12-18-01A regular meeting of the Hopkins City Council was held on December 18, 2001, in
the Council Chambers of the Hopkins Cit;~ Hall.
Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council Members Brausen, Jensen, Hesch, and
Johnson. Aiso, present were staff members Mieike, Geneifie, Stadler, Kerrigan, Bot,
Yager, and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
II. OPEN AGENDA -PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
Mitch Batinich, former owner of Mitch's Tavern, appeared to request a partial
refund of the 2001 License Fees for Mitch's. Mayor Maxwell said that he will get
back to Mitch after reviewing the ordinances.
III. REPORTS -COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
There were none
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of December 4, 2001, City Council Meeting
2. Minutes of November 27, 2001, City Council Work Session
3. Minutes of December 1 1, 2001, City Council Work Session
4. Miscellaneous License Applications
5. Authorize the Hopkins Fire Department to Continue as a Hazardous
Materials Chemical Assessment Team (CR 2001-197)
6. Approve Final Payment, Thermotech Storm Sewer (CR2001-201)
7. Approve Final Payment, Madison Storm Sewer (CR20001-200)
8. Approve Liquor License, Northern Lights Foods, Inc. dba Raspberries (2001-
205)
9. Approve VFW Charitable Gambling License Application (CR2001-199)
10. Order Public Hearing, Knollwood Pond Improvement Project (CR2001-207)
Steve Mielke explained that item ten was added since the preliminary agenda and that
item one under New Business has been cancelled.
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.
December 18, 2001 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
V. PRESENTATION
1 . Recognition of Fran Hesch
Council Member Hesch`s term of office will end this month. This is the last meeting
that Ms. Hesch will participate in. The Council and public recognized Ms. Hesch for
her service as a Council Member.
Mayor Maxwell read a proclamation declaring December 18th as Fran Hesch Day.
Council Member Johnson read a letter from Congressman Jim Ramstad. Council
Member Brausen presented a gift to the family. Council Member Jensen read a poem
and unveiled the final gift from the Council, a street sign - "Hesch Way". Steve
Mielke presented a ring that is traditionally given to retiring Council Members and
Mayors. Hopkins School District students spoke about Fran. Former Mayor Charles
Redepenning came forward and spoke about Fran. Those who honored Fran spoke
about her passion and dedication, her youthfulness and energy, her ability to relate to
youth, and said that she was a mentor. Ms. Hesch thanked everyone and said that
she was overwhelmed and honored. Ms. Hesch spoke of her father's migration to
this country. She once asked him for a definition of government. His answer to her
was that government is "The People", and that she felt that in Hopkins she has been
able to practice that ideal.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING
1 . First Reading, Ordinance for Vacation of 13th Ave S (CR2001-202)
At the November 7th City Council Meeting, the Council received a petition from St.
Joseph's Church to vacate the portion of 13th Ave S between 1St St S and Mainstreet.
At that same meeting, the Council ordered the reconstruction of the same segment of
13th Ave. It was decided that the final design would be delayed pending a decision on
the vacation issue. Three neighborhood meetings have been scheduled. Those who
will be notified are City Gables, the South Area properties, the North Area business
properties, St. Joseph's Church and the American Legion.
Paul O'Gorman, trustee, St. Joseph's Church, said that the Church would like a
resolution that would be good for all concerned. They continue to work on the site
plan to incorporate suggestions that will make it work for all.
Cecil Kloss, president of Citigables, said that other things could be done to make the
street safer for the children of St. Joe°s.
Eunice Andren said that she could see the advantages to the church that the vacation
would give. She said that she thought it could work if changes were incorporated.
December 18, 2001 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Council Member Brausen moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
continue the public hearing for the consideration of a petition request by St. Joseph's
Church for vacation of a portion of the 13th Ave S road right-of-way to January 15,
2002, at 7:30 p.m. in order to allow time for study meetings to look at potential
alternatives. 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.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Cancelled -Authorize bids, Knollwood Pond Improvement Project (CR2001-
204)
2. Approve Final Design, Excelsior Blvd Reconstruction (CR2001-203)
The Council has approved preliminary plan layouts twice. Few changes were made
since the last approval. Mr. Stadler reviewed the changes and schedule. Ron
Roetzel, Bolton and Menk, reviewed the final plans. In response to Mayor Maxwell's
question, Mr. Stadler said that the grading, fences and ground cover in the buffer
zone on the south side of Excelsior Blvd would be completed the first year, the final
landscaping and plantings would be completed the second year.
Mr. Stadler said that there is no change in the cost of the project. A communication
plan will need to be put in place for the project.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Brausen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2001-96, Resolution Approving Excelsior Boulevard, Phase II
Reconstruction Final Plans -Highway 169 to Blake Road and St. Louis Street/Jackson
Avenue Intersection Construction Final Plans (Hennepin County Project 9227). 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. Adopt 2001 /2002 Tax Levy and 2002 General Fund Budget (CR2001-205)
Lori Yager said that the amount budgeted for 2002 is $8,346,588 and the Tax Levy
is 6,491,140. The overall increase over last year is 8.2 percent. The General Fund
increase is 7.8 percent.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Johnson seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 01-97, approving the 2001 tax levy collectible in 2002 and adopting
the 2002 budget. 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.
December 18, 2001 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
4. Adopt 2002 HRA Tax Levy (CR2001-206)
Ms. Yager said that this is a new levy to help cover the administrative operating cost
of HRA activities. In the past those costs have been covered by TIF and Economic
Development funds that may soon become unavailable. The amount of the levy is
$100, 000.
Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member Jensen seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution 2001-98, approving the HRA tax levy collectible in 2002. 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.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Council Member Hesch moved and Council Member
Brausen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by
unanimous consent at 9:15 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Eugene .Maxwell, Mayor
December 18, 2001 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
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