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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 11/02/1998 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP ELECTRONIC VISIONING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1998 5:00 - 9:00 PM, CITY CENTER HERITAGE ROOMS I & II CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Jean Harris, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher-Younghans, Ronald Case, Ross Thorfinnson, Jr., and Nancy Tyra-Lukens CITY STAFF: City Manager Chris Enger, Public Safety Services Director Jim Clark, Parks & Recreation Services Director Bob Lambert, Public Works Services Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development and Financial Services Director Don Uram, Lieutenant Dan Carlson, Management Services Director Natalie Swaggert, and Council Recorder Dona Rowland OTHER: D. S. Griffen & Associates I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. II. OVERVIEW OF ELECTRONIC VISIONING STEPS Enger introduced Doug Griffen of D.S.Griffen&Associates. Griffen began the session by reviewing the day's previous workshops. The first session was held in the morning and consisted of management-level employees. The afternoon session was made up of staff workers. The employees in both sessions had used the tool to discuss five major focus areas. Griffen&Associates captured the results of each session in separate reports. III. EQUIPMENT AND PROCESS ORIENTATION Doug Griffen of D.S. Griffen&Associates reviewed the use of the electronic equipment. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES November 2, 1998 Page 2 IV. ELECTRONIC VISIONING PROCESS Rhonda Blatti of D.S. Griffen & Associates briefed the group on the day's previous sessions with managers and employees. She summarized the findings and compared the two groups' similarities and differences in various areas. A. TOPIC 1 - TRANSPORTATION: The group brainstormed to gather ideas that had not been raised in previous sessions. 1. Buses Tyra-Lukens noted the fact that park and ride ranked higher than expanded bus services in the two sessions held earlier in the day. Harris mentioned separate lane for buses and Dietz stated that separate bus lanes are being provided on I-494. 2. Flex Time Harris stated we have little control over businesses implementing flex time. Suggested options: Having students earn a parking spot at the school to improve parking situation. Dietz commented we may have missed some of the most important issues if we focus on the top three points only and Case suggested merging lists from surveys for ease of implementation and level of impact and Enger suggested taking top ten of each list and selecting the best. Swaggert discussed the possibility of a transportation plan being formed from the information generated in this meeting. Blatti then instructed participants on the computer voting process. She emphasized that input is anonymous. The two criteria for evaluating each item are level of impact and ease of implementation B. TOPIC 2 - ECONOMIC GROWTH Blatti asked for input on issues that had not been mentioned in the list. Butcher-Younghans emphasized partnering by businesses and the City on key issues. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES November 2, 1998 Page 3 Case suggested implementing high-tech infrastructure (telecommuting). Uram mentioned promoting specific industry segments such as medical and distribution. Dietz said an ombudsman program would be a valuable asset to the community. The group voted on the list of suggestions based on level of impact and ease of implementation. Group discussion followed. Dietz said making it easy to do business in Eden Prairie would be possible, but may not have long-term desirable results. The best interests of the community may not be served by easing regulations on business development. Case said there may be other supporting ideas to consider in some of the five major focus areas. Staff will need to consider all of these when working with ideas. C. TOPIC 3 -RESOURCE CONSERVATION The group brainstormed to generate additional points before voting on this topic. Butcher-Younghans suggested using the City's historic properties for community programs. Dietz asked how we could educate the public to protect natural resources. He suggested maximizing usage of the Environmental Center for public awareness education. Case added completing park infrastructure,trails, etc.,would be a valuable objective. D. TOPIC 4-PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES Blatti introduced 24 points from earlier sessions. The group brainstormed additional points and electronically voted. E. TOPIC 5-LEISURE SERVICES Blatti reviewed 20 points generated from the day's previous two sessions. Staff generated several more points before voting on the issues. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES November 2, 1998 Page 4 V. CRITIQUE & CLOSE Enger discussed the possibility of using the collected data from this session with other groups. Blatti administered the survey of participant feedback for the session. Enger made closing comments and Swaggert discussed a future three-hour workshop to finalize the process begun with this session. Specifically,the next workshop would involve breaking up into teams of two to focus on specific issues. Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.