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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 02/18/2025 - WorkshopApproved Minutes Eden Prairie City Council Workshop 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 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 MEETING AGENDA Heritage Rooms I. Council Goals and Priorities for 2025 Case introduced the workshop topic and explained the opportunity for Council to express their values to staff and each other. The Council has been stable over the past four years. Tonight’s discussion is to allow open communication on new issues and perspectives, not to set concrete directives. Toomey noted the best part of serving as a Council Member is helping residents. Toomey explained Meals on Wheels is currently based out of Bloomington. It serves approximately 40 Eden Prairie clients with frozen meals once per week. A goal for the upcoming year is finding a location to house Meals on Wheels in Eden Prairie. In addition to providing meals, Meals on Wheels serves the community by checking in on elderly neighbors. Toomey explained another goal is to provide small business startup loans, perhaps in partnership with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. The Council Members holding town hall meetings with various communities is important and that work should continue. Additionally, a town hall with non- profit organizations could be beneficial. Lastly, Toomey noted she is interested in increasing the amount of drones at the Fourth of July Hometown Celebration. CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA February 18, 2025 Page 2 Narayanan stated maintaining the balance of providing excellent services at a reasonable price is a goal. Sustainability and multicultural awareness initiatives should continue to be a priority. Although the City has limited control, affordable housing should continue to be prioritized. It’s important for individuals like teachers to be able to afford a home in Eden Prairie. Narayanan expressed agreement with Toomey over helping non-profit organizations, and the City would have difficulty providing these important services. Freiberg noted affordable housing is an important goal. The City should continue building on past successes and ensure the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is appropriately funded. There is a surplus of vacant commercial and retail space, especially at the mall. The City should look into ways to fill the vacant space. The City should also continue raising awareness and funds for People Reaching Out to People (PROP) to help the food and housing insecure. Freiberg noted there has been an increase in traffic and speeding issues over the past few years the City should address. Nelson stated the City should continue to maintain roads, trails, parks, benches, and flower beds. It’s important to preserve a beautiful environment. The City should also invest in more outdoor electric maintenance tools including trimmers, lawn mowers, and branch cutters. The City is becoming a technology hub, and should continue to build a wide range of housing to attract families working in these positions. The City should continue to invest in streets and stormwater infrastructure. Additionally, per the recent fire staffing coverage study, all four fire stations should be staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Additional full time firefighters should be hired to provide the staffing coverage needed. Finally, the City should continue to offer exceptional services at a reasonable tax increase year to year. Case noted the current Council Members will not serve forever and reiterated the importance of leaving a well-organized, well planned City for the future Council Members. Adequate housing, open space, parks, sewer and water infrastructure, and the mall area should be laid out. Sustainability goals should be prioritized including electric vehicles and lawn maintenance equipment. It is important for all cities to pursue climate action goals. Affordable housing is another goal. The City’s inclusionary housing ordinance is a good start. Additionally, the City’s CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA February 18, 2025 Page 3 partnership with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce to encourage entrepreneurship is beneficial for the small business community, especially the innovation sandbox. Small business loans could also be explored. Case summarized the importance of reasonable tax increases for residents. It may be beneficial to explain how many services would need to be cut for the City’s tax levy to remain the same. Transitioning the Fire Department to a full time and duty crew hybrid model is beneficial for public safety, but it comes with a levy increase. Case explained the Council Members should continue to do town hall meetings to connect with the community, especially focusing on seniors and young people. Case said multicultural initiatives should continue to be pursued, and noted the City is 28 percent diverse. Additionally, new ways to decrease speeding vehicles should be explored. Narayanan added open space will be crucial in the long term as housing density increases, and suggested ways to decrease expenses without laying off individuals including negotiating contracts and purchases. Getschow thanked the council for their input and noted many upcoming workshops will be dedicated to the priorities and goals mentioned including sustainability, budgeting, and fire staffing. The City is realizing large savings from energy efficiency investments. The City will continue to uphold partnerships with organizations such as the school district, the chamber, and local non-profits. Town hall meetings will continue with different members of the community. Small business loans are a relatively new topic that can be researched. Case added the City should research small business needs and ways the City can assist. Getschow noted the City can prepare information as to what services would need to be cut for a zero percent tax levy increase. It’s important to emphasize the City’s high quality services at a reasonable tax burden compared to surrounding Cities. Vacant real estate including commercial and retail spaces can be discussed further. Case stated he is glad to hear a second cricket pitch will soon be constructed. Additionally, the soccer and baseball fields at flying cloud will likely remain for the next decade. The Council discussed additional priorities including the light rail, the City Center renovation, and the flying red horse monument sign. The Council Member noted their appreciation for city staff. CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA February 18, 2025 Page 4 Council Chambers II. Open Podium III. Adjournment