03 14 22 City Council MinutesNew Hope City Council March 14, 2022
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City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
City Council Minutes March 14, 2022
Regular Meeting City Hall, 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER The New Hope City Council met in regular session pursuant to due call and notice
thereof; Mayor Hemken called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
The City Council and all present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Council present:
Staff present:
Kathi Hemken, Mayor
John Elder, Council Member
Andy Hoffe, Council Member
Michael Isenberg, Council Member
Jonathan London, Council Member
Kirk McDonald, City Manager
Dan Boyum, City Engineer
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Susan Rader, Director of Parks & Recreation
Aaron Thelen, Recreation Supervisor
Bernie Weber, Director of Public Works
Stacy Woods, City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Motion was made by Council Member Hoffe, seconded by Council Member Elder,
to approve the work session minutes of February 22, 2022. Voted in favor thereof:
Hemken, Elder, Hoffe, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the
same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member Hoffe,
to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 28, 2022. Voted in favor
thereof: Hemken, Hoffe, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the
same: None; Abstained: Elder; Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member Hoffe,
to approve the special work session minutes of March 7, 2022. Voted in favor
thereof: Hemken, Elder, Hoffe, London; and the following voted against the same:
Isenberg; Abstained: None; Absent: None. Motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
There was no one present desirous of addressing the council.
PRESENTATIONS:
THREE RIVERS PARK
DISTRICT UPDATE
Item 5.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 5.1, Three Rivers Park District
Update from Commissioner Marge Beard.
Ms. Marge Beard introduced herself and stated she represents District 1 serving
New Hope, Plymouth and western Hennepin County. Ms. Beard provided history
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of Three Rivers Park District. She stated the district’s mission is to promote
environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural
resources‐based park system. Ms. Beard stated the district has 25 parks and park
reserves, 27,000 acres of land, 170 miles of regional trails, 300 miles of trails within
parks, and 13.8 million visitors per year. She indicated French Park is the most
used park.
Ms. Beard thanked the council members for their service to the community and the
city’s partnership with Three Rivers Park District.
Council Member London acknowledged that Three Rivers Park District is a great
asset. He inquired regarding the district’s funding source.
The Council thanked Ms. Beard for the update and for her service on the Park
District.
ROTATING VOTES
Please note that votes taken on each agenda item are called by the secretary on a
rotating basis; however, the written minutes always list the mayor’s name first
followed by the council members’ in alphabetical order.
CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Hemken introduced the consent items as listed for consideration and stated
that all items will be enacted by one motion unless requested that an item be
removed for discussion. Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, reviewed the consent
items.
FINANCIAL CLAIMS
Item 6.2
Approval of financial claims through March 14, 2022.
RESOLUTION 2022‐28
Item 6.4
Resolution establishing precincts and polling places in the city of New Hope.
MOTION
Item 6.5
Motion accepting donation of $6,035.86 from police explorers.
MOTION
Item 6.6
Motion accepting donation from Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union of New
Hope for the 2022 Safety Camp.
MOTION
Consent Items
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member Hoffe,
to approve the Consent items. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1074)
Item 8.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.1, Resolution awarding contract
to Northwest Asphalt, Inc. for construction of the 2022 Infrastructure
Improvement Project (Improvement Project No. 1074).
Mr. Dan Boyum, city engineer, illustrated the area of the proposed infrastructure
project is near Liberty Park. He stated the 2022 infrastructure improvements
include 1.26 miles of streets (.20 miles of reclaim and overlay and 1.06 miles of mill
and overlay). He reviewed water main improvements along Bass Lake Road and
Independence Avenue where there have been several water main breaks. He
reported on storm sewer improvements and noted additional catch basins were
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added on Independence Avenue to address drainage concerns. He also explained
that after further discussions with Shingle Creek Watershed Commission, the
storm water filtration system along 60th Avenue near Liberty Park was eliminated
from the project prior to the bid opening due to the depth and scope of the storm
sewer and the limited treatment levels. He stated some trees along the east side of
Independence Avenue will require removal due to the new water main
improvements. He pointed out several of the trees are ash and are susceptible to
emerald ash borer disease.
Mr. Boyum stated a bid opening was held on February 24, and the low bid was
submitted by Northwest Asphalt, Inc. for $1,296,606.60. Northwest Asphalt has
worked in the city in the past with good results. The project cost is $416,337.66 less
than the CIP budget due to favorable bid pricing for the water main work and
elimination of the storm water filtration system. He stated if Council awards the
project, work would begin this spring with substantial completion by fall. He
reported there is one tax‐exempt property, Liberty Park, that will be assessed for
the mill and overlay street work. The project will be funded by street infrastructure
funds and utility funds.
