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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 09/01/2020APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Brad Aho, Mark Freiberg, P G Narayanan, and Kathy Nelson CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Police Chief Greg Weber, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Council Recorder Jan Curielli I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Acting Mayor Aho called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Case was absent. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION IV. PROCLAMATIONS / PRESENTATIONS V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 4-0. VI. MINUTES A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP HELD TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 B. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the minutes of the City Council Workshop held Tuesday, August 18, 2020, and the City Council meeting held Tuesday, August 18, 2020, as published. Motion carried 4-0. VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR A. APPROVE CHANGE TO EDEN PRAIRIE FIREFIGHTER RELIEF ASSOCIATION BYLAWS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 1, 2020 Page 2 B. APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 3 WITH VEIT COMPANY FOR EDEN PRAIRIE ROAD EXTENSION PROJECT MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve Items A-B, on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 4-0. IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS / MEETINGS A. ASPIRE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2 by City of Eden Prairie. Resolution 2020-83 for Comprehensive Guide Plan change from Industrial Flex Tech to Parks and Open Space on one acre (Resolution No. 2020-83 for Comprehensive Plan Change) Getschow explained Items A and B are two similar items to update the comprehensive plan for two development projects that have occurred and outlots that were dedicated. Staff is asking that the rezoning or comprehensive guide plan change take effect at those locations. They are similar to housekeeping items or vacating easements. The first item is a rezoning from Industrial Flex Tech to Parks and Open Space of an approximately one acre outlot owned by the City of Eden Prairie and located at the intersection of Golden Triangle Drive and Valley View Road. The parcel was deeded to the City as part of the Golden Triangle Industrial project. The area will be maintained as conservation open space. There were no comments from the audience. MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Narayanan, to close the public hearing, and to adopt Resolution No. 2020-83 for guide plan change from Industrial Flex Tech to Parks and Open Space. Motion carried 4-0. B. ASPIRE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3 by City of Eden Prairie. Resolution 2020-84 for Comprehensive Guide Plan change from Low Density Residential to Parks and Open Space on 2.66 acres; First reading of an ordinance for Zoning District change on 2.66 acres (Resolution No. 2020-84 for Comprehensive Plan Change; Ordinance for Zoning District Change) Getschow described the comprehensive plan change from Low Density Residential to Parks and Open Space on 2.66 outlot on the north portion of the Highland Oaks development project. The outlot is adjacent to a City-owned conservation area already zoned and guided Parks and Open Space. The area was deeded to the City through the Highland Oaks development project and will be maintained as a conservation area. There were no comments from the audience. MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Narayanan, to close the public hearing; to adopt Resolution No. 2020-84 for guide plan change from Low Density Residential to Parks and Open Space; and to approve the first reading of the ordinance for rezoning from R1-9.5 to Park and Open Space on 2.66 acres. Motion carried 4-0. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 1, 2020 Page 3 X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the payment of claims as submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Freiberg, Narayanan, Nelson and Aho voting “aye.” XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS XIII. APPOINTMENTS XIV. REPORTS A. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER 1. Absentee Voting Update Getschow stated Council Member Nelson asked at the last meeting about the City’s process and procedures for absentee voting. He explained absentee voting has increased greatly since the change was made to “no excuse” absentee voting for the 2016 and 2018 elections. Eden Prairie, Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota election officials encourage people to vote by mail. Voting by mail is a very viable option. From September 18 until November 2 people can vote by absentee ballot, which then can be mailed or dropped off at City Hall. Voters can also come in to City Hall to vote in person. In addition, starting October 27, the voter can put their completed ballot through the ballot counter. Prior to that week, all the absentee ballots will go to Hennepin County. He emphasized the voter can track a mailed-in ballot at mnvotes.org. to see if their ballot has been received, similar to the way a UPS package is tracked. Staff believes there is a long period of time for people to come in early to vote at City Hall, to vote by mail, or to vote on Election Day. As of yesterday, he reported one-third of the eligible voters in Eden Prairie have already applied for an absentee ballot. Getschow related just over 11,000 ballots were cast by Eden Prairie voters in the recent Primary election, and over 7300 of those were absentee ballots. There are a few cities in Minnesota who may provide boxes or containers to take ballots. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has given guidance that drop boxes must be supervised, secured and an agent delivery log must be kept. They do not recommend un-attended drop boxes. Aho asked about the requirements for the date by which ballots must be postmarked because there seem to have been different rules in different jurisdictions. He asked if Hennepin County allows ballots to be postmarked the CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 1, 2020 Page 4 day of the election and received several days after the election. Getschow replied he believed a time of seven days after the election will be allowed for ballots to be accepted at Hennepin County. Nelson noted voters can also do curbside voting during the time of absentee balloting and at the polls on Election Day. Getschow said he would verify that with the City Clerk. He also noted the City may develop a plan to have curbside drop-off of absentee ballots. Narayanan reiterated there are multiple ways voters can cast ballots during the early voting period. Aho noted we try to be as accommodating as possible. C. REPORT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR D. REPORT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR E. REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR 1. Curbside and Drop Off Recycling Event Ellis said the City is planning a curbside recycling pickup event for the two weeks from October 5 to October 16. Residents can schedule an appointment for curbside pickup of items like refrigerators, tires, or lawn mowers during the two-week period. The cost is the same as the charge for items during the drop off event. All items picked up will be recycled. They also plan to add mattress and furniture pickup. In addition, there will be a drop off for electronics only on Saturday, October 17 at the yard waste drop off site. He noted the only cost to the City will be the labor involved in the drop off day event. They plan to publicize the event on City media. Narayanan commented this is a great idea and is a good example of how the City reacts to the needs of residents. He has received many calls, emails and texts asking for this type of event. Aho observed this will be a great service for our residents and will enable them to stay within the City and not travel outside to find a place that accepts unwanted items. F. REPORT OF POLICE CHIEF G. REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF H. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY XV. OTHER BUSINESS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 1, 2020 Page 5 XVI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0. Acting Mayor Aho adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m.