November 13 2012 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Raspberry Room — 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 Morrison, Public
Works Director Steve Stadler, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kersten Elverum, City
Engineer John Bradford and Recycling Coordinator Penny Cleve
New business:
8'h Avenue Update
Mr. Bradford gave an overview of the 8th Avenue Corridor objectives, opportunities and challenges.
Mr. Bradford discussed with Council the objective to increase customer pedestrian and bike traffic into
downtown and make Hopkins an LRT destination. Right of way challenges include crossing of
Excelsior Boulevard and lack of pedestrian and bike friendly trails along 8' Avenue. Mr. Bradford
discussed a vision with Council to upgrade the Excelsior Boulevard crossing and make 8th Avenue a
complete street with attractive pedestrian walkways to downtown and connection to bike trails. The
challenges along 8th Avenue include lack of right of way leaving little room for parking. One possible
solution is to convert 8th Avenue into a one way northbound street off of Excelsior Blvd. Mr. Bradford
gave an overview of the options for bike lanes, parking, sidewalks, median with a possible cost share
opportunity with Three Rivers Park District to connect 8th Avenue with the existing bike trails. Mr.
Bradford discussed the possible traffic impacts and challenges. The vision is to tie the 8th Avenue
upgrade with the future LRT project.
Ms. Elverum discussed possible funding partners, grant monies for streetscape and the Art Summit
community input opportunity.
There was much Council discussion regarding the bike & car lanes, public participation plan, plans for
businesses along 8th Avenue, one-way street challenges, marketing of the 8th Avenue corridor, street
design, potential numbers of people coming into Hopkins, bike parking, parking needs, 8th Avenue
reconstruction costs, opportunity to learn from the new Central Corridor area and the potential benefits
to Hopkins businesses. Overall the Council liked the 8th Avenue concept of a clearly defined gateway
to direct people into downtown Hopkins.
Council directed staff to share the 8th Avenue vision with area businesses/residents so they can start
thinking towards the future. Council discussed the challenges of the project and the importance of
community support.
Community Development Update
Ms. Elverum gave an overview of the Walser proposal to store vehicles on the Luther lot. Mr. Steiner,
City Attorney, has reviewed the agreement. The agreement is short term, accessory use only. Council
discussed storage only in the lot on the North side of Main Street, neighborhood notification, end date
to the agreement and lot lighting.
Ms. Elverum discussed with Council the Developer Workshop that will focus on the Blake Road LRT
station location and the potential for the cold storage site. Council discussed the need to look at the
Shady Oak LRT station area also. Staff will update the Council with the results of the Developer
Workshop.
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2013 Street Improvement Project
Mr. Bradford gave an update on the 2013 Street & Utility Improvement Project.
Thirty-three trees will be removed. Homeowners have been contacted and have been very receptive to
the plan to remove and replacement with a variety of trees. Mr. Stadler discussed the type, size and
number of replacement trees.
Mr. Bradford discussed the private service line mandatory replacement program of Orangeburg
sanitary sewer pipe material. Staff is proposing a plan to help homeowners with the additional cost to
replace the Orangeburg pipe. City staff would work with local plumbing contractors and request a unit
price quote for lining and replacing sanitary sewer services as an option for the homeowners. The
homeowner would have the option to hire their own contractor also. Homeowners who choose to do
the replacement with the City's plumbing contractor would be assessed for 10 years at 5% interest if
the homeowner so chooses. Mr. Bradford expects to get favorable bids due to volume pricing. The
estimated cost for private service line replacement is approximately $2000-$3000.
There was much Council discussion regarding the potential number of homes that will need the
replacement. Staff estimates that approximately 70% of the 140 homes affected will need to have
replacement of the service line due to age of the homes in the affected area. Residents with Orangeburg
pipe have one year to comply with replacement. Council discussed notification of the affected
properties, responsibility of homeowner to disclose deficient utilities in the event of sale of home and
follow-up on replacement. Staff will have the City Attorney review the agreement.
Mr. Bradford reviewed a potential layout for the alley North of Main Street between 7th & 8th Avenue.
A resident has expressed concerns about dust & appearance of the alley. The alley is a County owned
and maintained right of way. The County has no interest in vacating the right of way at this time.
The approximate cost to upgrade the alley is $95,000. There was much Council discussion regarding
the large amount of money to improve an area that the City does not own, the risk of having to return
the area to it's original state, additional traffic & parking, expense to plow & maintain property, asking
properties who would benefit from upgrade to maintain it and options to reduce dust. Council directed
staff to investigate ways to reduce the dust but not take any other action at this time.
Discussion of city codes and ordinances for right-of-way, restoration of streets, boulevard
maintenance
Mr. Bradford discussed the policy for street restoration for private utility repairs. This policy is in place
to protect homeowners from "extremely high street restoration costs when performing repairs to their
private water and sanitary sewer service within the city right-of-way." Staff is proposing amending the
policy to change the maximum cost for pavement that a homeowner has from $750 to $1,250. This
policy has not been changed since 1994 but the average price for a street patch has increased to
approximately $120041300. Council was ok with the policy change.
Mr. Bradford discussed Ordinance 805. The City has had several instances with a private utility
company where they do not restore their work for several weeks after their installation has been
complete. Staff is proposing a delay penalty of $300 per calendar day for not properly restoring the
right-of-way beginning 14 days after installation of the private utility is complete. There was Council
discussion about shortening the time limit to 7 days.
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Mr. Stadler discussed City Code Section 935 in regards to shade tree disease control. Emerald ash
borer was added to the ordinance. There was Council discussion about emerald ash borer, which has
not yet been discovered in Hopkins. Staff is doing an inventory of ash trees and looking at possible
treatments.
Mr. Stadler discussed revisions to City Code Section 825 regarding trees and landscaping. Mr. Stadler
reviewed the approved tree species list and plant and landscaping material in the right of way.
Mr. Stadler reviewed revisions to City Code Section 2005.
Mr. Stadler and Ms. Cleve reviewed Legislative Policy 8D in regards to solid waste collection.
The policy was last revised in 1997 and there have been many changes in recycling and yard waste
collection since. The policy reflects current practices. Council suggested that staff do a presentation on
current solid waste collection practices at the City Council meeting. There was much discussion of
subscription services for yard waste pick up and free service for yard waste drop-off.
Review of 2013 Council Schedule
Mr. Morrison discussed the 2013 Council meeting schedule. Staff is proposing changing the City
Council meeting time to 7 pm from 7:30 pm. Council agreed to the 7 pm time and staff will inform the
public.
Other
• A Work Session is scheduled prior to the City Council meeting on November 20.
• Tree lighting on Friday November 23 at 6 pm
• Council Member Cummings will be the Hopkins representative on the Caring Youth Awards
committee
• Council discussion regarding responding to emails that council members receive. Emails should be
forwarded to Mr. Mornson and he will forward them to the appropriate staff.
• Council Member Gadd will be attending the Light Rail Steering Committee workshop
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Youakim and a second by
Council member Cumming to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
CITY COUNCIL
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor