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04-30-02 WSApril 30, 2002 Page 1 MINUTES CITY C®UNCIL W®RI~ SESSI®N - APRII, 30, 2002 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was held at 6:30 p.m. on Apri130, 2002, at the City Hall. Council members present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Brausen, Jensen ,Johnson and Rowan. City personnel present were City Manager Mielke, Assistant to City Manager Stahmer, City Clerk Obermaier, Public Works Director Stadler, Recycling Coordinator Cleve, Street Traffic and Sanitation Superintendent Pankratz and City Assessor Wilson. Also present was Richard Nau of URS. Board of Appeal and Equalization The Board of Appeal and Equalization was reconvened at 6:30 p.m. City Assessor Wilson said there had been only one written appeal, that of Eric Johnson of 13 7"' Ave. N., who had also appealed last year. The property was looked at last Friday, and the advisors recommended no change from the assessed value. He added this is a difficult property because it combines residential and commercial. Mr. Brausen moved to accept the recommendation of no change. Ms. Jensen seconded. Approved 5-0. Mr. Brausen moved to adjourn the Board of Appeal and Equalization. Ms. Jensen seconded. Approved 5-0 at 6:40 p.m. Council Work Session The work session opened at 6:45 p.m. Southwest Corridor Rail Transit Assistant to City Manager Stahmer said he is serving on the projects technical advisory committee for the Southwest Corridor Rail Transit, which is headed by Katie Walker, who was at a public hearing. Richard Nau of URS, who is doing the transit study for the Hennepin Rail Authority said there would be a public meeting on May 9 at the Depot. He stressed the corridor will be for both the rail transit and the bicycle/pedestrian trail. It is hoped the rail transit will go as far as Eden Prairie, rather than end at Hopkins as originally planned. Also being considered is a hook-up in the downtown area with the Hiawatha Corridor now under construction. The 2°d corridor to be built will be one to St. Paul; the Southwest Corridor would be the third. The study will be completed about February 2003, and construction would not start for 8-10 years. Answering Council member questions, he added more information. Diesel Multiple Unit is a much heavier railcar that would withstand crashes with freight trains and would be capable of using the freight tracks if arrangements could be made with TC & W railroad; its drawbacks are expense, noise and diesel pollutants. The Light Rail Transit would not be able to run on freight tracks for public safety reasons; the Hiawatha Corridor will use LRT so it would be possible to ride from the airport to Eden Prairie without transfer rather than having to change at a DMU terminus by Target Center (both cannot use the same tracks because the LRT would not be crash- resistant against a DMU) . The long-term expense and environmental concerns are part of the focus of the study. There will be 8-9 stations on the route. Hopkins near the Depot is definitely one. Apri130, 2002 Page 2 There is resident resistance in Minnetonka and Eden Prairie; hopefully that will cease if the Hiawatha Corridor is a success. If those two cities still object, it is possible the Southwest Corridor would still be built with its terminus in Hopkins. Whether the city could own the park- and-ride is not decided; if a ramp had to be built making a profit would be unlikely. Funding will probably be 50 % federal, 50 % other, though this is part of the study. City Manager Mielke noted that he was on the technical advisory committee in 1988 when Mayor Miller supported the transit. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan included the General Resources area for a major station. The big question for Hopkins is if a terminus here would be a big asset. And where would the city want a terminus; would property need to be acquired? Ms. Johnson suggested Hopkins partner with St. Louis Park. General Consensus: Mr. Stahmer will keep the Council updated. Mr. Mielke will see if partnering is possible with St. Louis Park. Tattoo Parlor Regulation City Clerk Obermaier said Hennepin County is passing an ordinance to regulate tattoo parlors. There are three entities in the county not under municipal regulation; two of those are in Hopkins - Shahn Anderson's Electric Dragonland and cosmetic tattooist Mary Jo Zack. Both would prefer for Hopkins to do the regulating. Shahn was very involved in the. drafting of the Hennepin ordinance, but thinks some of the wording on apprenticeship proof /class on blood pathogens requirements is unclear, and the proposed grandfather clause is not there. Ms. Zack feels some of the language needs to be changed to cover cosmetic tattooing. A major problem is that historically tattooing is apprenticeship programing. The ordinance demands proof of 200 hours apprenticeship; it simply is not available for most tattooists, including Shahn, who is known widely for his work. Hopkins Health Inspector Larry Meyers is willing to do such inspections, even though he would need to take classes to be able to do so. One problem would also be that Hopkins would be required to keep records of any apprenticeships done in Hopkins; this is highly likely as Shahn is so well known. Mr. Mielke added one of his concerns is the liability issue; another is what would happen if Mr. Meyers left; Hopkins had a difficult time getting him, and if the next inspector would need to do the tattoo parlors inspections it would be even more difficult. Ms. Obermaier added Hopkins would not be able to use the inspector from another entity just to do the tattoo parlor inspections. The Council members raised issues that need to be determined. These include: is Hopkins' decision irrevocable, i.e., if the Council decides to let Hennepin County regulate, can Hopkins later take it over or vice versa; would the Hennepin County fee schedule cover all costs or would Hopkins end up subsidizing the parlors -what would Mr. Meyers charge; are other cities going to change to using Hennepin County; other issues at the county hearing; what would be the time and cost for drafting a city ordinance; storage of new needles, etc. General Consensus: The issues should be studied and results reported to Council by the end of May. Tobacco License Update: Ms. Obermaier said she has sent a letter to the applicant asking for listings or photos of proposed merchandise and a to-scale floor plan for displays. City Attorney Miller says changing the zoning ordinance would be difficult; changing the tobacco licensing ordinance might be possible. Mr. Mielke said that under current law, the business Apri130, 2002 Page 3 proposed is allowable. The question is does the Council want to change the law so future ones cannot be opened. General consensus was to find out if action must be taken at the next Council meeting, and if the Council can limit the number of tobacco licenses issued in Hopkins. Yard Waste Discussion Public Works Director Stadler said last fall public expectations and city policy did not match regarding yard waste. Due to this and the $135,000 difference between income and expense for the program, he and his staff have drafted changes in the program. Their goals were to continue to provide good service, simplify the program, reduce the program deficit, and keep residents' cost below industry standards. They propose that residents wanting full curb-side yard waste pickup service pay $50 annually, prorated on their utility bills. Associations would pay an amount equal to $20 per resident. Other residents could call in for special pickup service at a set fee. Free services would be the semi-annual bulk drop-off program and the yard waste/brush drop-off program. Projected income from the changes would be $55,000; this might be enough to make across-the-board utility charge increases unnecessary. Answering questions, Ms. Cleve said tracking program users would be simple. Mr. Stadler said non-subscribers who set out bags of yard waste would be notified to move them or would get charged a per bag fee. The program would not start until next year. Neighborhood associations were discussed. Ms. Johnson feels if one association gets the pick-up, all should. Mr. Pankratz said it is impossible to take on more associations; Interlochen and Belgrove are the heaviest users. Mr. Mielke said another issue there is the labor issue; neighborhood pick-ups don't use bags but use equipment. How to charge those areas needs to be determined; it may need rnandatory charges for residents as associations cannot be charged. Mr. Mielke also mentioned the North Mankato program where all yard waste is put in the street and equipment collects it. Mr. Pankratz said that would raise parking issues. Ms. Johnson suggested doing a trial program in an isolated area, such as where she lives. General Consensus: With budget constraints a change is needed, and this is a good program. Lori Yager needs to determine if this program would eliminate utility increases. Charging association areas needs to be studied more. A plan to publicize the program and get residents to "buy into" it needs to be devised. Mr. Pankratz raised the issue of the semi-annual bulk drop-off. He thinks apartment dwellers are abusing the program because they do not pay utilities. Ms. Cleve said making them show utility bills might be a solution. Mayor Maxwell said possibly passes could be sent with utility bills. Mr. Mielke said issues are: does cleaner apartment areas make it worthwhile; could fees be set; how big is the problem. General Consensus: Mr. Pankratz will check with his checkers to see how big the problem is and report back in July with more information. Other Mr. Brausen asked about charging for re-inspections when homes are to be sold. Mr. Mielke will check with Elizabeth to see how many are done. Ms. Jensen said a couple weeks ago she had something stolen from her car behind the Art Center. Her husband has mentioned kids hanging out in the alley. Mayor Maxwell said lighting April 30, 2002 Page 4 may need to be changed. Mr. Mielke will talk to Chief Reid. Ms. Johnson mentioned the tenants' meeting for the Art Center. There will be a meeting at McKnight on May 29. At the meeting tonight the school district was very pleased with the arrangement and Stages seemed satisfied overall. Three small groups will meet next, and then all will meet again. 1VIs. Johnson asked that the broken sign at Kenny's Market be looked into. Mr. Mielke handed out a list of projects and purchases held off. Mr. Mielke asked about park benches. Mr. Stadler showed the type his department recommends, costing $687 plus shipping. General consensus was to approach people about purchasing benches as memorials. The Park Board should be involved. Ms. Johnson asked if other groups are going to be approached about other projects such as a covering for the open air market. Consensus was to also refer this to the Park Board. Mr. Mielke passed out the invitee list for Let's Talk on May 14 and asked changes be given to him in the next couple days. The agenda was looked at. Consensus was that the Council comments should come after the Question/Answer period. Mr. Mielke said HCA will be asking for acash-flow loan of $15,000. Ms. Johnson moved adjournment; Mr. Rowan seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Kasey Kester, Secretary ATTEST: Eugene J. Max ell, Mayor