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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 10/21/1986 - Joint Meeting APPROVED MINUTES JOINT MEETING OF EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TUESDAY , OCTOBER 21 , 1986 6 : 00 PM, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BOARDROOM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Gary Peterson, Richard Anderson, George Bentley, Patricia Pidcock, and Paul Redpath DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEMBERS : Chair Don Opheim, Ann Youngdahl Boline , Dr. Jean Harris , Marvin A . LaGrow, Peter Stalland , and Walter Thompson CITY COUNCIL/DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STAFF: City Manager Carl J . Jullie , Assistant to the City Manager Craig Dawson, and Recording Secretary Jan Nelson a a I . ROLL CALL Commission members Harris, LaGrow, Stalland and Thompson were absent . II . REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO THE CITY COUNCIL a Commission Chair Don Opheim reviewed the role of the Develop- ment Commission, noting that this role has changed depending on the needs of the community . He said the consensus of the Commission members was that the Commission does have something to contribute . He said that they have often been project orien- -odTara -s 1 i - --- ..-.. �+.aa�.a a;a.a Su�+it t'iat'vC UCCil 1LlYC�.tYeci 1I3 9LtCli things as the Star City designation and lobbying efforts on a variety of issues . He said he thought they serve as an informal communication media for City Staff and the business community . Youngdahl-Boline said all the members agreed that a prime func- tion of the Commission would be to serve on special projects assigned by the City Council or the Planning Commission on a need basis . She said the members thought they also could help to serve the business community, particularly if they became better known to the business community. She said she under- stood the Development Commission was to confer with and advise the Council on all matters concerning the development of the City . She felt that such a general charge puts things in focus a little better. s Joint Meeting Minutes -2 October 21 , 1986 i Peterson asked Opheim and Youngdahl-Boline to elaborate on their concept of serving as a liaison between the City and the business community. Opheim responded that when they provided a forum last year to help with the retrofitting of buildings for the new fire code he became aware of the misunderstandings of the public employees regarding the impact of the changes on private business . He said another problem is the effect on local business of the relatively higher taxes in Eden Prairie . Bentley noted that his experience on the Chamber of Commerce indicated that it was almost impossible to get an equitable assessment level from one community to another unless it is strictly monitored by the County. He noted that Pie believed the Development Commission does provide a very important role in the community . He provided a list of suggestions for pos- sible roles and projects for the Commission . (Attachment A ) Peterson said he would like to have more time to look over the list in written form before focusing on one or two cf them as projects for the Commission. ( Redpath said he thought that we are probably wasting the time of the Commission members when they have not been given a charge . He said he thought the needs of the business community regarding transit might be a good problem for the Commission to tackle . Opheim said he thought all of the suggestions were good but he was also aware that the Commission members might not have extra time to get involved in large projects, consequently the burden might fall on Staff . He said he thought one of the big benefits Is thn Input Commission members can Five as a result of their daily work and that selection of Commission members should be made with a view to their background and possible contribution to the Committee projects . He said they have had a problem with attendance at meetings and he was concerned about a pro- cedure to deal with that . Redpath said that he understood from the past that if there is something for the members to do, the attendance picks up. Peter- son noted that , while the members may be fine people , they may not be qualified in the direction the Council assigns to the Commission . Peterson noted that some of the projects mentioned would re- quire expertise in certain disciplines not necessarily repre- sented on the Commission. He said he would want to discuss each of the suggestions in more detail before giving them to the Commission . As to members who don't attend, he said they a Joint Meeting Minutes -3- October 21 , 1986 should call that to the Council ' s attention and those persons should be invited to withdraw. He said he thought the Commis- sion could play a key role in encouraging people who have the necessary expertise and interest in serving on the Commission. Opheim rioted that there isn' t a lack of volunteers to serve on the Commission but rather it is a matter of selecting the appropriate persons for the Commission. Peterson said , while he wasn't sure it could be changed, he believed the tax situation was a real concern of businesses and homeowners . He said he would like to suggest the Commission put together a task force that would probably include several other persons who are tax experts and determine what the situa- tion is . Redpath cautioned that this task force would have to be very unbiased as it would get a lot of flak . Pidcock said she thought we should give a specific charge to the Commission as it would give them focus . She said the A .M.M. study on housing might also be a future project . She said she thought studies on the tax revenue sharing or the tax situation would be great . Anderson said he thought, if we are taking the time to discuss .. the life of the Commission and only two of the members are here, there is an attendance problem and perhaps it would be best to disband the Commission and start over . Redpath said he wasn ' t sure how far the Council wants the Com- mission to delve into matters that are running parallel with those of other Commissions . He noted that Planning and Zoning donate countless hours to study and public hearings so he hoped we would not end up with the Development Commission studying what should be done while the Planning Commission, and Staff is s+r I.-Jule +1. d i -t,1* ^ n Llca aµiri 6UJLIlr' llll 111 ti11C V lller uircv v+vYY. a .w b►• V VYY . mission should be concerned with what helps development and be involved in getting feedback from the business community. Bentley said the purpose of his list of suggestions was to demonstrate that there are many projects the Commission could s get involved in if we were to assign them the task of getting involved in one or more of the projects . He said the Transit Commission will need input from several groups . Peterson said he thought the Development Commission might look at the overall issue of transit to see what kind of develop- ment impact might occur or how public transportation will bene- fit a certain type of development . Anderson said he was concerned whether the present Commission functions well enough to carry out the studies suggested . He t. f T" i Joint Meeting Minutes -4- October 21 , 1986 also noted that you can't very well discuss the Commission without all or a majority of the members present . Opheim said he thought disbanding and reorganizing the Com- mission might work . He said his main response to the discus- sion was to question whether there is another Commission that works in other than a reactive manner. He said he thought they could function as information providers for the Council on points of interest because they don't have to react or vote on anything. He said they are most closely aligned to the Chamber of Commerce but have the strength of being an official City function and , as such , represent Staff and Council members . Anderson said he thought we should design a task for them so that there is a need for the Commission, otherwise they are just treading water . Peterson suggested that the Commission go away from this meeting with an affirmation from the Council that we believe they should exist and with two or three items they could explore over the next few months . They would then return to the Council and re- port on the feasibility of one or two items that they might study and research over the next nine months or so . He said L that way they can decide what is important and what- would work with their expertise . He said he would prefer that approach rather than just assigning them a task . Anderson said he would like to review the list of suggestions and: then give the Commission a list of possible projects . He said by doing that we would give them a reason to exist . Pidcock said she thought they have a lot of expertise and talent available to do the things the Council doesn't have time to do. Youngdahl-Boline said as a Commission member she would like to have the Council assign several projects, have the Commission s discuss them and return to the Council with three or four, and then have the Council decide which of the projects the Commis- sion should work on. Opheim noted that it was important to have people on the Com- mission that the Council would want to take advice from because the Commission has the function of advising or helping the Council . Bentley noted that one aspect of doing some of the projects suggested is the potential involvement or use of outside con- sultants and he thought the Council would probably review and entertain that possibility for a special task . Joint Meeting Minutes -5- October 21 , 1986 Bentley asked Jullie about the rules relative to attendance on Commissions and asking members to step down. Jullie said he wasn 't sure but he would check the Code . Peterson said he didn ' t believe there was anything in the Code but that we do review the attendance . He also noted that the Human Rights & Services Commission has by-laws and is building in a formula for attendance and that 'this might be advisable for all Com- missions . Anderson asked Jullie if he perceived a need for the Commis- sion . Jullie responded that they provide perspective on cer- tain issues but that they haven' t expressed a desire or willing- ness to spend the time in studying and researching issues . He said unless they have a specific charge and they are willing to spend the time on it he would question whether the Commission should continue . Opheim said he thought the Star City status was probably still not right for Eden Prairie but he thought it was important that the Commission have some specific tasks--that they were looking for a mission. Pideock said she thought the concept of the Commission provid- ing an outside view is very valid . She said she thought they provide a good sounding board but they do need a specific charge . Redpath said he thought Eden Prairie is ripe for All-American City and perhaps the Commission could look into that issue . Opheim said he thought that was a good idea . He said everybody on the Commission should be asked if they would be willing to put more time in and that should become a requirement for mem- bership on the Commis-8-ion, Anderson said this might be a reason to reorganize the Commis- sion and acquire people who are willing to put time and effort into the activities of the Commission . , MOTION: Bentley moved , seconded by Redpath , (1 ) to charge the z Development Commission with reevaluating participation in the Star City program and beginning preliminary investigation into the All-American City program; (2 ) at the 2nd meeting in Novem- ber the City Council will review the long-term makeup and re- quirements for Development Commission membership and the overall charge to the Commission with Council members providing sugges- tions to be included with the packet information for that meeting; and (3 ) the Council will meet with the Development Commission at the 2nd meeting in December to review items one and two . Motion carried unanimously . Joint Meeting Minutes -6- October 21 , 1986 III. OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS There were none . IV . ADJOURNMENT x MOTION: Redpath moved, seconded by Bentley, to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 PM. Motion carried unanimously. 4 r 3 i I