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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 01/17/2006 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JANUARY 17, 2006 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Ron Case, and Philip Young SENIOR ISSUES TASK FORCE: Bette Anderson, Pastor Rod Anderson, Joanne Bartel, Mary Cofer, Joyce Conley (absent), John Dollerschell (absent), Carla Kress, Joan Rumford, Lisa Schmidtke, Sharon Steiner, Scott Welter, Basil Wissner 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, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Mary Keating, Communications Manager Pat Brink, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Heritage Room H I. PRESENTATION OF THE SENIOR ISSUES TASK FORCE REPORT Marvin Cofer presented a Powerpoint summarizing the results of the Senior Issues Task Force Study. Cofer said many of the recommendations from the 1996 report have been implemented, some were not, and there are new recommendations in this report. Cofer noted that not all of the recommendations are covered in the presentation,but he stressed the task force believes they are all important. The City Council charged the task force with reviewing the 1996 report's recommendations and reporting how those recommendations have been realized. The task force, which was appointed in Spring 2005, included Bette Anderson (co-chair), Pastor Rod Anderson, Joanne Bartel, Marvin Cofer(co-chair), Joyce Conley, John Dollerschell, Carla Kress, Joan Rumford, Lisa Schmidtke, Sharon Steiner, Scott Welter, Basil Wissner. Mary Keating was the staff liaison to the task force. The task force organized itself into six sub-groups correlating to the sections of the 1996 report: demographics, housing, social services and support systems, legal and safety issues, employment and leisure opportunities, and government structures. In addition to researching and providing recommendations for each topic, the task force identified two key issues for seniors in the community that they feel must be addressed. Those issues are information referral services and transportation. Council Workshop Minutes January 17, 2006—page 2 The task force developed priority recommendations for each of the six subgroups, as follows: Demographics • Update detailed demographics at least every two years • Measure new immigrant populations, with special attention to non-English speaking senior populations Housinz • Continue to partner with developers and government agencies to develop affordable senior-friendly housing options • Offer incentives for development of mixed-use residences within walking distance of senior-friendly retail shopping Social Services and Support Systems • Create a transportation commission to pursue collaborative public,private and volunteer systems to expand services to seniors • Provide additional training for City Center and Senior Center staff so they can appropriately direct requests for information and services • Maintain a safety net of programs to ensure resources and services are available to those in need Legal and Safety Issues • Continue to maintain trained and well-equipped emergency response teams, and consider establishing a permanent position of"Senior Liaison" police officer • Schedule regular legal and safety seminars through the police department at the Senior Center and senior residences Employment and Leisure • Continue to provide space for senior programs and services and a volunteer coordination system • Establish partnerships between the Senior Center and principal senior residences Government Structures • Communicate 2005 Senior Issues Task Force Report to Council, Commissions and appropriate City staff • Consider inclusion of the task force report recommendations in the updated Comprehensive Plan Cofer mentioned that the Stated kicked off an initiative called Transform 2010 in December 2005. The program's goal is to evaluate the impact and plan for accommodating the Baby Boom Generation in Minnesota. The State is holding 11 regional meetings across the state to gather information and data. Cofer said he called the State office in charge of the program to learn more about the program and let them know about Eden Prairie's Senior Issues Task Force. He said they are very interested in receiving a copy of our report. Council Workshop Minutes January 17, 2006—page 3 Discussion Bette Anderson facilitated the question and answer portion of the discussion. Councilmember Butcher noted that former Mayor Jean Harris was dedicated to having large portions of housing that are senior friendly. Butcher said she wonders what percent of the current housing stock is senior friendly. Councilmember Case said he remembers a number of developments being marketed to Council as senior friendly, and he would like to know how much follow through there has been on that commitment. Cofer said it is his understanding that a substantial number of seniors have moved into the Pulte development even though it was not marketed specifically to seniors. Butcher asked if the Senior Issues Task Force followed the progress of the MCA study, and whether or not it supports the MCA study recommendations. Pastor Rod noted that the task force focused mainly on updating the 1996 report;however, they were aware of the work on the MCA study. Joanne Bartel said the task force would likely support the transportation portion of the MCA recommendations. Jeremiah noted that the MCA study did take into consideration the senior residences in the area and the fact that much of the area is not pedestrian friendly. Jeremiah said the comp plan update will have to consider the age and condition of current senior housing, and whether or not it will meet future needs. Mayor Tyra-Lukens commented on the high quality of the task force report, and said she has many thoughts on how recommendations can be implemented. She noted that the issue of transportation came up again and again throughout the report. She asked if the task force knows of any City that is currently handling senior transportation issues particularly well. Joanne Bartel said some cities have entered into creative collaborations of public, private and volunteer services that work well. Peg Kamholz said Senior Services recently received a grant to study senior transportation services in several metro communities. Bette Anderson mentioned that there is an ad hoc transportation committee, which was responsible for implementing the Shopping Bus program. She said the task force suggested formation of a transportation commission because there are many different transportation issues that need to be addressed. Case said Council may want to look at forming a transportation commission. Councilmember Aho asked if Eden Prairie's expanding senior population is a result of our population aging in place or Eden Prairie becoming a destination of choice for seniors. Schmidtke said it seems to be a result of the resident population staying in place, although that could change with more senior-friendly housing being constructed. Councilmember Butcher asked what the next steps are for sharing and implementing recommendations in the report. Neal said he will make sure the report is provided to appropriate individuals throughout the organization, and staff will be looking at how to integrate implementation of recommendations into the City work plan and the comp plan update. Council Workshop Minutes January 17, 2006—page 4 Council Chamber II. OPEN FORUM A. Park Acquisitions—Jeff Strate Eden Prairie residents Jeff Strate and Rachel Harlos, and Minnetonka Councilmember Bob Rollinson spoke in favor of the City's acquisition of the remaining portion of Birch Island Woods. B. MCA Study—Pat MulOueeny, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce President Pat MulQueeny and Board Chair Dave Ward thanked the City for the considerable outreach and inclusiveness of the City's MCA Study process and asked that the City continue to include the Chamber of Commerce in future MCA planning efforts. III. OPEN PODIUM IV. ADJOURNMENT