01-15-2013 WSMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Raspberry Room — 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was started at 6:31 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Molly
Cummings, Jason Gadd, Kristi Halverson, Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Mornson, Director
of Planning & Economic Development Kersten Elverum, Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie, City
Clerk Kris Luedke, Tim Tuttle & Mike Tuttle of Tuttle's Eat Bowl Play, Pete Colarich of Hopkins
Jaycees, Susie Normandin of Hopkins Raspberry Festival, Bill Stump of Hopkins American Legion,
Angela Quale of Hopkins Youth Hockey, Bob Byer of Mainstreet Bar & Grill and Metro Transit
representative Steve Mahowald.
New business:
Charitable Gambling Discussion
Ms. Luedke gave an overview of the City's policy for lawful gambling and the request that the
policy be amended so local organizations would be permitted to conduct electronic bingo where
they currently are licensed to conduct pull -tabs sales. Currently, section 2.06 states that the
organization where the bingo is being operated must own the premise. Ms. Luedke gave an
overview of the electronic bingo rules and limitation of hand-held electronic devices depending on
the size of the establishment. Mr. Genellie discussed the difference between traditional bingo and
electronic bingo.
The charitable gambling organization representatives discussed with the Council the benefits of
offering electronic bingo to patrons, the fear of losing business to surrounding communities if
unable to offer electronic bingo, the number of devices that can be used for pull tabs and electronic
bingo at any one time, electronic devices are leased and that the state receives a percentage based on
revenue.
Mr. Genellie explained regulations 2.05 and 2.06 of the Lawful Gambling Policy. The regulations
were put in place to ensure that a good amount of gambling proceeds would remain in Hopkins and
to prevent stand-alone bingo halls in Hopkins.
There was much Council discussion about what other cities are doing, assuring a level playing field
for area charitable organizations, organizations who own their building can continue to hold
traditional paper bingo events, state ordinances and the slow start to electronic pull tabs.
Council directed staff to rewrite the policy and have it reviewed by the City Attorney. The wording
changes to the policy will include that paper bingo will only be allowed at establishments that own
their building and that organizations that currently have paper pull tabs will be allowed to offer
electronic pull tabs and electronic bingo. The Charitable Organizations will have an opportunity to
review the proposed wording prior to the policy change. The policy change will need a resolution
but will go into effect after the first reading. Electronic Bingo is still not out yet so Council wants to
have enough time to thoroughly review the policy before it goes to the first reading at a City
Council meeting in March.
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Met Transit Bus Route Changes
Mr. Steve Mahowald, Senior Planner Metro Transit, gave an overview of Metro Transit Bus Route
changes. A significant budget shortfall prompted the review of potential service reductions. Metro
Transit identified five express routes as areas for consolidation. Mr. Mahowald gave an overview
of the areas, which included low productivity, areas of overlap and pockets of high boarding at
park -rides. The staff level plan is to consolidate five express routes into three. Mr. Mahowald gave
an overview of the current routes in the Western suburbs, total number of passenger boarding's at
the stops and rides by trip time. Currently all the proposed eliminated routes will be in Minnetonka
and express routes in Hopkins will remain whole. Metro Transit will work with city staff to find a
bus layover area for the bus pick up at County Road 73 and Highway 7. Mr. Mahowald reviewed
the next steps that include public hearings in April, review of comments, revise plan as necessary,
and seek Met Council approval in May with implementation in August 2013.
There was much Council discussion regarding trip times, rider input, restructuring routes once
SouthWest Light Rail Transit arrives, collection of express route data timeframe was September
2012 through December 2012, no changes under consideration for regular routes and notification of
changes to bus riders.
Council directed staff to include the Metro Transit Bus Route Change public hearing announcement
on the city website, Hopkins Highlights and local media sources. Unless there are major changes to
the bus routes, Metro Transit does not need to come before Council but ask that they keep city staff
informed. Ms. Elverum will keep Council updated.
Survey Discussion
Mr. Genellie gave an overview of the Hopkins residential survey and discussed with the Council
topics that they would like to see covered in the 2013 survey.
Council question suggestions:
• Park funding or Park Referendum question and important to make sure residents understand how
parks are funded.
• Questions # 32 & 33: re -phrase
• Questions #9-24: would like to see more open ended questions about housing products and what
kind of housing would enable residents to stay in the City of Hopkins as they age.
• Question #55: consider eliminating question because not hiring additional police staff at this time
• Question #78 or #79: consider eliminating questions because can acquire those statistics.
• Questions about SWLRT: level of excitement and knowledge of project. Staff will explore
possible Light Rail Transit questions.
• Add Hopkins Patch to the media question.
• Questions #102 & 103: re -phrase asking what is the normal way of getting information and
finding out about city events.
• Add a social media question.
• What events do you attend and how do you make decisions to attend events.
• Add a question about web streaming of City Council meetings.
• Animal control question is a way to benchmark if there is a problem or the same from 5 years ago.
• Trails and bikeways: rephrase the question and include walk ability/connectivity of sidewalks.
• Question #2: re -phrase to say what do you like least instead of most? Or what can be improved.
• Question #51: regarding fee on brush pick up, staff will discuss with Public Works Director.
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There was much Council discussion about the cost of $115 per question on the survey, importance
of a reasonable length survey that residents are willing to take, similar questions from previous
survey is important for benchmarks, certain questions will inform residents what is happening in the
City and informing residents through the media of the upcoming residential survey. The Council
discussed the goals of the survey to be a comparison, benchmark, trend how doing as a city, that the
Council is on the same track as citizens, marketing for the City of Hopkins, customer satisfaction,
useful information and to show areas that need to be addressed.
Staff will discuss the questions with Decision Resources. Any other questions that Council would
like to see included can be sent to Jim Genellie. A first draft of the survey will be reviewed with
Council.
Other
• Council Member Youakim may be late for the Tuesday, January 22nd City Council meeting.
• Council Member Gadd will be absent from the January 29th Work Session.
• State of the City practice session will be on Tuesday, February 5f'.
• Installation of security cameras by Hennepin County in the parking ramp will take place once they
have someone to monitor the system.
• Mayor and City Manager have been invited to a meeting on January 31 regarding possible changes
to the Watershed Districts.
• Empty Bowls Kick-off Event on January 29, 5:30 pm at Eisenhower Community Center.
• Hopkins Center for the Arts Director, Amanda Birnstengl, will not be coming back and staff
reorganization will include two Co -Directors that are currently on board along with the hiring of a
20-hour/week Administrative Assistant.
• 2013 Goal setting meeting at the Hopkins Fire Station on Friday, January 18 at 9 am.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Youakim and a second
by Council member Gadd to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
ATTEST:
Eugene,PMax6ell, Mayor