09-10-2013 WSMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Fire Department — 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 and Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Mornson,
Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Director of Economic Development and Planning Kersten
Elverum, Community Development Coordinator Meg Beekman, Fire Chief Dale Specken and
Assistant Fire Chief Curt Mackey.
New business:
SWLRT Update
Ms. Elverum updated the Council on the SWLRT Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF)
and pending vote by the SW LRT Corridor Management Committee (CMC) on the location
selection. Hopkins staff wanted to provide additional information to Council prior to formulating
a position regarding the possible Hopkins OMF location. Ms. Elverum gave an overview of the
properties impacted by an OMF in Hopkins, tax base loss and surface parking, structure parking
& redevelopment potential at the Shady Oak Station. Ms. Elverum discussed the strengths and
weaknesses of the Hopkins OMF site but staff is concerned that the CMC has not taken into
consideration the financial impact on the City of Hopkins. Ms. Beekman presented a comparison
of fiscal impacts of the proposed OMF site on suburban SWLRT cities. Hopkins approximate
total loss is $16.3 million in assessed land value and taxes paid. Staff is concerned about the
significant loss to the tax base and how the city can make up the loss in tax revenue.
There was much Council discussion regarding one community taking a significant tax base loss,
the CMC not understanding that Hopkins is not in a position to absorb the loss to the tax base
and no commitment to the betterment requests. Council discussed the loss of jobs, possible joint
redevelopment, future structure parking & funding at the Shady Oak Station, is it a realistic
possibility that the excess property will be able to be put into productive reuse and the option of
accepting payment for loss of tax revenue.
Staff is recommending the following statement to the CMC: The City of Hopkins does not want
the OMF due to the business impact and tax base loss and the SPO has no recommendations
regarding how to mitigate these two issues. As a result, the City of Hopkins does not support the
OMF in Hopkins.
There was much Council discussion regarding the statement. Council expressed concerned about
the substantial job loss in Hopkins despite the OMF bringing in 150 jobs. There was Council
discussion about the $500,000 savings by locating the OMF in Hopkins, which could be used
towards a payment of $130,000/year to make up the loss of Hopkins tax revenue. Council was
concerned that redevelopment would not happen next to the OMF, that the OMF is displacing
good businesses and leaving blighted buildings, the challenge & importance of keeping
businesses in the community, a buffer and infrastructure around the OMF. The Council
consensus is that Hopkins is bearing more burden than the other cities along the SW LRT. There
was discussion regarding adding contingencies to the Municipal Consent, possibility of losing a
station location and that Hopkins needs to be made whole. Staff discussed the station locations
and feels each station serves a need and will not be cut.
Council consensus is that Hopkins is not recouping what they are losing with the OMF, that the
burdens and benefits need to balance better and that the statement to the CMC needs to be strong.
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Council is recommending the following additions (underlined) to the statement to the CMC: The
City of Hopkins does not want the OMF due to the business impact, tax base loss and job loss
and the SPO has no recommendations regarding how to mitigate these three issues. As a result,
the City of Hopkins does not accept the OMF in Hopkins.
Councilmember Youakim will read the statement at the September 11, 2013 meeting and Ms.
Elverum will discuss what Hopkins is losing in comparison to other cities and share why the City
of Hopkins has come to this conclusion.
There was discussion regarding SWLRT editorial letter.
Fire Department Long Term Plan
Chief Specken gave an overview of the Hopkins Fire Department (HFD) Long Term Plan. Chief
Specken gave an overview of the history of the HFD and current status of HFD accomplishments
& grants. Chief Specken discussed with the Council the difficulty in keeping and finding quality
firefighters, hiring costs, costs of equipping a firefighter and the 5 -year commitment needed to
recoup costs. Chief Specken reviewed the duty crew hours, call statistics, fire inspection
procedure and succession planning of officers. Chief Specken reviewed with Council possible
future options of adding HFD firefighters & duty crew and the costs involved.
• The HFD would maintain what currently doing of daytime duty crew and adding a weekend
duty crew for approximate cost of $80,000/year.
• The HFD would give up all daytime medicals, respond to medicals during day when Police
Department unavailable and maintain a Friday and Saturday night duty crews for approximate
cost of $21,440/year.
• Add four part-time firefighters for approximate cost of $64,539/year.
• Add a 24-hour duty crew for $250,000/year but this option not well received by current staff.
• Add two full-time staff at $50,000/year with benefits to respond to all daytime calls with
option of increasing inspections for additional revenue.
There was much Council discussion regarding increasing inspections only for a change of
occupancy not to generate revenue, types of calls and how employers how handle firefighters
leaving jobs to respond to calls. There was discussion regarding the increasing number of
medical calls to the care facilities. Staff will investigate options of insurance or agency payments
to help defray the cost of medical calls. Chief Specken and Assistant Chief Mackey discussed the
succession possibilities of officers moving into leadership roles, surrounding fire departments
using full-time and 24-hour duty crews, pay structure, average turnover rate of approximately
three officers per year and the recruitment of experienced firefighters. Chief Specken is looking
ahead one year to start making possible staff additions to the HFD. Council stressed the
importance of educating and promoting the services of the HFD to Hopkins citizens. Council
will review the HFD Long Term Plan for future discussion.
Emergency Operations Procedure Discussion
Chief Specken gave an overview of the Emergency Operations Plan that needs to be reviewed
and revised every two to three years. Chief Specken gave an overview of the basic plan and next
steps. City of Hopkins department heads and Hennepin County Emergency Management will
review the plan and then Chief Specken will bring the plan back to Council at a future meeting
for approval.
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There was much Council discussion regarding upcoming drills, CERT team and Councilmember
roles during an emergency operation. Council will review the plan and Chief Specken urged the
Council to call or email with any questions.
Other
• Ms. Beekman updated the Council on the PPL project neighborhood meeting. Approximately
30 residents attended. The two main concerns were parking and increase in traffic. PPL staff
will investigate a designated drop- off location on the alley side of the project.
• Watershed Gala scheduled for October 17, 2013.
• Mr. Mornson updated the Council on the street project contingency funds. Approximately
$200,000 in remaining contingency funds will be used for the next year's street project.
• Discussion of the Hopkins Jaycees Casino night gift bags provided by HBCA.
• The e -cigarette business owner would like to discuss with Council why sampling is necessary
for the business to survive. Council consensus is to tighten up ordinance regulating e -cigarettes.
• Discussion regarding Tuttle's considering opening a brewpub in Hopkins and the food ratio.
With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Gadd and a second
by Council member Youakim to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Vold
ATTEST:
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Eugene J. NraxwI5111, Mayor Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk