08-03-2026 City Council MeetingHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 3, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was
held on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:40 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 Development
Elverum, Community Development Manager Needham, Activity Center Manager Kivett,
City Attorney Riggs and Assistant City Attorney Sathe.
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion by Hunke. Second by Garrido.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
PRESENTATIONS
III.1. Hopkins Digital Access Initiative Update; Kivett
Activity Center Manager Kivett introduced Chelsea Huang, the Activity Center’s ACE
Intern, who updated City Council on the internal staff assessment of digital access.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Garrido. Second by Goodlund.
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Minutes of July 14, 2026, Special Work Session Proceedings; Domeier
2. Minutes of July 14, 2026, Regular Meeting Proceedings; Domeier
3. Minutes of July 21, 2026, Special Work Session Proceedings; Domeier
4. Approval of Temporary Liquor License for Hopkins Education Foundation;
Domeier
5. Approval of Temporary Liquor License for Team Tucker Family Foundation;
Domeier
6. Approval of Temporary Liquor License for LTD Brewing LLC DBA LTD Brewing
Co.; Domeier
7. Approval of Extension of On-Sale Liquor License for LTD Brewing LLC DBA
LTD Brewing Co.; Domeier
8. Approval of Joint Powers Agreement for the Shady Oak Station between the
Hopkins HRA, the City of Hopkins and the Metropolitan Council; Elverum
9. Resolution Approving an Increase to the Annual Benefit Payout for the Hopkins
Fire Department Relief Association; Wenshau
10. Ratify Checks Issued in July 2026; Bishop
11. Second Reading of Ordinance 2026-1235 Amending the Development Code
Related to Cannabis & Hemp Sales, Off-Sale Liquor Stores, Tobacco Shops,
and Storefront Transparency Standards; Krzos
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 3, 2026
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
VI.1. Consideration of Charter Amendment for Ranked Choice Voting; Domeier
City Clerk Domeier summarized City Council Report 2026 -082. Nicole Conlin, Hennepin
County’s Elections Systems Division Manager, explained that the County’s current
election equipment and software cannot accommodate municipal ranked-choice voting in
an even-year election while meeting existing federal, state, and county ballot
requirements. Ms. Conlin also discussed the significant time and cost that would be
required to replace or modify election equipment and software. Assistant City Attorney
Sathe provided legal analysis and findings supporting a resolution declining to place the
charter amendment on the ballot for the November 2026 Election.
Steve Kelley spoke on behalf of the Ranked Choice Voting initiative and encouraged the
Council to allow Hopkins voters to decide whether to adopt ranked -choice voting. He
stated that implementation challenges and necessary changes could be addressed
following voter approval and argued that the proposed charter language provided
flexibility regarding the timing of implementation.
City Attorney Riggs advised the Council that the current election system and legal
requirements presented significant obstacles to implementing the proposed amendment
and recommended that the question not be placed on the November ballot. The Council
discussed whether the question could instead be placed on the ballot with implementation
conditioned on future legal or technical feasibility; however, the City Attorney did not
recommend that approach noting that option was not included in the proposal.
The Council expressed continued interest in the issue and, as part of the resolution,
requested that the Hopkins Charter Commission consider citizen proposals related to
ranked-choice voting once the identified legal and implementation conflicts have been
resolved. The City also intends to continue discussions with Hennepin County regarding
the feasibility of ranked-choice voting in Hopkins.
Motion by Goodlund. Second by Hunke.
Motion to Adopt Resolution Declining to Place a Charter Amendment on the Ballot
for the November 2026 Election
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Hanlon shared the City Council meeting schedule.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 3, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, and upon motion by
Hunke, second by Goodlund, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:43vp.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk