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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 12/18/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 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 PLANNING COMMISSION: Chair Ray Stoelting; Vice Chair Jon Stoltz; John Kirk, Vicki Koenig, Jerry Pitzrick, Frank Powell, Peter Rocheford, Kevin Schultz, Fred Seymour In the absence of both Mayor Young and Acting Mayor Butcher, Council Member Aho called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Young joined the meeting at 5:35 p.m. Council Member Butcher joined the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Heritage Room H I. MAJOR CENTER AREA STREETSCAPE PLAN City Manager Scott Neal introduced Barry Warner of SRF Consulting Group, the City's consultant on the Town Center Streetscape Master Plan project. Neal provided background on the Major Center Area and reviewed the project's 2030 vision for the area, which includes mixed use development, public/private open spaces, a compact and walkable town center, trails and sidewalks, green boulevard streets, and LRT service. Neal also reviewed the timeline of the Major Center Area project from its inception in 2004 to today. Neal said the Town Center Guidelines and draft Ordinance were approved by the Planning Commission in November and are on the Council Meeting Agenda tonight. City staff also presented streetscape plans to the Chamber of Commerce Government Committee at their morning meeting on December 18 for feedback. Warner reviewed the MCA Streetscape goals, which are to: • Provide attractive, safe and pedestrian friendly streets • Provide good visibility and access to commercial • Enhance wayfinding and area identity • Integrate all modes of transportation • Provide continuous sidewalks along all streets • Buffer sidewalks/pedestrian spaces from busy roads and streets • Improve pedestrian crossing safety • Screen surface parking lots from roads • Provide seasonal color and interest • Be mindful of maintenance needs Council Workshop Minutes December 18, 2007 Page 2 Prairie Style is the project motif, and design elements have been incorporated in sidewalk pavement; lighting; benches, trash receptacles and bike racks;bollards; tree grates; planters; kiosks/monuments; screening fences; and median treatments. Warner presented a number of options under consideration for each element. In addition, Warner showed several possible placements of power lines: • Poles placed in the center median • Poles placed in the boulevard • Poles placed in the on-street parking bumpout area • Poles placed at the rear of buildings Warner said preliminary cost estimates (assuming 2008 construction costs) for the streetscape project vary, depending on the type of roadway: • Future Main Street- $650-$850/LFF (lineal frontage foot) • Singletree Lane, Type A—$500-$550/LFF • Singletree Lane, Type B — $400-$575/LFF • Loop Road - $175-$300/LFF Warner said the project is expected to be financed in part through redevelopment projects such as Windsor Plaza, Presbyterian Homes, Bobby & Steve's, and others. He said financing for properties not redeveloping are subject to further discussion. Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah said the estimated cost for the entire loop road area is from six to seven million dollars. A potential first phase project along Prairie Center Drive from Highway 5 to Flying Cloud Drive would be 1.1 to 1.6 million dollars. A special service district is under consideration, but would require buy-in from over 60 percent of affected businesses. She said one advantage of a special service district is that it involves a board of property owners that can collectively contract for services. Jeremiah said staff needs to know how much of the streetscape project the City will fund. Staff is at the point of making decisions that will affect Phase 1 projects, particularly in relation to aesthetics and cost-sharing. She said the City Council's input and guidance is very important at this point. Additional business and property owner meetings are scheduled in early 2008. Jeremiah said she plans to invite nearby cities that have undertaken similar projects to talk about their experiences. Jeremiah and Warner noted that most nearby suburbs have done or are in the process of implementing similar projects to maintain vital commercial areas and add housing within walking distance. Planning Commission Member Jerry Pitzrick raised a concern about the placement of power poles and related easement issues. He said he believes with four- to six-story buildings under consideration, visibility of power poles could become a factor in marketability. Council Member Nelson said it makes sense to place the power poles in the rear of buildings. Pitzrick said that might require moving the future Main Street. He would like to see plans showing exactly how that would work. