08-15-2023 City Council MeetingHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 15, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was
held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall,
1010 1st Street South.
Mayor Hanlon called the meeting to order with Council Members Balan, Beck and Garrido
and attending. Council Member Hunke was absent. Others attending included City
Manager Mornson, Assistant City Manager Lenz, City Clerk Domeier, Finance Director
Bishop, Police Lieutenant Pilon, Police Captain Kreiling, Fire Chief Specken, Economic
Development Director Elverum, Public Words Director Autio and City Attorney Riggs.
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion by Beck. Second by Hunke.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda.
Ayes: Balan, Beck, Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke
Nays: None. Motion carried.
PRESENTATIONS
III.1. Proclamation Recognizing August 16 as YouLEAD 2023 Day in Hopkins;
Hanlon
Mayor Hanlon shared information about program and read the Proclamation.
Motion by Beck. Second by Garrido.
Motion to Adopt a Proclamation Recognizing August 16 as YouLEAD 2023 Day
in Hopkins.
Ayes: Balan, Beck, Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke
Nays: None. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Hunke. Second by Beck.
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Minutes of the August 8, 2023, City Council Regular Meeting Proceedings
2. Approval of Temporary Liquor License for Hopkins Education Foundation;
Domeier
3. Second Reading: Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 of the Hopkins City Code
by Adding a New Section Prohibiting Cannabis and Hemp Use in Public Places
and amending Chapter 32 by Adding a New Section to Chapter 32 Prohibiting
Smoking in City Parks; Domeier/Lenz
4. Second Reading: PUD Rezoning Ordinance and PUD Agreement for 314
Mainstreet (Walser Chrysler); Krzos
5. Approval of Grant of Easement between Hovander Foods, Inc. and the City of
Hopkins; Autio
6. Letter of Commitment for EECBG Application; Imihy Bean
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 15, 2023
Ayes: Balan, Beck, Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke
Nays: None. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
VII.1. Review 2024 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop provided City Council with levy options that included 9%, 7% and
5% increases.
Captain Kreiling, Officer Harriman, Sergeant Rice spoke to the Police Department public
safety funding requests. Discussion was held about the squad car purchase costs,
previous K-9 program, fundraising opportunities and opportunities for Metro Transit/Met
Council funding. The City Council generally supported the addition of a K -9 program.
Fire Chief Specken spoke to the Fire Department public safety funding requests. The City
Council generally supported the Fire Command Position and additional equipment and
technology. Discussion was also held about cost recovery models.
Public Works Director Autio spoke to the forestry position request. Mayor Hanlon talked
about various grant programs. Mr. Autio provided information on the grant requests and
associated paperwork and maintence. The City Council generally supported the addition
of the forestry position. Further discussion was held about delaying the activity center roof
replacement. Mr. Autio was comfortable waiting one year to replace the roof.
Mayor Hanlon supported a 5% levy increase and finding funding opportunities with grants.
Council Member Beck supported selling City owned parcels, supported a 5% levy
increase, he also wanted the truth-in-taxation statements to be as accurate as possible,
reduction in department spending and council salaries. Council Member Hunke stated
that while he supported a 7% levy but noted that after the preliminary levy there are
opportunities to reduce the levy. He cautioned pushing maintenance projects to future
years. Council Member Balan supported a 5% levy.
Finance Director Bishop will provide additional budget options on September 12.
VII.2. Franchise Fee Proposal Based on Utility Revenues; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop provided the City Council with options for the franchise fees
based on utility revenues.
Mayor Hanlon supported any opportunities where more funding could be in the climate
solution funds and less in staffing/consulting and unallocated fundings. Council Member
supported moving the allocated funds into the General Fund or for the Burnes Park
reduction. Council Member Hunke supported Council Member Beck’s comments and
offered other suggestions for the unallocated funds such as the permanent improvement
levy. Mayor Hanlon proposed that the City use the same Climate Solution Fund grant
program for its projects. Council Member Beck and Balan supported that some of t he
unallocated funding go to the Mainstreet light project and the general fund.
Finance Director Bishop will bring back the proposed ordinance on September 5.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 15, 2023
PUBLIC COMMENT
Hilary Minor, Hopkins resident provided comments about the 17th Avenue Reconstruction
Project. She supported a boulevard between walkers and bikers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Hanlon reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule.
Mayor Hanlon announced that the last item on the agenda was the performance
evaluation of the City Manager.
Motion by Garrido. Second by Balan.
Motion to Close the meeting for the purpose of conducting a performance
evaluation of the City Manager Mike Mornson pursuant to MN Statute 13D.05
subd. 3(a).
Ayes: Balan, Beck, Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke
Nays: None. Motion carried.
The City Council will summarize its conclusions at the September 5, 2023, regular
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, and upon a motion by,
second by, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk