08-29-06 WSAugust 29, 2006
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -August 29, 2006
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene
Maxwell at 6:30 p.m. on August 29, 2006, at the Hopkins City Hall. Council members
Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Jay Thompson and Cheryl Youakim were present. City
personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow, Economic Development Director
Jim Kerrigan, City Planner Nancy Anderson and Finance Director Christine Harkess.
Also present were Virgil Aarness, Kyle Skiermont, Kathryn Newcomb, Jannina Aristy,
Bob Hatlestad and Peter Scholtz of the Zoning and Planning Commission.
Joint Meeting with Planning & Zoning Commission
Comte Plan
City Planner Nancy Anderson said the Met Council is requiring all cities to
update their Comprehensive Plans by June 2008. Hopkins last did one in 1999. HKGI
prepared that one and will serve as consultants for this one, the cost of which is budgeted
for 2007. The plan serves as a guide for the city and helps with zoning ordinances and
redevelopment. Zoning & Planning will be the main group working with HKGI, who has
suggested dividing the residential meetings into three areas, along with a group of
commercial representatives. They also suggest an Ad Hoc Committee to work with the
Commission. This would include representatives of the school district, HBCA, the
Human Rights Commission, and residents. Ms. Youakim suggested including Citizens
Academy alumni. City Manager Getschow noted this process will be new to almost
everyone on the Council and Commission. The Comp Plan is considered to be at the top
of the city planning/land use pyramid when it comes to city decision making . The
Council had asked HKGI for more public input, which brought about the suggestion for
more community meetings and an ad hoc committee. Getschow also stated that Hopkins
has designed a lot of other plans in the past ten years, which will be included in this
Comprehensive Plan including the East End Study, Blake Road Streetscape, LRT Station
Study Plan and LRT plans, and Shady Oak Road Redevelopment Study. This will be a
two-year process; Zoning & Planning along with the Council will lead the process, but it
will involve a lot of public input.
Economic Development Director Kerrigan noted the Comprehensive Plan has to
be approved by the Met Council. There will be a great deal of work on it in 2007 as it is a
critical document for the city. Zoning ordinances are the tools that are used to implement
the plan, and staff wants to have a good process for everyone in Hopkins. Mayor
Maxwell agreed it is very important to involve residents. Mr. Kerrigan said last time
very few residents attended the meetings and staff plans to utilize the city's web page and
Sun Sailor. Mr. Getschow asked attendees to e-mail suggestions for the ad hoc
committee. Mr. Hatlestad said he felt it is important to have representatives of small and
medium businesses as well as SuperValu on the ad hoc committee. Mayor Maxwell
asked if developers should be included. Mr. Kerrigan said he wanted to be sure the
Commission understood the present Comprehensive Plan; Ms. Anderson will go over it
with members at the next meetings. Mr. Aarness said he feels it is crucial the
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Commission and Council mean the same things when using terms, such as "downtown."
Mayor Maxwell said basically the plan is a 11/2 year study with a ten year direction.
Shady Oak Road
Mr. Kerrigan said the Council has been very involved with this, working with
both Minnetonka and Hennepin County. In 2009-10 Shady Oak Road will be rebuilt
from Excelsior Blvd. to Highway 7 as a four-lane road. The next joint meeting with
Minnetonka will be September 20, at which the preliminary alignment will likely be
approved. Once that is approved, design will become detailed and the right-of-way
acquisition process can begin. The west side commercial lots will need to be acquired.
Hennepin County has hired a specialist to deal with relocation issues. HKGI is doing the
redevelopment study, which they hope to finish by the end of 2006. Ms. Youakim asked
if residents could bought out right away while home prices are still fairly high; she fears
otherwise they may end up selling at a low price and have to buy in a higher market. Mr.
Kerrigan said that the funds may be available in 2007, and he will bring it up as an issue
with the county. Mr. Hatlestad asked how many residences would be taken; Mr. Aarness
said he thinks 8. Ms. Youakim added that might not include the three at the south end of
the reconstruction. Mr. Kerrigan said so far property owners have reacted well and just
want to be treated fairly. Mayor Maxwell said Zoning and Planning will get involved in
the rezoning issues that will result from the redevelopment, which will be important to
both cities involved. Answering ' Mr. Aarness, Mr. Kerrigan said Hennepin County
Community Works will be working with redevelopment in 2007; right-of-way
acquisitions would start in 2008. He added the County wants very much to work with
people; one possibility would be to buy and lease back property until actual construction.
Ms. Youakim noted right now there is a good market for buying which might "take the
sting off 'for residents being moved.
Moratorium
Mr. Aarness asked what the time limit was for the moratorium. Mr. Kerrigan said
the moratorium is for one year, with the possibility of an extension for 6 months more.
Ms. Anderson noted the moratorium only affects properties from Excelsior Blvd. to
Mainstreet; it does not affect residences. Mayor Maxwell added the purpose of the
moratorium is to give Hopkins and Minnetonka time to agree on what they want to do
with the area.
20th Avenue
Mr. Kerrigan said there are 10 public housing townhouses administered by HRA
on 20th Avenue. They were built in the early 1970's and need major upgrading. An
estimate was gotten and came to $80-100,000 per unit. Hopkins staff went to HUD and
were able to secure approval to eliminate them; this is rarely accomplished -Hopkins
was the second city to get such approval. Hopkins will help relocate residents and is
securing Section 8 vouchers for them. By the end of the year all units should all be
vacant so we should start looking at redevelopment possibilities. They are presently
zoned for single-family residences. The property could be used for three residential lots.
They must be sold through a bidding process, and Hopkins must accept the highest bid.
Proceeds would go into the HRA capital fund and be used to improve Dow Towers. Ms.
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Youakim noted residents are happy about the Section 8 vouchers; she asked about the
bidding process. Mr. Kerrigan said staff will use the usual process, advertising in trade
journals, Star Tribune and Sun Sailor. Mr. Aarness noted that while 8 residences will be
lost at Shady Oak, there will be 3 new ones here. Ms. Anderson noted the R1 zoning
allows duplexes. Mr. Kerrigan said there could be a covenant allowing only single
family homes.
General Consensus was to allow only single-family homes.
R_d T TePc
Ms. Anderson said last year Hopkins adopted a new B-4 zoning district. Most of
the East End will come under the new zoning. The Commission has worked on allowed
uses and will be looking at them again at their August meeting. New uses added are
garden and landscaping, and sporting goods. Gas stations and fast food have been
excluded. Mr. Kerrigan said staff is trying to not make the zoning too limited so property
owners will not oppose the new zoning. Mr. Hatlestad asked for a similar area in the
west metro area; Mr. Getschow said St. Louis Park would be close. Ms. Anderson said
no residential use will be allowed on the first floors.
Mr. Getschow noted the next joint meeting of the Council and the Commission
may not be on a meeting night for the Commission. Training will be given this fall on
zoning in general, conditional use permits, etc. Council members would also be
welcome. Mayor Maxwell said Dodge will soon be moving out; the Council and
Commission members need to think about what would be good for that corner.
Mr. Skiermont asked about Light Rail. Mr. Getschow said on September 7 there
will be a stakeholder meeting in the afternoon and a public meeting 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. He
added this will be a big piece in the new Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Maxwell noted
rental licensing is being "kicked up a notch." Mr. Aarness asked if residents can be
helped to improve their homes now that the "This Old House" program has been
discontinued. Mr. Getschow said any similar program would have to come from the
state. Hopkins does have its own rehab loan program, but it is income-based.
2007 City Budget, Final Preliminary Levy Review
Finance Director Harkess said that even if the levy rate goes up, the tax rate
would decrease for the taxpayer. Mr. Getschow noted a 6.87% levy would be better than
last year's 3.92% increase for taxpayers as it relates to the tax rate. Ms. Harkess said if
the Council decreased the budget by $38,000, so there is only a 6.4% increase, they
would not be required to hold a Truth in Taxation hearing. Mr. Getschow said the
Council could still choose to do a budget meeting, but would be able to hold it at a
regular Council meeting instead of the prescribed dates of December 4 or 11. He added
many surrounding cities are doing 6-10% levy increases. Answering Mr. Rowan, Ms.
Harkess said she is very comfortable with the numbers as she talked directly to the
Hennepin County assessor about the tax capacity, which is the factor that helps the staff
and Council see how the levy will affect individual homeowners. Later Mr. Getschow
noted that $8.9 million is the figure that would be used to determine the levy limit cap if
one is imposed next year.
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General discussion followed. General Consensus was to announce that even
though Hopkins is not required to hold a Truth in Taxation hearing, the Council has
decided to hold one on December 4, with a continuation date of December 12 if needed.
Ms. Harkess noted the Council had had questions about the water meter income.
She found that 385 meters had needed to be updated; about 90 still remain. Removing
the effects of the 2005 rate increase, she found that income increased $33,000. Some of
the largest users have not replaced their meters so this increase would be much greater
once all are done. Ms. Youakim said she would like to let people know about this,
stressing this will help keep rates from increasing.
Other
Mr. Thompson said he would like an update on our sister city of Long Beach,
Mississippi, since this is the Katrina anniversary.
Ms. Youakim asked about the process for cutting certain budget items. Mr.
Getschow said while staff presents proposals, any suggestions from the Council should
and is encouraged to be given to him.
Mr. Getschow reminded the Council there will be no work session on September
12 due to primary elections. There may need to be a work session before the Council
meeting on September 19.
Mr. Getschow gave a quick update on the downtown redevelopment projects.
On motion by Ms. Halverson and second by Ms. Youakim, the meeting adjourned
at 8:55 p.m, on a vote of 5-0.
Kasey Kester, Secretary
COUNCIL MEMBERS: t