08-12-2008 WSAugust 12, 2008
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION -August 12, 2008
A work session of the Hopkins City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on
August 12, 2008, at the 2"d Street Station (Hopkins Arches) for the purpose of the owner
providing a tour of the building for the City Council. The meeting reconvened at
Hopkins City Hall at 7:30 p.m. Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce
Rowan and Cheryl Youakim were present. Mayor Maxwell arrived at City Hall at 7:45.
City personnel present were City Manager Riclc Getschow, City Engineer John Bradford,
Public Worlcs Director Steve Stadler, and Finance Director Christine Harlcess. Also
present was Kevin Bigallce of the Watershed District.
Nine Mile Creek
Mr. Bigallce said since his presentation to the Council a year ago, planning,
feasibility studies and designing were done with staff and consultants. Those designs are
now going through a 30-day agency review and comment period. There will be a public
hearing at City Hall September 10. There have already been 3 informational meetings,
where there were no negative comments. From the headwaters at Excelsior Blvd. to 9t''
Ave. work will concentrate on preventing erosion and cultivating a natural appearance.
Riprap will be used up to the 2-year storm event level (3-4 feet). Some box elder,
buckthorn and cottonwood trees may be removed to allow sunlight through for the
vegetation. The 5th St. culvert will be replaced. From 9th Ave. to Highway 169 the goal
is to re-create a normal stream pattern and bring it further east into Valley Park. Later he
added that a cistern with a pipe will be installed for the community gardens so residents
will have a water supply. The District met with DNR and Army Corps of Engineers to
discuss larger ponds to treat 400 more acres and was told that would require wetland
mitigation. The ponds will be re-evaluated; they may just add a channel. An Eagle Scout
is building an information kiosk for the parking lot at 9th Ave. Besides trail information,
there will be space for Hopkins information. Ms. Youakim suggested having
informational signs along the trail on vegetation, reasons for ponds, etc. Mr. Bigallce said
that was a good idea, but would not need to be in the plan itself. The District is also
working with Three Rivers Park District. The Watershed District will build an aggregate
base for the trail to 7t'' St., which the Parlc District will pave.
A project permit must be obtained from the Army Corps. This will take 120 days
to 11 months. Bids will be advertised in November and awarded in December. February
would be the earliest start date possible, but it may well be November or December 2009.
Answering Council questions, he said a firm frost line determines if winter work
will be possible. Land acquisition is mostly extensions of easements; Mr. Bradford
added there have been no serious problems so far, and Three Rivers has agreed to pay
part of the costs. Mr. Stadler noted there will be some temporary bike lanes on roads
while work is being done. Mr. Bigalke said the cost structure is: (1) mitigation paid by
Watershed; (2) land acquisition, Hopkins, 75%, Watershed, 25%; (3) trail crossing work,
District and Hopkins each 50%. Total cost will be $31/a-4 million, with Hopkins' share
being $150,000-$250,000. Mr. Bradford noted the CIP had the culvert replacement at
$550,000. Answering further questions, Mr. Bradford said no decision has yet been
made on where to store the dug-out dirt from new channels; unused park land is a
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possibility. The dirt would be seeded and mulched. Maintenance costs will be split
50/50 with the City. This work would be mostly removal of dead trees, etc., not a regular
annual cost. Mr. Stadler noted this plan was designed so regular maintenance would not
be needed.
A resolution should be passed at the next Council meeting supporting the project.
Mr. Bradford will do a presentation. Three Rivers will be at the Sept. 10 public hearing,
as well as the Watershed District and Hopkins.
ERP Review
Finance Director Christine Harkess highlighted changes made from last year's
ERP. These included:
City Hall: Election booths added at $6,400.
Fire: Quick attack pumper substituted for the lite rescue truck for 2012 at
$235,000. The heavy rescue truck and Pirsch pumper were eliminated, saving over
$1,000,000. The vehicle rotation has been changed. General consensus was Council
would like more information on these and the Fitness Center equipment changes.
Police: The 4x4 vehicle replacement has been moved back to 2014. Digital
squad car cameras costs for 2011 were left the same and the mobile data computers
replacement costs for 2012 were increased to $62,700. Mr. Getschow noted the cameras
have proved invaluable handling complaints and in court cases. Replacement costs for
the police computer system has been reduced to $400,000. This is the Auto-Cad system
and the actual cost is an unknown factor.
Cable TV: All items moved to the CIP.
Activity Center: A refrigerator moved from 2013 to 2010 due to maintenance
issues.
Public Works: Lives of 1-ton trucks and dump trucks have been extended. Water
truck scheduled for 2010 changed to partial replacements in 2010 and 2017, with a new
truck in 2039. 2009 replacement cost for aerial lift vehicle increased to $130,000. One
806 tractor changed to 30-year life and moved to 2014. Answering Council questions,
Mr. Stadler said he knows the new building saves maintenance costs on equipment, but
has no hard data. Used equipment is sold at a state auction; Ms. Harkess added it has
brought $10,000 annual income the past couple years. Mr. Getschow noted the fire
ladder truck purchase has made the ERP more challenging to balance this year; Ms.
Harkess added the lease payments are estimates.
The ERP will be discussed again at the next work session and be considered for
approval at the Sept. 2 Council meeting.
2009 Budget
Ms. Harkess said she just received notification of the levy limit amount, which is
$8,260,614 for the general fund. There is still work to be done to meet the Council's goal
of 3.9% levy increase. There are no increases in personnel. PT salaries for Records
Management has been reduced due to Tree Trust volunteers. There are no program
expansions. She handed out a 5-page memo detailing things staff has done to cut costs.
Some capital requests have already been denied; some from Public Works are still
pending. She feels Parlc requests cannot be approved; they may be able to use Park Fund
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money. She said the budget is hampered by health cost increases of at least 16% and fuel
cost increases of more than 20%.
Mr. Brausen commented he would like the public to be informed about health cost
increases. Mr. Getschow said he will get the Police Department summary of fuel cost
savings to Council members. Ms. Harlsess noted oil price increases also increase
bituminous costs. Permit income is down; we have received the fees for Opus 2 and 3
this year, but must budget for inspection costs next year out of that. Answering Mayor
Maxwell, she said she has not yet received tax capacity figures from the County.
Other
Rick Brausen said while the work done on the Second Street Station (the Arches)
is definitely an improvement, he did have some concerns. He was also concerned about
the paint chips near the property from the power washing. He asked what permit was
issued; Mr. Getschow will check.
Ms. Youakim asked if houses are inspected by the City before they are sold. Mr.
Getschow said they are.
Mr. Rowan said he doesn't disagree with Mr. Brausen's comments on the Arches,
but he got the impression the owner is trying to attract "higher scale" renters. He thinks
with LRT coming, it will probably be redeveloped. Mayor Maxwell said he was
surprised the rent didn't go up more. Mr. Rowan will be out on Sept. 16.
Ms. Halverson asked if there will be an open house at Cargill. Mr. Getschow said
there will be aribbon-cutting in September. He will get more information.
Ms. Youakim asked about power-washing permits. Mr. Brausen said lead paint is
an issue in Minneapolis. It may be something for the Council to consider. She asked
about a tour of L.A. Fitness. Mayor Maxwell felt it may be open for tours during the
grand opening. She would like awalk-through of 9-Mile Creels.
Mr. Getschow had 8 items:
1. Work is being done on a lease with Zion Lutheran for Burnes Park parking. They
mentioned they would like a second exit from their lot. General consensus was that
should not be allowed.
2. The picnic is on Thursday. Those who are helping should try to be there at 5:00.
3. The Depot will have a 10th anniversary celebration Sept. 13. It will include an
auction and dinner. Fran Hesch is working on an agreement between Hopkins and Depot
Express, LLC.
4. He had information on the burglaries in north Hopkins put on the web site.
5. The mayor and he had met with charitable gambling groups this week to discuss
their operations.
6. Staff has talked to Minnetonka about the Shady Oals project. They do not have
the $3 million to close the gap either. A letter from both cities is being discussed.
7. HBCA will meet Thursday. He is the main speaker.
8. Kasey Kester is resigning as work session secretary due to health issues. The
Council expressed thanks for the work she has done.
On motion by Ms. Halverson and second by Ms. Youakim, the meeting adjourned
at 10:05 p.m. on a vote of 5-0.
August 12, 2008
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Kasey Kester, Secretary
ATTEST:
~~~~
Eugene . Ma ell, Mayor