11-28-06 WSNovember 28, 2006
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -November 28, 2006
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene
Maxwell at 6:30 p.m. on November 28, 2006, at the Hopkins Pavilion. Council members
Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Jay Thompson and Cheryl Youakim were present. City
personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Worl<s Director Steve
Stadler and Recreation Director Don Olson.
Pavilion Tour
Recreation Director Don Olson and Public Works Director Steve Stadler led the
Council on a tour of the Pavilion, showing them the recent improvements.
Updates by Public Works Director Stadler
Public Works Director Stadler said adjoining cities have contacted him that they
are passing resolutions supporting the alternatives that have been approved in the study of
the Southeast Corridor. These will be presented to the Policy Advisory Committee at
their meeting December 13.
General Consensus was for staff to prepare a similar resolution and have it put on
the Consent Agenda at the next Council meeting.
Mr. Stadler said the contractors have agreed to move the light posts on Excelsior
Blvd. at no cost to the city. They are waiting for an okay from Xcel Energy. They want
to start as soon as possible to avoid working in snow. Mayor Maxwell commented there
are still cones and barriers. Mr. Stadler said he has been after the contractors to remove
those and some signs. He said the map in the kiosk for the trails is going up. It is an
aerial view that highlights all the city features. Xcel Energy needs to install the final
footings for the lights at the Depot.
Answering Mayor Maxwell, he said 16 bollards will be going in next spring on Stn
Avenue.
2007-08 Goals and Action Agenda
City Manager Getschow presented a new draft of the 2007-08 goals and
objectives. He said about 20-25 Citizens' Academy alumni were involved in the
feedback on the last draft. When the goals come to the Council for approval at the end of
December or January, he wants to celebrate what has been accomplished since the last
goals were formulated in 2005. There will be a power point presentation. Mayor
Maxwell suggested this be done in January as a "new start for a new year." Mr.
Getschow commented it may need to be the second January meeting as the first meeting
already has a long agenda.
Mr. Getschow stated that the goal and the action steps within clarify and explain
what the focus of the City of Hopkins will be for the next two years beyond the normal
everyday delivery of city services. The Council will focus on these initiatives as they
will make up the bulk of their policy discussions over the next two years.
Mr. Getschow then briefly summarized the comments received from the Citizens'
Academy alumni and city staff as he reviewed the goals.
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Goal I: To Improve Communications and Marketing Efforts to Residents,
Developers and Businesses. This was one of the most popular goals with alumni. Ms.
Elverum presented Action l: City-wide Branding and Marketing Campaign Partnership,
which was well-received. HBCA will work on their own campaign at their December
meeting, and Council will receive an update on this Action at the second December
meeting. Even more important to the alumni was Action 10: Comprehensive Plan
Update. There will be a meeting next week to set up a timetable for this.
Goal II: Provide and Nurture Growth of Employees and the City Council.
He noted most cities do not include this among their goals, but he feels it is important to
include. Action 1: City Council and Board/Commission Orientation, received favorable
comments. In January there will be Planning & Zoning Commission training, to which
everyone is invited. Action 5, Initiate an Employee Academy, also received favorable
comments. He noted Action 3, Research conducting achy-wide volunteer and Board
recognition event, had been brought up by the Council earlier. Mayor Maxwell
commented that the last one was at HCA, with hors d'oeuvres served by the City before a
play and root beer floats after the play. It was well attended and favorably commented on
without being too expensive.
Goal III: Enhance the Budget Process and Increase the Education and
Understanding of City Finances. He noted while Action 3, Conduct a Budget "Boot
Camp," did not receive much interest from the alumni, in effect the Truth in Taxation
meeting Monday will serve that purpose. Action 6: Restart and/or Reinvigorate the
Bricks and Benches Programs, got comments. The Senior Activity Center has expressed
interest in running the program if the profits could be used to finance their programs.
General Consensus was that would be acceptable. Mayor Maxwell suggested they find
out how many bricks are needed to finish the clock tower area and how many would be
needed to do the same at the band shell area.
Goal IV: Improve the Quality of Life in Hopkins; IVA: Facilitate
Redevelopment throughout the City. There are many action items and initiatives in
this area. Items under this goal will involve much work from staff and Council. The
actions receiving the most favorable comments included Shady Oak Road, Blake Road
Corridor and Enhancing the City/Regional Trail System. Also getting favorable
comments were Downtown Luther Property, Bloclc 64, Excelsior Crossings, East End
Study and NORC (which is planning on sponsoring a Senior Summit). There was lots of
discussion on the Upgraded Code Enforcement to increase understanding of that action.
There were many questions on the trail system and a tour was conducted. Some
commented it's a good system but needs clarification on how to get to the downtown area
from it. He added the Excelsior Blvd. area is getting done. North Hopkins needs more
work. Mr. Rowan commented on the Blake Road crossing. Mayor Maxwell said he feels
the 169 crossing is dangerous and wondered if "noise grooves" could be installed to
remind bicycle riders to slow down for the highway, especially as the Opus development
will increase traffic. Ms. Youakim asked about the Sanitary System Inflow and
Infiltration Program. Mr. Getschow stated that Mr. Stadler said his department is looking
at it. Mr. Getschow mentioned Metro Blooms, which helps with rain gardens, etc.
Goal VI: Meet with groups/organizations to talk about mutual areas of
interest. Mr. Getschow noted many of these groups are involved presently: Hopkins
School District, legislative representatives, HBCA, Hennepin County Commissioners,
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City of Minnetonka. He feels if neighborhood associations could be strengthened, it
would help the city. .
Ms. Youakim asked about Hop-a-Ride. Mr. Getschow said he feels a survey of
actual users would be a good thing. Mayor Maxwell suggested contacting NORC to see
if it could be included in the Senior Summit.
2007 Budget Update
City Manager Getschow said the Truth in Taxation presentation on Monday will
include a presentation of the budget, which will be officially adopted December 19. Staff
has managed to reduce the levy to 4.36%. He handed out talking points to the Council.
Mr. Rowan asked how to answer someone who says Council sets the preliminary levy
rate high just so they can look good when they lower it. Mr. Getschow said we need to
stress that when we set the preliminary levy, we do not have complete information from
Hennepin County on the tax capacity rate, which greatly affects our budget. Therefore,
we need to be conservative as, by law, we cannot raise the preliminary levy rate, only
lower it. The real problem is the state timeline. Mayor Maxwell added we could have set
it much higher for the preliminary rate if we just wanted to look good. Mr. Thompson
asked if a property value stayed exactly the same, would the tax amount go down? Mr.
Getschow said yes, and agreed the talking points need to be reworded to make that
clearer.
Mayor Maxwell suggested there be more about the infrastructure and future
planning in the presentation. Ms. Youakim noted it is Hopkins' use of the Capital
Improvement and Equipment Replacement Funds that stabilizes our finances. Mr.
Getschow agreed most residents do not realize how far ahead major items are planned
for.
Mr. Getschow said he has found, in answer to questions at the last work session,
that fiscal disparities appears as a line item only on commercial property tax statements.
He noted this year we contribute $119,000 to this program, but last year was the first
time we were a net loser. He also found out the Center for the Arts capital debt now
comes to $548,719.00.
Other
Ms. Halverson said she heard the tree lighting went well. Mayor Maxwell
commented there were about 200 people, and he heard many good comments.
Mr. Rowan said in discussions about Instant Runoff Voting no one seems to stress
the most important point, "Majority rules."
Mayor Maxwell asked if staff had reached Mr. Kelley about recognition of his
services to the area. Mr. Getschow said a date of December 19 has been agreed on.
Mr. Getschow said the purchase agreement has been signed for Cornerstone. The
name will stay the same. Cornerstone had cleaned the lot as requested. Opus will be
having a neighborhood meeting December 14, 6:30-8:00, right after the LRT open house
5:00-6:30.
There was a short discussion of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting
that was occurring at the same time as this meeting.
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On motion by Ms. Halverson and second by Ms. Youakim, the meeting adjourned
at 8:25 p.m. on a vote of 5-0.
Kasey Kester, Secretary