01-25-2011 WSPage 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:35 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council
members Kristi Halverson, Cheryl Youakim, Bruce Rowan, Hopkins City Manager Rick
Getschow, Community Services Director Jim Genellie, and City Engineer John
Bradford.
Cable Franchise Update:
Mr. Genellie stated that the current cable franchise with Comcast expires on
December 31, 2011. The five cities that form the Southwest Suburban Cable
Commission (SWSCC) have begun negotiations on a new franchise with Comcast.
Mr. Genellie stated that a cable franchise is required for a cable company to
operate in Minnesota. The franchise deals with subjects such as construction
standards and maintenance; system performance; customer service; and public,
education and government (PEG) access. The franchise does not give cities the
ability to control rates or channel alignments.
Mr. Genellie stated that the SWSCC has proposed a new franchise agreement
which is very similar to the existing franchise. It would preserve franchise fees, which
are payments to the cities for the use of the right-of-way. It would also preserve the
PEG access channels, which are currently channels 14, 15, 16, and 17.
Mr. Genellie stated that the proposed franchise agreement would reallocate PEG
access fees away from supporting the Eden Prairie studio. The access fees would
instead be directed to the five cities. The cities in turn would have to use this money
to support communication activities, which could include equipment purchases and
upgrades.
He stated that Hopkins, for example, could use this money to automate playback on
the government channel. Comcast would no longer have to schedule our meeting
playbacks. Other digital programming could also be added. In addition, these funds
could support video streaming of our public meetings on our website.
Mr. Genellie stated that the SWSCC commissioned a report on PEG activities. The
report indicates that the current studio, which is located in Eden Prairie, is not being
used very much. He stated that there are a couple of shows that originate from
there but stated more and more PEG programming is done with inexpensive digital
equipment. The report also indicated that the five cities have equipment needs
Page 2
which those needs have to be addressed if the cities are to continue to originate
programming.
Mr. Genellie stated that the draft franchise also has a provision to ensure that the
public can continue to submit programming for the public access channel. The
report envisions that in the future this would be done electronically.
Comcast has not yet responded to the Commission's proposal.
2011 Sidewalk Improvements:
Mr. Bradford stated that on January 4, 2011 there was a Public Hearing for this
project. A number of residents objected to the completion of the sidewalk along
14th Avenue from Maetzold Field to 4th Street North. During the course of the
discussion, the residents expressed a desire for a sidewalk along 4th Street North from
12th Avenue North to 17th Avenue North.
Mr. Bradford stated that sidewalks have multiple purposes from a public policy
perspective. The most commonly noted is a public safety benefit by limiting
pedestrian/automobile interactions. Another common purpose is to provide a
comfortable pedestrian way to and from specific destinations such as parks and
commercial areas. A third purpose is through the use of sidewalks as public
gathering spaces. That is, in neighborhoods where sidewalks are present, more
residents are using them, meeting and talking with their neighbors. This promotes
stronger neighborhoods and is a crime deterrent.
Mr. Bradford stated that with the Councils adoption of the goal for a
livable/walkable community and the complete streets policy, it has been our
understanding that public safety and destination oriented sidewalks are a higher
priority than general sidewalks on every street.
Mr. Bradford stated that staff recognizes that it is generally difficult to gain public
support for sidewalk installations. Adjacent residents easily see the perceived loss of
property and increased snow shoveling, while the benefits noted above can be
more difficult to communicate. Adding to the difficulty, pedestrian advocates tend
to be very active during seminars and general discussions, but are not present at
public hearings and project specific discussions with residents upset by a change in
front of their house.
In addition, as highlighted below, the proposed sidewalks add approximately
$105,000 to the project. All of this cost would be borne by the City. Because
sidewalk construction does not need the types of heavy equipment used in street
reconstruction, the cost difference in completing the sidewalk as a standalone
project would be small.
Page 3
14th Avenue Sidewalk
Mr. Bradford stated that the cities proposal for completing the 14th Avenue Sidewalk
began with noting the partial sidewalks already in place and the destinations of
Maetzold Field and the Regional Trail. He stated that the west side of 14th Avenue is
missing a segment of sidewalk from the Regional Trail to 3rd Street North. The east
side is missing sidewalk in front of residential property from the trail to 3rd Street North
and from halfway up the block to 4th Street North. The remaining portion of sidewalk
is adjacent to Maetzold Field.
The cost of completing this sidewalk is estimated at $45,000 in the feasibility report
4th Street North Sidewalk
Mr. Bradford stated that the city is proposing that the sidewalk be on one side of the
street only. Additionally, the sidewalk changes sides of the street at 14th Avenue. He
stated that in an ideal world the city would propose a sidewalk on both sides for the
entire length.
Mr. Bradford stated that they have examined constructing sidewalk along 4th Street
North between 12th and 17th Avenues. There are many challenges with this
construction, including landscaped boulevard areas and short building setbacks.
He stated that the proposal is that the sidewalk be on the north side of the street
only.
Mr. Bradford stated that the reason for the design compromise is that there are a
number of houses on the south side of the street that are so close to the right-of-way
line that the impact of the sidewalk would be great. The north side also has
significant challenges in that between 12th and 14th Avenues, the north side has
heavy landscaping in the boulevard.
Mr. Bradford stated that the installation of this sidewalk is primarily necessitated by
the traffic on 4th Street North and the large number of pedestrians. The retail
destinations at 17th Avenue appear to be a significant draw. The Alice Smith School
is also located at the eastern end of 41h Street North.
Mr. Bradford stated that the construction of this sidewalk would make the 14th
Avenue sidewalk more of a destination walk to Maetzold Field.
There was a great deal of discussion and a suggestion was made to host a
neighborhood meeting to discuss the construction of both sidewalk segments.
Page 4
OTHER:
City Manager Getschow stated that they are in the process of interviewing
candidates for the Center for the Arts leadership role.
City Manager Getschow had a discussion with the Mayor and Council on
the plans for the State of the City.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Cheryl Youakim and a
second by Bruce Rowan to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m.
Debbie Sperling, Secretary
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor