03-09-2010 WS March 9, 2010
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MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Raspberry Room
Tuesday, March 9
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Present were Mayor Maxwell and
Council members Kristi Halverson, Rick Brausen, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim, Hopkins City
Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Public Works Solid Waste
Coordinator Penny Cleve, Specialized Environmental Technologies Kevin Tritz and Ken Tritz,
House Representative Steve Simon and State Senator Ron Latz.
2010 LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND PRIORITES:
Senator Latz and Representative Simon came to discuss legislative issues and priorities for 2010.
Senator Latz stated that the main theme is budget. He stated that there is a one billion dollar gap
to be dealt with and everyone will have to address this issue. He also stated that it will be worse
in the next budget cycle.
The discussions talked about were:
• Norwest Metro Drug Task Force
• Health Care
• Southwest Light Rail Transitway
• Transportation and Transit Funding Issues
• Regional Transit System
• Transit Improvement Areas
• State Budget Stability
• Unfunded Mandates
• Levy Limits
• Local Government Aid (LGA)
• Market Value Homestead Credit
• State Property Tax Relief Programs
• Sales Tax on Local Government Purchases
• Residential Care Facilities (Group Homes)
• Telecommunications
• Affordable Housing — State Role
• Affordable Housing — Federal Role
• Redevelopment
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
• Eminent Domain
March 9, 2010
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• Mortgage Foreclosure
• Metropolitan Council Housing Targets
• This Old House /This Old Shop
• Train Switching Yard in Glencoe
Senator Latz stated that he would give Norwest Metro Drug Task Force special
attention to keep it going. He stated right now that it is caught up in the environment of
metro gang force.
In regards to Unfunded Mandates: The legislative local impact note process should be
modified to allow the chairs or ranking minority member of the Senate Finance
Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to make requests for local impact
notes. In addition, a prepared local impact note must be distributed to the chair or ranking
minority member of any committee considering the bill. Senator Latz stated that he would
request for the chairs to be authorized to make requests for local impact notes. He stated
that he would look at and introduce the bill.
In regards to TIF, Senator Latz stated that he will introduce a bill incorporating the Soils
Correction District criteria into the Redevelopment District can be comprised of blighted
and contaminated parcels in addition to railroad property (see handout information).
Senator Latz stated that local franchising for local cable is not going anywhere. He
also stated that the Governor is in support of the 7 million SWLRT project. He stated
that the Shady Oak Project is on hold right now.
Mayor Maxwell and Council stated that they have not received any negativity on
SWLRT project because for the last three years they have been talking with residents and
keeping them informed.
Representative Simon stated that the Southwest Corridor had 5 million dollars last year
for engineering work.
March 9, 2010
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YARD WASTE & BRUSH PROCESSING AGREEMENT WITH SPECIALIZED
ENVRIONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. CO. (SET):
Mr. Tritz stated that SET would like to use the yard waste /brush drop -off site at 3100 Hopkins
Crossroads. Mr. Tritz stated that in exchange for the use of the site SET will accept and process
all City brush, logs and yard waste and, because they will have an attendant on duty, allow for
extended Hopkins resident drop -off hours. Mr. Tritz stated that they will be grinding at the site
and hauling it away to Shakopee. He stated that there will be a lot of Ash Borer trees that are
diseased and that they will be ground down to a spec given by the Minnesota Agriculture
requirements. The product would then be transferred to a power plant to be used for fuel.
This potential arrangement may allow for a more than $20,000 savings to Hopkins in its yard
waste and brush program. However, the proposed arrangement with this firm must not have any
negative impacts on surrounding residential property. The agreement would also require city
zoning approvals which would need a public hearing and would have to go before the Planning
and Zoning Commission.
Council wanted to know about the amount of trucks that SET would be using, the routes that
they would be taking, the volume of noise that it would create and the time frame, the grinding
work that will be done, and all of the equipment that will be used.
SET will follow up with this information. Public Works Director Stadler will also conduct some
research. A neighborhood meeting may be scheduled on this issue at the end of March before a
public hearing would be conducted.
YARD WASTE AND BRUSH SERVICE:
The Public Works Department provides a variety of brush collection and yard waste services,
including free seasonal curbside pickup of yard waste and brush, drop -off services without user
fees and weekly curbside services with user fees - $2.00 bag yard waste sticker and a. volume -
based brush. fee.
The cost of these programs is higher that the revenues received from the user fees charged for the
yard waste and brush program. In fact, these programs have been subsidized for quite some time
by the city refuse fees.
Ms. Cleve stated that Public Works has come up with three different options for yard waste and
brush service for the Council to consider. In fact, the Council could spend 2010 discussing and
evaluating different options for the future.
March 9, 2010
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OTHER:
Mr. Stadler stated that the Hennepin County youth recreation grant application will be for a
curtain at the Pavilion and it will come forward at the next Council meeting.
City Manager Getschow stated that Census training is going on now and soon everyone will
receive a census survey in the mail.
On a motion by Youakim, and second by Brausen, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 pm.
Debbie Sperling, Secretary
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Eugene J. ax 11, Mayor