10-01-2024 City Council MeetingHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 1, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was
held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 6:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall,
1010 1st Street South.
Mayor Hanlon called the meeting to order with Council Members Garrido, Goodlund,
Hunke, and Kuznia attending. Others attending included City Manager Mornson,
Assistant City Manager Casella, City Clerk Domeier, Director of Planning and Economic
Development Elverum, Operations Superintendent Pavek, Planner Howard, Finance
Director Bishop and City Attorney Sathe.
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion by Hunke. Second by Kuznia.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
PRESENTATIONS
III.1. Appointment to Planning Commission and Oath of Office; Domeier
Motion by Kuznia. Second by Hunke.
Motion to appoint Joshua Montgomery to the Planning for a term ending on June
30, 2026.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
City Clerk Domeier issued the Oath of Office to Mr. Montgomery.
III.2. Sustainable Building Policy Update and Stakeholder Engagement Plan; Howard
Planner Howard updated the City Council on staff’s progress towards developing a
Hopkins Sustainable Building Policy and sought input on the proposed Hopkins-specific
standards before beginning a stakeholder engagement process.
The majority of the City Council supported the plan and appreciated giving the information
to developers on the front end. They wanted the standards set to make it easy for
development to occur. Council Member Goodlund did not support the proposed universal
requirements and saw them restrictive to development.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Garrido. Second by Goodlund.
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Minutes of the September 18, 2024, Regular Meeting Proceedings
2. Minutes of the September 18, 2024, Closed Meeting Proceedings
3. Resolution Appointing Election Judges for November 5; Domeier
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 1, 2024
4. Accept the City Manager Annual Performance Review Summary; Casella
5. Resolution Supporting Fire Lane Designation at West Side Village; Specken
6. Approval of Tobacco License for Cooperative Ctrl Inc. DBA Grow+Op; Domeier
7. Amendment to the 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan; Bishop
8. Ratify Checks Issued in September, 2024; Bishop
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
V.1. First Reading: Ordinance No. 2024-1212 Amendment of the Hopkins Charter by
Ordinance; Domeier
City Clerk Domeier summarized City Council Report 2024-121. To be consistent with the
council members’ terms, staff proposed amending the Charter to also have the mayor
serve a four-year term.
Mayor Hanlon clarified that the four-year term would start with the next election.
Mayor Hanlon opened the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m.
Danny Lenz, 209 15th Avenue North, Hopkins Charter Commission Chair, thanked the
Charter Commission for their work on all four initiatives. He stressed the importance of
building relationships in the Mayor’s office.
Motion by Hunke. Second by Kuznia.
Motion to Close the Public Hearing.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hunke. Second by Kuznia.
Motion to Approve for First Reading Ordinance 2024-1212 Amendment of the
Hopkins Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: Goodlund. Motion failed.
The Ordinance will be sent back to the Charter Commission for next steps.
V.2. First Reading: Ordinance No. 2024-1213 Amendment of the Hopkins Charter by
Ordinance; Domeier
City Clerk Domeier summarized City Council Report 2024-122. Staff proposed amending
the Charter to move from odd-year to even-year municipal elections, update candidate filing
language to be consistent with state statute and changing the process for counting write-in
votes.
Mayor Hanlon opened the Public Hearing at 7:27 p.m.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 1, 2024
Danny Lenz, 209 15th Avenue North, Hopkins Charter Commission Chair, spoke to the
costs of conducting odd-year lections and reallocation of staff time in the odd-years. He
also spoke to the voter engagement and turnout. The percentage of vote in odd-years
factors into city operations during recalls and initiatives.
Motion by Hunke. Second by Goodlund.
Motion to Close the Public Hearing.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hunke. Second by Garrido.
Motion to Approve for First Reading Ordinance 2024-1213 Amendment of the
Hopkins Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: Goodlund. Motion failed.
The majority of the City Council supported the ordinance due to higher voter turnout,
streamlining election administration, increased civic engagement, cost savings and the
extension of current terms. Council Member Goodlund did not support the changes
proposed and believed odd-year elections were more voter focused and wanted all write-
in votes counted.
The Ordinance will be sent back to the Charter Commission for next steps.
V.3. First Reading: Ordinance No. 2024-1209 Amendment of the Hopkins Charter by
Ordinance; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop summarized City Council Report 2024-123. The current Charter
language in Chapter 6 is not consistent with the Legislative Policy Manual Section 6-A on
Purchasing. Policy 6-A was updated in January 2024. The proposed changes to the City
Charter allow City Council to regulate the City Manager’s powers over purchasing through
the Legislative Policy Manual.
Mayor Hanlon opened the Public Hearing at 7:41 p.m.
Danny Lenz, 209 15th Avenue North, Hopkins Charter Commission Chair, spoke to the
Commission’s support of the changes.
Motion by Kuznia. Second by Hunke.
Motion to Close the Public Hearing.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 1, 2024
Motion by Hunke. Second by Garrido.
Motion to Approve for First Reading Ordinance 2024-1209 Amendment of the
Hopkins Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
V.4. First Reading: Ordinance No. 2024-1210 Amendment of the Hopkins Charter by
Ordinance; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop summarized City Council Report 2024-121. Hopkins no longer has
a local board of equalization for property valuations. Hennepin County hosts “Open Book”
meetings at various locations. Formal appeals are made to the Hennepin County Board of
Equalization. Removing the specific language on budget presentations gives staff the
discretion to present budgetary information in a clear and concise manner. A preliminary
budget and tax levy needs to be approved before September 30th each year, not 30 days
before final approval. The Disbursement changes remove outdated language and allow
flexibility for the city to implement modern approval systems. The current practice for
preparing quarterly financial reports is outdated and the Charter Commission supported
allowing staff to determine how the reports are presented.
Mayor Hanlon opened the Public Hearing at 7:46 p.m.
Danny Lenz, 209 15th Avenue North, Hopkins Charter Commission Chair, spoke to the
Commission’s support of the changes.
Motion by Garrido. Second by Goodlund.
Motion to Close the Public Hearing.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Kuznia. Second by Hunke.
Motion to Approve for First Reading Ordinance 2024-1210 Amendment of the
Hopkins Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
VII.1. Special Revenue Fund Budgets and Activity Center Budget Review; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop requested input on the proposed budgets for special revenue
funds. Mayor Hanlon requested that staff explore overnight parking options for the
municipal ramp.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 1, 2024
VII.2. Enterprise Fund Budgets and Utility Rate Review; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop requested input on the proposed budgets for enterprise funds
and utility rates. Brief discussion was held on the installation of new water meters and the
accurate readings creating higher bills for some residents.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Hanlon shared the City Council meeting schedule.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, and upon a motion by
Garrido, second by Hunke, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk