Minutes of the WS on September 10Page 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Fire Department - 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 and Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Morrison, Public
Works Director Steve Stadler, Director of Economic Development and Planning Kersten Elverum.,
Community Development Coordinator Meg Beekman, Fire Chief Dale Specken and Assistant Fire Chief
Curt Mackey.
New business:
SWLRT Update
Ms. Elverum updated the Council on the SWLRT Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) and
pending vote by the SW LRT Corridor Management Committee (CMC) on the location selection.
Hopkins staff wanted to provide additional information to Council prior to formulating a position
regarding the possible Hopkins OMF location. Ms. Elverum gave an overview of the properties
impacted by an OMF in Hopkins, tax base loss and surface parking, structure parking &
redevelopment potential at the Shady Oak Station. Ms. Elverum discussed the strengths and
weaknesses of the Hopkins OMF site but staff is concerned that the CMC has not taken into
consideration the financial impact on the City of Hopkins. Ms. Beekman presented a comparison of
fiscal impacts of the proposed OMF site on suburban SWLRT cities. Hopkins approximate total loss
is $16.3 million in assessed land value and taxes paid. Staff is concerned about the significant loss to
the tax base and how the city can make up the loss in tax revenue.
There was much Council discussion regarding one community taking a significant tax base loss, the
CMC not understanding that Hopkins is not in a position to absorb the loss to the tax base and no
commitment to the betterment requests. Council discussed the loss of jobs, possible joint
redevelopment, future structure parking & fielding at the Shady Oak Station, is it a realistic possibility
that the excess property will be able to be put into productive reuse and the option of accepting
payment for loss of tax revenue.
Staff is recommending the following statement to the CMC: The City of Hopkins does not want the
OMF due to the business impact and tax base loss and the SPO has no recommendations regarding
how to mitigate these two issues. As a result, the City of Hopkins does not support the OMF in
Hopkins.
There vvas much Council discussion regarding the statement. Council expressed concerned about the
substantial job loss in Hopkins despite the OMF bringing in 150 jobs. There was Council discussion
about the $500,000 savings by locating the OMF in Hopkins, which could be used towards a payment
of $130,000/year to make up the loss of Hopkins tax revenue. Council was. concerned that
redevelopment would not happen next to the OMF, that the OMF is displacing good businesses and
leaving blighted buildings, the challenge & importance of keeping businesses in the community, a
buffer and infrastructure around the OMF. The Council consensus is that Hopkins is bearing more
burden than the other cities along the SW LRT. There was discussion regardine adding contingencies
to the Municipal Consent, possibility of losing a station location and that Hopkins needs to be made
whole. Staff discussed the station locations and feels each station serves a need and will not be cut.
Council consensus is that Hopkins is not recouping what they are losing with the OMF, that the
Page 2
burdens and benefits need to balance better and that the statement to the CMC needs to be strong.
Council is recommending the following additions (underlined) to the statement to the CMC: The City
of Hopkins does not want the OMF due to the business impact, tax base loss and job loss and the SPO
has no recommendations regarding how to mitigate these three issues. As a result, the City of Hopkins
does not accept the OMF in Hopkins.
Councilmember Youakim will read the statement at the September 11, 2013 meeting and Ms.
Elverum will discuss what Hopkins is losing in comparison to other cities and share why the City of
Hopkins has come to this conclusion.
There was discussion regarding SWLRT editorial letter.
Fire Department Long Term Plan
Chief Specken gave an overview of the Hopkins Fire Department (HFD) Long Term Plan. Chief
Specken gave an overview of the history of the HFD and current status of HFD accomplishments &
grants. Chief Specken discussed with the Council the difficulty in keeping and finding quality
firefighters, hiring costs, costs of equipping a firefighter and the 5 -year commitment needed to recoup
costs. Chief Specken reviewed the duty crew hours, call statistics, fire inspection procedure and
succession planning of officers. Chief Specken reviewed with Council possible future options of .
adding HFD firefighters & duty crew and the costs involved.
• The HFD would maintain what they are currently doing with the daytime duty crew and adding
a weekend duty crew for approximate cost of $80,000/year.
• The HFD would give up all daytime medicals, respond to medicals during day when Police
Department unavailable and maintain a Friday and Saturday night duty crews for approximate
cost of $21,440/year.
• Add four part-time firefighters for approximate cost of $64,539/year.
• Add a 24-hour duty crew for $250,000/year but this option was not well received by current
staff.
Add two full-time staff at $50,000/year with benefits to respond to all daytime calls with option
of increasing inspections for additional revenue.
There was much Council discussion regarding increasing inspections only for a change of occupancy
not to generate revenue, types of calls and how employers handle firefighters leaving.jobs to respond
to calls. There was discussion regarding the increasing number of medical calls to the care facilities.
Staff will investigate options of insurance or agency payments to help defray the cost of medical calls.
Chief Specken and Assistant Chief Mackey discussed the succession possibilities of officers moving
into leadership roles, surrounding fire departments using full-time and 24-hour duty crews, pay
structure, average turnover rate of approximately three officers per year and the recruitment of
experienced firefighters. Chief Specken is looking ahead one year to start making possible staff
additions to the HFD. Council stressed the importance of educating and promoting the services of the
HFD to Hopkins citizens. Council will review the HFD Long Term Plan for future discussion.
Emergency Operations Procedure Discussion
Chief Specken gave an overview of the Emergency Operations Plan that needs to be reviewed
and revised every two to three years. Chief Specken gave an overview of the basic plan and next
steps. City of Hopkins department heads and Hennepin County Emergency Management will
review the plan and then Chief Specken will bring the plan back to Council at a future meeting
for approval.
There was much Council discussion regarding upcoming drills, CERT team and Councilmember
Page 3
roles during an emergency operation. Council will review the plan and Chief Specken urged the
Council to call or email with any questions.
Other
• Ms. Beekman updated the Council on the PPL project neighborhood meeting. Approximately
30 residents attended. The two main concerns were parking and increase in traffic. PPL staff
will investigate a designated drop- off location on the alley side of the project.
• Watershed Gala scheduled for October 17, 2013.
• Mr. Morrison updated the Council on the street project contingency funds. Approximately
$200,000 in remaining contingency funds will be used for the next year's street project.
• Discussion of the Hopkins Jaycees Casino night gift bags provided by HBCA.
• The e -cigarette business owner would like to discuss with Council why sampling is necessary
for the business to survive. Council consensus is to tighten up ordinance regulating e -
cigarettes.
• Discussion regarding Tuttle's considering opening a brewpub in Hopkins and the food ratio.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Gadd and a second
by Council member Youakim to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
CITY COUNCIL
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor