12-02-2024 City Council MeetingHOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a special meeting of the Hopkins City Council was
held on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 6:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall,
1010 1st Street South.
Mayor Hanlon called the meeting to order with Council Members Garrido, Goodlund,
Hunke and Kuznia attending. Others attending included City Manager Mornson, Assistant
City Manager Casella, City Clerk Domeier, Finance Director Bishop, Director of Planning
and Development Elverum and City Attorney Riggs.
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion by Hunke. Second by Garrido.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Hunke. Second by Goodlund.
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Minutes of the November 19, 2024, Regular Meeting Proceedings
2. Amendment to the 2025 Meeting Schedule; Domeier
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
V.1. Resolution Approving the 2025 Tax Levy, 2025 HRA Levy and Adopting the
2025 General and Special Revenue Fund Budgets; Bishop
Finance Director Bishop summarized City Council Report 2024-146. The tax levy being
recommended is $20,648,105, a $969,166 or 4.92% increase from 2024. City taxes on a
median value home ($378,800) will be $2,254, a $63 or 2.88% increase from 2024. The
final levy can be adopted any time after the close of the public hearing but must be
adopted and submitted to Hennepin County by December 28th.
City Clerk Domeier was asked to include in the record that an email was received from
Doug Mitchell expressing comments on the proposed 2024 Property Tax
Increases/Proposed Street Reconstruction Assessment.
Mayor Hanlon opened the Public Hearing at 6:50 p.m.
Paul Domino, owner of rental property at 501 Sunnyside Lane, Hopkins, provided
comment on the proposed budget.
Dennis Guillaume, 2070 Mainstreet, Hopkins, provided comment about using LHA
funding opportunities.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2024
William Anderson, 102 Wayside Road West, Hopkins, provided comment on the
proposed budget.
Larry Hiscock, 302 7th St. S., Hopkins, provided comment about using LHA funding
opportunities and the opportunity to set aside tax revenues.
Motion by Garrido. Second by Kuznia.
Motion to Close the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m.
Ayes: Garrido, Goodlund, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Mayor Hanlon requested next steps on local affordable housing aid. Finance Director
Bishop stated staff will be bringing options to the City Council in early 2025.
Council Member Goodlund stated the current levy increase is not acceptable and
encouraged the City Council to review their own pay. He did not approve how the current
budget review is conducted and preferred to move a zero-sum budget with line-item
detail. He challenged the City Council to come up with five different ways to save money.
Mayor Hanlon provided a response to the comments. We lost a third of our Police
Department due to wages, the Fire Department unionized for better wages and to
transition to a full-time staff, investments in old infrastructure created current capital costs,
sole vote against a $60,000 decrease in elections came from Council Member Goodlund,
spoke to the COLA increases in council salaries in comparison to other cities, and other
travel and conference expenses.
Council Member Garrido stated that the staff is the subject matter experts. In addition,
she asked Council Member Goodlund to give up his Council salary as a gesture to reduce
the budget.
Council Member Hunke shared the attraction businesses see in Hopkins and spoke to
the reduction in the climate solution fund and the opportunities for businesses. He spoke
to employee retention.
Council Member Kuznia spoke to the time spent reviewing the budget, packets and
commitment to the city as a Council Member. He also spoke to the previous infrastructure
projects, reducing the levy and managing the level of service.
Motion by Garrido. Second by Hunke.
Motion to Adopt Resolution 2024-069 Approving the 2025 Tax Levy, 2025 HRA
Levy and Adopting the 2025 General and Special Revenue Fund Budgets.
Ayes: Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
Nays: Goodlund. Motion carried.
HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Hanlon shared the City Council meeting schedule.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, and upon a motion by
Hunke, second by Kuznia, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk