AgendaHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
Preliminary Agenda
Monday, August 2, 2010
7:30 Dm
I THIS PRELIMINARY AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE I
UNTIL THE START OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Schedule: 7:25 pm - HRA Meeting
7:30 pm - City Council Meeting
Work Session after Close of Regular City Council Meeting
1_ CALL TO ORDER
11. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS
(Public must fill out a Speaker Request Form. Three minute limit for each person)
III. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the July 13, 2010 Work Session
2. Minutes of the July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting
3. Minutes of the July 20, 2010 Council Work Session after the City Council Meeting
4. Ratify Checks for the Month of July, Harkess (Memo)
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Variance for 309 - 20th Ave North; Anderson (CR10-77)
2. Approval of Site Plan at 15 - 8th Ave North, Hopkins Health and Wellness;
Anderson (CR10-76)
3. Approve Preliminary/Final Plat 15 - 8th Ave North, Hopkins Health and Wellness;
Anderson (CR10-75)
4. Award of Bid, 2nd St N Sanitary Sewer Improvements; Bradford (CR2010-074)
5. Approve Off -Sale Liquor License for J. Betts Liquor Company, dba The Liquor
Store and More, 808 Mainstreet; Obermaier (CR2010-078)
V. ADJOURN
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ASK THE CITY! Call (952) 939-1421
Ask the City is the City of Hopkins voice message system)
Page 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Hopkins City Hall, Raspberry Room
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Present were Mayor
Maxwell and Council members Kristi Halverson, Rick Brausen, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl
Youakim, Hopkins City Manager Rick Getschow, Community Services Director Jim
Genellie, Public Housing Manager Stacy Unowsky, Director of Planning and
Economic Development Kersten Elverum, Building Official Christopher Kearney,
Housing Inspector Elizabeth Page, and Finance Director Christine Harkess.
Public Housing Update:
Stacy Unowsky provided an update to the City Council on the following topics:
• Dow Towers waiting list;
• Social service (ROSS) grant;
• Stimulus projects (generators, windows, elevators);
• Federal (HUD) funding status; and
• Dealing with difficult tenants
A new topic of discussion was smoke-free public housing. Stacy stated that many
HRAs in Minnesota have decided to go smoke free in recent years. In 2009, HUD
issued a notice strongly encouraging HRAs to implement non smoking policies due
to business and health concerns. While careful consideration of this issue is necessary
a few key facts were highlighted:
• Units vacated by a smoker are approximately five times as expensive to turnover in
comparing costs for painting, cleaning, and overall preparation of the unit; and
• The majority of our renters are non smokers and are experiencing second hand
smoke from neighboring units and our HRA staff are routinely exposed to smoke in
performing their jobs.
The City Council felt that this topic is an important one to explore. Stacy will begin
surveying residents and having discussions with them regarding the potential for Dow
Towers to go smoke free. The Council will conduct a work session toward the end of
the year at Dow Towers to further discuss this topic and to receive a tour of the
facility and view the latest improvements.
Page 2
Rental Licensing Program Update:
Building Official Kearney stated that we are just over two years into the expanded
rental inspection program and much has been learned by staff, tenants and owners.
In 2009 Housing Inspector Mark Lucht concentrated on single-family and duplex
dwellings and then in 2010 he moved on to condominiums and townhomes. Liz Page
has concentrated on inspecting apartment buildings when she is not involved in
Code Enforcement, Truth -In -Housing and Property Maintenance duties. Over the last
two years Liz's percentage of time spent on Code Enforcement and Property
Maintenance is increasing while time spent on Housing Inspections has decreased.
Kearney listed the most common violations found during the rental inspection
process. There is no real pattern on what type of property the city is finding the items
to be corrected in. They have found some of the worst cases in owner occupied
duplexes, while a single family home managed by a professional property
management company can be free of violations. Then there are cases when just
the opposite is true.
After the inspection process, properties are scored and put in category A, B or C.
Category A properties are inspected on a 3 year cycle, Category B on a 2 year
cycle and Category C every year. Roughly 42% of the category C buildings
improved to category A or B the second year they were inspected while 58% stayed
at category
Staff believes the program is working and worth all the effort. Life safety and health
issues such as illegal bedrooms in basements, missing fire separation walls between
garage and dwelling units, no smoke detectors as well as other life safety issues are
being corrected while the overall quality of the rental stock in the city is increasing.
In terms of finances, the rental inspection fee income has averaged just over $24,000
for the past two years. Projected Rental Inspection Revenue for current year was set
at $32,000. We found that once the inspectors got into the Single Family Dwellings
and Duplexes staff time per inspection and the follow-up that is required increased
greatly compared to apartment buildings. Kearney stated staff is continuing to look
at ways to increase the number of inspections while offering professional customer
service such as using in -field notebook computers to cut down on the paper work,
enabling the number of inspections to increase. While these steps will increase
inspections revenues somewhat, in order to completely cover the cost of this
program, annual fees and/or inspections fees may have to be increased.
Council thanked Kearney for the presentation and expressed satisfaction with the
current program.
Page 3
2011 Budget:
City Manager Getschow and Finance Director Harkess discussed the work done to
date on the proposed 2011 Budget. Preliminary data suggests a proposed levy
increase and budget increase that will be less than 2.5%.
One major item of note is the decertification of a TIF District for 2011 which will assist
in alleviating some of the city tax rate increase.
Final numbers will be discussed in work sessions in August prior to the September 7th
Council meeting when the preliminary levy must be approved.
Other:
• After distributing a draft, City Manager Getschow stated that the goals and
strategic plan for 2010-2011 will be placed on the next Council meeting
agenda for approval.
• Getschow discussed the upcoming work sessions that will take place off-site yet
this year with the Hopkins School Board, at the Center for the Arts, and at Dow
Towers.
• Council discussed time and duties for the city booth at the upcoming
Raspberry Festival
On a motion by Youakim, and second by Halverson, the meeting was adjourned at
10:20 pm.
Rick Getschow, Secretary
CITY COUNCIL
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
Page 1 July 20, 2010
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AT CONCLUSION OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 8:50 pm. Present were
Mayor Maxwell and Council Members, Brausen, Halverson, Youakim,
Rowan and City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Steve
Stadler City Engineer John Bradford.
OTHER:
• City Engineer Bradford discussed the bids that were opened for the
lift station project. He explained the reasoning for the bids being
higher than the engineer's estimate. This item is scheduled for the
August 2 Council agenda
• Public Works Director Stadler discussed filling the vacancy for the
Streets, Parks, and Sanitation Super indent position.
• The Council requested that Steve Stadler look into pedestrian safety
measures at 8t" and Mainstreet.
• The Council discussed the Raspberry Festival.
• City Manager Getschow stated that the emergency management
drill with the City and the School District will be conducted on
Monday, Aug 9 at Eisenhower. Council is invited to attend as
observers.
With no further business, a motion was made by Brausen, seconded by
Youakim to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The
meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm.
Rick Getschow, Secretary
CITY COUNCIL
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on July 20, 2010, in the Council
Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Youakim, Brausen, Rowan, and
Halverson. Also, present were staff members Getschow, Genellie, Stadler, Elverum,
Bradford, and City Attorney Jerry Steiner.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
11. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
Sandra Bouressa, 330 19"' Ave N, came forward to voice her concern about a citation
that she received from City staff.
III. PRESENTATIONS
1. Enrique S. Camarena Award for Sergeant Brent Johnson, Elks Club
The Elks Enrique S. Camarena Award is established by the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks to recognize and honor law enforcement officers who have made a
significant contribution in the field of drug prevention and who personify Agent
Camarena's belief that one person can make a difference.
Bob Langer, Chairman of the BPOE State Drug Awareness, came forward. Mr. Langer
stated that this is the first time the Enrique S. Camarena Award has been given in the
State of Minnesota. Mr. Langer explained the history of the award and listed the actions
of Sergeant Johnson that qualified him for the award. Jerry Schultz, State BPOE
President came forward along with local members of the Elks and Chief Reynolds and
Captain Hanlin. The Enrique S. Camarena Award was presented to Sergeant Johnson.
2. Step to it Award Presentations, Hennepin County
Stacy Lombardo came forward to present two awards to the Hopkins City Council - the
award for most active residents and the award for most active City Council. The
residents logged the most steps per resident. The Council's total number of steps were
the higher than other Councils.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the July 6, 2010 City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of the July 6, 2010 City Council Work Session
3. Second Reading for Ordinance 2010-1024, Regarding rezoning of 7630
Excelsior Blvd from 1-2 to Business Park (Memo)
4. Second Reading of Ordinance 2010-1023, Regarding Revision of Off -Sale Liquor
Hours (Memo)
July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
5. Approve Resolution 2010-039 for Storm Ready City Designation (CR2010-072)
6. Approve License for 1" Auto Group, 1001 6" St S (Memo)
Dale Specken came forward to explain that the Department has taken the steps and gone
through the process for the Storm Ready designation.
Todd Krause, National Weather Service, came forward. Mr. Krause has been with the
National Weather Service for 12 years. Hopkins has implemented recommendations and
requirements to be ready for severe storms. Some of the requirements are to be able to
receive warnings and to be able to communicate warnings to residents.
Mr. Krause presented a Storm Ready City sign. Hopkins is the ninth City in the State to
earn the designation. Only nine counties have the designation. The Mille Lacs Band of
Ojibwa and the military also have the designation.
Mayor Maxwell requested that the Council be polled on item four of the Consent Agenda.
A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan, nay; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor
Maxwell, nay. The motion carried.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda, items one through three and items five and six. A poll of
the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye; Council Member Brausen, aye;
Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
V. PUBLIC HEARING
1. Continuation of Public Hearing for the 5" St S Reconstruction Project (CR2010-
073)
At the June 15, 2010 City Council Meeting, the Council continued the assessment
hearing for the property at 1515 5th St S. This property is a business condominium and
one of the condominium owners objected to the split of the assessment amounts for this
property. The total assessment for the property as a whole has not changed. The
assessments range from $2,802.32 to $10,349.32.
Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 8:10 p.m.
Steve Kuhl, Kuhl Design, 1515 5th St S, came forward. He wanted to see the list of
assessments and the final amounts that were assessed.
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion to
close the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at 8:12
p.m.
July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Rowan seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2010-040, Resolution Adopting Assessment Roll, 5" St S Reconstruction
Project, City Project 08-07. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim,
aye; Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member
Halverson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Resolution 2010-038, Adopting the 2010-2011 Goals and Strategic
Plans (CR2010-071
The goals and the strategic plan publicly state those items that the Council wishes to
accomplish beyond the normal operations and everyday services that are provided by the
City of Hopkins. City Manager Rick Getschow reviewed the mission statement and goals
that support the statement.
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2010-038, adopting the goals and strategic plan for the City of Hopkins
for 2010-2011. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Youakim, aye;
Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Halverson,
aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Second Quarter 2010 Financial and Investment Report (Memo)
Finance Director Christine Harkess gave a presentation of the second quarter financials.
No action was taken.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Halverson moved and Council Member
Youakim seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
COUNCIL MEMBERS
July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4