AgendaHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
FINAL AGENDA
August 18, 1998
7:30 p.m.
Schedule:
7 pm HRA meeting
7:30 pm - City Council meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Public must fill out a Speaker Request Form. Three minute limit for each person)
BUSINESS AGENDA
III. CONSENT AGENDA
1. August 18, 1998 regular City Council meeting minutes
2. August 11, 1998 work session minutes
3. Disbursements, Prelist 1045
4. Approve miscellaneous license applications
5. Approve application for 3.2 beer off -sale license, R &M Grocery, d.b.a. Blake Grocery
and Deli (CR98 -137)
6. Set hearing date, 1998 miscellaneous assessments (CR98 -141)
7. Consider petition for disabled parking, 33 Sixth Avenue North (CR98 -138)
8. Approve resolution for Fire Relief Benefit increase (Memo)
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
IV. OATH OF OFFICE
1. Mark Kuhl, Park Board
2. Marsha Baisch, Human Rights Commission
V. PRESENTATION
Nine Mile Creek, Aileen Kulack
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Traffic study sign request, Seventh Ave No /Third St No (CR98 -142) - Stadler
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CALL THE RAZZLE LINE - 939 -1421
(The Razzle Line is the City of Hopkins voice message ystem)
2. Side yard variance, 341 Herman Terrace (CR98 -139) — Nancy Anderson
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
3. Approve funding for geographic 911 mapping (CR98 -140) — Heather Alex
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
4. 19th Ave No and Fourth Street North stop sign request (CR98 -143) - Stadler
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
5. Approve preliminary budget and preliminary tax levy (CR98 -144) - Yager
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
6. Proposed parking changes (CR98 -136) - Hartshorn
Vote: Maxwell Jensen Hesch Johnson Redepenning
VII. REPORTS - COMMITTEES /COMMISSIONS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
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A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on August 18, 1998, in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Redepenning and Council Members Maxwell, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Also present were staff members Stadler, Kerrigan, Yager and City
Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Redepenning called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none
III. CONSENT AGENDA
1. August 4, 1998 regular City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Disbursements, Prelist 1044
3. Miscellaneous License Applications
4. Approve Appointment to Human Rights Commission, Marsha Baisch (Memo)
5. Authorize Public Hearing on October 6, re: Creation of TIF District 2.10,
Hopkins Business Center /Beard Group, and Creation of TIF District 2 -1 1,
SuperValu Redevelopment Project (Memo)
Council Member Maxwell moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
approve the consent agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
IV. OATH OF OFFICE
The following people took the oath of office to serve on various boards and
committees:
1. Pat Olsen, Human Rights Commission
2. Maura Swanson, Zoning and Planning Commission
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Amend Legislative Policy 6 -A, Purchasing Policy (CR98 -136)
Lori Yager said that a Homerule Charter City is allowed to establish their own
procedure for disbursing funds. Ms. Yager outlined the changes in the policy. The
changes would eliminate the pre - approval of budgeted expenditures and liabilities;
August 18, 1998 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
issue checks weekly to take full advantage of discounts, avoid late fees and maximize
cash flow; provide the council with a list of vendors and amounts to be paid, weekly,
for review; monthly, at a regular council meeting, the council will receive a list of
checks issued, along with amounts and vendors, for review and ratification; and
adjust bid requirement amounts to reflect charter changes.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Hesch seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 98 -52, amending Legislative Policy 6 -A. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
2. Second Reading, Charter Ordinance Amendment (Memo)
Lori Yager told the Council that this is a second reading of the ordinance, with no
changes since the first reading.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve Ordinance 98 -812 for second reading and order publication. A poll of the
vote was as follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye;
Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye.
The motion carried unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Consider Agreements, Oakridge Country Club (CR98 -134)
Steve Stadler said that a major element of the 6 Avenue Storm Sewer Project is the
diversion of water from north of Highway 7. This diversion will create the need for
additional ponding capacity at Eisenhower. By allowing the pond level to arise,
approximately 2.1 acre -feet of additional stormwater will be stored on Oakridge Golf
Course. The cost of the additional country club ponding is $157,803 and will come
from the 1998 storm sewer utility fund.
