City Council

HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA Tuesday, April 12, 2022 6:30 pm Hopkins City Hall – Council Chambers 6:30 p.m. Pavement Management Program Update and 2023 Project; Stanley 7:00 p.m. Sustainability Update; Imihy Bean Other Adjournment  Public Works Dept. CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members Mike Mornson, City Manager From: Nate Stanley, Director of Public Works Date: April 12, 2022 Subject: Pavement Management Program Update and 2023 Project _____________________________________________________________________ PURPOSE To provide an update on the city’s Pavement Management Plan and review the proposed 2023 street and utility project. INFORMATION Hopkins developed a Pavement Management Plan (PMP) in the 1990s to establish a baseline for infrastructure management. Prior to the PMP street reconstruction was typically reactionary and in many instances it was unplanned. The PMP establishes a method to track infrastructure condition, this in turn allows staff to be intentional and strategic when planning for projects. This also provides a way to be financially prepared for construction, by forecasting capital investments out over a horizon in the Capital Improvement Plan. A review of the status of street reconstruction across the city will be included in the presentation. Currently, segments of 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Avenues North and 2nd Street North are proposed to be reconstructed in 2023. As with other reconstruction projects, the scope would also include replacement of sidewalk, water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer. Since there are assessments proposed for the work, staff needs to follow the MN Statute 429 process, which requires council action to order a feasibility study, typically this is done a year in advance of the proposed construction. An overview of the project will be presented and staff will be prepared to answer questions. FUTURE ACTION Regarding the proposed 2023 street and utility project, based on council direction at this work session, staff will be prepared to start project development. The next step is returning to council this spring with a resolution to order a feasibility report.  Administration CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members Mike Mornson, City Manager From: PeggySue Imihy Bean, Management Analyst Date: April 12, 2022 Subject: Sustainability Update _____________________________________________________________________ PURPOSE Following sustainability updates in June 2021 and October 2021, tonight, staff will present an update on sustainability initiatives and accomplishments across departments. This will include: • An update on recent accomplishments such as SolSmart Bronze Designation and GreenStep Cities advancement • Recently grant applicants to continue sustainability work • Continued and future initiatives around sustainability Recent Accomplishments SolSmart Bronze Designation In March 2022, the City was awarded the Bronze Designation from SolSmart, a national organization which recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations for making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar. Communities can receive designations of SolSmart Gold, Silver, and Bronze for their efforts. To achieve this designation, the City has reduced the cost of solar permitting for residential properties, made solar a permitted or accessory use in all zoning districts, and made the process for obtaining a solar permit more transparent and accessible. Information regarding Solar Energy can be found on the City’s website at https://www.hopkinsmn.com/1087/Solar-Energy GreenStep Cities The City of Hopkins has participated in GreenStep Cities since 2010 and achieved Step 3 in 2013. This year, Staff has submitted the necessary information to achieve Step 4, which establishes baseline of many sustainability related metrics, such as fleet milage and fuel usage, energy efficiency, and CO2e created from City operations, which the City can compare itself over time. Staff will utilize the data gathered in step 4 to set goals to improve upon in effort to achieve Step 5. The MPCA will host an in-person award ceremony to celebrate the City’s achievement of Step 4 at the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference in Duluth, June 22-24. Tree Canopy + Tree Sale According to the Growing Shade tool, provided by the Metropolitan Council, 10 of Hopkins’ 14 Census block have a medium to high priority need for tree cover. A lack of tree cover, combined with high levels of impervious surface due to large industrial areas, large roadways and highways and dense development have resulted in extreme heat conditions in much of the community. In March 2022, the City offered it’s first tree sale in partnership with Tree Trust, a non-profit organization that partners with communities throughout the Twin Cities to grow the urban canopy on private property through tree sales. During the tree sale, Staff worked with Tree Trust to create a priority area for tree sales which allowed those living in areas of extreme heat conditions to purchase trees before the rest of the community. In total, 85 of the 100 available trees have been sold so far during the tree sale. Staff continues to explore grant funding and opportunities to increase the tree canopy in the community. EQB Pilot Program In 2022, the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) started a Pilot Program that will test and evaluate the inclusion of climate change information in environmental review throughout Minnesota. The City is a proud participant of this program and attends webinars and offers feedback to the EQB. Multimodal Policy/Scooters + Money from Scooters In April 2022, the City entered into a license agreement with Bird Rides, Inc., to provide the community with rentable scooters from April to November of 2022. In addition to meeting City goals of expanding mobility choices and reducing vehicle miles traveled in the community, license fees from this agreement in the amount of $6,125 can be used on future projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian amenities in the community. Recent Grant Applications Fleet Electrification, Electric Vehicle Charging + Xcel Energy Electrification of the City’s fleet can play a significant role in reducing the City’s environmental footprint through the reduction of GHGs. Staff has been exploring grant funding opportunities for electric vehicle chargers and electric vehicles to support this transition. Xcel Energy has offered the City full funding for participation in the Fleet Electrification Advisory Program (FEAP), a partnership with Sawatch Laboratories, which will work with Public Works to track vehicle usage and recommend best alternatives for electric vehicles. Following the City’s participation in FEAP, the City will be well positioned for additional grants as well as more knowledgeable about procurement of vehicles through the traditional budgeting process. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) As noted above, the City has a need for increased tree canopy, which is complicated by the infestation of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle which feeds on the inner trunks of Ash trees, disrupting their ability to get nutrients and ultimately killing the tree. The City has a large canopy of Ash trees located within public lands such as parks and boulevards, all of which are infested with EAB and will need to be removed and replaced. Fortunately, the City has been successful over the years in obtaining a multitude of grants from the State and Hennepin County to assist with removal and replanting. In 2022, the City applied for a grant through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Protect Community Forests by Managing Ash for EAB grant program in the amount of $123,200. If awarded, the grant would fund a tree inventory for the community, the removal and stump grinding of EAB infested trees, and the planting of 435 trees over the three-year grant period. The City should know by the end of May if this grant was awarded to the City. MPCA Resiliency and Vulnerability Assessment Grant The City, in partnership with LHB and the Great Plains Institute have applied to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for a grant in the amount of $49,568 which if awarded, would assess the vulnerability of properties along both the Blake Road and Excelsior Boulevard corridors, which are currently identified by the Metropolitan Council as areas which are extremely vulnerable to extreme heat and have less than ideal tree canopy, identify potential solutions and allow the City to begin working with private property owners to educate them on contributing to community resiliency. The grant would also work with residents to understand how they prepare for extreme heat conditions and what the City might do to be able to support them during these times, especially residents who are low-income and may not be able to afford additional cooling costs. The City should know by the end of May if this grant was awarded to the City. If funded work would begin in June and be completed by June 2023. GreenCorps Member The City has applied for a GreenCorps Member for the 2022-2023 program year to continue the work of current GreenCorps member, Pazey Yang, as well as to expand upon new initiatives such as working with residents on energy efficiency and invasive landscaping mitigation. The City was selected to interview for a member and should be notified if this position will be approved in early spring 2022. Ongoing Initiatives and Opportunities Tree City USA Staff has begun the process of reapplying for Tree City USA recognition. The City lost this status over the years but plans to hold a tree planting event in May to celebrate Arbor day and qualify for this status again. Partners in Energy In the past Staff has brought forward the Partners in Energy program, run by Xcel Energy as a mechanism for moving forward climate and sustainability goals. The program accepts cities twice a year in July and January. At this current time, there is not staff capacity to participate in this program, but it remains on Staff’s radar as an opportunity to pursue in the future. Park Board /Environmental Commission On April 30th Staff will attend the Environment Commissions Conference held by Conservation Minnesota, an annual conference for those serving on commissions or for cities who are interested in starting a commission. As part of their 2022 work plan, the Park Board will follow City Council direction to make a recommendation on if adding environmental and sustainability issues to their work would fit within their scope. This recommendation will come to the City Council at the end of 2022. FUTURE ACTION Staff will continue to advance the above sustainability efforts and will provide another update to council in the fourth quarter of 2022.