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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 01/20/2004 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORUM TUESDAY,JANUARY 20,2004 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM,HERITAGE ROOM II 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher, Ron Case, Jan Mosman, and Philip Young CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal,Police Chief Dan Carlson,Fire Chief George Esbensen,Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert,Parks and Natural Resources Manager Stu Fox,Recreation Services Manager Laurie Obiazor, Communications Manager Jack Sheehan, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Heritage Room II I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. DISCUSSION OF PARK REFERENDUM Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert presented information requested by Council at the December 16, 2003, referendum workshop. Lambert reviewed recommendations made by the Youth Facility Task Force,the Community Center Study Task Force, the Pool Study Task Force, and the Third Rink Task Force, as well as citizen input from Friends of Birch Island Woods and the Baseball Association. He outlined findings of the 1992 and 1995 surveys,the 2000 focus groups, and 2001 survey. Lambert said in 1992, the majority of residents polled opposed construction of a new pool,but by 2001, an outdoor pool was the highest ranked facility need. By 2003, 51 percent of respondents indicated they supported a water park. Both the 2000 forum and 2003 survey showed community support for upgrading the Community Center. Lambert also outlined"necessary"park and recreation improvements that must be made within the next couple of years. Those improvements include: ■ Replacement of the freon system at Rink One($500,000+) ■ Replacement of the Community Center roof($260,000) ■ Replacement of deteriorating 6-foot wide trails built in the 1970s with 5-foot concrete sidewalks or 8-foot trails ($680,000) City Council Workshop Minutes January 20,2004 Page 2 Lambert asked Council to consider several factors when deciding which questions to include on a referendum: ■ Surveys indicate gradual increase in support of an outdoor pool,with more than 50% of residents saying they would support it ■ Residents expect the City to maintain and make improvements to the park system ■ Residents expect the City to upgrade and maintain the Community Center ■ The majority of residents do not want to pay additional taxes to fund these improvements Lambert outlined the following potential referendum projects: ■ Construction of an outdoor aquatic center($6—8 million) ■ Community Center improvements ($7—8.5 million) ■ Site improvements to accommodate an aquatic center($1.3 million) In addition, Lambert said staff is recommending an additional$4 million for other improvements to the park and open space system. He said that, in conjunction with grants and matching funds from athletic associations, the following projects could be accomplished: ■ Expansion of Flying Cloud Fields ($1.3 million from referendum) ■ Construction of Miller Park Softball Complex ($300,000 from referendum, $250,000 in park dedication fees, $50,000 from athletic association) ■ Construction of Miller Park Baseball Stadium($500,000 from referendum, $450,000 from park dedication fees, $350,00 from athletic association) ■ Construction of a football/soccer storage and concession building($300,000 from referendum, $250,000 from park dedication fees, $100,000 from athletic associations) ■ Addition of a third ice rink($1 million from referendum, $1 million in revenue bonds, $1 million from athletic association) ■ Land acquisition for park trails ($600,000 from referendum, $600,000 grant) Assuming the average Eden Prairie home is valued at$300,000, the tax increase resulting from a successful referendum would be approximately: $30/year on a$10 million referendum($2.50/month) $45/year on a$14 million referendum($3.75/month) $60/year on a$18 million referendum($5.00/month) $66/year on a$20 million referendum($5.50/month) B. POTENTIAL REFERENDUM QUESTIONS Lambert asked for feedback from Council on these proposals,particularly which items they would like included on a referendum and how many questions to pose. Tyra-Lukens said she is aware of the philosophy that a referendum with just one City Council Workshop Minutes January 20, 2004 Page 3 question is most likely to be successful. However, she is worried that something like the third ice rink, which the 2003 survey indicated could be"referendum killer,"could cause the whole package to fail. She also said some people in the community don't believe the City should be in the fitness business, and she wonders if there really is support for Community Center improvements. Parks and Recreation Commission Vice Chair Jeff Gerst said he has never had any negative feedback from the community on the Community Center. In fact,he said it is his impression that a lot of people like to use the Community Center because it is affordable. There is some concern that if the City partners with a company like LifeTime Fitness,privatization may cause the facility to be unaffordable for many current users. Councilmember Butcher asked if there is any wisdom in separating the aquatic center question from the remainder of the proposed projects. Young said he likes the idea of two questions: one relating to construction of a water park, and the other relating to open space and Community Center improvements. Case said he likes the Aquatic Center as a separate question. He believes the community recognizes the need for many of the proposed park improvements,but they may not be willing to fund an aquatic center. Case feels the public should be made aware of precisely where referendum dollars would be spent. Lambert pointed out that Minnetonka recently approved a$16 million referendum for unspecified park improvements in a single question. He said he feels one reason the referendum passed is that each group believed they would have enough influence to see that their project gets funded. Mosman said she feels it is more open and honest to provide a breakdown of where money will be spent. Butcher said specific groups will advocate for passage of the referendum if their project is on the ballot. She said she favors the "menu approach"to referendum questions. Tyra-Lukens said she is concerned that a menu approach may make it difficult for any one item to get a majority vote. Lambert said separating the aquatic center from the other improvements could be problematic since many of the Community Center improvements must occur in order for the site to support an aquatic center. Case said he would like to see a draft of what the questions might look like with the aquatic center pulled out. Lambert said that although the 2003 survey indicated there is not strong support for a third rink, education efforts could garner enough votes to not make it a deal breaker. He said no one works harder than hockey supporters in advocating their cause. He also noted that the 2003 survey indicates that none of the issues is likely to pass without a concerted education campaign. Resident Jeff Strate noted that the Minnetonka referendum Lambert referenced passed by only a narrow margin. He said Minnetonka is very different from Eden Prairie,because it is a much older community with more pressing park improvement needs. City Council Workshop Minutes January 20, 2004 Page 4 Lambert said if the aquatic center includes a 50-meter competitive pool,no private firm will agree to even submit a proposal to partner with the City operate it. Mosman pointed out that many residents who originally supported an aquatic center now have older kids who are more likely to use a pool with a lap portion. Park and Recreation Commission Member Randy Jacobus agreed that a pool that supports exercise and swim team use would be desirable. However,Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Rob Barrett said when the Aquatic Center Task Force was conducting its background research,they did not hear from anyone from other cities who recommended a 50-meter lap pool. Jacobus said it is important to remember that the City is not building a pool just to make money, but to provide a service for the community. Lambert said so far the Community Center has been operated in a manner that the fees collected cover its operating costs. Parks and Recreation Board Member Jerry Brill said he feels it would be redundant to have indoor and outdoor lap pools. Lambert said that outdoor competitive swimming requires a 50-meter pool for summer competition. Several neighboring communities have decided to subsidize these facilities. He is not opposed to the 50-meter pool provided the Council realizes it will not meet its operating costs. Tyra-Lukens summarized the discussion, saying it sounds as if the Council is leaning toward a two-question referendum, and there is some support for further exploring the option of a 50-meter pool. Lambert said staff will work on drafting referendum questions options for the Council to consider at the February 17 Council Meeting. IV. OTHER TOPICS Council Chamber V. OPEN FORUM No one was scheduled to speak at Open Forum. VI. OPEN PODIUM Eden Prairie Resident Jeff Strate asked Council to be very careful when using the term "special interest group"to refer to residents with particular areas of interest, such as the third rink. Strate also said he is very concerned about the fate of the final four-acre parcel of Birch Island Woods,which is currently for sale. He asked Council to consider including purchase of the site on the referendum. He also urged Council to consider other means of retaining control of the parcel. He said he would be happy to meet individually with the Councilmembers over the next few weeks to discuss this issue. VII. ADJOURNMENT