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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 12/03/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES JOINT CITY COUNCIL/EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2007 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Economic Development Manager David Lindahl, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Mark Johnson, and Recorder Lorene McWaters CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Chair Dave Ward; Chair-Elect Cindy Daniels; Treasurer David Nash; Directors Zane Birky, Vicki Brown, John Eversman, Jo Freese, and Mic Klaith; and President Pat MulQueeny Council Member Aho was absent. Heritage Room H I. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. BUSINESS SURVEYS Both the Chamber and the City plan to conduct business surveys in 2008. The City will conduct its third business satisfaction survey. City Manager Scott Neal said the survey will include recurring questions, which allows for longitudinal measures. Chamber President Pat MulQueeny said the Chamber will conduct its first citywide survey of businesses, which will include economic measurements as well as questions with an education focus. B. MEET & GREET FEEDBACK About 180 Meet and Greets with businesses have been conducted since the City's program began five years ago, shortly after Scott Neal joined the City. Economic Development Director David Lindahl said a major concern for many businesses the first two years was transportation. Since then, much progress has been made on getting people into, out of, and around the City. MulQueeny said the State Chamber of Commerce also has a meet and greet program, called Grow Minnesota, which is also in its fifth year. Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah encouraged the Chamber to have businesses interested in a Meet and Greet to contact the City. City Council Workshop Minutes December 3, 2007 Page 2 C. TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE Lindahl provided an overview of the Technology Task Force's activities since their appointment in May. He said their research shows the City is fairly well served,but price and choice are issues for some consumers. The group also determined that the City is not a good candidate for municipal wireless due to low population density, many trees, and rapidly changing technology. D. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, PROJECTS AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES MulQueeny said the Eden Prairie Chamber has generally followed the State Chamber's lead on support of transportation initiatives, and has advocated for the proposed 5 cent gas tax. He asked if the City takes official positions on transportation issues. Neal said the City Council typically endorses the legislative agendas of municipal organizations to which the City belongs, such as AMM and MLC, and occasionally passes resolutions supporting particular issues. E. WAYFINDING MulQueeny gave an overview of the recent meeting of the Chamber, MnDOT and the City on the changeover of 212 and other wayfinding issues. A general agreement has been reached that 212 in Eden Prairie will be called Flying Cloud Drive. Directional signs have been installed on the mall ring road. Six temporary directional signs on major roadways outside the mall are scheduled for installation. It was noted that the current phase of the wayfinding plan addresses how to get out of Eden Prairie. How to get into Eden Prairie will be addressed at a later date. F. 2008 STATE OF THE CITY The Chamber's second annual State of the City (co-presented by the School District, the Chamber, and the City) is scheduled for January 17 at 4:00 p.m. in the Garden Room. The event is free and open to the public. Residents are encouraged to attend. G. 2008-2009 CITY BUDGET UPDATE Neal reviewed the City's budget process, which he said culminates in the Truth- in-Taxation Hearing in the Council Chamber at 7:00 p.m. tonight. The City Council will approve a final budget at their December 18 meeting. H. CITY COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN UPDATE Jeremiah said the Comprehensive Guide Plan is the City's visioning and planning document for 20 years out. It includes a number of things the City must manage over time, including infrastructure, parks, development, etc. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the updated draft Guide Plan, which includes new chapters on redevelopment and healthy communities, at their November 26 meeting. The draft is on the City's website. Chamber Chair Dave Ward said the guide plan would be a good discussion item for the Chamber's Government Committee. I. CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES MulQueeny said the Chamber is interested in exploring opportunities for its members to participate on City commissions, committees and task forces as appropriate. He said he realizes that in some cases the City charter requires members to be residents, so membership may need to be on an ad hoc basis. J. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT This topic was skipped due to a lack to time. K. LOUDI MulQueeny and Neal said recent interactions with Loudi, our partner City in China, have had an education focus. They asked Council and the Chamber Board to consider what types of opportunities they might want to pursue at this point. Council Chamber II. OPEN FORUM A. MAT MUELLER—PRESBYTERIAN HOMES Mr. Mueller submitted a petition objecting to the Presbyterian Homes redevelopment project. Mueller said he believes the height of the project will have a negative impact on his neighborhood. He said the City should have a better process by which residents are notified of such proposals. III. OPEN PODIUM IV. ADJOURNMENT