11-21-00A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was. held on November 21, 2000 in the
Council Chambers of the Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Also, present were staff members Mielke; Genellie, Stadler, Yager; Elverum
and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
ll. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
There were none.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
1. Park Board
Mark Kuhl reported for the Park Board. Mr. Kuhl said that they reviewed and approved
the job description and will present it to Council in the near future. They are waiting for
the results of the Vision meeting, hoping for direction from the groups. They will also
be meeting on a monthly basis.
Steve Mielke responded that they should have the information from the Vision meeting
by late December or early January.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of November 8, 2000, City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of November 14, 2000, City Council Work Session
3. Appointment of Administrative Hearing Officers, (CR2000-191)
4. Grant Contract, Board Innovation and Cooperation, Transportation Planning
Grant (CR200O-192)
5. Approve Final Payment, Lift Station #6 (CR2000-187)
6. Approve Final Payment, 2000 Alley Improvement Project (CR2000-186)
7, Approve Draw Request, Westbrooke Patio Homes (CR2000-189)
8. Resolution Amending Contractual Agreement/Agreement on Railroad Blockage
Procedures (CR2000-193)
9. LRT Regional Trail Winter Activities Permit (CR2000-185)
In response to Mayor Maxwell's questions about item four, Steve Mielke said that the
City and School District are receiving a 550,000 grant to study ways in which the public
and school transportation systems may be improved through better utilization of existing
resources. A consultant will be -hired to study the issues.
November 21, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
Jim Genellie responded to questions on item three by stating that all of the attorneys on
the list had been contacted and that all are willing to serve. The list was obtained from
the City of Minnetonka. The City of Minnetonka used an application process to form the
list of names.
Kersten Elverum responded to questions about item seven. Ms. Elverum said that the
association has requested the draw to pay contractors for work, which has been
completed. The City can retain 5% of the contracted amount until all of the work is
completed, but there are outstanding issues with two contractors. If the City retains the
5%, there is not enough to pay the contractors that have completed work. There will
still be a balance large enough to correct any deficiencies.
Steve Mielke responded to item eight, saying that the amended agreement will allow the
cities to try different approaches by agreement among the city managers without having
to take the agreement back to three councils each time a new method is to be tried.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Agenda. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member
Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council
Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
V, PRESENTATION
1. Third Quarter Financial Status
Lori Yager, Director of Finance, gave an overview of the third quarter status of the City.
Ms. Yager said that revenues are on target. Expenditures are currently the same as
1999 with 70% of the budget spent, but do not include recent union contracts. Most
contingency funds have been spent. Cash and Investments are at $16,400,000 earning
6.5% interest, which is better than last year. Utility funds continue to be strong. The
Skatepark ended with a $28,000 operating income. The Hopkins Center for the Arts
continues to operate at a loss. Governmental funds are up by $900,000.
No action was taken.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1 . Application for the Renewal of a Currency Exchange License for Pawn America
(CR2000-188)
Terry Obermaier said that the Department of Commerce is the regulating agency, issues
the license, does the background checks, and regulates the license. State Statute
dictates the process. The local jurisdiction is required to hold a public hearing. The City
sends a resolution of approval or denial to the Commissioner of Commerce within sixty
days.
November 21, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 8:05 p.m.
No one came forward.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to close
the public hearing. The public hearing was closed by unanimous consent at 8:06 p.m.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2000-85, Resolution Approving the Renewal of a Currency Exchange
License for Pawn America. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen,
aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member
Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
VII. ®L® Bl1SINESS
1. Traffic Study Report, 17th Ave Pedestrian Crossing (CR2000-195)
Steve Stadler said that staff has received a petition to improve the crossing at 17th Ave
S and 15t St S, a school crossing. At the November 8th, meeting, Council directed staff
to install a temporary stop sign. Staff has completed a review of the situation. Staff
found that traffic counts are higher than in 1997 and speed is approximately the same.
Mr. Stadler said that the advanced warning sign would have to be mounted high to be
visible. Mr. Stadler also said that staff will investigate ways to improve the safety of
waiting to cross where there is no sidewalk with the possibility of installing a cement
landing on the corner.
Council discussed flashing lights or red flags on the advanced warning signs and parking
along 17th Ave S.
Mark Swanson, 35 - 18th Ave S said that he was concerned about the speed of traffic
and whether or not the proposed option will be enough to make the intersection safe.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
approve installation of stop signs to create athree-way stop intersection at 17th Ave S
and 15t St S intersection. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen,
aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member
Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
After the item was approved, Butch Johnson and several students from Katherine
Curran School approached the Council. The students handed out "Bravo'° cards while
Mr. Johnson explained that at Katherine Curran, when someone does an especially good
job, he or she gets a "Bravo".
November 21, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
VIII. NEVI/ BUSINESS
1. Approve Additional Improvements, Valley Park Housing Improvement Area No.
3 (CR2000-190)
Kersten Elverum said that in 1999 the City approved the creation of a housing
improvement area for Valley Park Condominiums to finance a variety of improvements,
The project was completed under budget leaving a balance of approximately $105,000.
The Association has requested that a portion of the balance be used to pay for
additional improvements to the building entrances. In addition, staff is recommending
that improvements be made to a catch basin, which has a negative backflow into the
1 1 th Ave storm sewer. The total amount for the improvements is approximately
$69,000.
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2000-86, authorizing expenditure of a portion of the project fund
balance for housing improvement area no. 3 -Valley Park Condominiums. A poll of the
vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council Member Jensen, aye;
Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The
motion carried unanimously.
2. Landscape Design Plan, Phase II Excelsior Blvd Project
Steve Stadler said that the design work on the reconstruction and streetscape
improvements for the second phase of Excelsior Blvd project is nearing completion.
Phase 11 goes from Highway 169 to Blake Rd. Several meetings have taken place this
year with the business owners along that portion of Excelsior Blvd to discuss the design
plans. Mr. Stadler said that the estimated cost of the proposed improvements is
$560,000. The estimated City cost is $400,000. If approved, the design plan will be
inserted into the County's road construction plans and bid as one contract.
Construction will occur next year.
Bruce Chamberlain, Hoisington-Koegler Group, Inc., the City°s consultant, reviewed the
proposed design plan.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
approve final streetscape design as presented for Excelsior Boulevard, Phase II
Construction. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen, aye; Council
Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member Johnson, aye;
Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Maxwell said that Semper Development asked that the final plat and conditional
use permit agreements be continued.
November 21, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Council Member Johnson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
continue items three, four, and five until the Developer indicates that they are ready to
bring the items forward. A poll of the vote was as follows: Council Member Brausen,
aye; Council Member Jensen, aye; Council Member Hesch, aye; Council Member
Johnson, aye; Mayor Maxwell, aye. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Final Plat, Semper/Walgreens Development (Memo)
4. CUP Agreement, Walgreens/Semper Development (Memo)
5. CUP Agreement, Hopkins House Development (Memo)
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Jensen moved and Council Member
Johnson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 8:58 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Terry Obe~`maier, City Clerk
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ATTEST: .
G~~~
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
November 21, 2000 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5