Minutes of the April 17 Council MeetingA regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on April 17, 2012, in the Council
Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell, Council Members Cummings, Gadd, Halverson, and Youakim.
Also, present were staff members Birnstengel, Bradford, Elverum, Genellie, Harkess, Momson,
Reynolds, Stadler and City Attorney Jason Hutchinson.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were no comments.
III. PRESENTATION
1. Proclamation for Earth Day
In recognition of Earth Day, Mayor Maxwell, proclaimed Sunday, April 22, 2012, to be a
celebration of Earth Day.
2. Proclamation for PowerTalk 21
Mayor Maxwell proclaimed Sunday, April 21st to be PowerTalk 21TM Day recognizing the
importance of parents talking with their teens about alcohol.
IV. REPORTS
1. Livable Communities
Bill Neuendorf, representative of Transit for Livable Communities, updated the Council on the
funding for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project. Citizens of Hopkins can access
hq://www.southwestlrtnow.org to learn more about the project.
2. Update on Art Center
Arts Center Director, Amanda Birnstengel, gave an overview of the Hopkins Center for the Art's
2012 mission & goals, accomplishments, attendance statistics and upcoming events, exhibitions
& concerts.
3. First Quarter Finance and Investment Report
Finance Director, Christine Harkess, reviewed the financial and investment report for the first
quarter. Ms. Harkess reviewed the grant monies totaling $466,000 received by the City of
Hopkins.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the April 3, 2012 Council Meeting
2. Minutes of the April 3, 2012 Work Session following the Council Meeting
3. Minutes of the April 10, 2012 Work Session
4. Second Reading of the Ordinance Amending Section 405 of the Hopkins City Code - Property
Maintenance
Jason Hutchinson addressed the Council regarding Consent Agenda item #4. The City Attorney's
office has reviewed the proposed ordinance.
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Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Cummings,
aye; Council Member Gadd, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council Member Youakim,
aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Accept Bids, Declare Cost to be Assessed and Order Assessment Hearing — 2012 Street and
Utility Improvements (CR 2012-035)
Mr. Bradford addressed the Council regarding the bids for the 2012 Street and Utility
Improvements. The low bid was $1,941,937.80 submitted by S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. In all, 3
bids were opened. Assessment calculations will be prepared based on the low bid and include a
5% contingency and 25% indirect cost. Mr. Bradford reviewed the schedule to accept bids,
assessment hearing, proposed assessments, interest rate & terms and project schedule.
Council Member Cummings excused herself from voting on the 2012 Street/Utility Improvement
Project because her property is being assessed.
There was discussion by Council regarding S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. and the projects they have
worked on in Hopkins in the past.
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2012-20, accepting bids. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Gadd,
aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council Member Youakim, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye.
The motion carried.
Council Member Gadd moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2012-21, Declaring Cost to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of Proposed
Assessment. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Gadd, aye; Council Member
Halverson, aye; Council Member Youakim, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to adopt
Resolution 2012-22, Resolution for Hearing on Proposed Assessments. A poll of the vote was as
follows: Council Member Gadd, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council Member
Youakim, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried.
2. City Ordinance Prohibiting the General Public to Carry or Display a BB Gun or Replica
Firearm in a Public Place (CR 2012-033)
Chief Reynolds gave an overview of the dangers to the public and recent incidents involving
realistic looking replica guns in Hopkins and throughout the United States. Chief Reynolds
reviewed the ordinance and the penalty for violating the ordinance.
Chief Reynolds shared with Council an official letter from the Minnesota Airsoft Association,
fully supporting the Hopkins Ordinance.
There was much discussion by Council regarding educating the public regarding the ordinance,
types of secure containers that can be used to transport a replica firearm, the misdemeanor
penalty, the definition of a public place and the importance of being proactive in order to avoid a
tragic incident. The City Attorney's office has reviewed the ordinance.
Mr. Don Roesner, 618 West Park Valley Drive, addressed the Council in support of the
ordinance.
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Council Member Halverson moved and Council Member Youakim seconded a motion adopt
City Ordinance 2012-1046 Prohibiting Replica Firearms and BB Guns to be carried on a person
or displayed in Public. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Cummings, aye;
Council Member Gadd, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council Member Youakim, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
3. First Reading to Recommend Changes to Trespass Ordinance (CR 2012-034)
Chief Reynolds reviewed the Trespass Ordinance recommending that the language in the
ordinance reflect the same time period of one year as in the State Statute.
The City Attorney's office has reviewed the ordinance.
There was discussion by Council regarding the time period and trespassing signs.
Council Member Gadd moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion Approve the
amendment to Trespass Ordinance 2012-1047 section 2005.57, Subd. 3, to reflect a one-year
demand, rather than the current language of 90 days. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council
Member Cummings, aye; Council Member Gadd, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council
Member Youakim, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
• The next City Council meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2012.
• Web casting of City Council meetings is scheduled to begin May 15, 2012.
• Chief Reynolds discussed the Town Hall Meetings scheduled to begin on May 17th. The
meetings are an opportunity for community engagement with the Police Department.
• Chief Reynolds gave an overview of Operation Recess. The program encourages positive
interaction between youth & police.
• Business Forum scheduled for September 27, 2012 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
• Mr. Mornson complimented the Planning & Economic Development Department on their
success in securing grant funding for Hopkins redevelopment projects.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Cummings moved and Council Member Gadd
seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor