HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 09/21/2021APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER
CITY COUNCIL Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Mark Freiberg, PG
Narayanan, Kathy Nelson, and Lisa Toomey
CITY STAFF City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director
Robert Ellis, Parks and Recreation Director Jay
Lotthammer, City Planner Julie Klima, Police Chief Matt
Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, City Attorney Maggie
Neuville, and Council Recorder Jan Curielli
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Case called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. All Council Members were present.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION
IV. PROCLAMATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Toomey added Item XIV.A.1. Case added Item XIV.A.2.
MOTION: Toomey moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion
carried 5-0.
VI. MINUTES
A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
B. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
MOTION: Toomey moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the minutes of the
Council workshop held Tuesday, September 7, 2021, and the City Council meeting held
Tuesday, September 7, 2021, as published. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
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A. CLERK’S LICENSE LIST
B. CROSSTOWN CORE INDUSTRIAL CENTER by Sambatek, Inc. Second reading
of Ordinance No. 13-2021-PUD-7-2021 for Planned Unit Development District review
with waivers and a Zoning change from Office, Rural and Commercial Highway to
Industrial on 5.0 Acres; Resolution No. 2021-74 for Site Plan review on 5.0 Acres
(Ordinance No. 13-2021-PUD-7-2021 for PUD District Review, Resolution No.
2021-74 for Site Plan Review, Development Agreement)
C. APPROVE CONTRACT WITH VTI SECURITY FOR FIRE STATION 1
CAMERA UPGRADE PROJECT
D. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-75 DECLARING COSTS, ORDERING
PREPARATION OF 2021 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL, AND SETTING
HEARING DATE
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve Items A-D on the
Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0.
IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS / MEETINGS
X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Toomey, to approve the payment of claims as
submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Freiberg, Narayanan, Nelson,
Toomey and Case voting “aye.”
XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A. HOLIDAY CONVENIENCE STORE & AUTO CARE WORLD SERVICE
CENTER by R.J. Ryan Construction. Resolution for Denial. (Resolution No. 2021-76
for Denial)
Getschow stated the applicant is requesting approval to construct a 5,200 square foot
gas station/convenience store with a car wash and an 11,280 square foot auto repair
facility on the property located in the NW corner of the intersection of Pioneer Trail
and Hennepin Town Road. The applications include PUD Concept Review, PUD
District Review with Waivers, Site Plan, and Preliminary Plat. The Planning
Commission voted 8-0 to deny the applications at its June 14, 2021 meeting. The City
Council held a public hearing on the project on August 17, 2021. Following the public
hearing and discussion of the development, the Council directed staff to prepare
findings for denial of the application. The applicant submitted a revised site plan on
August 26, 2021. The staff response was to state a full set of plans was needed in order
for the project to go back through the review process, which would include a Planning
Commission public hearing and a Planning Commission recommendation at a
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minimum. The City received a submittal from the developer with several of the updated
plans last Friday after the Council packet was published. After reviewing the
information contained in the letter, staff continues to believe a full set of plans is
required and the development needs to go through the full review process, including a
review by the Planning Commission. An updated paragraph in the resolution with
findings for denial of the application is included in the revised resolution printed on
goldenrod paper for the Council tonight.
As clarification, Case noted this is a continuation of what the Council vetted at a public
hearing on August 17. He asked if staff has determined the latest revisions proposed by
the developer are not complete and would require the project to go back through the
entire process again. Getschow said that was correct. Case then stated the comments
and discussion of the City Council at the August 17, 2021, public hearing at which the
Council directed the City Attorney to draft findings for denial is recorded and available
as part of the public record.
MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Nelson, to adopt Resolution No. 2021-76
denying the applications of R.J. Ryan Construction for Planned Unit Development
concept review, Planned Unit Development district review with waivers, site plan,
and preliminary plat for the proposed Holiday Convenience Store and Auto Care
World Service Center Project. Motion carried 5-0.
XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS
XIII. APPOINTMENTS
XIV. REPORTS
A. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Recognition of Front Line Workers – Council Member Toomey
Toomey reported there are many Eden Prairie residents who are also front-line
hospital workers who have been battling COVID-19 for much longer than
anyone would have anticipated. She has spoken to many people who have
experienced the effects of stress and PTSD and was thinking about what the
City could do to help our residents who work on the front lines. Her research
found studies showing art of any kind is useful for stress reduction, as is
creativity. With that in mind, she suggested the City might offer free passes to
the Art Center for front-line workers to show the City’s support to those who are
in the trenches dealing with the horror of the pandemic.
Nelson commented this was a good idea, and asked if this would include just
workers in hospitals. Toomey suggested to start we could include nurses and
doctors in Emergency Rooms and COVID units as well as hospital maintenance
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workers.
Case suggested the Council direct staff to develop a definition around this and
to come back to our next meeting with a proposal for this group of medical
workers. It should also specify a defined length of time. He noted he was okay
with the City working this out as a way to help our front-line, stressed medical
workers.
Narayanan thought it would be good for staff to define who are the front-line
workers as well as how long the program would last. He asked what the cost
would be to the City if the program is offered. Getschow replied there would be
an expense to the City, but also suggested the costs could be offset by some of
the COVID dollars we have received.
Nelson suggested we look at adding yet this fall any classes that could be
suitable for this group.
Narayanan commented we should not be limited by the cost if we can apply
COVID funds to cover the cost.
Lotthammer acknowledged Council Member Toomey was correct in her
research and understanding of art as a beneficial therapy. Staff could look at
how to do this. He noted there is a genre of art designed for this kind of therapy.
We also do things at the Community Center for cancer survivors and people
with other illnesses. He offered to follow up with Council Member Toomey to
learn more about her research.
Case suggested we might run this as a pilot program and then could possibly use
it for other groups in need in the future.
2. Recognition of Long-Time City Employees’ Retirements—Mayor Case
Case noted long-time City Council Recorder, Jan Curielli, is retiring after
tonight’s meeting. She has been taking minutes for the City Council and other
Eden Prairie Boards and Commissions since the 1980’s. He thanked her for her
service to the City of Eden Prairie, and noted there have been several
retirements of long-time employees over the last month or so. Those individuals
include Janet Jeremiah, Sue Kotchevar, Kitty Porta and Jan Curielli, who
together represent a combined total of 107 years of service to Eden Prairie. He
commented we will miss their historical perspective and expertise. He also
believed the fact these employees have worked so long for the City reflects the
quality of our staff over the years as our employees have repeatedly voted Eden
Prairie as one of the best places to work in Minnesota.
B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
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C. REPORT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
D. REPORT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR
E. REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
F. REPORT OF POLICE CHIEF
G. REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF
H. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY
XV. OTHER BUSINESS
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
5-0. Mayor Case adjourned the meeting at 7:23 p.m.