Loading...
09-23-03 WSSeptember 23, 2003 Page 1 UNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -September 23, 2003 Mayor Gene Maxwell called a work session of the Hopkins City Council to order at 6:30 p.m. on September 23, 2003, at the City Hall. Council members Brausen, Jensen, Johnson and Rowan were present. City personnel present were: City Manager Steve Mielke; Finance Director Lori Yager; Recreation Director David Johnson; Economic Director Jim Kerrigan; Public Works Director Steve Stadler; Fire Chief Don Beckering and Dale Specken; Police Chief Craig Reid and police personnel Connie Kurtz and James Liddy. Also present was David Chase of Kraus-Anderson. Award Bid Mr. Stadler said he had solicited bids and received 3 for the structural steel for the Police Department renovations. He recommends Thurnbeck Steel. Mr. Chase said the timetable was part of the bid package so construction would stay on schedule even though the bid was later than the others; shop drawings should be ready in 4 weeks, with steel delivery 1 week after drawings approval. Answering Mayor Maxwell, he said that the footings for the fire department area were held up when sewer line issues came up; rather than adding cost, however, the new plan maybe slightly cheaper. Answering Mr. Brausen, Mr. Stadler said security system and landscaping bids are still to come. Mr. Chase added security plans have been difficult, and a third consultant is being used. Public Works grading, curb/gutter and asphalt base should be done in October. The main building is roofed and interior work is in progress. Fire station masonry should catch up as the contractor has added more help for the brickwork. The Pavilion is pushed .out to the end of October. Ms. Johnson moved the Council adopt Resolution 2003-087, resolution to award steel fabrication and supply contract, Police Station renovation project, to Thurnbeck Steel Fabrication, Inc. Ms. Jensen seconded. Passed 5-0. Discussion, 2004 Budget Recreation Mr. Johnson's recommendations would cut $14,500 from his budget, including the senior services transferred to Activity Center and Joint Recreation line item reduction done in 2003. He said one park guest service attendant could handle reserved shelters in both parks, saving $8,000. Mayor Maxwell said any parties making reservations should know when the attendant would be at their park. There was general discussion on warming houses at ice rinks. Mr. Johnson will work out a plan to have 3 open at one time, on a rotating schedule. Raising seasonal fees for Shady Oak met general approval. Ms. Jensen suggested increasing resident season passes to $30. Others agreed. Mr. Johnson noted that while Hopkins depends on_ Joint Recreation more for indoor events, Minnetonka relies on Hopkins for the outdoor grounds. He added the playground program, ice rinks, and park attendant are not part of the Joint Recreation program. Planning Mr. Kerrigan's recommended transfer of some salary expense to Hop-a-Ride and Section 8 and elimination of overtime. Mr. Mielke said he did not recommend the transfer of salary expense to Hop-a- Ride, as that would add cost to a program that needs general fund support. Fire Chief Beckering said the department would seek donations to continue the fire prevention supplies Cutting back the EMR was discussed. Chief Beckering said it would put more responsibility on the police; Chief Reid said his concern is his department has only one AED. Mr. Mielke said this is a cutback that could cost lives. Ms. Kurtz noted dispatch has set guidelines for when to call medical emergency. Mr. September 23, 2003 Page 2 Liddy suggested that non-emergency would not need to involve the fire department. Answering Mr. Brausen, Mr. Liddy said ambulances normally take 7 minutes. Fire response cutbacks were also discussed. Mr. Specken said fire response with a full crew would then be about 10 minutes more. On average 15 show up at night; however, daytime calls get only a few. Chief Beckering said the mutual aid agreement with St. Louis Park helps both cities as St. Louis Park has hired staff in daytime and Hopkins volunteers are more available at night. Mr. Mielke noted that Council had already indicated they wanted 36 volunteers, not 30. Chief Beckering said he felt a 30-hour position for Fire Marshal would be very difficult to fill; and that the department felt the City needed a 40-hour position. He needs more direction before he could profitably follow-up about contracting services out. Answering Council questions he and Mr. Specken said annual inspections are required only in multiple housing, and no commercial maintenance inspection is required. Fire personnel are good about noting when they need to pre-plan a building. Fire personnel could not take over the Fire Marshal's education duties. Hopkins has a higher death rate due to fire than average; 6 have died in the past 5 years. Both Inspections and the Fire Marshal are responsible for building inspections, though each check for different things. Mr. Rowan suggested rotating "on-call" personnel for weekends so enough are always available then. Chief Beckering said his main concern is that by 2005 the department will lose 8-10 of its senior people. When he retires, 3 have said they will also go. If the college leaves, all senior officers will be gone. He hopes to have a plan for 2005 in December; he wants to know things are in place before he retires. Mr. Mielke said changes might need to be phased in. Possibilities would be afull-time fire chief/marshal or a combination police/fire position that is task-oriented. Mayor Maxwell said charges for calls needs to be explored more. Chief Beckering will come back with a call charges schedule. He will look into the idea of a Fire Marshal 30 hours/Inspections 10 hours combination. He will bring his 2005 plan. Staff will see what inspection fees were increased, what ones should be increased, how much revenue has come in and could be expected. Police Chief Reid commended Connie Kurtz for the money she has saved the department in contracts and buying furniture. He said Captain Liddy has put in long hours on a nursing home calls program, which has really helped the department. He noted his department has gone from $150,000 to $60,000 in overtime costs, even though he has had full staff only five days since he came in February 2000. There were 15,161 calls last year; false 911 calls are the biggest problem. The K-9 officer resigned today. He has told the school Hopkins will probably not continue in the liaison program. Discussion followed on the part time secretary and lead dispatcher. He and Ms. Kurtz explained the problems not having a lead dispatcher have caused, and Chief Reid noted that Ms. Kurtz is a PSO but worked only dispatch for 12 years. Chief Reid stated that the loss of a full-time secretary would add stress to the department, but that he thinks it can work. Both agreed that maintaining a lead dispatcher position was more critical than the secretary position. Mr. Mielke noted the dispatch position was not on his "cut list. " iscussion then centered on revenue. Chief Reid recommended an annual alarm permit like St. Louis Park and Minnetonka. A side benefit would be more up-to-date records. He also recommends raising fees for false alarms; now there are 4 free, then a $50 fee for the fifth. He feels there should be only 2 free, and the 3`d $50, up to the 5`'' being $100; this change would bring in $3800 to $4700 next year. Ms. Johnson and Ms. Jensen felt there should be only 1 free false alarm call. The others agreed 1 or 2. Chief Reid noted Hopkins alarm ordinance was passed in 1980 and many cities have copied it since. Chief Reid added the furlough system would not work for the fire department as weekends and summers are their busy tunes. September 23, 2003 Page 3 Community Budget Meeting, Sept. 30 Mr. Mielke asked for feedback on what Council wanted covered at the meeting. It was agreed that in discussion of the 2003 budget it should be noted that it was cut 8 %, and the 2004 cuts start from that. In discussing the "budget problem," losing 13 % of the budget or $1,100,000 and rising costs were agreed on. After discussion it was agreed "ability to pay" should stress the community tax base issue. Mayor Maxwell suggested the reasons LGA was given to cities in the first place be explained. People want the same services as Minnetonka, but don't have the ability to pay for them after the loss of LGA. Concerning the Property Tax Problem, Mr. Rowan suggested comparing the communities; Hopkins has no big malls; now it is hard for the city because they have no LGA to equalize that disparity. Ms. Jensen said it should be stressed it could have been a 17.5 % rather than the 9.9 % increase. She added `dilemma' was a good word for the budget issue. For the 2004 budget it was agreed listing programs and issues was good. Ms. Johnson added there have to be items that really affect the listeners. Mayor Maxwell suggested attendees be asked what else can be cut. Revenues should be discussed from a budget rather than a levy stance. Mr. Mielke said department heads would be there. Ms. Yager noted the budget must be set by the last work session in October. Other Mr. Rowan said Stages has said they are getting calls that reservations will be cancelled if signage about guns is not in place. Mr. Mielke will work on the issue. Ms. Johnson noted Raspberry and Jaycees got Mr. Genellie's letter on gambling today and that the groups will have discussions about the 10 % fund issue. Ms. Jensen brought up the Beard event October 1 and indicated she would be attending. Ms. Jensen moved adjournment. Ms. Johnson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m. Kasey Kester, Secretary ATTEST: Eugene J. xwell, Mayor COUNCIL MEMBERS: 9 wd