01-31-2012 WSPage 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Fire Department - 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:35 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council
members Molly Cummings, Jason Gadd, Kristi Halverson, Cheryl Youakim, City
Manager Mike Mornson, Fire Chief Dale Specken, Assistant Chief of Hazardous
Materials Curt Mackey, Assistant Chief of Operations and Training Patrick Sandon,
Finance Director Christine Harkess, Historical Society representatives John Cooley,
Marlene Dvorak, Dean Empanger, Bob Miller, Jerre Miller, Jennifer Timmers & Jim
Zdrazil.
New business:
Historical Society Report
Mr. Empanger and Mr. Miller gave an overview of the Hopkins Historical Society. The
society is a volunteer organization and currently has approximately 100 members.
The Historical Society board members gave information about their volunteer
experiences, public presentations and the many files & memorabilia from Hopkins
past that is stored at the society. The Historical Society board members discussed
with Council the challenges that their organization is facing including the huge task
to digitize records so the entire museum can be searched electronically, increasing
memberships, marketing the Historical Society, board vision to have a larger space
& greater visibility to display items and the need for grant writing expertise.
There was much discussion and suggestions by Council about utilizing community
service volunteers such as Tree Trust or Community Days of Service, periodically
marketing the society through Hopkins Highlights & water bill mailings and hosting a
Historical Society Open House event. Staff will investigate the Legacy Grant
application possibilities.
The Council invited the Hopkins Historical Society board to do a presentation at a
future City Council Meeting.
Fire Department Equipment discussion
Mr. Mornson gave an overview of the Fire Department Equipment Replacement
Program, changes that have been made to the plan and what equipment has
been added, eliminated & needs updating.
Chief Specken and Assistant Chiefs Mackey & Sandon addressed the Council giving
a history of the Fire Department and discussed the reasons for eliminating some
pieces of equipment and the need to replace the light rescue truck with a Quick
Attack Pumper. They explained that because of the working relationship & mutual
aid with neighboring cities the Fire Department is able to get rid of some equipment
while it still has monetary value. Chief Specken discussed the 2005 & 2008 Equipment
Replacement Plan & changes, the usage of each of the Fire Department vehicles,
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the vehicle that has been sold and the trucks that are currently listed for sale.
Assistant Chief Mackay described the Items the Fire Department has purchased with
grant monies rather than using general fund dollars. Chief Specken described the
new Quick Attack Mini -pumper which would replace Rescue Truck 8 which has
been experiencing maintenance issues. The new mini -pumper would respond to
medicals and has the added benefit of a water tank and pump to put out small
fires.
There was much discussion by Council about the hazmat funding from the state of
Minnesota, the cost & life span of the new mini -pumper, economics of utilizing a
smaller truck, leasing vs. buying equipment and Improvements & new safety features
in newer model Fire Trucks.
Ms. Harkess gave an explanation of the Equipment Replacement Plan (ERP) rotation
& that the monies from sale of the vehicles will go back into the ERP. Ms. Harkess
discussed the reason for including the Fire Department equipment purchase in the
upcoming street improvement bond issue. Staff is investigating other equipment
purchases for 2012 & 2013 to include into the bond certificate.
Council directed staff to develop a public statement justifying the sale of the Fire
Department vehicles and the purchase of the new Quick Attack Mini -Pumper truck.
Council agreed to proceed with amending the existing Equipment Replacement
Plan at a future City Council meeting.
OTHER:
Council discussed the possibility of installing a handicapped parking spot near 10th
Avenue South & Mainstreet. Staff will investigate further.
• ResourceWest Gala on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Council would like to review the Pull Tab Ordinance at a future work session
• Council Member Youakim will represent Hopkins at Southwest Light Rail Transit
Committee meeting on February 1, 2012
Council discussed the daily parking ordinance & towing policy during snow
emergencies
Community Day of Service on May 18 & 19 is in need volunteer projects ideas
• Council Member Cummings & Gadd gave a report on the League of MN Cities
Leadership Conference for newly elected officials.
Council Member Gadd reported that the Hopkins Jaycees would like to pursue
Sister City possibilities with the Ukraine
Mr. Mornson reported on the following items:
o Joint meeting with Parks and Zoning & Planning Commissions on March 27,
2012 discussing Cottageville Park and Cold Storage development.
o Staff is meeting with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District every other
Tuesday.
o Nine Mile Creek construction is underway
o MPCA public meetings on the landfill are February 13 & 16, 2012
o Audit for 2011 is underway
o Mayon building has a new broker
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o Next Shady Oak Road Joint meeting with the City of Minnetonka will be in
April to approve the layout. Hopkins Council would like to meet & discuss the
Shady Oak Road layout prior to the Joint meeting.
o Next City Council meeting is on Monday, February 6, 2012
o State of the City program discussion
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Youakim
and a second by Council member Gadd to adjourn the meeting at 9:47 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
QI,T /COUNCJ`L
ATTEST:
Eugene J. 106\611, Mayor