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07-22-2008 WSJuly 22, 2008 Page 1 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -July 22, 2008 A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order by Mayor Gene Maxwell at 6:35 p.m. on July 22, 2008, at the Hopkins City Hall. Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan and Cheryl Youakim were present. City personnel present were City Manager Rick Getschow, City Planner Nancy Anderson and Director of Planning Kersten Elverum. Also present were Linda Flynn, Bob Hatlestad, Tom Jenny, Kathryn Newcomb, Patrick Beddor and Kate Reilly of the Zoning & Planning Commission; and Tom Dobbs of Hay Dobbs. Joint Session with Zoning & Planning Commission Blake Corridor/LRT Station Plans Ms. Elverum noted that in 2005 Blake Corridor became a main issue when police were dealing with a rise in youth problems. Wilder did a study of the area in 2007-2008, which resulted in a list of neighborhood strategies including pedestrian walkways, lighting, and a community area (park or community building). We have received a planning grant from Hennepin County, and a decision on a sidewalk grant has been made, but the city has not yet received word on the vote. We have asked for a Livable Community grant. Hennepin County is now working on a master plan for the LRT areas. Mr. Tom Dobbs said Hay Dobbs is the consultant for both Hopkins' Blake Road Corridor plan and the County LRT plan for 12 stations. Katie Walker is the Hennepin County manager. The LRT portion from St. Louis Park to downtown is not part of the current plan and is at the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) stage. Specific areas to be studied for Blake Road include traffic, streetscape, land use, potential development. The primary lciclcoff for Blake Road Corridor will be in August. In September or October there will be a primary kick-off for the LRT stations. This will concentrate on initiatives and principles to guide further planning, such as market conditions supporting development. Ms. Elverum added the City will be putting information in a special newsletter. Ms. Anderson added letters will be sent to all residents within a 2-block radius of Blake Road from Highway 7 to Highway 3 for the August meeting. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Dobbs said prior decisions (such as station locations) will be set out in the parameters of discussion. Ms. Elverum said staff plans to give information to residents on National Night Out. Answering Ms. Youakim, Ms. Elverum said information in other languages will be posted at all apartment buildings. All information will include instructions for getting individual translations. Mr. Dobbs added the LRT study includes money for outreach; some of that could be used for Blake Road Corridor publicity. He noted having an estimate on the number likely to attend the first meeting would decide the format. Answering Ms. Flynn, Ms. Elverum said the groups identified by the Wilder study will be re-engaged. Mr. Getschow said some topics for the Blalce Corridor that are not as part of this meeting include the police grant for overtime in the area, traffic study, after-school programs for children, and other social service issues. Mayor Maxwell noted it will be important to keep the LRT plan in mind during this work so no Blake Road Corridor plans need to be redone. Ms. Elverum noted there is already a lot of interest; residents are already calling her. Answering Ms. Flynn, Mr. Dobbs said resident input can determine what types of development would go July 22, 2008 Page 2 at each station, such as housing, Parlc & Ride, entertainment, education. Answering Mr. Rowan, he said the affected area is basically i/2 mile around each station, with particular attention to 1/4 mile, which is the "walking district." Ms. Youalcim said she sees the focus for Blake Rd. station area as housing; the Downtown station as entertainment; and Shady Oak station as jobs/commercial. Mr. Dobbs said he is currently getting land ownership information from Hennepin County. Key information includes what Hopkins is willing to do, such as TIF, construction, etc. Does the City have a particular thing they want in a station area, such as a park, school, police substation, etc.? Ms. Elverum noted the City has as a priority a pedestrian connection to Mainstreet from the Downtown station. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Ms. Anderson noted that having TIF available does not mean the City has to grant it to a developer. Ms. Elverum said staff is now trying to determine if a TIF for the Atlas property would generate enough money for Cottageville neighborhood work. Mr. Brausen said he does not see Hopkins buying properties; he feels Blake Road and Shady Oak should be mixed-use. Ms. Elverum noted parking ramps will be a big issue. Mr. Dobbs said "best use" will be a key factor. Ms. Reilly noted that Central Corridor LRT is largely through traditional neighborhoods with mixed- use in place. Mr. Dobbs added that most of the adjoining property had been bought years before by developers thinking LRT would come in the future. Ms. Flynn added we have an advantage in being able to plan ahead of development. Ms. Elverum noted zoning and the ordinances do not match; something needs to be done now, even if it will need to redone later. Mr. Getschow noted the Comp Plan meeting at the Arts Center showed there needs to be a good definition of "mixed use." Mayor Maxwell said Hopkins needs to work with Minnetonka now to plan for Shady Oak; Hopkins owns the land, but the adjoining area in Minnetonka will be highly significant. Ms. Youalcim noted we might want to talk to St. Louis Park on the Blake Road area. Answering Mr. Rowan, Mr. Dobbs said the East End study will be used as a starting point, then changed as needed. Mr. Dobbs said the August meeting will cover only the Blake Corridor. Issues to be discussed will include guidance on city participation, city incentives, public infrastructure, public uses. Answering Ms. Youalcim, he said there will not be different stakeholder meetings, only this one. Multi-Family City Planner Anderson presented a list of multi-family sites in Hopkins, along with photos of each. General Consensus was to keep zoning the same for all properties except the following: Town Terrace: to mixed-use 114, 130 and 134 12th Ave S.; 105, 115, 129-135, 125-127 13t~, Ave. S.: to R-2 It was noted 41 8th Ave. N. may need to be changed in the future. 2008-2009 Goals Mr. Getschow said he has been getting good comments from Board and Commission members, and asked Zoning & Planning Board members to also submit comments by the end of next week as goals will be on an August Council agenda. Mr. Jenny said he is concerned about what Hopkins is doing for residents during these hard economic conditions. Mr. Brausen said that is his concern in trying to keep taxes down. He noted Hopkins can serve as a resource center for information on available services. July 22, 2008 Page 3 Mayor Maxwell asked if Board members had had feedback on eminent domain. Mr. Jenny said he had people tell him the Connections article helped them understand it. At this point Patrick Beddor left. A general discussion on Japs Olson's wish to buy a Hopkins lot for a parking lot was discussed. Ms. Anderson noted this is not a permitted use, and any action will need to before the Commission and the Council. Ms. Elverum noted that they have discussed alternatives with Japs that include parking but also preserve some redevelopment. While members want to help the business as it provides jobs for many residents, it was also felt tax dollars would be lost. General Consensus was to approach St. Louis Parlc on a shared tax plan. Other Rick Brausen had five items: 1. The corner of 11 tl' and 4t1i, where a tree was removed earlier, has tall weeds. Mr. Getschow will have staff take care of it. 2. Diesel tanks newly placed - Mr. Getschow will call tomorrow. He noted state regulations may be an issue. 3. He needs a name tag. 4. Lobbying the state fora 169 exit. Mayor Maxwell noted Mr. Stadler is to report on the initial DOT reaction to the idea. Consensus was to wait for that report before discussion. 5. Editorial in LakeshoNe News. Mr. Getschow said staff is preparing a letter of response. Mr. Getschow had five items: 1. Taxes. The state has set a levy limit of approximately 3.9% for the next three years. If we pass a levy lower than 3.9%, we cannot go above the new levy for that span of time. Between 206-2008 our levy was between 3.9-4.5%. Mayor Maxwell said the city can't go below 3.9% as we don't know what the future economic situation will be. It will be vital to educate the public on what the city has done to get the levy down to 3.9%. Mr. Rowan said he feels disturbed by having to do "what the governor says." Mr. Brausen agreed and suggested the City write a public letter and include the factors that keep us from going below 3.9%, such as health insurance increases, state mandates, etc. Ms. Youalcim added we need to include how we have kept the levy low before so don't need to cut as much as other cities. Mr. Getschow noted some cities will add other levies. The public facilities project under-cost balance is still providing an $80,000 per year help on keeping the levy lower. 2. Next work session. On August 12 Council will meet at the Arches at 6:00, then come to City Hall at 6:30 for the regular work session. He noted the next Council meeting is Monday, August 4 as National Night Out is August 5. 3. NLC. Registrations have been done by staff. Council members are responsible for their own transportation arrangements. 4. National Night Out. Meet here at 5:00. 5. Valley Parlc. The Council received an e-mail regarding a group playing basketball at Valley Park. Mr. Stadler and Mr. Johnson will monitor activity and noise levels. Answering Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Getschow said he will check with police. Mr. Rowan suggested posting a sign "No Profanity Allowed" in parks; Mr. Brausen agreed that was a July 22, 2008 Page 4 good idea. Mayor Maxwell noted the signs would be a Parlc Board issue. Mr. Getschow said staff will call the resident and tell her police will be checking. On motion by Ms. Youalcim and second by Mr. Brausen, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. on a vote of 5-0. Kasey Kester, Secretary COUNCIL MEMBERS: