Loading...
08-30-05 WSAugust 30, 2005 Page 1 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -August 30, 2005 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:35 p.m. on August 30, 2005, at the City Hall. Council members Brausen, Rowan and Thompson were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow and Public Works Director Steve Stadler. Also present were Park Board members Richard Niemann, Josh Montgomery, Ron Helgeson, and Kari Kyllo. Joint Park Board/City Council Meeting Public Works Director Steve Stadler said there are six issues he had determined would be good topics for discussion by the group. Management of remaining natural areas/ r~paces within the city. Mr. Stadler said the city can take three approaches: (1) if a development request requires rezoning, refusing rezoning or granting with restrictions that would retain natural areas; (2) identify high priority areas and try to purchase conservation easements (he added this could be hard to do, but would be similar to what was done on the south side of Blake School); (3) use MN Statute 394.361 to identify areas on the "official map" which would give the city the ability to deny development in those areas and the right to acquire property through eminent domain. He noted the city map was last amended in 1986. City Manager Getschow noted this issue was highlighted when the school sold property to be developed for condos. Mayor Maxwell said he wonders how much green space Hopkins could lose before the Park Board and Zoning and Planning would feel it was "too much." Mr. Niemann noted that if rezoning is not needed, the city could not do much. Mr. . Rowan asked if a survey could be done and certain areas designated for protection. Mr. Niemann asked if there is a map of current green spaces. Mr. Stadler said no; he brought the issue up to see if the Board and Council would want one developed. The problem is the city may need to buy some property to protect it. Mr. Montgomery cited the city's snow removal area. Mr. Niemann added the area near the archery range. He suggested a map be done marking the city-owned parks and green spaces. Then the Board and Council could see where there were no city- controlled green spaces and plan accordingly and be able to look at developments in those areas more closely. Later he suggested coloring non-City green areas another color so all green areas would be shown. Mr. Helgeson brought up the landfill area as an "unusable" area. Mayor Maxwell said that is an unusual case as the city owns it, but MPCA controls it and had said it could not be used for 25 years. Now MPCA is working with the school district to develop a small portion of it and save the school district millions of dollars. Mr. Brausen asked if the Park Board had toured the parks. Mr. Stadler said that is set for September 12. Mr. Helgeson noted the city trail map does show the parks; those have been divided among the Board members to report if something is wrong. General Consensus was to proceed with a "green area" map. Park dedication fee policy. Mr. Stadler noted the fees had been raised considerably a few years ago. Mr. Getschow noted the Burnes Park project was the big use of such funds this year. Valley Park is scheduled for next year. He added the amount of funds is totally dependent on redevelopment projects. The memo was written mostly to inform new members. Mr. Niemann said the Board has asked to get the status of the fund at each meeting and asked if the Board can recommend projects. Mayor Maxwell said they should have input. Mr. Brausen recommended that on the park tour, Mr. Stadler point out what the fund dollars have done. He agreed there should be more discussion with the Board in choosing projects. Mr. Montgomery said he agreed August 30,,2005 Page 2 with Mr. Niemann that the Board needs to know what is in the fund; otherwise the Board cannot ® know what it could recommend. Mr. Niemann said he feels the Board should also be part of the discussion on enterprise funds, joint recreation, etc. Role of Park Board. Mr. Niemann noted that the Board at present has nothing to do with the Pavilion, Skate Park, Depot, Art Center or Activity Center; thus they are not able to carry out the role defined in the Commission Bylaws, Article III. That work is carried out by the managers of those places. Mayor Maxwell said he agrees the Board should know what is going ' on in those areas. Mr. Getschow said he sees a need for discussion of specifics as to at what level the Board wants to be informed and to be advisory. Mayor Maxwell said he feels it is more the Board needs to be knowledgeable about what is going on. Mr. Niemann wondered if the Bylaws should be changed. He said at one point he thought it would be good to have shuffleboard courts inside and outside. He also asked how joint recreation comes into issues like that. Mayor Maxwell said for local issues, the Board should go to Steve Stadler and have him research it and work with the facility manager. He added Burnes Park might be a spot for shuffleboard. Mr. Stadler said he sees a need to educate the Board on the facilities. Mr. Montgomery asked if the Board needs its own vision or mission statement; he feels developing a master plan is needed. When he saw the new playing field, he wondered how it fit into a master plan; that was one reason he wanted to be on the Board. He asked about surveying residents to see what they want. Some parks such as Burnes are very nice; others like Buffer Park could be more developed. Mr. Niemann said he agreed. Mr. Getschow said he has worked with park and open space master plans; it would be easier in Hopkins is fully developed and the boundaries of the open areas are well known. Mr. Stadler agreed Buffer Park was a good place to start. Mr. Brausen said he thought it would be good to have a conversation with that neighborhood about the park. He wondered if when development in an area brings in money, if a certain percentage should be designated for that area. Mayor Maxwell agreed that could be a good idea as long as the neighborhood realized the improved parkland belonged to every Hopkins resident. He feels a long-range plan is a good idea and would give direction to new members of the Board. Mr. Brausen said he feels there needs to be better communication between the Council and the Board and that they should meet together more. Mr. Niemann asked if the Board wanted something in the city newsletter, to whom should they go. Mr. Getschow said to go to Steve Stadler. Park Board and Citesgoals and objectives. Mr. Stadler said a specific time needs to be set up for the Board to look at the goals of the city. Mr. Getschow said Park Board goals could become action goals for the city for the coming year. Hiawatha Oaks Resolution. Mr. Stadler said the work on the resolution is progressing. Mayor Maxwell said he feels the Board should pass it before it comes to the Council for action. City Council liaison to the Park Board. Mr. Niemann said the Board has felt like it is not "glued in" with the Council, that there is no direct contact. A liaison would not need to attend all the meetings, but would be more of a contact person or someone to talk to if the Board had a problem with the staff. Mr. Brausen said while it is a good idea, in the past it did not work with boards and commissions. The role should be more to report to the Council, but he felt the Board itself also needs to come to the Council to report. Mr. Getschow said another danger is the Council could put the whole Council burden on the liaison. Mayor Maxwell feels if the ideas discussed so far are implemented, there would be no need for one. He emphasized any Board member may call any Council member at ariy time. Mr. Niemann agreed meeting in a joint meeting was more important, and thinks when the CIP is under discussion would be a good time. Mr. Montgomery noted he would like to see the duck pond area by Shady Oak Road become a August 30, 2005 Page 3 "duck pond park." Mr. Stadler noted that surrounding area is actually Minnetonka property, but maybe something can be worked out. Mr. Brausen noted it would be a selling point for the neighborhood. Other Mr. Thompson asked about the Parkers office condos. Mayor Maxwell noted that the CUP permit expires soon. Mr. Getschow stated that an update would be provided. Mr. Rowan said the city needs to put a trashcan on the corner by the movie theater. Mr. Brausen noted the Highlights keep getting better; he is very impressed. Mr. Brausen said he is uneasy about the Depot as the City always ends up with financial responsibility at the end of the year. Mayor Maxwell agreed the Council does not know enough about what is happening. Mr. Getschow says the depot partners are meeting every month. He will provide the City Council will depot partner minutes and a work session will be scheduled for later in the fall to discuss the depot budget and finances. On September 20, the Depot Board will be coming for a Council update. Mr. Getschow said Jim Justus would like to extend the indemnity agreement on Justus Lumber for 5 more years. Mayor Maxwell said he had been called about break-ins near Mainstreet. On motion by Rick Brausen and second by Jay Thompson, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. on a vote of 4-0. Kasey Kester, Secretary ATTEST: Eugene J. ax ell, Mayor