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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council - 02/04/2025 - WorkshopApproved Minutes Eden Prairie City Council Workshop 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 City Center Heritage Rooms, Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES City Council Members: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey City Staff: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, Police Chief Matt Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Recorder Sara Potter Guest Speakers: Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Steve Schumacher, Heritage Preservation Commission Vice Chair Paul Thorp, Heritage Preservation Commission Staff Liaison Beth Novak-Krebs, Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission Chair Daniel Dorson, Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission Guest Chair Marc Morhack MEETING AGENDA Heritage Rooms I. Heritage Preservation Commission Work Plan 5:30 to 6 p.m. Case welcomed members of the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). HPC Chair Steve Schumacher noted his appreciation for Staff Liaison Beth Novak-Krebs. Schumacher stated the HPC presented the Heritage Preservation Awards to three individuals in three different areas of work. The HPC also completed writing a nomination report for the Old Depot Site to be recognized as a heritage preservation site. The site is not an actual structure but a foundation and should be preserved. Schumacher stated HPC members have discussed organizing a cleanup of the Old Mill Site foundation, which is currently being used improperly to discard yard waste. The foundation walls are not stable and may collapse upon removal of the yard waste. Case asked if the Old Mill Site is on public right of way. HPC Vice Chair Paul Thorp answered the site is on City owned conservation land. Nelson suggested installing a sign that identifies the Old Mill Site and forbids yard waste CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA September 03, 2024 Page 2 dumping. Schumacher noted the HPC has discussed the need for a sign. Case noted the addition of a sign may increase attention and unwanted activity. Toomey asked what type of mill was at the site. Case confirmed it was a water mill for grinding grain. Narayanan asked how big the foundation is. Thorp answered the foundation is a 15 foot by 15 foot stone structure. Narayanan suggested protecting the site by building a brick wall around the perimeter. Schumacher noted a brick wall would be a possibility, but the job of the HPC is to document history and tell stories where necessary. There are other areas in need of HPC’s efforts. The Old Depot Site likely has more historical significance than the Old Mill Site. Schumacher stated the HPC participated in events including the Citywide Open House, Harvest to Halloween, and Picnic in the Park. They also received a grant to manufacture the Flying Red Horse interpretive panels. The HPC has created subcommittees to focus on different priorities. The Native American History and Outreach subcommittee wrote and distributed a Request for Proposal for a consultant to write a book about the indigenous history of Eden Prairie. One bid was submit for $36 thousand by Paul Maravelas. Ideally the consultant would do the research and write a manuscript. The HPC would then condense the manuscript into the final book. The HPC would like to pursue grants to finance the project, however it would push the project back 6 to 12 months. This is important work the commission would like to move forward on. Case asked if commissions are allocated a budget. Getschow answered the commissions do have some funds, but it would not be enough to cover the bid. It would be risky to begin work without having a grant secured. Staff could research possible funding sources to present to the Council. Case gave a summary of existing books covering Eden Prairie history. None of the books cover indigenous history between 1750 and 1850. Maravelas is well respected by historical groups. Case indicated he is in favor of the HPC proceeding with the quote. A funding source will be located. Nelson stated the length of the book should be appropriate for the average reader. Freiberg added there is 100 years of missing history that risks being lost the further the book is delayed. Narayanan commented it should be done correctly, the research should not be limited by a set number of pages. The EP Foundation offers grants. Narayanan asked if the City could place QR codes for individuals to donate to historical projects. Neuville commented cities do not CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA September 03, 2024 Page 3 have the authority to fundraise. Schumacher summarized ideas of how the HPC could do more community outreach featuring Eden Prairie history on articles such as banners. This could be done in partnership with the Eden Prairie Historical Society. Case commented he favored the idea of placing banners that celebrate Eden Prairie history on lampposts throughout the City. Schumacher commented other art or temporary installations could help tell the story of Eden Prairie. The Council thanked the HPC members for their time. II. Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission Work Plan 6 to 6:30 p.m. Gerber introduced Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission (FCAAC) Chair Dan Dorson and Vice Chair Marc Morhack. Morhack detailed 2024 FCAAC accomplishments including meeting with flight schools multiple times to keep community noise concerns top of mind, and increasing visibility on noise abatement and community relations. There was a four percent decrease in operations at Flying Cloud Airport from 2023 to 2024. Even with the decreased operations, the number of complaints increased. The number of households who submit complaints was relatively stable between 2023 and 2024. Often the time of day operations occur drives complaints. Morhack stated propeller planes generate the highest number of noise complaints, along with flight schools performing repetitive pattern work. The south runway at Flying Cloud Airport may be operable soon. Toomey noted flights taking off from the south runway would fly over the river, leading to less noise pollution over homes. Morhack added operations between 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. lead to the highest number of complaints. The FCAAC is also interested in night operations, however many operations at night are medical flights or organ donations. Narayanan noted most flights occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., very few occur at night. Toomey asked if there was a curfew for operations. Dorson answered there is a voluntary curfew. Case added there are only two airports in the United States that permit mandatory compliance enforcement based on noise. The group discussed residents’ misunderstanding the City’s ability to control airport operations at Flying Cloud. Dorson detailed the FCAAC’s focus areas for 2025. Dorson explained he is leading an upcoming CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA September 03, 2024 Page 4 Metropolitan Airport Council (MAC) webinar to discuss ways to lessen noise pollution for surrounding neighborhoods including flying at appropriate altitudes, altering patterns, and utilizing surrounding airports. MAC has agreed to create a video shown to all new instructors and student pilots reiterating the airport’s proximity to neighborhoods. Case noted although the City does not have much power to directly influence airport operations, resident complaints do eventually get heard. Nelson stated it may be beneficial to provide messaging that Flying Cloud is a federal airport controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the same organization that controls the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Airport. Narayanan asked if there is information on how long the households who submit complaints have been residents. Dorson answered the FCAAC only has anecdotal evidence when residents attend meetings to share their perspective. Often longtime residents who experience a lifestyle change, such as retiring or beginning to work from home, will submit a first time complaint. Dorson explained the MAC is revising its Long-Term Plan, outlining current and future needs for the next 20 years. Narayanan asked what is included in the Long-Term Plan. Dorson stated mostly safety around existing runways. Nelson asked if the number of flight schools can be limited. Dorson responded the number of flight schools cannot be limited. Case expressed interest in reviewing the 2001 Final Agreement to discuss what operations, if any, the City can influence. Toomey stated pilots from other areas may have unique solutions for the same issues experienced at Flying Cloud Airport. The Council members thanked the FCAAC members for their time. Council Chambers III. Open Podium IV. Adjournment