12-12-00 WSMINiJTES
CITY C®l7NCII. WORK SESSION - DECEMEER I8, 8000
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on December 12,
2000, at the City Haii. P8S
resent were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Brausen, Hesch and Johnson. City
personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Community Development Director Kerrigan and
Public Housing Manager Karen Skepper. Also present were Craig Christensen and John
Kohler of Semper.
Walgreens/Dopkins Douse Project
Mr. Kerrigan said Semper wants off-site assessments to be spread over 10 years; staff
would favor this as a way to clean up the site and get something done with Hopkins House.
Mr. Christensen said Semper has a verbal agreement with Hopkins House for the purchase
price and has renegotiated with Walgreens. Major factors in having to come to the city at all
were the unexpected expense of extensive water drainage work and having to clear 17 feet of
underground debris from the site and then refill. Mr. Mielke added the water drainage work
involves the city's system and would actually lessen the load on the city system. Semper
estimates the assessment amount at $100-120,000. Mr. Kerrigan explained that if the Council
wants to move ahead, the city attorney says off-site work would have to be bid out as a public
improvement project in order to use assessments. Semper needs the assessment process so
they can pass the cost on to Walgreens, who has agreed to the additional cost. Mr. Kohler
added the owner of the strip mall would upgrade his property by $300,000 if the project goes
ahead.
General Consensus: No one on the Council wants to go ahead with the assessment
plan. Later in the meeting the Council agreed they would like more discussion on this corner
at a later session.
Miscellaneous Public Dousing Issues
Ms. Skepper wished to update the Council on three issues. First, she had received oral
agreement that the HRA financial statement audit deadline would be moved to coincide with
the city audit, since it qualifies as a blended component with the city. She is awaiting written
confirmation. Without it, HRA would have to pay $5,000 for a special audit rather than their
$1,000 share of the city audit.
Second, Hopkins Village Apartments is limiting their new rentals to elderly only, even
though she understands they have_ not received official approval of the designation. This may
have an impact on Dow 'l'owers. She will continue marketing to seniors in an effort to keep the
mixed population at Dow.
Third, the current update to the Public Housing Authority Plan will be presented at a
public hearing prior to the December 19 HRA meeting. One planned change mandated by the
federal government is allowing pets in public housing (restricted to 1 cat, 1 dog, 2 caged birds,
OR 1 aquarium, with a 20 pound size limit for a pet; $300 security deposit for pet damage; $5
monthly fee for environment work charge). The second is putting a resident on the HRA
Board of Commissioners. This had been posted last year, with no one wanting the position.
Differences between Minnesota law and federal requirements have been ironed out; a resident
member could be limited to voting on only public housing matters. She suggested that if a
resident member is selected, public housing matters be put on the agenda on a quarterly basis,
with arrangements for monthly payment of bills on an automatic basis. Issues the Council
needs to decide include needed qualifications, length of term, method of selection, voting
parameters. She noted she would not favor separating housing from EDA as that would cause
housing to lose its blended component status for audits, 5 volunteers would need to be found
instead of only one; and it would take 6-12 months to establish the new board.
Ms. Hesch said it seemed the most logical approach would be to add one volunteer for
housing issues only, which would be made part of a quarterly meeting. Ms. Skepper said that
would also be her recommendation. Mayor Maxwell added an interview should be part of the
process,
Generafl Consensus: Ms. Hesch's and Mayor Maxwell's suggestions met general
approval. The general idea will be presented at the public hearing. Specific qualifications and
approval process steps will be decided in January or February. HRA bylaws will need to be
changed to allow for the quarterly public housing issues meeting, etc.
Ms. Hesch then asked for information about the crime-free designation. Ms. Skepper
said she would very much like to get that designation; one major hurdle is that it would require
replacing all door peepholes so there would be 180 degree vision. This cost Ramsgate $8,000.
Mr. Mielke suggested this might be a project for donations. Work for disabled residents has to
take priority on government funds. She is not certain what other items would need to be
changed as the person in charge of inspections will not come out unless she feels the criteria
could be met in a short period of time. She added the drug-free clause has been part of the
leases and has been a major tool for screening and eviction.
General Consensus: Council would like a report on what would be needed to get a
crime-free designation.
East CBI) Redevelopment Project
Mr. Kerrigan reported that he has been working with Mr. Koss; a purchase agreement
has been given to him for consideration, but no commitments have been made. Kanduth has
stated he would sell for $218,000. Lommens are willing to sell. Luthers are not interested in
selling; a letter from Chase Company, who manages Luther real estate, indicates they would
like to be the developer. Beard is interested and has done a project on a similar site. TIF
monies are $1.6 million, and end April 2001. Mr. Mielke said if costs are over that, possible
funding is the Economic Development Fund or creating a new TIF district. There is also a
possibility "living communities" funds could be procured.
General Consensus: Koss is the key; if he will sell, staff should proceed. Ms. Hesch
suggested RFQ's ask for suggestions for both partial and whole development. Staff should
look into how the city-owned property south of the alley could be incorporated.
Other
Ms. Hesch presented a letter and photo from a resident complaining about tree planting.
Mr. Mielke will have staff prepare a letter in response.
Ms. Hesch suggested all Zoning/Planning Commission members get the "nuisance
reactions" information. Mayor Maxwell also suggested adding the Blaine document.
Mayor Maxwell said he had received a call from a citizen who wants to be heard about
a senior discount on water bills, etc. Mr. Mielke commented most cities have now phased
such discounts out, although they were fairly common years ago.
Mr. Mielke said he has started the process for a planning meeting for the l~tortheast
community. Zoning/Planning will be involved; it will use a format much like the focus group
process.
Mayor Maxwell brought up the recurring problems with Tremont and Park Plaza, and
suggested it become a session subject.
Ms. Johnson said the clock in the tower still needs to be fixed. It was agreed by those
present that if the clock can't be fixed, it should be taken out and just let the chimes ring.
Rick Brausen moved adjournment; Fran Hesch seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:55
p.m.
Kasey Kester, Secretary
t~TTEST:
i~2~'~ t
Eugen J. M well, Mayor