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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 04/10/2007 - Town Meeting APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY,APRIL 10, 2007 7:00 PM, HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE 13100 College View Drive CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Parks Manager Stu Fox, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, City Attorney Ric Rosow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, and Council Recorder Lorene McWaters I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 7:05. He read the guidelines for protocol. II. RESIDENT INPUT A. Donald Hanson, 7936 Timber Lake Drive, asked about the City's role in overseeing cable service. He said Comcast has a monopoly and that he is being forced to purchase services he does not want or need. Neal said there is an open market for cable operators in the Twin Cities, and the City has limited control over cable operations. The City does not regulate content or pricing. Neal said he will follow up with Comcast on Mr. Hanson's concern. B. Kathleen Cox, 9741 Mill Creek Drive, said she would like Flying Cloud Airport to be left as it is. She asked what benefit would be gained from expansion and whether or not fees for services could be used to cover maintenance costs. Neal said Flying Cloud Airport is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, so the City's role is somewhat restricted. Neal said MAC and the City reached an agreement in 2002 on a number of issues. That agreement allows for lengthening and widening the existing runways and construction of a new hangar area. Cox asked whether or not a letter was sent to Washington. Neal said the airport was one of nine issues addressed with legislators when he, Fire Chief Esbensen, and Council Member Butcher visited Washington in March. C. Laurie Pepper, 15101 Scenic Heights Road, asked whether or not the letter saying the City favors expansion will be retracted. Mayor Young said this meeting was an appropriate forum to make a request,but it is not meant for policy debate. D. Kevin Adams, 12235 OxBow Drive, said he loves Eden Prairie. He said he knew of the airport when he moved here,but that Ordinance 51 was in place. He is against TOWN MEETING MINUTES November 28, 2006 Page 2 expansion, and asked the City to retract the letter requesting funding. He asked Neal to clarify what was said in Washington. Neal said they spent very little time on the airport. They noted the positive relationship between MAC and the City,but did not ask for advance funding for runway expansion or hangars. E. Laura Bluml, 10540 W. Riverview Drive, said she has repeatedly asked for information on the City's deer management program on the river bluffs, the Homeward Hills trail expansion, and encroachment issues,but has not received it. She said she would like to see zero tolerance on off-leash and defecating dogs this summer. F. Michael Neuharth, 9610 Eden Prairie Road, said there has been a "to be acquired" sign from the airport on his property for 10 years, and no one would appreciate that. He said the Council should be required to have an open debate on airport expansion and vote on this serious issue. G. Gary Demee, 9425 Shetland Road, said he wanted to ask each Council Member whether or not they received a copy of the airport letter to Washington in advance of the trip. Mayor Young said this type of questioning is outside the realm of a town hall meeting. Demee said he had two additional questions, which could be answered later. He asked whether or not use of the term"support of the airport" was an error or intentional and whether or not each Council Member is in favor of lengthening and expanding the runways. H. Tom Heffelfinger, 11145 Bluestem Lane, said he is a former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and former member of the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission. He said he is concerned about apparent changes in policy in relation to airport expansion. He is also concerned about security at the airport. He said MAC agreed to a new security plan,but it does not appear to have been fully implemented. Councilmember Nelson said at the February 20 joint Council/Flying Cloud Airport Commission workshop that security be included in the commission's 2007 work plan. Councilmember Butcher said it appears that some but not all measures have been put in place. Butcher also said when she went to Washington to meet with legislators, the group talked about improvements at the airport rather than expansion. I. Basil Wissner, 8293 Mitchell Road, said he agrees that Flying Cloud Airport needs to have good security;however,he does not understand the current controversy over the airport. He said the 2002 agreement between the City and MAC spells out what can and cannot happen. He also said if the federal government wants the expansion, it will happen. He said the City has larger issues to be addressed. III. ADJOURNMENT Young adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.