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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 04/23/1996 - Workshop APPROVED X11NUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1996 7:00 p.m. CITY CENTER COUNCIL/STAFF WORKSHOP Training Room, 8080 Mitchell Road COUNCH 2y vIBERS: Mayor Jean Harris, Councilmembers Ron Case, Nancy Tyra-Lukens, and Ross Thorfinnson, Jr. CITY COUNCIL STAFF: City Manager Carl Jullie, Assistant City Manager Chris Enger, Director of Human Resources and Community Services Natalie Swaggert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Bob Lambert, Police Chief Jim Clark, Director of Public Works Gene Dietz, City Engineer Al Gray, Director of Assessing and MIS Steve Sinell, Director of Finance John Frane, Director of Inspections Kevin Schmeig, City Planner Don Uram, and Barbara Anderson, City Recorder I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting began at 7:10 p.m. H. WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING GUIDELINES AND ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE Carl Jullie introduced Elizabeth Craig, the facilitator for the workshop that evening. Craig outlined the agenda for the workshop: Strategic Planning Overview of Assumptions Emerging and Critical Issues Identify other business Adjournment Craig reviewed the mission statements for the City which included meeting goals. She explained that they would endeavor to determine the top five assumptions and critical issues that the City would need to deal with to determine guiding principles leading toward making decisions. She commented that assumptions could be viewed as guiding principles for purposes of discussion. The following critical assumptions had been identified by staff prior to the workshop: * Transportation issues: - Increased congestion - Funding unchanged * Perception of too much growth CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP April 23, 1996 Page 2 * City is maturing, maintenance of infrastructure and less growth * Citizens more active in City decisions as in-filling occurs * Development of Vacant Property * Perceived loss/gain of quality of life * Pressure for rationalization of Public Safety, Transportation, Utilities, Communications, and Education issues * Affordable housing * Scarce financial resources * Reduce taxes, cut expenses, improve productivity * Identify new funding sources * Meet needs of special interest groups * Reduced Federal, State and County funds - unfunded mandates * Expectations for levels of service * Increased oversight by outside agencies will require more time per project * Scott County, Carver County and Eden Prairie will continue to grow * Need for expanded health and social services * Eden Prairie Center will become vibrant * "Electronic" City Hall * Airport will be expanded * Property tax system may change * Some citizens want to "shut out the world" * Staff, administration and City Council will change * Long range planning is necessary with the School District * 20% of the population will demand 80% of City resources * Residents will change * The perception of government as untrustworthy will grow in the next ten years given the existing political climate, as it is increasingly suspicious of government and it's agencies (general perception by the public that things are worse when in reality they are not). * Demographics of the City will change; citizens will expect more and/or different services * Expanded day-care/recreational programs during the summer Critical issues were identified as follows: * Transportation - Highway 212 - Bus - Congestion - I-494 - Toll Roads - Road Maintenance * Housing Affordable life-style housing CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP April 23, 1996 Page 3 - In-filling projects - Impacts Schools - Taxes - Transportation * Sense of Community - Level of City services - Recreation - Look of the City - History, Preservation - The Arts * Balance of Special Interest Group desires * MUSA Expansion * Development of remaining land and concern for existing residents * Keeping tax levy down * Targeting resources, eliminating duplication * Renewal of Cable TV Franchise * Balancing Met Council/Legislative expectations with desires of residents * Communication with and education of residents on critical issues * Involvement in social services; at what cost and what level Craig requested workshop participants to rank the top five critical issues and critical assumptions in the order of their importance. The top five critical issues were: 1. Transportation 2. Development of Remaining Land 3. Keeping the Tax Levy Down 4. Balance Special Interest Groups and their Desires 5. Housing The top five critical assumptions were: 1. Citizens expect high levels of service but have less desire to pay for them. 2. Reduce taxes, cut expenses, improve productivity 3. Scarce financial resources. 4. 20% of the population will demand 80% of the resources 5. City maturing; rising maintenance of infrastructure, declining growth Craig requested the workshop participants to break into five groups to discuss the selected critical issues and assumptions. The following were points selected by the groups for the five critical issues. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP April23, 1996 Page 4 Housing * Fiscal - Minimize impacts Protect "real' property * Altruistic/Social Diversity reflective of metropolitan area What is best for community/best for neighborhood Affordable housing to meet demands * Reorganize differences; separate housing types * Environmental/least impact * Infrastructure/planned impact Balancing Sigcial Interest Groups * Keep the best interest of the entire City above any special interest request. * Maintain a balanced collection of available services based on overall community input. * Any request for expanded services should be supported by a referendum or other means to avoid increasing taxes without public support. Transportation Issues * Final build out of roadways * Toll Roads * Modes of transportation * Commuter needs and expectations Principles * Neighborhoods should be connected as much as possible * Keep Eden Prairie handicapped accessible * Emphasis on safety, air quality, and noise mitigation * Provide maintenance that extends life cycle of roadways, even though it might cost more initially, the long range benefit would outweigh the initial expenditure DevelQpment of Remaining Land and Existing Resources * Decisions must be consistent and good for all Get development that pays the bills * Keep tax levy down * Any new services need to be self-supporting * Keep expanding the tax base * Reduce rate of growth in expenditures * Maintain or reduce amount of tax levy, debt, or services The'Pay as You Go"philosophy appeared to be a big line item, along with what was best CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP April 23, 1996 Page 5 overall for the community. Balance of jobs with the housing in the community rather than a regional basis was discussed. The goal was to create an umbrella of guiding principles that would guide decisions for all issues. Choose what is best for the community should be one of these umbrella issues. It was decided to have staff work with these ideas and have another workshop session to refine them rather than continue. Some items which were highlighted were affordable housing for the elderly and disabled and that would meet the needs of a diverse and expanding population. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of incorporating new terminology into the issues and assumptions which would be more easily understood by everyone. Jullie stated that staff would present a schedule to Council on the May 7th agenda. M. ADJOURNIVILNT The workshop adjourned at 9:15 p.m.