08-23-2011 WSPage 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:36 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council
members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim, City Manager
Mike Mornson, Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie, Police Chief Mike Reynolds,
Police Captain Tony Hanlin, City Attorney Jason Hutchison and Finance Director
Christine Harkess.
New business:
Social Host Ordinance Discussion
Chief Reynolds presented information to the Council on the proposed Social Host
Ordinance. The City of Hopkins currently partners with One Voice for reducing youth
chemical use. Three neighboring cities already have an ordinance in place with a
total of 76 Social Host Ordinances in Minnesota. The state statute threshold makes it
extremely difficult to prosecute adults who may be furnishing or providing a place
for youth to consume alcohol illegally. The proposed ordinance on social hosts gives
the police another tool to use to hold adults accountable who are hosting parties
where our youth are consuming alcohol and other controlled substances.
Captain Hanlin presented information about the research and background
information on Social Host Ordinances. Mr. Hutchinson, City Attorney, gave
examples to the Council about different situations the Social Host Ordinance could
be enforced adding that under existing law there are no consequences for the
property owners supplying the alcohol. There was much discussion by Council about
the different situations & circumstances when the ordinance would be enforced,
police department responsibilities, the importance of educating the public about
the Social Host Ordinance, party hosting responsibilities & consequences, what hosts
should do if they find themselves in a bad situation and the language in the
ordinance and whether the language could be made stronger.
Chief Reynolds and Captain Hanlin support the Social Host Ordinance and believe it
will benefit the city. Chief Reynolds stated the Police Department's goal is
prevention of situations and to educate the public, parents & youth so the Police
Department does not have to enforce the Social Host Ordinance.
The Council, Police Chief and City Attorney will continue to discuss the language in
the ordinance and the City Attorney will provide the Council with more information
on cases that have already been prosecuted before the first reading of the
ordinance on September 6th. The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for
September 27th.
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2012 City Budget
Ms. Harkess, Finance Director, presented the revised 2012 General Fund budget to
the Council. Reworking salary numbers as well as savings from employees currently
deployed and off the payroll therefore reducing the budget increase down to 2.140
from 3.26 has modified the General Fund budget. The adjustments to the
expenditure budget translate into a tax levy increase of 2.07%, down from 2.3% at
the last budget review. There was much discussion by Council about the Market
Value Homestead Credit and how it could affect the city of Hopkins, possible one -
day employee furloughs, reviewing current open staff positions, what other cities are
doing regarding salary increases and possible ways to reduce the budget further.
Council's direction to staff regarding the preliminary budget and preliminary levy is
to continue to look for ways to get the budget below a 2% increase and the levy
lower than 2.07% once the numbers from Hennepin County are in.
Ms. Harkess, Finance Director, presented the revised Franchise Fees structure to the
Council. Ms. Harkess reviewed the scheduled capital improvements for the next 5
years and the related revenue sources. Any increase in the franchise fees would be
used to fund the capital improvements for the city's infrastructure and the fees
would be spread out to all properties including those not paying property taxes. Ms.
Harkess reviewed three different franchise fee increase scenarios for consideration
by the Council. There was much discussion about the increase to residential
customers, comparisons to other cities and alternatives to fund the infrastructure
such as increasing water & sewer rates. Ms. Harkess will put together some additional
franchise fee scenarios in the council update this week. The franchise fee is
scheduled on the City Council agenda for first reading on September 6th and the
ordinance would need to be approved at September 27th Council meeting to
complete utility regulatory requirements.
OTHER:
• Council member Brausen felt that staff should review the upcoming open staff
position at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
• Council asked about any developments with the Klodt, Inc. Park Nicollet site; Mr.
Mornson stated he would be meeting with Community Development staff this
week.
• Council member Youakim shared information about the Market Value Homestead
Credit.
• City Employee Picnic is on Thursday, August 25 at Valley Park.
• Mayor Maxwell noted that utility wires appear to be hanging low at Hilltop Park;
staff will investigate.
• Council asked about the status of the Cottageville Park and Watershed District
meeting, staff would inform Council with any further information.
• Mr. Mornson is meeting with Blake School next week regarding the possible
redevelopment of homes that the school owns.
• Mr. Mornson presented the Council with his list of current issues and priorities.
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With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Brausen
and a second by Council member Rowen to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
AT E
EugenorJ. Waxwell, Mayor