facility Division under Public Works, which would include the Art Center,
Pavilion, Activity Center, Depot Coffeehouse and Skate Park. It would be headed by a
Facilities Director, who would report to Public Works Director Stadler. This would give the
facilities a common supervisior and a tie to Public Works, which would help with maintenance
issues. They feel this would improve communication and morale. Present plans would make
the HCA facilities manager the new Facilities Director. General Fund impact would be an
increase of $15,600; the Art Center would see a decrease of $19,500. They would like to
implement the change on September 1.
Ms. Hesch noted she is excited about the idea as it could mean common fund raising
events that would involve elderly and youth working together. In answer to Ms. Johnson's
question, Mr. Mielke said the position does not need advertising as it is actually a re-write of a
job description.
General Consensus: This should be on the July 18 consent agenda
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Although brought up during discussion of the CIP plan, the Council would like to see
the stage issue brought up at a future session.
Diane Johnson mentioned the web site for the Skate Park needs to be updated.
Fran Hesch moved adjournment. Rick Brausen seconded. Adjourned at 10: 10 p.m.
Kasey Kester, recording secretary
Attest:
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Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor