11-17-09A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on November 17, 2009, in the Council
Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Youakim, Brausen, and Halverson. Also,
present were staff members Getschow, Genellie, Stadler, Elverum, Harkess, Reid, and City
Attorney Jerry Steiner.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. PRESENTATIONS
1. Hopkins Presentation of 2009 IACP Civil Rights Award Blake Rd Corridor (Memo)
In October 2009, the International Association of Chiefs of Police presented their 2009 Civil
Rights Award to the JCPP Project in the multi agency category. The International Association
of Chiefs of Police is comprised of 20,000 Sr. Police Officials through out the world. They
thought that the program really reaches to the community. Chief Reid stated that JCPP's three
key strategies include increasing the understanding that the community residents have of the
police and the legal system, increasing the police officers' understanding of the cultural
communities, and provide ways for the police officers and the residents to interact.
Chief Reid stated that Tsehai Wodajo became involved with the City of Hopkins when they
started work on the Blake Rd Corridor, helping the police with outreach. Ms. Wodajo has been
serving as the Immigrant Outreach Specialist for Hopkins for the past two years. Chief Reid
expressed his gratitude for having Tsehai as she has reached out to the community, helped
our immigrant residents understand the system, helped them find needed resources, trained
the Hopkins Officers, and made a real difference in Hopkins.
2. Presentation by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman
Mr. Freeman stated that he is visiting City Councils throughout Hennepin County and wished
to speak to three issues. The issues are Prosecution efforts, mortgage fraud, and truancy. Mr.
Freeman also stated that crime is down in Hennepin County. One crime that has escalated is
domestic violence. The City Council discussed efforts to keep youth in school and out of
trouble and expressed their support for keeping youth on track, obtaining funding for the Metro
Drug Task Force, and keeping the Ridgedale Courts open.
November 17, 2009 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
3. Presentation by the Blake Road Corridor Social Services Collaborative (Memo)
Kersten Elverum gave a summary of the history of the efforts to improve livability in the Blake
Rd Corridor and introduced Holly Ziemer, Coordinator, Blake Road Collaborative, and
Gretchen Nichols, Local Initiative Support Corporation. Holly Zeimer reviewed the progress
and goals for 2010. They will finalize strategies by the end of 2009 and the youth portions by
mid January, 2010.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the November 4, 2009 City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of the November 4, 2009 City Council Work Session
3. Approve renewal of General Liability and Property Insurance and Authorize not
Waiving of the Statutory Tort Liability on the League of Minnesota City Insurance
Trust Policy (CR2009 -098)
4. Second Reading, Approve Ordinance 2009 -1008, Transient Merchant Ordinance
Amending section 1145 of the Hopkins City Code (Memo)
5. Approve Resolution 2009 -063, Authorizing Agreement with the Minnesota DPS,
Office of Traffic Safety for Grant Programs (CR2009 -100)
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion to approve
the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye;
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Resolution 2009 -061, Awarding Sale of Bonds G.O. Bonds, Series 2009A
for $3,340,000 (CR2009 -096)
The City of Hopkins has the authority to issue refunding bonds to pay for early retirement of
existing debt for new debt at a lower price. This Bond sale will refund 1999A, Water Fund
bonds and 1999C Storm Sewer bonds. The current value savings is $52,414.31 for the Storm
Sewer Fund and $81,005.97 for the Water Fund with total net savings of $133,420.28
Dave Callister, Ellers and Associates, presented the City with a bond certificate for the
increase in Standard and Poors rating from "AA to "AA He then reported the terms of the
Bond Sale. It is expected that the sale will close on December 15, 2009.
Council Member Halverson moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2009 -061, awarding the sale of $3,340,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series
2009A. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried
unanimously.
November 17, 2009 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
2. Adopt Resolution 2009 -062, Awarding Sale of Bonds G.O. Housing Improvement
Refunding Bonds Series 2009B for $2,890,000 (CR2009 -097)
Both the 1999A Housing Improvement Area 2 (Westbrooke Patio Homes) Bonds and the
1999B Housing Improvement Area 3 (Valley Park Homes) Bonds are callable. The present
savings is $180,929.74 for the 1999A Housing Improvement Fund and $369,226.71 for the
1999B Housing Improvement Fund with a total net savings of $550,156.45
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2009 -062, awarding the sale of $3,890,000 Taxable General Obligation Housing
Improvement Refunding Bonds, Series 2009B. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Approve First Reading Ordinance 2009 -1009, Amending Sections 701.17 and
702.15 of the Hopkins City Code (CR2009 -097)
In 2003, the City of Hopkins was faced with the Toss of $1.8 million in Local Government Aid.
In order to produce a balanced budget for 2004, the City Council was forced to reduce costs
and increase other forms of revenue. One of the additional forms of revenue that the Council
adopted was to impose franchise fees on electric and gas utilities. These fees generate
approximately $290,000 per year.
When the ordinances that imposed these fees were adopted in 2003, they contained a sunset
date of December 31, 2005, which was extended to December 31, 2007 in 2005 and
December 31, 2009 in 2007. Each budget from 2004 forward has relied on this income as a
major source of revenue to balance the General Fund budget. Franchise revenues are used to
support vital city services such a police services, fire services, street maintenance and
recreation facility maintenance along with core city operations. The loss of this revenue would
impact these services and the only other option to preserve the current level of services would
be to raise taxes.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to adopt
Ordinance 2009 -1009 for first reading. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor
Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
November 17, 2009 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member
Halverson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
November 17, 2009 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4