07-17-2012 WSMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Raspberry Room — 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:30 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Molly
Cummings, Jason Gadd, Kristi Halverson, Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Mornson,
Director of Economic Development Kersten Elverum, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, City
Engineer John Bradford and Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard.
New business:
Parking Ramp
Mr. Stadler discussed the proposal for a new parking ramp located on the former Snyder Drug
Store site and #700 parking lot. The parking ramp would have 200-300 stalls with possible future
expansion. Mr. Stadler discussed some of the reasons why the city needs a new parking ramp
including facilitating redevelopment by concentrating parking, increasing the number of parking
stalls within the city and to take advantage of available grants. Mr. Stadler discussed the
feasibility of a new ramp. The proposed site is functional for a ramp with estimated project cost
of $4-5 million for 231 stalls and 3 levels. The approximate annual maintenance cost of the
ramp is $46,000/year. The City has been awarded an acquisition grant for the purchase of the old
Snyder Drug property on 9t Avenue North. Mr. Stadler reviewed the construction costs,
potential funding sources and the next steps for the project.
There was much discussion by Council about the need for neighborhood public input, option to
return grant monies if project does not move forward, usage of the current ramp, permit parking
and that concentrating parking encourages walking towards downtown, attracting larger
restaurants and opening up other areas for redevelopment.
Staff discussed with Council the use of the grant monies that are related to construction of a
parking facility to support the future LRT, local businesses and vision for 8th Avenue South.
Staff discussed the steps needed to investigate the project further, the ramps impact on
neighboring residential and the sale of the Snyder site. The vision for 8th Avenue is that it will be
a primary corridor into the downtown area, that the parking ramp will help future redevelopment
and investigating the parking ramp project further is a low risk speculation to attract additional
dollars into the downtown area. Approximately $5,000 is required for a property appraisal with
additional staff time to investigate potential grant monies. There was much discussion regarding
the priorities & vision for the downtown area, parking requirements for future redevelopment
projects, the current shared parking system, needs for expanded residential & monthly permitted
parking and distances that business & transit customers and residents are willing to walk.
Council discussed the vision for the parking ramp and the minimal dollars needed for the next
steps of the project. There was much discussion about the importance of public input, future
parking needs in Hopkins, neighborhood impact, investigating the need for a parking study,
number of current parking permits sold and the importance of prioritizing the visions for
Hopkins.
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8th Avenue
Mr. Bradford discussed with Council an idea for the 8th Avenue Corridor; a light rail gateway to
downtown. The objective of the corridor is to increase customer traffic into downtown, make
Downtown Hopkins an LRT destination and maximize development. Mr. Bradford discussed the
Excelsior Boulevard crossing & 8th Avenue challenges which include high volume & speed of
traffic and not pedestrian or bike friendly. A possible solution is to make 8th Avenue a one-way
northbound street, which will provide an easy entrance to downtown Hopkins with pedestrian &
bike friendly paths. Mr. Bradford discussed the possible cost sharing opportunities for the
project, an overview of the streetscape, the vision for 8th Avenue, minimal traffic impacts,
importance of public input plan and the next steps of the project.
There was much discussion by Council regarding the bike & pedestrian trails, parking, road
construction costs, street enhancements, the need to continue discussions with 8th Avenue
businesses and the vision for the project. Staff will continue 8th Avenue discussions with
Council in 60 days.
Ms. Elverum addressed the Council regarding an Art Visioning Grant for the 8th Avenue
corridor.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Youakim and a
second by Council member Cummings to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
CITYJCOUNC IL
AT ST:
Eugene J. MSxwell, Mayor