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08-09-2011 WSPage 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m. The meeting was started at 6:35 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim, Acting City Manager Jim Genellie, Christine Harkess, Finance Director and Peter Boisclair, resident addressing the Domestic Partners Registry Ordinance. New business: Domestic Partners Registration Ordinance Discussion Mr. Genellie discussed the purpose of the Domestic Partners Registration Ordinance. The ordinance would provide an official record of individuals who are domestic partners. Partners register with the City and receive a certificate. This documentation strengthens couples' ability to secure benefits or protections from businesses, hospitals, or other entities, which can rely on a registration certificate for their paperwork needs. The ordinance does not require any business to provide benefits to domestic partners. The ordinance cannot require or establish an expectation that the City of Hopkins would provide benefits to domestic partners. State law limits city benefits to spouses or legal dependents. Council was given examples of registration forms used by other cities. Mr. Boisclair, Hopkins resident, presented his Domestic Partners Registry information and research to the Council, including a list of Hopkins employers that recognize domestic partners. Mr. Boisclair stated that this ordinance would convey a very welcoming and positive stand on civil rights for the city. There was much discussion by Council concerning if co-habitating couples working or living in the community can register, registration is open to both same-sex and opposite -sex couples, renewal of the certificates, termination from the registry, how the registry helps co-habitating couples, registration fees, data privacy and the advantages and disadvantages of the ordinance. Mr. Boisclair explained that the 11 cities currently offering the registry require partners to live in the city or at least one partner to work in the city, that the registry becomes invalid if the partners become married and termination forms are available, that widowed senior citizens can use the registry to maintain their social security benefits and have their relationship recognized, hospitals recognize the certificate as a valid document for visitation rights, registration fees vary from twenty to fifty dollars and the cities he had spoken with felt that there was no threat to data privacy. Regarding data privacy, Mr. Genellie explained that there are options to provide alternative address and phone numbers on the registration forms. Mr. Genellie also stated that the administrative costs of the ordinance will be looked at and fees will cover the costs of registration. Page 2 Council directed Mr. Genellie to have the City Attorney and Police Department review the ordinance and add any additional language with the possibility of adding a renewal time period to the ordinance. Staff will notify Mr. Boisclair when the Domestic Partners Registration Ordinance will be going to the first reading. 2012 City Budget Ms. Harkess, Finance Director, presented the revised 2012 General Fund budget. Ms. Harkess explained the changes to the budget and reasons for the increase in General Fund expenditures of 3.26%, an increase from 2.96%. This results in a tax levy increase of 2.30% down from the 2.43% previously presented. The addition of the electrical inspector, Police Department E911 system upgrades, corresponding revenues, and modifications to individual budgets resulted in these changes. There was discussion about the Electrical inspections. The city receives 25% of the inspection revenues with no other expenses to the city other than a small surcharge going to the state. Council also discussed individual line item increases and Ms. Harkess and Mr. Genellie will get back to Council with additional details and year-to- year comparisons. Council questioned why employee benefits are charged against the individual departments. Ms. Harkess explained that the budget is handled this way due to recommended budget practices and that all cities are doing things the same way therefore allowing the state auditor to do a comparison report. There was much discussion about reviewing of employee positions, job duties & job descriptions, employee compensations and looking into voluntary furloughs. Mr. Genellie and Ms. Harkess will get back to Council how much money the city could possibly save with employee furloughs. Council is concerned about the outlook for next year and feels that the 3.26% budget increase is not acceptable with the economy as it is at this time. Ms. Harkess discussed electric and gas franchise fees. Ms. Harkess stated that Xcel Energy no longer accepts percentage -based fees; fees would now be at a fixed rate. Any increase in the franchise fee rate will be earmarked for capital improvements. There was much discussion about the franchise fee, fee structure, and how it will affect Hopkins residential and commercial/industrial customers. Mr. Genellie explained the franchise fee is collected from institutions that otherwise do not pay property taxes. Ms. Harkess stated that the Franchise Fee needs to be on the September 6th City Council agenda to complete regulatory requirements. Council directed staff to evaluate how much revenue the city actually needs for the Capital Improvement Plan from the Franchise Fees. Page 3 OTHER: • Council member Halverson asked about any inquiries in the BP site on Blake Road. Staff has not heard of anything at this time. • Council concern about the sidewalk condition on the North side of Excelsior Blvd. and East of Blake Road. Staff is investigating. • Council Member Halverson asked about Klodt and the Park Nicollet site. Mr. Genellie said that some information had been received from Klodt and that he will include it in the update. • Concern about weeds by Cambridge Street near the White Castle. Staff will look into it. • Beard Group financing to close on Thursday per staff. • Council concern over the traffic on Cambridge Street due to road construction despite postings and barrier. Staff will inform the Police Department. • Council member Youakim questioned the street reconstruction progress and staff stated it is on schedule and no complaints. • Council expressed concern over a stop sign obstructed at 11 th Ave. N. & 1 St Street N. Staff will inform Public Works. • Mr. Genellie discussed switching the City Council meeting to September 27th at 4:30 pm from September 21 st due to the Sister City Day agenda. • Mayor Maxwell discussed the Ukrainian Sister City Day itinerary on September 27th. • Thursday, August 25 is the city employee picnic • Mr. Genellie will be absent at the City Council meeting on August 16th; Ms. Harkess will be attending in his place. • Mr. Mornson, new City Manager, will be at the Aug 23rd Work Session. With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Rowan and a second by Council member Brausen to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Vold ATTEST: Eugene J. M xwell, Mayor