Fire Department Open House is October 9

The Hopkins Fire Department will host its annual Open House at the Hopkins Fire Station, 101 17th Avenue S, on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by and enjoy fire truck and bucket rides, free hot dogs and popcorn, and lots of hands-on fun. Learn more about the open house here.

HREI Community Conversation is October 14

The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative is hosting a community conversation on Race
and Housing, part one in a series on Race, Power and Politics, on Thursday, October
14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The panel discussion, featuring former Brooklyn Center City Manager Curt Boganey, African Career Education and Resource Inc. Executive Director Nelima Sitati Munene, and Edina Realty Realtor Derwin George, will cover topics including the power of the renter; building a racially inclusive community; working toward housing stability; and the impacts of housing disparities on our community. More information is available here.

The Freight Market is October 16

Join the Depot Youth Advisory Board for The Freight Market, an outdoor art fair for both youth and adult artists, on Saturday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Depot Coffee House. Learn more about the event here.

Taj Mahal Concert is October 16

Tickets are still available for the Taj Mahal concert on Saturday, October 16, at 8 p.m., at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Blues musician Taj Mahal is a two-time GRAMMY winning singer, songwriter, film composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Learn more about Taj Mahal and upcoming concerts at the Art Center, and purchase tickets here.

Free Leaf and Yard Waste Pick-Up Begins October 25

Free fall leaf and yard waste bag pick-up will be on your regular garbage day October 25 through November 18. If you live in the Bellgrove, Hobby Acres, Park Ridge and Interlachen Park, leaf and yard waste will be picked-up using front-end loaders and dump trucks November 1 through 4. Find the schedule for your neighborhood's pick-up day on the City website. You do not need to schedule this pick-up. Information about pick-up guidelines is available here.

Save the Date: Halloween Drive-Thru Event is October 30

Save the date for some Halloween fun with the Hopkins Police and Fire Departments on Saturday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Police and fire personnel will be facilitating a drive-thru trick-or-treat event at the Public Works facility. Keep an eye on the Hopkins Police Department Facebook page for further event details.

A Note About City Council Meeting Broadcast/Recording Technical Difficulties

City Council and staff are aware that there have been some recent technical issues with the City Council meeting broadcasts on Cable Channel 16 and meeting recordings on our website. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and are actively working to address and fix the problem.

Unfortunately, due to these technical issues, the City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 5, was not broadcast or recorded. Below is a summary of the three main agenda items from the meeting:

The City Council granted an Exclusive Liquor Store On-Sale Liquor License to Mess Hall. The Mess Hall is an interactive art studio in the previous Projects in Person space at 906 Mainstreet. The business concept is an experience where individuals of all ages can come and “make a mess” by applying paint to a canvas with whatever they choose (e.g. their hands, a water gun, spoon, sticks, etc.). The Mess Hall is also planning to have time-slots for other art techniques for adults, such as pendulum painting, abstract art, drip art and art tool demonstrations. It is anticipated that the Mess Hall will open on November 6. For more information, contact City Clerk Amy Domeier.
The City Council also approved an amendment to the Residential Recycling Services Contract to include a provision for residential curbside organics recycling service. Hennepin County revised their recycling ordinance, mandating that cities must make organics recycling service available to all households with curbside recycling service (single-family and dwellings up to four units) by January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2022, all residents who have curbside recycling service through the City’s contract with Republic Services will see a new charge of $5.50 on their utility bill for this required, new organics recycling program. Those who wish to participate will need to contact Public Works to request delivery of a cart. Stay tuned for more information about this new program. For more information, contact Solid Waste Coordinator Pam Hove.
The City Council received an update about the City’s sustainability initiatives. The update included an introduction of the City’s GreenCorps Member, Pazey Yang; information on the status of existing initiatives, such as B3 Benchmarking and GreenSteps Cities; and a briefing on potential new initiatives, such as Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Program. For more information, contact PeggySue Imihy Bean.

Meetings & Events

October 11, 6:30 p.m. - Park Board Meeting (rescheduled from October 25)
October 12, 6:30 p.m. - City Council Work Session (preliminary agenda)

Quick Links

Ask the City | City of Hopkins Website | Think Hopkins Website