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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 08/12/2025 - WorkshopApproved Minutes Eden Prairie City Council Workshop 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 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: Eden Prairie Historical Society President Kathie Case, Heritage Preservation Commission Staff Liaison Beth Novak-Krebs, Facilities Manager Rick Clark MEETING AGENDA Heritage Rooms I. Eden Prairie Historical Society Update – President Kathie Case R. Case introduced the first topic and noted the engagement of Council and staff with the value of historic preservation. K. Case explained she joined the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS) board in 1989 and became president in 2004. There are currently 14 members on the EPHS board. K. Case lauded Heritage Preservation Commission Staff Liaison Beth Novak-Krebs and Facilities Manager Rick Clark for their support. K. Case explained the EPHS is preparing the museum for additional space once the Police Department and City Center remodel is complete. The additional space would be dedicated to a research area, additional file cabinets, and storing historical records currently held at other facilities. The museum is open Mondays and for special occasions such as boy and girl scout troop visits. K. Case provided information on the EPHS Facebook Group, Eden Prairie Remembers, and the EPHS website. K. Case recently spoke with Jillian Davis, who will run the bookstore at the Dorenkemper house. R. Case asked for a status update on the newly added utility room and CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA August 12, 2025 Page 2 bathroom. Clark answered he anticipates the addition will be roughed in before winter. Interior finishes will be completed early 2026, and the bookstore will open in spring 2026. Toomey asked what will happen to the furniture and other items currently in the Dorenkemper house. Clark stated some furniture appropriate for the bookstore will stay, the remainder will removed for preservation. K. Case explained the EPHS likes to complete a project at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House (CPG House) annually. This year, the EPHS will hire professional cleaners for the CPG House basement. K. Case details events occurring at the CPG House including Santa’s North Pole Experience, tree sales by scout troops, Coffee and Conversation, and the PROP shop sale. Eden Prairie Non-Profits are welcome to use the CPG House once per year at no charge. K. Case next detailed the EPHS’s outreach events. The EPHS does speaking engagements with different community groups, including the lionesses and senior living facilities. The EPHS participated in the 100 year celebration for Camp Eden Wood, and the 100 year celebration for the consolidated school district. The EPHS partners closely with many Heritage Preservation Commission projects including the Flying Red Horse and the history of Eden Prairie manuscript. K. Case thanked the Council for its support, noting other Historical Societies don’t receive as much City support as the EPHS does. Narayanan asked if the EPHS received any feedback on the Flying Red Horse installment. K. Case noted the EPHS has received many positive comments. Narayanan asked how big the EPHS budget is. K. Case noted the budget is healthy. There are no paid employees. EPHS Treasurer Chris Honaas Wildfang added the primary income source is membership dues. Narayanan asked if the EPHS receives money from other sources. K. Case confirmed the EPHS receives funds from different community groups including the Hopkins Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Eden Prairie Lions. R. Case noted the EPHS is the designated keeper of historical documents, archives, and photos for the people of Eden Prairie. The EPHS is performing important work that the City would otherwise need to do. Narayanan asked what more the EPHS needs from the City. K. Case stated the City, especially the Facilities team, has been a wonderful partner and nothing further is needed. Narayanan asked what the EPHS needs from the community. K. Case encouraged more residents CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA August 12, 2025 Page 3 to become members of the EPHS. There are many events such as trolly tours and barn dances. EPHS Board Member Sheryl Fletcher asked if the City could promote the EPHS in its messaging. Lorenz confirmed EPHS events are promoted in the City Manager’s Friday Report. R. Case asked how many people are reached through City messaging. Lorenz confirmed there are 45 thousand cumulative email subscribers to various City topics. Getschow added information on various nonprofits, including the EPHS, is available on the City website. Narayanan asked if the EPHS hosts fundraisers to raise money. K. Case confirmed the EPHS hosts fundraising events. Sometimes events just break even, which is still considered successful as the organization’s objective is to increase exposure to history, not to be profitable. There is enough money to invest back into historic properties and occasionally purchase historical artifacts for sale. Narayanan asked if the EPHS eventually would like to purchase its own space. K. Case confirmed that is not a priority, the EPHS has everything needed in the current City Center space. R. Case asked when the historical museum expansion will be complete. Clark confirmed the anticipated completion date is the end of 2026. The Council Members thanked the EPHS for their time and efforts. II. Historical Properties Update – Senior Planner Beth Novak-Krebs and Facilities Manager Rick Clark Clark noted the City Staff, in partnership with contractors, work on historical buildings throughout the year. Clark gave an overview of projects recently completed at Camp Eden Wood including Birchwood Cabin exterior improvements, removal of invasive species and replanting native plants, and reroofing the dormitory building. R. Case noted Camp Eden Wood is on the National Register of Historic Places. Clark stated the CPG House roof was replaced in 2022, and the floors inside were sanded and re-sealed. Sewer and water were extended to the Dorenkemper House in 2023. There will be an addition of a small bathroom and utility room for the building’s adaptive reuse. In 2026, the City will apply for a grant to replace the Dorenkemper House roof. Clark explained the Riley Jacques barn received carpentry repairs and was recently painted. The Riley Jaques barn hosts much programming, weddings, and events. A card access system was recently installed. At the Smith Douglas More house, vegetation management and new plantings CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA August 12, 2025 Page 4 occurred this summer in partnership with Applewood Point. A rain garden and an irrigation system were recently installed. The parking lot is being redeveloped to add several new stalls. Narayanan asked if there is Electric Vehicle (EV) charging at the Smith Douglas More house. Clark answered the property does not have EV charging, it would rather focus on maximizing space as it is often short on stalls. R. Case added customers are often not there for enough time to warrant an EV charge. Clark stated the Staring Lake Outdoor Center added restrooms in 2023. Work was completed on the boardwalk this year. Future projects include new windows and a new entrance sign. Novak-Krebs provided an update on the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). Consultants are researching for the book on Eden Prairie Native American history. The consultants are providing an update to HPC members next week. Novak-Krebs submitted a preapplication for a legacy grant to write a manuscript for the book. The City will be notified in December if the grant will be awarded. The HPC has been discussing completing a cultural resources inventory. In the early 1990s a consultant was hired to survey and map over 150 of the City’s cultural resources such as historic structures and archeological resources. An updated inventory would be helpful as resources may have been lost or added. The Council Members thanked Novak-Krebs and Clark for their time and efforts. Council Chambers III. Open Podium IV. Adjournment