03 28 22 City Council MinutesNew Hope City Council March 28, 2022
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City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
City Council Minutes March 28, 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
Tim Hoyt, Director of Police
Rich Johnson, Director of HR/Admin. Services
Beth Kramer, Communications Coordinator
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Susan Rader, Director of Parks & Recreation
Stacy Woods, City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Motion was made by Council Member Hoffe, seconded by Council Member Elder,
to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 14, 2022. Voted in favor thereof:
Hemken, Elder, Hoffe, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the
same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: None. Motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
Ms. Kendra Curry, Human Rights Commissioner, invited Council and city staff to
attend the April 4 HRC Meeting to discuss the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion
strategy as it relates to recruitment; the budget allocated for recruitment; and
drawing from a diverse candidate pool for the city manager replacement as well
as other positions.
Mayor Hemken thanked Ms. Curry for her input and thanked her for serving on
the Human Rights Commission.
PRESENTATIONS:
OATH OF OFFICE
Item 5.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 5.1, Oath of office for Police Officer
Joshua Arthur, Sergeant Joshua Eernisse and Captain David Johnson.
Chief Tim Hoyt introduced and provided information regarding the background
of all three individuals. City Clerk Leone administered the oath of office. Council
extended their congratulations to Officer Arthur, Sergeant Eernisse and Captain
New Hope City Council March 28, 2022
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Johnson and thanked the department and family members for attending the
ceremony in a show of support.
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.
BUSINESS LICENSES
Item 6.1
Approval of business licenses
FINANCIAL CLAIMS
Item 6.2
Approval of financial claims through March 28, 2022.
RESOLUTION 2022‐32
Item 6.4
Resolution approving a contract with Sir Lines‐A‐Lot LLC for New Hope’s 2022
street paint striping/marking services.
RESOLUTION 2022‐33
Item 6.5
Resolution approving a contract with Reliakor Services, Inc. for 2022 street
sweeping services.
RESOLUTION 2022‐34
Item 6.6
Resolution approving a contract with Reliakor Services, Inc. for disposal of debris
collected during the spring 2022 street sweeping operation.
RESOLUTION 2022‐35
Item 6.7
Resolution in support of three Hennepin Youth Sports Program grant
applications.
MOTION
Consent Items
Motion was made by Council Member Isenberg, seconded by Council Member
Elder, to approve the Consent items. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
HIDDEN VALLEY
PARK
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1078)
Item 8.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.1, Resolution approving plans
and specifications and authorizing advertisement of bids for playground
improvement site work at Hidden Valley Park (Improvement Project No. 1078).
Mr. Dan Boyum, city engineer, indicated Council authorized preparation of plans
and specifications at the January 10 Council Meeting. He illustrated Hidden Valley
Park which is located at 32nd and Boone avenues. He stated there are two play
containers. The equipment at the large container was last replaced in 1998 and the
tot playground equipment was replaced in 2017 due to an arson incident. The
neighborhood has been involved in the planning process for the new play
equipment and the plans will be shared with Council in late April. The site work
includes replacement of the two playground containers with concrete curbing, the
path leading from the trail to the container, two bench pads and the retaining wall.
He explained Alternate 1 includes the use of large blocks for the large container
instead of concrete curbing. Mr. Boyum also stated Alternate 2 is for replacement
of the concrete walk around the warming house.
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Mr. Boyum stated the estimated cost is $318,262. The playground improvements
are included in the 2022 CIP and the 2022 Park Infrastructure budget. Funding of
$250,000 was budgeted for the playground project and an additional $75,000 was
budgeted for concrete or trail work, for a total budget of $325,000.
Council Member London commented on the high cost of a retaining wall and
noted his preference that more funding go towards actual playground equipment.
Mr. Boyum stated staff’s recommendation will depend on the bids. He noted the
existing retaining wall is a maintenance issue.
Director Susan Rader commented that replacing the wall at a later date could
potentially damage the new playground equipment.
Council Member London pointed out a similar retaining wall near cooper High
School that has drainage issues and asked that the engineer ensure the design for
Hidden Valley Park includes adequate drainage.
Mr. Boyum stated he and the public works director will review the area mentioned
by Council Member London as it was part of the 49th Avenue street improvement.
Council Member Elder inquired if there is drain tile in the playground area.
Mr. Boyum responded affirmatively and stated there has not been any history of
drainage issues.
RESOLUTION 2022‐36
Item 8.1
Council Member Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
AND AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS FOR PLAYGROUND
IMPROVEMENT SITE WORK AT HIDDEN VALLEY PARK (IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1078).” The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution
was seconded by Council Member Hoffe, 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.
ACTING CITY
MANAGER
APPOINTMENT
Item 10.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 10.1, Resolution appointing Tim
Hoyt as Acting City Manager effective June 2, 2022.
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, explained the resolution appoints Tim Hoyt as
Acting City Manager based on Council’s action at the work session of March 7,
2022. The resolution appoints Tim Hoyt as Acting City Manager for a six‐month
trial period (June 2 through December 1, 2022) and directs McDonald to coordinate
with Hoyt on job training until McDonald’s retirement on June 1. He noted a
Memorandum of Understanding regarding terms of employment will be
presented to Council for approval at a future council meeting.
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Council Member London stated for the record that he is of the opinion that the city
should interview an outside pool of qualified candidates for the permanent
position.
RESOLUTION 2022‐37
Item 10.1
Council Member London introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION APPOINTING TIM HOYT AS ACTING CITY
MANAGER EFFECTIVE JUNE 2, 2022.” 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 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
Item 12.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 12.1, Exchange of communication
between members of the City Council.
Mayor Hemken reported on upcoming events.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member
Isenberg, 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 7:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk