10 12 20 City Council MinutesNew Hope City Council October 12, 2020
Page 1
City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
City Council Minutes October 12, 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
Vicki Holthaus, AEM
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Stacy Woods, Assistant City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Motion was made by Council Member London, seconded by Council Member
Hoffe, to approve the work session meeting minutes of September 21, 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
There was no one present desirous of addressing the council.
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 LICENSE(S)
Item 6.1
Approval of business licenses(s).
FINANCIAL CLAIMS
Item 6.2
Approval of financial claims through October 12, 2020.
RESOLUTION 2020‐93
Item 6.4
Resolution adopting the city of New Hope 2040 Comprehensive Plan and placing
the plan into effect.
New Hope City Council October 12, 2020
Page 2
RESOLUTION 2020‐94
Item 6.5
Resolution appointing election judges for General Election of November 3, 2020.
RESOLUTION 2020‐95
Item 6.6
Resolution proclaiming October 13, 2020, as Honerene Keppel Day.
Council Member Elder commented on the milestone and thanked the manager of
Broadway Village for allowing the city to participate in the celebration of Ms.
Keppel’s 100th birthday.
RESOLUTION 2020‐96
Item 6.7
Resolution approving final payment request to Flagship Recreation for Begin Park
playground project in the amount of $43,699.43 (Improvement Project No. 1040).
KENLAWN CO.
Item 6.8
Resolution approving a contract with Kenlawn Co. for snow removal and
maintenance services.
CONSENT ITEM
REMOVED
Council Member London requested that Item 6.8 be removed for discussion.
MOTION
Consent Items
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member Hoffe,
to approve the remaining Consent items. All present voted in favor. Motion
carried.
KENLAWN
COMPANY
CONTRACT
Item 6.8
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 6.8, Resolution approving a
contract with Kenlawn Co. for snow removal and maintenance services.
Council Member London stated he believes the contract amount is excessive based
on the small area to be maintained in the City Center area near city hall. He
acknowledged that the prior contractor performed poorly. He suggested utilizing
volunteers for the work or seeking more bids from contractors. He also questioned
pricing of materials such as the wood fiber. Council Member Elder pointed out
that engineered wood fiber is different than wood mulch.
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, stated a priority of the city is to keep the City
Center area in good condition. He indicated the contractor does an excellent job,
and there is no price increase in the contract. He stated he would ask staff to obtain
the price of materials if the Council requested.
RESOLUTION 2020‐97
Item 6.8
Council Member Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH KENLAWN
CO. FOR SNOW REMOVAL AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES.” The motion
for the adoption of the foregoing resolution 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 resolution was declared duly
passed and adopted, signed by the mayor which was attested to by the city clerk.
PUBLIC HEARING
DELINQUENT CITY
CHARGES
Item 7.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 7.1, Public hearing and resolution
adopting and confirming assessments for delinquent utility service charges and
administrative citations.
New Hope City Council October 12, 2020
Page 3
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, explained the public hearing is to adopt the
assessment rolls for delinquent city service charges incurred between June 1, 2019,
and May 30, 2020. He stated all impacted property owners were notified of the
hearing, and staff has not received any written objections. He reported the total
delinquent utility charges is $246,639.76; the total delinquent city services (alarm
calls) is $3,347.08; and the total for delinquent administrative citations is $31,910.
Mayor Hemken called for a vote to close the public hearing as there was no one
present desiring to speak at the public hearing.
CLOSE HEARING
Item 7.1
Motion was made by Council Member Hoffe, seconded by Council Member Elder,
to close the public hearing. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION 2020‐98
Item 7.1
Council Member Hoffe introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND
CONFIRMING ASSESSMENTS FOR DELINQUENT UTILITY SERVICE
CHARGES AND ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS.” 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, Frazier, Hoffe, 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.
CARES ACT FUNDS
Item 8.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.1, Resolution allocating
coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security (CARES) Act funds.
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, stated the city received $1,641,664 for eligible
COVID‐19 pandemic expenses from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and
Economic Security (CARES) Act or Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). He stated at
the September 21 work session Council discussed the allocation of the funds and
the need to adopt a plan allocating the use of the funds. He stated subsequent to
the work session additional information on expenditure eligibility was provided
that clarifies that all public safety payroll costs are eligible expenses and that cities
may distribute funds to public safety joint powers organizations.
Ms. Vicki Holthaus, AEM, recommended adoption of a plan allocating an amount
not to exceed $235,277 be provided to West Metro Fire‐Rescue District for
personnel costs and that the remainder of the $1,641,664 CARES allocation be
submitted for police department personnel costs. This is consistent with the intent
of the federal guidelines for CARES Act expenditures. She stated the city’s auditor
(MMKR) agrees with this approach. Ms. Holthaus explained that the city has
incurred other eligible expenses as discussed at the September work session but
management and auditor determined that public safety personnel costs provide a
much more streamlined audit and reduce the administrative burden associated
with the program.
Council supported the plan and thanked staff for tracking expenses and evaluating
the best approach to utilize the funds.
New Hope City Council October 12, 2020
Page 4
RESOLUTION 2020‐99
Item 8.1
Council Member Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION ALLOCATING CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF,
AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDS.” The motion for the
adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Council Member Frazier,
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Hemken,
Elder, Frazier, Hoffe, 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.
COUNCIL SALARIES
ORDINANCE
Item 10.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 10.1, Ordinance No. 20‐12, An
ordinance amending New Hope code section 2‐11 setting mayor and council
members’ salaries.
Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, stated at the September 21 work session Council
discussed the proposed ordinance to increase salaries for the mayor and council
members by 3% for years 2021 and 2022. He stated a 3% increase is included in the
budget for employees, as the police and public works labor contracts were
previously approved with a similar increase. He stated the change must take place
before the November 3 city election. He indicated the current bi‐weekly salary for
the mayor is $516 and it will increase to $532 in 2021 and to $548 in 2022. He stated
the council member bi‐weekly salary is $377 and it will increase to $389 in 2021 and
to $400 in 2022. The overall budget impact for 2021 is $1,758 and the 2021 budget
contains funds for the proposed increase.
ORDINANCE NO.
20‐12
Item 10.1
Council Member Frazier introduced the following ordinance and moved its
adoption: “ORDINANCE NO. 20‐12, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING NEW
HOPE CODE SECTION 2‐11 SETTING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS’
SALARIES.” The motion for the adoption of the foregoing ordinance was
seconded by Council Member Elder, and upon vote being taken thereon, the
following voted in favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Frazier, Hoffe, London; and the
following voted against the same: None; 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.
EXCHANGE OF
COMMUNICATION
Item 12.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 12.1, Exchange of communication
between members of the City Council.
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 7:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk