04 10 23 City Council MinutesNew Hope City Council April 10, 2023
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City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
City Council Minutes April 10, 2023
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:
Absent:
Staff present:
Kathi Hemken, Mayor
John Elder, Council Member
Michael Isenberg, Council Member
Jonathan London, Council Member
Andy Hoffe, Council Member
Tim Hoyt, Acting City Manager
Dan Boyum, City Engineer
Rich Johnson, Director of HR/Admin. Services
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Nick Macklem, Stormwater Specialist
Susan Rader, Director of Parks & Recreation
Bernie Weber, Director of Public Works
Stacy Woods, City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member
London, to approve the work session meeting minutes of March 20, 2023. 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
London, to approve the executive session meeting minutes of March 20, 2023.
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 Isenberg, seconded by Council Member
London, to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 27, 2023. 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
There was no one present desirous of addressing the council.
PRESENTATIONS:
COMMISSIONER JEFF
LUNDE UPDATE
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 5.1, Update from Hennepin
County Commissioner Jeff Lunde.
New Hope City Council April 10, 2023
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Item 5.1
Commissioner Lunde explained his current committee assignments including
Law, Safety & Justice; Internal Governmental Relations; Housing and
Redevelopment Authority; Blue Line Extension Corridor Management
Committee; Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth; Statewide Cannabis Task Force;
and NLX (Northern Lights Express). He reported on the Juvenile Detention Center
and the risk assessment instrument (RAI). Mr. Lunde also explained the county’s
involvement with affordable housing, homelessness, and emergency rental
assistance. He stated anyone with housing instability may call 211 for assistance.
He reported the pilot of the 911 Mental Health Response Line went live in Brooklyn
Park in December, 2022. Lastly, Mr. Lunde spoke of transportation issues, transit
safety, and bike trail connections.
Council thanked Commissioner Lunde for the update.
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. Tim Hoyt, acting city manager, reviewed the consent
items.
BUSINESS
LICENSE(S)
Item 6.1
Approval of business license(s).
FINANCIAL CLAIMS
Item 6.2
Approval of financial claims through April 10, 2023.
RESOLUTION 2023‐40
Item 6.4
Resolution proclaiming April 16‐22, 2023, as National Volunteer Week in the city
of New Hope.
RESOLUTION 2023‐41
Item 6.5
Resolution proclaiming April 16‐22, 2023, to be the “Great Shingle Creek
Watershed Cleanup Week”.
RESOLUTION 2023‐42
Item 6.6
Resolution proclaiming April 23‐29, 2023 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
in the city of New Hope.
RESOLUTION 2023‐43
Item 6.7
Resolution proclaiming the month of May, 2023, as Arbor Month in the city of New
Hope.
RESOLUTION 2023‐44
Item 6.8
Resolution proclaiming the month of May, 2023, as Building Safety Month in the
city of New Hope.
RESOLUTION 2023‐45
Item 6.9
Resolution proclaiming May 21‐27, 2023, as National Public Works Week in the
city of New Hope.
RESOLUTION 2023‐46
Item 6.10
Resolution approving Lease Agreement A‐2311624 with Hennepin County for use
of election equipment.
New Hope City Council April 10, 2023
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RESOLUTION 2023‐47
Item 6.11
Resolution approving Joint Powers Agreement and Amendment #1 between
Hennepin County and the city of New Hope for years 2023 and 2024.
RESOLUTION 2023‐48
Item 6.12
Resolution approving renewing the agreement with Solution Builders to provide
information technology support services for the city effective May 1, 2023 to April
30, 2024.
RESOLUTION 2023‐49
Item 6.13
Resolution approving agreement with Off Broadway Musical Theatre for the 2023
season.
RESOLUTION 2023‐50
Item 6.14
Resolution authorizing the appropriation of funds in the amount of $24,518 for the
purchase and installation of scoreboards at the New Hope Ice Arena
RESOLUTION 2023‐51
Item 6.15
Resolution authorizing participation in the Metropolitan Council Environmental
Services 2020 Municipal Inflow and Infiltration Grant and submittal of final
documentation for reimbursement.
MOTION
Consent Items
Motion was made by Council Member Elder, seconded by Council Member
Isenberg, to approve the Consent items. All present voted in favor. Motion
carried.
MEADOW LAKE
MANAGEMENT
PLAN ALUM
TREATMENT
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1053)
Item 8.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.1, Resolution awarding contract
to SOLitude Lake Management for the 2023 alum treatment under the Meadow
Lake Management Plan (Project No. 1053).
Mr. Nick Macklem, stormwater specialist/project coordinator, explained the
Meadow Lake Management Plan was developed to reduce internal phosphorous
loading via a drawdown, monitoring, chemical treatment of invasive plant and
fish species and alum treatment. The next step in the process is an alum treatment
which involves applying liquid aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate to
Meadow Lake. He stated the alum solution blankets the lake bottom to create a
barrier to limit phosphorus release into the water, and the work will take place in
late April or May. He reported that Stantec is also coordinating herbicide
treatments of curly‐leaf pondweed in the lake.
Mr. Macklem reviewed the bid of $59,104 that was submitted by SOLitude Lake
Management for the alum treatment. He explained a grant was awarded to the
Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission that will cover the cost of the
project.