Council Member Maxwell moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion
that Council authorize the Mayor and City Manager to sign a cost allocation and
maintenance agreement with Oakridge Country Club. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
August 18, 1998 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
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2. First Reading, Park Usage Ordinance Revisions (CR98 -135)
Steve Stadler told the Council that agreements with the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency, regarding the fencing around the old Hopkins Landfill site, have required
some language changes, specifically the creation of passive open spaces, to Section
830 of the City Code. In addition, after reviewing the ordinance, the Park Board
made amendments and changes to update the section. The Park Board recommended
adoption of the new ordinance.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve first reading of the amendments to Section 830 of the Hopkins City Code as
proposed by city staff and recommended by the Park Board. A poll of the vote was
as follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council
Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
3. Change Order, Excelsior Boulevard Improvements (CR98 -135)
Steve Stadler said that the Excelsior Boulevard reconstruction contract did not include
necessary street lighting work along 11 Avenue South. Approval of this $24,000
change order will authorize the contractor to install new concrete lighting bases,
wiring, feed point and re- install the existing light poles and fixtures.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Maxwell seconded a motion to
authorize the City Manager and Mayor to sign an agreement with Collins Electrical
Systems Inc. (Collisys) for installation of new street light wiring, concrete bases and
poles along 11 Avenue South from Excelsior Boulevard to 1' Street South. A poll of
the vote was as follows: Council Member Maxwell, aye; Council Member Jensen,
aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Redepenning,
aye. The motion carried unanimously.
IV. REPORTS - COMMITTEES /COMMISSIONS
Council Member Johnson said that the Chemical Health Commission reviewed the
results of the liquor compliance checks and were thinking of projects that will address
underage drinking. The Raspberry Festival Committee met and reviewed the past
festival.
Council Member Hesch shared a quote from "Citizenship and Volunteer Services"
Magazine. Ms. Hesch said that Hopkins is already working in the directions
recommended in the article and suggested that grant funds may be available for some
of the projects Hopkins is working on.
August 18, 1998 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Council Member Jensen reported that the Human Rights Commission is sponsoring an
art exhibit titled "Winding River" at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The exhibit will
open September 3, 1998.
Council Member Maxwell thanked the Fire and Police Department for another
successful Youth Camp.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Maxwell moved and Council
Member Johnson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was
adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:15 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor
COUNCIL MEMBERS
August 18, 1998 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
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Work Session Minutes
August 11, 1998
A City Council work session was held on Tuesday, August 11, 1998, in the Raspberry
Room at Hopkins City Hall. Present were Council members Gene Maxwell, Fran
Hesch, Diane Johnson and Karen Jensen. Absent was Chuck Redepenning, Mayor.
Also present were staff members Steve Mielke, City Manager; Lori Yager, Finance
Director; and Steve Stadler, Public Works Director.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor pro tempore Fran Hesch at 6:30 p.m.
Staffing for the Hopkins Center for the Arts
The first item of business was staffing for the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Rick
Brausen, chair of the HCA Operating Committee, presented a report to the City Council
indicating the operations board's recommendation to the Council. The board
recommended that additional staffing was necessary for the Center in order for the
Center to reach beyond the day -to -day activities, and to fully meet its objectives.
Brausen noted a report by Jay Strachota, facility manager, that with this plan, 20 hours
of additional staffing would be added to the Center, including secretarial and part time
help. He noted that the original staffing plan called for 2.7 full time equivalent
employees (FTEs), and that since January 1, the Center has been operating on an
interim plan of 4.2 FTEs. Based on the results of the first six months, Strachota and the
operations board are recommending that an additional .5 FTEs be added to the existing
interim plan as part of the 1999 budget. The cost of these additional employees will be
$23,000 for the Arts Center.
Strachota also points out that the interim plan calls for changes at the pavilion. With the
recommended changes, an additional $43,000 would be added to the personnel budget
for the pavilion. The additional help at the Center would be used for public contact,
scheduling, and contract administration.
The Council requested additional information and instructed the item to be placed on
the agenda for the September work session.
Legistlative Policy 6 -A, Purchasing Policy
The next item of business was discussion of Legislative Policy 6 -A, purchasing policy.
Lori Yager, Finance Director, reviewed with the Council a proposed policy to
accompany the passage of a proposed Charter Ordinance amendment detailing
purchasing requirements for the City. Under the new policy, bills would be paid in
advance so as to avoid late charges, take advantage of early payment discounts, and
improve cash flow. As part of the policy, Yager indicated that a listing of bills would be
circulated to the Council weekly, prior to payments that would be made the following
week. Council members would be allowed to comment and question any of the bills,
and if deemed necessary, have that bill held for Council discussion at the first meeting
of the month, wherein previous month's bills are ratified by the Council. The Council
discussed the policy and indicated a willingness to consider adopting the policy at its
next regular meeting.
Work session minutes 7/14/98
Page 2
1999 Budget and Tax Levy
The next item on the agenda was a discussion of the 1999 budget and tax levy. Lori
Yager presented an overview of the 1998 budget goals, and recommended adoption of
additional new goals. She also reviewed the status of cash flow within the general
fund, and recommended that the Council consider adopting a 4.5 percent increase in
the tax levy in order to meet next year's anticipated expenses, and to recover a small
short -fall in the fund balance necessary to maintain cash flow. In addition to the 4.5
percent increase, Yager indicated what a 3 percent increase and 0 increase in the levy
would present to homeowners in 1999.
Discussion by the Council indicated a desire to know what is happening with the school
and county with regard to tax levy; a desire to know how the legislature's actions last
year affected next year's tax payments; and asked staff to review fees for services that
might not otherwise be charged at this time.
Snow Emergency Policy
The next item was a discussion of the snow emergency policy. Steve Stadler, Public
Works Director, reviewed with the Council the proposed new snow emergency policy
that would ticket violators of the snow emergency rules, and tow them the following day.
Stadler reviewed his memorandum with the Council and recommended that the Council
stay with the existing plan. He offered several ideas for better education and other
efforts to reduce the number of cars being towed. Police Captain Jim Liddy and Vern
Pankratz, street and sanitation supervisor, also recommended staying with the existing
system. After discussion, the Council indicated a willingness to stay with the existing
system while asking staff to implement whatever steps could be taken to reduce the
number of vehicles towed. Council also discussed the towing contract and in answer to
Captain Liddy's question, indicated that their first preference would be to have a tow lot
in town, rather than out of town. In either case, payment of the tow fee and picking up
the towed vehicle should be accomplished at the same location.
Social Services Budgeting
City Manager Steve Mielke reviewed with the Council a proposed procedure for funding
social service budget requests for 1999.
Mielke indicated that the Council had directed the staff to prepare an alternative form of
budgeting for the social services request, indicating a desire to focus payments on the
City's goals and priorities, rather than those of the requesting organizations.
After discussion, the Council indicated a desire to eliminate payments to social service
organizations for 1999. Instead, they directed departments to review the list of existing
organizations and, if desired, to argue to the Council the reasons why those services
provided by the requesting organizations should be included in the department's
budget. Mielke indicated that he would review this directive with the department heads
and give feedback to the Council at the next work session of the Council.
Work session minutes 7/14/98
Page 3
Other
Mielke indicated that he had spoken with Mr. And Mrs. Simms of 21st Avenue North,
concerning their issues and disputes with the Wyndham Hills developer and the City of
Minnetonka.
Council member Maxwell asked for information on the elder hostel in Minnetonka, and
noted indications that there may be expansion or construction taking place on that site.
Mielke stated he would find out if an expansion was planned, and inform the Council.
Mielke reviewed for the Council the rules and regulations concerning political signs in
even and odd year elections.
Mielke questioned whether the Council was interested in having voice mail provided by
the City. After discussion, Mielke indicated that he would survey the Council to find out
how they would like the City to notify citizens on how best to contact Council members
by various methods.
Mayor pro tempore Hesch displayed a publication from Hennepin County called the
Report Card, and asked City Manager Mielke to provide a copy to each of the Council
members.
Council member Maxwell asked if there was reciprocity between Shady Oak Beach and
the acquatic facility in St. Louis Park. He had heard from a constituent, who was told by
St. Louis Park, there was not reciprocity with regard to fees. Mielke indicated he would
look into this issue.
Council member Hesch asked that the tax increment financing overview provided by
staff be placed on an upcoming agenda for explanation to the Council.
Mayor pro tempore Hesch indicated that the Met Council has backed out of discussions
with the Depot Coffee House Board on a potential collaboration at the Depot site.
A motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Jensen, to adjourn the meeting. The
meeting was adjourned at 10:17 p.m.
ATTEST: CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
City of Hopkins License Report
Name License Fee
Northern Lights Food, Inc. dba Raspberries Tobacco Sales $ 1 15.00