Council Member London noted the favorable bid price and inquired of the
engineer’s estimate for the water filtration system.
Mr. Boyum stated the estimated cost of the water filtration system was between
$90,000 to $100,000. He also noted the trenchless water main construction prices
were very competitive and less than anticipated.
Council Member London inquired of quality of asphalt, plans for Wisconsin Circle,
whether a six‐ to seven‐year schedule is adequate for seal coating cul‐de‐sacs, and
inflow and infiltration reduction.
Mr. Boyum responded that the asphalt mix is per MnDOT’s specifications,
Wisconsin Circle cul‐de‐sac has a large amount of cracking and needs a mill and
overlay as a seal coat would be inadequate, the city is extending seal coating to a
seven‐ to eight‐year cycle due to the added benefits of fog sealing, and the I/I flows
will be measured this spring to compare against flows prior to the sewer lining
improvements and will be shared with Council.
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, inquired whether blow mulch will be used for
boulevard restoration.
Mr. Boyum stated blow mulch will be used for the majority of the project area. He
stated hydroseed application will be used for the Bass Lake Road area.
RESOLUTION 2022‐29
Item 8.1
Council Member Isenberg introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT TO NORTHWEST
ASPHALT, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2022 INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 1074).” The
motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Council
Member Elder, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor
thereof: Hemken, Elder, Hoffe, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against
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the same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: None; whereupon the resolution was
declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the mayor which was attested to by
the city clerk.
XCEL ENERGY BURY
POWER LINES
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1082)
Item 8.2
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.2, Resolution approving Xcel
Energy’s pricing to bury power lines along 42nd Avenue North from Boone
Avenue North to west of Gettysburg Avenue North (Improvement Project No.
1082).
Mr. Dan Boyum, city engineer, stated Xcel Energy has overhead power lines from
Boone Avenue to Trunk Highway 169 along the south side of 42nd Avenue. He
reported the city would like to extend a trail in 2023 from Boone Avenue to
Gettysburg Avenue. Removal of the existing power poles in the right of way will
allow the city to construct the bituminous trail along the south side of 42nd Avenue
North in 2023. In addition to the trail the city will replace existing watermain,
replace existing signals with new traffic/pedestrian signals at Boone and 42nd
Avenue North, place new decorative streetlights with banner arms and work with
the county on ADA and mill and overlay improvements along 42nd Avenue. The
city’s trail will connect to the new trails being constructed across TH 169 as part of
MnDOT’s new bridge and interchange improvements scheduled for 2023.
Mr. Boyum stated the cost estimate for Xcel Energy’s work is $650,000, which is
lower than the original estimate of $727,515, and funding would come from the
street infrastructure fund. He stated Xcel Energy will conduct the work in 2022. He
illustrated the location of the northwest corner of Boone and 42nd for placement of
an above‐ground utility cabinet. He stated staff is coordinating with other utility
companies (Comcast and Century Link) that collocate on Xcel Energy’s poles and
will need to bury their lines as well.
Council discussed the location of the utility cabinet and questioned if it could be
on a different corner due to the two new homes proposed on Boone Avenue. Mr.
Boyum stated it could be wrapped to be less noticeable. He stated the utility poles
on the south side of 42nd will be removed, and the new lines will be buried on the
north side of 42nd Avenue which requires the cabinet to be placed on the north side.
He acknowledged the location of the box is not ideal, and staff will inquire of the
box’s dimensions.
RESOLUTION 2022‐30
Item 8.2
Council Member Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION APPROVING XCEL ENERGY’S PRICING TO BURY
POWER LINES ALONG 42ND AVENUE NORTH FROM BOONE AVENUE
NORTH TO WEST OF GETTYSBURG AVENUE NORTH (IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1082).” The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution
was seconded by Council Member Isenberg, and upon vote being taken thereon,
the following voted in favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Hoffe, Isenberg, London; and
the following voted against the same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: None;
whereupon the resolution was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the
mayor which was attested to by the city clerk.
EXCHANGE OF
COMMUNICATION
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 12.1, Exchange of communication
between members of the City Council.
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Item 12.1
Mayor Hemken reported on upcoming events.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Council Member Isenberg, seconded by Council Member
Elder, to adjourn the meeting, as there was no further business to come before
the Council. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. The New Hope City
Council adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk