04-12-2011 WSMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:37 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and
Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl
Youakim, Acting City Manager Jim Genellie, Public Works Director Steve
Stadler and Representatives from the City Manager Search Firm, Jim
Brimeyer and Richard Fursman.
City Manager Search:
There was a great deal of discussion about the process and schedule for
the city manager selection. The search firm feels that the council has a
good understanding of the process and now just need to firm up dates
and the position profile.
• Search Firm will meet with City Council members this week
• The Ideal Candidate Profile Survey will be sent out to city staff and
selected community members.
• A Community meeting prior to Hopkins City Council on Tuesday, April 19
at 6:00 pm for an informal conversation about what community
members are looking for in city manager
• Profile Approval will be discussed at the City Council Work Session on
April 26
• May 23 deadline to accept resumes from prospective candidates
• Progress report at Council Work Session on June 14 to review list of top 10
or 12 candidates
• Interviews of top 6 candidates on July 7, 8 & 9 which will include city
tour, department head interviews, group & individual interviews by City
Council.
• Goal to have a new city manager hired by August
There was discussion about who to involve from the City and Community
in the selection process.
Jim Brimeyer stated that his Search firm will speak personally with any
individuals if they wish to contact him and that there have already been
calls of interest regarding the City Manager position to the search firm but
they are asking potential candidates to wait till the profile is complete.
School Zone Safety Review
Mr. Stadler reviewed the safety condition, travel routes used by children,
parking, traffic, traffic control and crosswalk conditions around 2 Hopkins
elementary schools; Alice Smith Elementary and St Johns Elementary. Staff
also discussed school zone safety with representatives of both schools.
Alice Smith Elementary: There were no reports of safety concerns at Alice
Smith and Mr. Stadler stated that the school crossing guard program is
outstanding, the drop off area is organized and signage seems to work
well. The school representative feels that cars travel fast in the school zone
area. Mr. Stadler will speak to school representative regarding concerns
about on street parking.
Mr. Stadler proposes signs that do a better job informing cars that they are
entering a school zone by using the "20mph school zone when children
are present" signs as outlined on map.
St Johns Elementary is in a different situation because there are no real
defined walking routes to the school, the number of students that walk to
school is small, the car drop off area seems to work well and there is very
little traffic through the area.
Mr. Stadler recommends adding the school speed limit signs as outlined
on map. The city council suggested adding the signs along Preston Lane
because that is where the traffic speeding complaints came from. Mr.
Stadler stated that any street leading into the school area may be
designated as a school zone with signage.
Council members stated that it is good news that we are not responding
to safety concerns and it makes sense to be proactive.
Complete Street Policy
Mr. Stadler updated the City Council on the Complete Streets policy
development work plan, citizen participation and time table to develop
the final policy. The thrust of the Complete Streets policy is to help ensure
that the City designs, constructs, operates and maintains the City's
roadway system to promote safe and convenient access and travel for all
users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages
and abilities, as well as motor vehicle drivers.
Council suggested that the north Hopkins area be included in the Open
House meetings and change public participation to the months of
September, October and November.
3
OTHER:
Mr. Genellie stated that Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Economic
Development, has a meeting scheduled with the City of Minnetonka on
Friday, May 6 at 8:30 am regarding the Shady Oak Road Project.
The County has a new plan for Shady Oak Road looking at it as a
transportation project. The cities need to discuss the projects effect on
surrounding businesses.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member
Cheryl Youakim and a second by Bruce Rowan to adjourn the meeting at
7:53 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
ATTEST:
Euge J. h4Kaxwell, Mayor