Loading...
10-02-2012 CCA regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on October 2, 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 Elverum, Genellie, Morrison, Stadler and City Attorney Jeremy Steiner. I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. II. REPORTS 1. MCAD (Minnesota College of Art and Design) Ms. Elverum gave an overview of the Hopkins Artstreet project and collaboration with MCAD. The two sculptures on display on Mainstreet are "Purr" created by Sreekishen Nair and "Fertile Ground" by Shannon Estlund. Mayor Maxwell presented the artists with a print of their artwork. 2. Announcement of Hopkins Artstreet Winners Ms. Elverum announced the Hopkins Artstreet winners as determined by public votes. • People's Choice Award: Balancing Orbits by Marie Schrobilgen • Children's Choice Award: Picking Tulips by Cynthia Markle Mayor Maxwell presented the artists with a print of their artwork. III. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Minutes of the September 18, 2012 Council Meeting 2. Minutes of the September 18, 2012 Work Session Following the Council Meeting 3. Resolution to Appoint Additional Election Judges for the General Election 4. Authorize Out of State Travel 5. Ratify Checks Issued in the Month of September Council Member Cummings moved and Council Member Youakim 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. IV. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Approve Miscellaneous Assessments Mr. Genellie addressed the Council giving an overview of the special assessments that the city has issued the appeal process and explained that the proposed special assessments are for delinquent utility bills, citations, and invoices. Mr. Genellie explained the billing, assessment & notice procedures and the updated list in the Council packet reflects the outstanding bills that have been paid up-to-date. Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 7:44 pm. The following residents addressed the Council: John Radziej, 812 Old Settlers Trail, came forward to address the Council regarding two citations for failure to obtain a rental license. Mr. Radziej has since renewed the licenses and paid the late fee and asks for Council's consideration to remove the service charge. Mr. Genellie explained the reason for the citations and that Mr. Radziej did comply by paying the late fee for the license renewal. There was much Council discussion regarding the reason for the Rental License Ordinance and the fees. Council concluded to reduce the assessment to $200. Staff will discuss the possibility of future electronic notification regarding assessments. Mr. Steiner advised the Council regarding the motion. Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to reduce the assessment from $1200 to $200 on 812 Old Settlers Way #5, PID #25-117-22-43-0383. 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. Mr. Sohan Uppal, owner of 16 properties on 6th, 8`" & 91h Avenue South, came forward to address the Council regarding delinquent utility bills and service charges. Mr. Uppal requested that Council consider reducing the service fee to $50. Mr. Genellie explained the reason for the assessment and citations. Council discussed the length of time Mr. Uppal has been delinquent, the large ongoing assessments and the amount of staff time needed to send out notices & collect overdue bills. Council concluded that they could not support reducing the assessment. There were no more public comments. Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to close the Public Hearing. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Halverson, aye; Council Member Rowan, aye; Council Member Youakim, aye, Mayor Maxwell, aye. The public hearing was closed at 8:12 p.m. Mr. Steiner advised Council regarding the resolution. Mr. Genellie discussed the $100 service charge, the costs the city incurs trying to collect overdue bills, 87% of the assessments are due to delinquent utility bills and the total amount of delinquencies has stayed steady the last few years. Staff is willing to work with residents to get issues resolved and work out payment options. Staff will investigate the procedures of sending notices to bank -owned properties. Council Member Cummings moved and Council Member Halverson seconded a motion to Adopt Resolution 2012-072, Resolution for Adoption of Assessment Roll, 2012 Miscellaneous Special Assessments. 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. V. NEW BUSINESS 1. Approve Lift Station Siting for Oakes Park Mr. Stadler gave an overview of the process to upgrade the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) Sanitary Sewer Lift Station and the selection process of the Oakes Park site. Mr. Stadler discussed the public input meetings, possible site alternatives within Oakes Park and the considerations by the Park Board for future park layout & uses. Mr. Stadler gave an overview of the project schedule, future public input meeting, construction impacts and availability of restrooms. There was much Council discussion regarding the hockey rink, possible layouts & locations, user friendly & controlled public restrooms, picnic shelter location, odor & noise concerns, possible building designs, tree impact, importance of open space, public notification of meetings and the minimal impact that the northwest location of the lift station would have in Oakes Park. 2 Council Member Gadd moved and Council Member Cummings seconded a motion to approve the northwest corner location of Oakes Park as the site for the new MCES sanitary sewer lift station. 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. 2. Approve Contract with IBI Group for Artery Project; Elverum Ms. Elverum gave an overview of the vision of 8th Avenue as The Artery to connect the SW LRT station on Excelsior Boulevard to Mainstreet and the Met Council grant in the amount of $50,000 to hire a consultant to facilitate a community Art Summit tentatively scheduled for December 1. The consultant will use the input from the Summit to form design concepts, solicit feedback on the concepts and conclude with a design plan, cost estimate and ideas of implementation funding. Five proposals were received, three firms were interviewed and the committee selected the IBI Group. There was Council discussion regarding the selection of the consultant group and the importance of attention to the street infrastructure during the process. Council Member Youakim moved and Council Member Gadd seconded a motion to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with IBI Group for consultant services for The Artery. 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. OTHER: Hopkins Center for the Arts music series begins Saturday. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Council Member Halverson moved and Council Member Cummings seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Vold COUN IL MEMBERS Xg� ATT ST: Eugene J. axwell, Mayor K