06-27-00 WSMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -JUNE 27, 2000
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on June 27, 2000,
at the Hopkins City Hall. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen,
Hesch, Jensen and Johnson. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Public Works
Director Stadler, City Planner Nancy Anderson, Finance Director Lori Yager, Economic
Development Director Kerrigan. Zoning and Planning Commission members Ross Bartz, John
Szuba, Roger Gross, Erick Rudolph, Bruce Rowan, Randy Engle, Dorothy Boen, Jay
Thompson, Maureen Allen and Maura Swanson attended the first section. Also present were
Lloyd Johnson, David Braslau, Mary McGlinch, Jim Benshoof and Sher Azizi for the
SuperValu presentation; and Jay Strachota, HCA facilities manager.
Joint Discussion, City Council/Zoning and Planning Commission
SuperValu perishable expansion, Jim Kerrigan, presenter
Mr. Kerrigan said this issue will be before the Commission on July 25; the Council
could be presented with it as early as the first meeting of August.
Mr. Azizi of SuperValu said the plan has been revised to 120,000 sq. ft. instead of
165,000. The former Country Club property negotiations are nearly concluded (Mary
McGlinch added July 26 is set for the closing); this area will be graded down 10 feet;
demolition should be completed by mid-September. The proposed traffic pattern would require
vacating 6th Ave. from 5"' Ave S to 5"' St S. A ramp would be built behind the berm (which
will continue to the driveway) to the storage area, and the present 6"' Ave. would be used for
shuttle trucks; 5`'' Ave. would be realigned. A sidewalk would be incorporated along 5`" on
the south side of the property.
Answering questions, he added further information. There will be 18 new bays, with
the present 25 relocated. 11`" Ave S will remain the main route; moving that to 5`" isn't
possible because that would require trucks to U-turn in a crowded area. 6"' Ave S will stay at
its present height because of sewer and water mains; the city would retain easement for those.
There will be an 8-10 ft. retaining wall along 6`" Ave S. The building should be closed in by
the first week of December; phase 1 should be completed by June 2001. Berming will be
done first to limit noise for residents. Only a gravel roadway for emergency vehicles will be
behind the building; trucks will not be able to use it.
Jim Benshoof reported on the traffic study. There are now about 174 trucks per day
(122 non-SuperValu and 52 SuperValu). That will increase by about 44 per day. 11`" Ave S
traffic will remain about the same, however, as SuperValu will move some trucks away from
11`" Ave. Neighbors have three main issues: cut-through traffic by non-residents, 6`" Ave.
closing, the 6"'/10"' intersection. Closing 6`" Ave. would help the neighborhood by decreasing
cut-through traffic and eliminating a major truck route. Fire vehicles will arrive as quickly;
over 2/3 of the police call area would not be affected, and only 50 seconds would be added to
travel time for the rest. The major inconvenience for residents is to pedestrians/bicycle riders;
cars will have only an additional 2000 feet (50 seconds travel time) to drive. He feels the
vacating has more advantages than disadvantages.
In answering questions he added that freeway ramp time should not be affected as semis
mostly use off-peak hours; if there is no vacating, there would need to be a driveway on 6"'
Ave S just north of 5"' St S. (Mr. Asizi added not vacating would mean trucks would need to
continue parking at the North Annex, which should be set off in the future.) A
pedestrian/bike path through the vacated area would not be safe. Mr. Stadler added that
SuperValu plans to upgrade the trail at 6"' St S to l lr'' Ave S, and then up to the regional trail.
The 6"'/10"' intersection work needs to be done for safety reasons, even if there is no vacating.
Mr. Mielke added that in the past SuperValu had turned 2°d over to the city; also, the
vacating would be part of a total development agreement.
Mr. Braslau reported on the noise study and indicated the noise level will actually be
lower than it is at present as SuperValu will be modifying many of its trucks with noise-
reducing kits. Modified trucks will be loaded nearer the residences; those not modified will
be kept at the far end in the city's commercial area. Only the modified SuperValu trucks will
be allowed in at night. Near residences the noise reducing berm will be 18 feet high and
coated with a noise absorption material. The ramp will be used by the shuttle trucks, which
are low to the ground and move slowly, so shifting down noise will not be an issue.
Public Works Renovation, Steven Stadler, presenter
Mr. Stadler said he would like to enter into an agreement with Howard R. Green
Company for final design services; cost for them and soil testing would be about $80,800. The
project would be funded through a $1.5 million HRA revenue bond; lease payments would
probably be $150, 000 per year, which would be funded 53 % by utility funds and 47 % by
general funds. The building being replaced is from the 50's, when this was a fair site.
During discussion Ms. Yager said the public safety needs have turned out to be $6
million rather than $3 million, so have had to be pushed back to 2004-5. Other points were
clarified in discussion. The school owns the parking lot by the site so its area is not available.
Utility tax money could be used for this project.
General Consensus: Staff should look into ideas of incorporating interim equipment
storage to help the fire department, as well as seeing if there is a configuration that might place
the fire department there in the future. Concept review should be moved to July 18 to allow
time for this, and the review should be just a public presentation. Actual evaluation of
possibilities should take place in August.
Council Review of CIP, Lori Yager, presenter
Ms. Yager noted the 5-year total is almost $43 million, and includes only $3,390,000
for Public Safety, not the new $6 million needed. $10,189,900 is projected for 2001. She
noted this figure includes streets, buildings, etc., not just equipment. The last payment on
Shady Oak Beach will be in 2001. Mr. Stadler noted public works 2001 projects included
Excelsior Blvd., 11"' Ave south end, 500-600 parking lots, St. Joe's parking lot, and the 73/5
intersection. There are no assessments to landowners for mill overlay. There was a $55,000
overrun for salaries. The new plan would require at least a 4 % levy increase, which would
amount to a 6% increase on the individual taxpayer.
General Consensus: The Council would like a detailing of what is new in the CIP;
this will be provided by staff. The CIP should come back to one more work session before
action at a regular Council meeting.
Public Works Facility Management Reorganization, Steve Stadler, presenter
Mr. Strachota said in December 1999 the pavilion manager, activity center coordinator
and he met to discuss common issues. Later discussions involved Mr. Stadler, the recreation
services director, the parks superintendent, the buildings and equipment superintendent and the
Depot Coffeehouse manager. The outcome of these meetings is they would like to see the
formation of a Facility Division under Public Works, which would include the Art Center,
Pavilion, Activity Center, Depot Coffeehouse and Skate Park. It would be headed by a
Facilities Director, who would report to Public Works Director Stadler. This would give the
facilities a common supervisior and a tie to Public Works, which would help with maintenance
issues. They feel this would improve communication and morale. Present plans would make
the HCA facilities manager the new Facilities Director. General Fund impact would be an
increase of $15,600; the Art Center would see a decrease of $19,500. They would like to
implement the change on September 1.
Ms. Hesch noted she is excited about the idea as it could mean common fund raising
events that would involve elderly and youth working together. In answer to Ms. Johnson's
question, Mr. Mielke said the position does not need advertising as it is actually a re-write of a
job description.
General Consensus: This should be on the July 18 consent agenda
Other
Although brought up during discussion of the CIP plan, the Council would like to see
the stage issue brought up at a future session.
Diane Johnson mentioned the web site for the Skate Park needs to be updated.
Fran Hesch moved adjournment. Rick Brausen seconded. Adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Attest:
`~~Y-~
Euge e J. Maxwell, Mayor
Kasey Kester, recording secretary