Mr. Macklem responded to questions from Council concerning the application
process and noted the alum treatment will not negatively affect wildlife habitat.
RESOLUTION 2023‐52
Item 8.1
Council Member Isenberg introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT TO SOLITUDE LAKE
MANAGEMENT FOR THE 2023 ALUM TREATMENT UNDER THE
MEADOW LAKE MANAGEMENT PLAN (PROJECT NO. 1053).” 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:
New Hope City Council April 10, 2023
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Hemken, Elder, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the same:
None; Abstained: None; Absent: Hoffe; whereupon the resolution was declared
duly passed and adopted, signed by the mayor which was attested to by the city
clerk.
42ND AVENUE SIGNAL
LIGHT, TRAIL, AND
UTILITY
IMPROVEMENTS
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1029)
Item 8.2
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 8.2, Resolution authorizing the
purchase of signal pole assemblies for the 42nd Avenue Signal Light, Trail, and
Utility Improvements (Project No. 1029).
Mr. Dan Boyum, city engineer, stated the traffic signals at the intersection of 42nd
and Boone Avenue will be replaced as part of the county and city improvements
on 42nd Avenue this summer. He explained the delivery schedule for the pole
assemblies is up to 17 weeks and therefore it is prudent to purchase them now
from Millerbernd Manufacturing Company for $121,356 to prevent project
schedule delays.
Mr. Boyum stated the city will seek reimbursement for the assemblies with
municipal state aid funding. Hennepin County will pay for their share of the poles
in accordance with the construction cooperative agreement.
RESOLUTION 2023‐53
Item 8.2
Council Member Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption: “RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF SIGNAL
POLE ASSEMBLIES FOR THE 42ND AVENUE SIGNAL LIGHT, TRAIL, AND
UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS (PROJECT NO. 1029).” The motion for the adoption
of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Council Member London, and upon
vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Hemken, Elder,
Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the same: None; Abstained:
None; Absent: Hoffe; whereupon the resolution was declared duly passed and
adopted, signed by the mayor which was attested to by the city clerk.
LMCIT INSURANCE
PREMIUMS
Item 11.1
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 11.1, Motion approving renewal of
insurance premiums for general liability, property damage, employee bond and
worker’s compensation for the period April 20, 2023, through April 20, 2024
through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT).
Mr. Rich Johnson, director of HR/Admin Services, explained the city clerk
coordinates renewal of the general liability insurance, and the director of human
resources and administrative services handles the workers’ compensation
insurance renewal. He stated the premium for the property/liability coverage is
$197,589, an increase of $5,327 over last year.
Mr. Johnson stated the premium for workers compensation, based on a $5,000
deductible for work‐related medical expenses, is $367,398 which is an increase of
$1,103 from last year. He noted the small increase in premium is a result of a
favorable change in the city’s experience modification rating from .96 to .85. The
total cost of the insurance (property, workers compensation, liquor liability, open
meeting law defense, faithful performance, and volunteer accident plan) is
$564,987 which is lower than the budgeted amount for 2023.
New Hope City Council April 10, 2023
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MOTION
Item 11.1
Motion was made by London, seconded by Council Member Isenberg, approving
renewal of insurance premiums for general liability, property damage,
employee bond and worker’s compensation for the period April 20, 2023,
through April 20, 2024, through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust
(LMCIT). Voted in favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Isenberg, London; and the
following voted against the same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: Hoffe. Motion
carried.
STATUTORY
LIMITATIONS
Item 11.2
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 11.2, Motion to accept statutory
limitations of $500,000 for individual claimant recovery for insurance provided by
League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT).
Mr. Rich Johnson, director of HR/Admin Services, explained the League of
Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust requires the city to make a decision annually
regarding the statutory tort limits in accordance with Minnesota Statutes.
MOTION
Item 11.2
Motion was made by Elder, seconded by Council Member London, to accept
statutory limitations of $500,000 for individual claimant recovery for insurance
provided by League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT). Voted in
favor thereof: Hemken, Elder, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against
the same: None; Abstained: None; Absent: Hoffe. Motion carried.
CITY MANAGER
CANDIDATE
FINALISTS
Item 11.3
Mayor Hemken introduced for discussion Item 11.3, Motion selecting city manager
candidate finalists.
Mr. Pat Melvin, DDA Human Resources, Inc, was recognized. He stated the
recruitment process for the city manager yielded 33 applications and some were
removed as they did not meet the minimum qualifications. He reported the City
Council reviewed information for 19 candidates including a video interview, cover
letter/resume, and work personality index.
Council Members identified their top five candidates. Council agreed to conduct
in‐person interviews on May 2, 2023, with six candidates (identified as candidate
numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 13).
Discussion ensued regarding the interview format, interview questions, and
reimbursement for candidates’ travel expenses.
MOTION
Item 11.3
Motion was made by Isenberg, seconded by Council Member Elder, to approve
the selection of six city manager candidate finalists. Voted in favor thereof:
Hemken, Elder, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the same:
None; Abstained: None; Absent: Hoffe. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Elder, seconded by Council Member Isenberg, to reimburse
candidates up to $1,000 for reasonable travel expenses. Voted in favor thereof:
Hemken, Elder, Isenberg, London; and the following voted against the same:
None; Abstained: None; Absent: Hoffe. Motion carried.
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 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk