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02-14-2012 CCPage 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m. The meeting was started at 6:30 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Molly Cummings, Jason Gadd, Kristi Halverson, Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Mornson, Economic Development Director Kirsten Elverum, Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, City Engineer John Bradford, Park Board representatives Tom Jenny & Norman Teigen, Think Hopkins representatives Susan Newville, Kate Amsbaugh, Hillary Feder, Diane Bangerter and Virg Evenstad. New business: Think Hopkins Ms. Beard updated the Council regarding the Think Hopkins campaign. Ms. Beard discussed the history of the Think Hopkins campaign, the branding & marketing strategy, campaign target audiences, and gave a review of the years 2007 through 2011 Think Hopkins campaign developments. Ms. Beard gave an overview of Marketing Committee 2011 budget & in-kind donations. The Marketing Committee 2012 proposals include updating the shopping & dining guide, new promotional items, new billboard design, explore a professional tree lighting service on Mainstreet, help with the Old Fashioned Holidays in Hopkins event and continue with the Mall Of America brochure distribution. Ms. Beard updated the Council on the possible promotional items for 2012 and how the items are distributed to the public. There was much discussion by Council about possible promotional & for sale items, lighting of trees on Mainstreet and the Marketing Committee budget. Ms. Beard acknowledged and thanked the Marketing Committee. Review Park Dedication Fees Mr. Stadler addressed the Council regarding the funding forecast of the Park Improvement Fund. Additional revenues are needed to fund & update park projects or the fund could run out in 2013. Park Board members Tom Jenny & Norman Teigen discussed with Council the options that the Park Board would like to consider for funding the Park Improvement Fund. Funding options include increasing Park Dedication fees, a Park Renewal Referendum or supplementing the Park Dedication Fees from the General Fund. Mr. Stadler discussed the Park Dedication Fees throughout the metropolitan area in comparison to Hopkins. Currently Hopkins residential fees are considered low and the commercial fee is comparable to other cities. The Park Board members discussed with Council the possibility of surveying residents regarding a possible Park Improvement Referendum Levy, what the financial expectations for park improvements are and the difficulty working with fees that come in sporadically. There was much discussion by Council about being sensitive to fee increases, surveying residents about park improvements & what they are willing to support, re- evaluating the playground equipment rather than replacing, informing residents Page 2 about the Park Dedication Fee, other possible funding sources & grants for parks, the need for a consistent, stable funding source that is connected to the community, fee analysis discussion, neighborhood investment in the community park, what other cities are doing with dwindling Park Dedication Fees and naming rights or park sponsorship. The Park Board & staff will continue to explore funding options, formulating survey questions and evaluate the overall fee analysis. Cottageville Park/Met Council Lift Station at Oakes Park Mr. Bradford addressed the Council regarding the Met Council's desire to relocate their old & out-of-date lift station on the corner of Blake Road and Lake Street to the northwest corner of Oakes Park. Mr. Bradford explained that in exchange for this land, Met Council was to purchase the two duplexes at 431 and 435 Blake Road that block access to Cottageville Park from Blake Road, and deed them to the City. The Met Council has reached an agreement with 435 Blake Road but 431 Blake Road rejected the offer. The Met Council will need to upgrade the force main with the new lift station, which will require roadway reconstruction. The force main work in this area is in the Hopkins CIP for 2013 or 2014 and the street would need to be reconstructed at that time. The Met Council would like to consider enhanced restoration of this roadway in exchange for their failure to acquire 431 Blake Road. The City could possibly use the savings from not having to reconstruct this roadway to fund a possible purchase of 431 Blake Road in the future. Mr. Stadler discussed with Council what options the Park Board looked at prior to selecting the location for the new lift station. The site plan will be refined and a meeting will be scheduled with neighborhood residents. There was much discussion by Council about the lift station design, demolition of the old lift station & options for the site, possible 431 Blake Road acquisition, the street reconstruction and the public process for the Cottageville Park design. Mr. Bradford anticipates presenting a final agreement with Met Council at the March 20, 2012 Council Meeting. Appointees for SWLRT Community Advisory Committee and Business Advisory Ms. Elverum addressed Council regarding the preliminary design & timetable for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project. The Metropolitan Council is planning on expanding the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The City of Hopkins has been asked to re -appoint three representatives and three alternates to the CAC, representing the three proposed station areas. Ms. Elverum identified some possible representatives for the CAC and asked for Council for their suggestions of committee members who have an interest in transit and availability to commit to the meetings. There was much discussion by Council of possible CAC candidates. The appointments need to be made by March 5, 2012. Page 3 Ms. Beard and Ms. Elverum discussed with Council the social service agencies funded by CDBG monies. Ms. Elverum updated the Council on the history of the agencies funded by CDBG. Teens Alone has recently made a request for funds. There was much discussion by Council about the agencies funded, criteria for funding, CDBG policy, possibly having department budgets fund social service agencies that are important to their department and CDBG monies shrinking. Council suggests that staff and Council revisit the policy and the criteria for funding agencies out of CDBG funds to clarify the decisions of funding various organizations. Handicap Parking Central Business District Mr. Stadler updated the Council about a request for two on -street handicap parking spots by a new business owner on Mainstreet that provides mobility equipment. Mr. Stadler initially denied the request due to no city policy or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement to provide handicap parking on city streets. Mr. Stadler discussed the map showing where handicap parking is provided in the downtown Hopkins area. There was much discussion by Council about giving businesses every opportunity to succeed, assuring that Main Street is accessible to the disabled and the aging population, what other cities offer, number of general parking spots, charging a minimal fee to the business owner for the handicap parking spot, handicap parking time limits and that the handicap parking spots are directly related to the use of the business & should be a per business decision and if the business leaves the handicap parking spots could be removed. Staff will review a past parking study, check on state statutes regarding handicap parking time limits and inform the business owner that two handicap parking spots can be installed in the proposed location. OTHER: Ms. Elverum will keep Council updated on the Jack Yees property • Staff is still waiting on the Klodt development agreement • Council discussed the Yellow Ribbon Project and possible service organization involvement. Council Member Youakim update Council on the Petroleum Association policy regarding drive offs at gas stations Belgrove monument sign at County Rd 73 & Minnetonka Blvd is misspelled per a resident complaint. The sign was installed by Hennepin County. Staff is investigating web casting of City Council meetings Ms. Cummings gave an update on Public Landfill meeting held on February 13, 2012. Mr. Mornson gave an update on the following items: o Finance Department received the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Award o Review of the City of Hopkins 2011 Annual Report o State Senator Latz & State Representative Simon will present updates at March 6, 2012 City Council Meeting Page 4 o Shady Oak Road meeting & future press statements update o Engaging Raspberry Renters: Creekwood Apartments o State of the City Event update Council reviewed the program they will be presenting at the State of the City Event on February 28, 2012 With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Cummings and a second by Council member Gadd to adjourn the meeting at 10:11 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Vold CVY UN IL ATTEST: , Eugene J. M xwell, Mayor