03 09 20 City Council MinutesNew Hope City Council March 9, 2020
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City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
City Council Minutes March 9, 2020
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
Cedrick Frazier, Council Member
Andy Hoffe, Council Member
Jonathan London, Council Member
Kirk McDonald, City Manager
Jeff Alger, Community Development Specialist
Tim Fournier, Director of Police
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Stacy Woods, Assistant City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member
Frazier, to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 10, 2020. Voted in
favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Frazier, Hoffe; and the following voted against the
same: None; Abstained: London; Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Council Member Frazier, seconded by Council Member
Hoffe, to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 24, 2020. Voted in
favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Frazier, Hoffe, London; and the following voted
against the same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: None. Motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
Mr. Mac Brand, 4972 Virginia Avenue North, requested improvements be made
to the railroad track crossings on Boone and Winnetka. He also requested repairs
of the sidewalk on Winnetka between 48th and 50th Avenue.
Mayor Hemken noted the city is aware of the tracks and the street supervisor has
called the railroad several times regarding their condition. The city will continue
to contact the railroad.
Mr. Ron Stoffel, 8004 55th Lane North, advised that the National Railroad Board
governs the railways, and the city may desire to reach out to them.
Mr. John Reiss, 4026 Louisiana Avenue North, expressed concern regarding the
high cost of water in New Hope.
New Hope City Council March 9, 2020
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Council Member Elder explained that the water rates cover the cost of water as
well as infrastructure improvements.
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 9, 2020.
RESOLUTION 2020-28
Item 6.4
Resolution declaring adoption and implementation of State performance
measures.
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.
ACCESS TO MULTI-
DWELLING UNIT
BUILDINGS BY
CENSUS EMPLOYEES
Item 10.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 10.1, Ordinance No. 20-06, An
ordinance amending Chapter 11, Traffic Regulations and Criminal and
Miscellaneous Offenses by adding a new Section 11-11(i) Access to Multi-dwelling
unit buildings by United States Census Bureau employees.
Mr. Jeff Alger, community development specialist, explained at the January 21,
2020, work session, the majority of the City Council directed staff to prepare an
ordinance requiring apartment building owners and managers to grant Census
Bureau enumerators access to their buildings. The city has a significant number of
housing units that are categorized as “historically undercounted,” including multi -
family properties, renter occupied properties, and senior living facilities.
Participation in the census is mandatory; however, the Census Bureau does not
prosecute for noncompliance. Similarly, building owners and managers are asked
to grant census takers access to buildings but are no t prosecuted for
noncompliance. The ordinance is intended give building owners/managers
additional reason to comply with allowing census takers into their buildings. It
also gives building owners/managers an opportunity to let residents know about
the importance of participating in the census and the ability to provide information
about who lives in any given unit. At the January 21, 2020, work session, staff was
directed to prepare an ordinance that included enforcement language. The
language would allow city staff the option of citing multifamily property owners
who refuse entry.
Mr. Alger stated on January 23, 2020, Mayor Hemken and staff attended a
Hennepin County Complete Count Committee meeting. Representatives from
several cities noted that they were in the process of adopting or had already
adopted similar multifamily access ordinances. Cities that have passed ordinances
include Brooklyn Park, Columbia Heights, Edina, and Plymouth. He reported
none of the other cities included enforcement language as part of their ordinances.
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Difficulty of enforcement and concerns from the community and municipal
partners about the impact of penalties were cited as the reasons for not including
the language. Subsequent to the meeting, Mayor Hemken requested that staff also
prepare an ordinance without enforcement language. As a result, the city attorney
has prepared two versions of the ordinance; one with the enforcement language
and one version without the enforcement language.
Council questioned the enforcement measures. Mr. Alger stated the city’s
inspection department would issue an administrative notice and if the property
owner did not comply within 10 days, the city would issue an administrative
citation. He stated it would be necessary to coordinate efforts between census
bureau employees and building property managers.
Council Member London questioned whether background checks are conducted
for census workers. Mayor Hemken responded affirmatively and noted census
workers also undergo extensive training. Council Member London expressed
concern regarding building security being compromised.
ORDINANCE 20-06
Item 10.1
Council Member Elder introduced the following ordinance and moved its
adoption: “ORDINANCE NO. 20-06, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 11, TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND CRIMINAL AND
MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 11-11(I)
ACCESS TO MULTI-DWELLING UNIT BUILDINGS BY UNITED STATES
CENSUS BUREAU EMPLOYEES.” The motion for the adoption of the foregoing
ordinance (including adoption of a summary ordinance) was seconded by Council
Member Frazier, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor
thereof: Hemken, Elder, Frazier, Hoffe; and the following voted against the same:
London; Abstained: None; Absent: None; whereupon the ordinance was declared
duly passed and adopted, signed by the mayor which was attested to by the city
clerk.
INTERNATIONAL
BUILDING-RELATED
CODES
Item 10.2
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 10.2, Ordinance No. 20-07, an
ordinance amending Sections 3-2, 3-22, and 3-30 of the New Hope City Code
relating to adoption of 2018 international building-related codes.
Mr. Jeff Alger, community development specialist, stated the city utilizes the latest
International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Co de (IRC),
International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and
International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) adopted by the state of
Minnesota. The state is adopting the 2018 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, and IPMC at the
end of March 2020, so the city will need to change the years in its building code to
reflect those changes as well. He stated the draft ordinance changes references to
building-related codes from 2012 to 2018.
ORDINANCE 20-07
Item 10.2
Council Member Frazier introduced the following ordinance and moved its
adoption: “ORDINANCE NO. 20-07, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SECTIONS 3-2, 3-22, AND 3-30 OF THE NEW HOPE CITY CODE RELATING
TO ADOPTION OF 2018 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING-RELATED CODES.”
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing ordinance (including adoption of a
summary ordinance) was seconded by Council Member Hoffe, and upon vote
being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Frazier,
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Hoffe, London; and the following voted against the same: None; Abstained: No ne;
Absent: None; whereupon the ordinance 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 Frazier, 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 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk