Hopkins meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Hopkins council to weigh $9.25M Blake Road purchase, 9.19% levy increase

The Hopkins City Council and other boards met in early August, but minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed. The most significant action on the horizon is the Aug. 18 City Council meeting, where the council will consider a $9.25 million purchase agreement for 325 Blake Road and a proposed 9.19% increase in the 2027 tax levy.

Recent meetings (agenda only, minutes not yet published)

City Council — Aug. 3

The council agenda included several temporary liquor licenses for community events, an extension of an on-sale license for LTD Brewing Co., and a joint powers agreement for the Shady Oak Station redevelopment at 11111 Excelsior Blvd. The council also discussed a second reading of an ordinance amending development code for cannabis and hemp sales, and a charter amendment for ranked choice voting.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority — Aug. 3

The HRA considered approving a Joint Powers Agreement with the City and the Metropolitan Council for the sale and redevelopment of the former Hopkins Tech Center property at 11111 Excelsior Boulevard, now the Shady Oak Station site. The agreement would let the HRA lead a request-for-proposals process to sell development parcels, with proceeds going to the Metropolitan Council. The property includes 15.05 acres with two parcels in Hopkins and Minnetonka. The board also had consent items including disbursements totaling $63,495.93 through July 23 and minutes from the July 14 meeting.

Park Board — Aug. 5

The Park Board agenda was largely procedural, with no major decisions or public hearings. Items included welcoming new board members Johnson and Nice-Warfield, discussing park finances with Nick Bishop and Dustin Pavek, and assigning park areas for Interlachen and Hilltop parks. No park area assignment was scheduled for August.

Upcoming meeting — Aug. 18 City Council

The council will consider a purchase agreement with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for 325 Blake Road, a 17-acre site intended for transit-supportive development and housing, at a price of $9.25 million. The council will also discuss the 2027 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy, with a proposed levy of $24,184,018 — a 9.19% increase after reductions. Proposed reductions total $1,456,500, including $300,000 for software, $250,000 for fuel tanks, and $240,000 for LED lighting. The budget also includes two new positions: a Police Officer and an I.T. Technician. The preliminary levy is scheduled to be adopted Sept. 15.

Coming up

• **City Council** — Aug. 18, 2026: Purchase agreement for 325 Blake Road, 2027 budget and tax levy discussion. This is the only upcoming meeting listed in the next 14 days.

Hopkins boards weigh Shady Oak Station redevelopment, liquor licenses, park assignments

Recent Hopkins meeting agendas centered on the proposed Shady Oak Station redevelopment, with both the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the City Council set to consider a joint powers agreement for the project. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so no decisions have been confirmed.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Aug. 3)

The HRA agenda included a Joint Powers Agreement with the Metropolitan Council for the sale and redevelopment of the former Hopkins Tech Center property at 11111 Excelsior Boulevard, now known as the Shady Oak Station site. The agreement would establish a framework for the HRA to lead a request-for-proposals process to sell development parcels, with proceeds going to the Council. The property covers 15.05 acres across two parcels in Hopkins and Minnetonka.

The board also had consent items on its agenda, including approval of disbursements totaling $63,495.93 through July 23, 2026, and approval of minutes from the July 14 meeting.

City Council (Aug. 3)

The City Council agenda included the same Joint Powers Agreement for Shady Oak Station, along with several liquor license approvals:

• Temporary liquor license for the Hopkins Education Foundation’s Rock-n-Royal Block Party (Sept. 26, Downtown Park)
• Temporary liquor license for the Team Tucker Family Foundation’s All Star Party (Sept. 12, Maetzold Field)
• Temporary liquor license for LTD Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest (Sept. 19, 8th Ave & Lot 600)
• Extension of on-sale liquor license for LTD Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest (Sept. 19)

The council also heard updates on digital access initiatives and discussed a charter amendment for ranked choice voting. A second reading of an ordinance amending development code for cannabis and hemp sales was on the agenda.

Park Board (July 27)

The Park Board agenda included introduction of new members Johnson and Nice-Warfield, a review of park finances by Nick Bishop and Dustin Pavek, and discussion of park area assignments for Interlachen and Hilltop parks. No park area assignment was scheduled for August. The board also planned to adopt minutes from its June 22 meeting.

All three meetings were listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. Outcomes of the items above are pending.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed for the next 14 days.

Hopkins Council to Vote on Shady Oak Station Deal, Liquor Licenses, and Cannabis Code Changes

The Hopkins City Council meets tonight, Aug. 3, with a packed agenda including a joint powers agreement for the Shady Oak Station redevelopment at 11111 Excelsior Blvd, multiple temporary liquor license approvals, and a second reading of an ordinance amending the development code for cannabis and hemp sales.

Shady Oak Station Redevelopment

The council will consider a Joint Powers Agreement for the Shady Oak Station redevelopment at 11111 Excelsior Blvd. No additional details on the agreement's terms or financial figures were included in the agenda materials provided.

Liquor Licenses on the Agenda

Three temporary liquor licenses are up for approval:

• Hopkins Education Foundation's Rock-n-Royal Block Party on Sept. 26 at Downtown Park.
• Team Tucker Family Foundation's All Star Party on Sept. 12 at Maetzold Field.
• LTD Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest on Sept. 19 at 8th Ave & Lot 600.

The council will also consider an extension of an on-sale liquor license for LTD Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest on Sept. 19.

Cannabis and Hemp Code Changes

The council will hold a second reading of an ordinance amending the development code for cannabis and hemp sales. A second reading typically is the final step before adoption, but the outcome of tonight's vote is not yet known.

Ranked Choice Voting Discussion

The council will also discuss a charter amendment for ranked choice voting. The agenda indicates this is a discussion item, not a scheduled vote.

Council and Planning Commission Work Session Recap

On July 21, the City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission held a joint work session to review three long-term planning initiatives. Minutes have not yet been published, so no formal decisions can be confirmed.

The 2050 Comprehensive Plan update is required by state law by the end of 2028. Staff presented a three-phase timeline running through fall 2028 and outlined major issues for the update, building on the existing 2040 framework.

The Safe Streets for All Plan covers 55.2 miles of roads and accounts for the future 2027 light rail transit. A crash analysis reported 719 crashes over a five-year period, including 4 pedestrian fatalities. Staff reported that 55% of fatal and serious injuries involved pedestrians and bicyclists. An upcoming Vision Zero policy resolution was noted.

The Housing Plan update included several funding figures: $641,916 in Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) funds received to date, a $150,000 seed for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund with a $150,000 matching grant, a $50,000 LAHA grant to the ICA Food Shelf for emergency rental assistance, and a $50,000 grant to hire Everlong Consulting. Because minutes are not yet published, it cannot be confirmed which of these items received formal approval versus discussion only.

Park Board Meeting

The Park Board met July 27 at 6:30 p.m. New members Johnson and Nice-Warfield were introduced. Nick Bishop and Dustin Pavek were scheduled to review park finances. The board was set to adopt minutes from its June 22 meeting and discuss park area assignments for Interlachen and Hilltop parks. No park area assignment was scheduled for August. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming Up

• **City Council** — Tonight, Aug. 3: Shady Oak Station agreement, liquor licenses, cannabis code second reading, ranked choice voting discussion.
• Watch for published minutes from the July 21 joint work session and the July 27 Park Board meeting to confirm what was formally decided.

Hopkins Council to ratify $3.7M in June payments, review 2027 levy proposal

The Hopkins City Council's July 14 meeting agenda includes ratifying $3,708,693.40 in June 2026 payments, the largest dollar item on the agenda. The council is also scheduled to hold first readings on two zoning code amendments and review a draft 2027 budget that would raise the property tax levy by 15.77%.

Note on sourcing: All July 14 meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published. Items reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes. Vote tallies were not available in the agenda materials.

June payments and liquor licenses

The council agenda includes ratification of $3,708,693.40 in June 2026 checks. It also lists approval of an on-sale liquor license for Bear Cave Brewing LLC, operating as Bear Cave Brewing at 1201 Mainstreet, with a fee of $350.00. A liquor license for the Elks Lodge and a youth planning commission appointment are also on the agenda.

Zoning code amendments — first readings

The council scheduled first readings on two ordinances:

• **Ordinance 2026-1234** would reclassify short-term rentals as a permitted use in neighborhood zones, changing where vacation rentals can operate in residential areas.
• **Ordinance 2026-1235** would update regulations for cannabis, hemp, liquor stores, and tobacco shops, and set new storefront transparency standards affecting local shop locations and display requirements.

First readings are an early step; final adoption would require subsequent council action.

Ranked choice voting petition

The council agenda includes review of a petition requesting ranked choice voting for Hopkins municipal elections. No council action was listed.

Draft 2027 budget and tax levy

In a separate work session, the council reviewed Finance Director Nick Bishop's draft 2027 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy. The proposed levy is $25,640,518, a 15.77% increase from 2026. Key items in the proposal:

• Police department would add one sworn officer, reaching 35 total positions.
• Fire department budget includes 15 positions supported by a FEMA SAFER grant.
• Up to $12 million in new debt is projected for capital projects, including $4.8 million for Central Park and $3.2 million for a Watermain Project.
• Preliminary levy adoption deadline is set for September 30, with a Truth and Taxation hearing planned for November 30.

This was a work session review, not a formal adoption.

HRA meeting

The Hopkins Housing and Redevelopment Authority met July 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The consent agenda included approving minutes from the June 2, 2026 meeting and authorizing disbursements through June 26, 2026. No new business was scheduled.

Coming up

July 21 — City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission joint work session: Updates on three major long-term plans:

• **2050 Comprehensive Plan:** Required by state law by end of 2028; presentation covers the existing 2040 framework and a three-phase timeline through fall 2028.
• **Safe Streets for All Plan:** Covers 55.2 miles of roads and future 2027 light rail transit. A crash analysis found 719 crashes over five years, with 55% of fatal and serious injuries involving pedestrians and bicyclists, including 4 pedestrian fatalities. A Vision Zero policy resolution is upcoming.
• **Housing Plan:** $641,916 in Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) funds received to date; $150,000 seed funding for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund with a $150,000 matching grant; $50,000 LAHA grant to ICA Food Shelf for emergency rental assistance; and $50,000 grant to hire Everlong Consulting.

No formal decisions are scheduled at the July 21 work session, but council and commission feedback will shape future policy steps.

Hopkins government roundup: Ranked-choice voting petition, downtown cannabis rules, and park projects on recent agendas

Three Hopkins advisory bodies met over the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. Based on the agendas, the meetings covered a potential ranked-choice voting charter amendment, proposed changes to how cannabis, liquor, and tobacco businesses are regulated downtown, and updates on park projects including a possible new ball field at Maetzold Field.

Charter Commission — July 1

The Hopkins Charter Commission was scheduled to vote on transmitting a citizen petition that would amend the city charter to implement ranked-choice voting for city elections. The petition requires at least 479 valid signatures from voters who cast ballots in the 2024 state election.

If the commission transmitted the petition by resolution, the City Clerk would certify the signatures. The agenda indicated the City Council may consider ballot language on July 14. Because minutes have not been published, the outcome of the transmittal vote is not yet confirmed.

Planning and Zoning Commission — June 23

The Planning and Zoning Commission was set to hold public hearings on two development code amendments.

The first hearing concerned reclassifying cannabis sales, off-sale liquor stores, and tobacco shops as conditional uses in the MX-D downtown district. Under that change, those businesses would be subject to a public review process before opening downtown.

The second hearing proposed classifying short-term rentals as a permitted use in neighborhood zones.

The commission was also scheduled to elect officers for 2026-2027, recognize outgoing commissioners, and approve minutes from its April 28, 2026 meeting. Minutes for the June 23 session have not been published, so the results of the public hearings and officer elections are not yet available.

Park Board — June 22

The Park Board reviewed updates on several park projects. The agenda included a Central Park groundbreaking ceremony on May 4, with a construction map shown to board members.

The board also discussed a possible 4-plex ball field at Maetzold Field, which would involve relocating the existing playground. No decision was listed on the agenda.

Other items on the agenda:

• Burnes Park received new field and playground sand.
• A garden plot kick-off event was scheduled for May 9 at the community gardens.
• A garlic mustard removal and native planting event was scheduled for May 17 at Shady Oak Pond.

Minutes for this meeting have not been published.

What this means for residents

The ranked-choice voting petition, if transmitted and eventually placed on a ballot, could change how Hopkins residents elect city officials. The Planning and Zoning proposals, if adopted by the City Council, would affect where cannabis, liquor, and tobacco businesses can locate downtown and how short-term rentals are regulated in residential neighborhoods. The Maetzold Field discussion could shape future recreation options, though no formal action was listed.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should watch for City Council action on the ranked-choice voting petition, which the Charter Commission agenda indicated could come before the Council as soon as July 14. Minutes from all three recent meetings remain pending and will confirm what was ultimately decided or voted on.

Hopkins boards address ranked-choice voting petition, downtown zoning changes

The Hopkins Charter Commission took up a citizen petition that could bring ranked-choice voting to city elections, while the Planning and Zoning Commission held public hearings on reclassifying cannabis sales and other businesses downtown. The actions came during recent meetings for which minutes were not yet published.

Charter Commission: Ranked-choice voting petition

The Charter Commission met July 1 and considered transmitting a petition to the City Council. The petition seeks a charter amendment to implement ranked-choice voting for Hopkins city elections. To move forward, the petition must contain at least 479 valid signatures from voters in the 2024 state election. The City Clerk will certify the signatures, and the City Council could consider ballot language as early as July 14, according to the agenda.

Planning and Zoning: Cannabis, short-term rentals

The Planning and Zoning Commission held public hearings June 23 on two development code amendments. One would reclassify cannabis sales, off-sale liquor stores, and tobacco shops as conditional uses in the MX-D downtown district, adding a public review process. The other would make short-term rentals a permitted use in neighborhood zones. The commission also planned to elect officers for 2026-2027 and recognize outgoing members. No votes were reported because minutes had not been published.

Park Board: Central Park groundbreaking and field plans

The Park Board met June 22 to review park updates. Members discussed the May 4 Central Park groundbreaking ceremony and saw a construction map. They also considered a possible 4-plex ball field at Maetzold Field that could involve relocating playground equipment. Burnes Park received new field and playground sand. Upcoming events include a garden plot kickoff May 9 and a garlic mustard removal and native planting at Shady Oak Pond on May 17.

Coming up

No city meetings were listed on the Hopkins municipal calendar for the next 14 days.