HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/07/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Joint ffT.ILouOis OFFICIAL MINUTES
RK ST. LOUIS PARK/HOPKINS
JOINT COUNCIL MEETING
July 24, 2006
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
St. Louis Park Councilmembers present: John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul
Omodt, Susan Sanger, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Councilmember Loran Paprocki was absent.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr Harmening), Police Chief (Mr. Luse), Police Lieutenant (Ms.
Dner); and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson).
Hopkins Councilmembers present: Knsti Halverson, Jay Thompson, Bruce Rowan, and Cheryl
Youakim, and Mayor Gene Maxwell.
Hopkins staff present: City Manager(Mr. Getschow); and Police Chief(Mr. Reid).
Introductions were made. St. Louis Park City Manager Tom Harmening and Hopkins City
Manager Rick Getschow had met in June to discuss and plan for the joint Council meeting. Mr.
Harmening said St Louis Park is appreciative to have the Hopkins City Council here to discuss
issues of mutual concern and interest Mr. Harmening asked the Chiefs of Police to provide an
overview regarding what has been taking place on the St. Louis Park and Hopkins border.
Chief Luse distnbuted a Monthly Crime and Incident Statistics—June 2006 Report to attendees.
Chief Luse said the Aquila neighborhood has elevated concerns about cnme Chief Luse said
Distnct 3943 was surveyed this past spnng and he elaborated
Chief Reid presented an aenal of the Blake Road comdor Chief Reid identified and discussed
drug and gun activity and multiple disturbance calls that required more than two officers, called
major disturbance calls. He said there are several unsupervised children in the Blake Road
comdor Chief Reid said 71% of children, in K-6`h grade, have been signed up for summer
program activities this year, and calls for service have dropped 20% in this area.
Councilmember Omodt asked if there are programs geared for residents from a cultural
perspective. Chief Reid said he needs to gather business leaders to discuss surveillance.
Councilmember Sanger asked if Hopkins has programs to license rental landlords and control
behavior Hopkins City Manager Rick Getschow said yes, all rentals are licensed including
single-family homes. Mr. Getschow said they would like to add a cnme-free addendum to rental
leases Hopkins would like to become more aggressive on inspections Mr. Getschow said one
option would be to raise inspection fees.
Councilmember Youakim said perhaps the St. Louis Park and Hopkins Human Rights
Commissions could work together to address education issues.
Chief Luse would like to attach licensing to a property so that a nexus could be established in
order to identify problem properties
The Councils discussed gang task forces and drug task forces
City Council Minutes -2- July 24, 2006
Mr. Harmening summanzed that St Louis Park and Hopkins are looking at a rental licensing
ordinance relative to better addressing behavior—not just property maintenance and code related
issues—and it seems logical to work together so that the ordinances compliment and not detract
from one another. Also, the two police departments will partner on dealing with cnme issues.
Mr. Harmening asked the Councils to consider what would happen if St. Louis Park and Hopkins
had the toughest rental licensing in the metro.
The Council discussed the Glencoe Railroad switch yard, WiFi, and redevelopment initiatives.
Mr. Harmening distnbuted information regarding current developing properties in St. Louis
Park, mainly near the Hopkins border. Mr Harmening identified future partnerships as including
police departments, rental licensing, perhaps inspection services, and perhaps WiFi.
Councilmember Sanger said on Monday, August 21st at 7:30 a m. at the Depot in Hopkins, there
will be a meeting regarding the SW LRT. Mayor Jacobs would like to discuss LRT with
Hopkins in the future
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
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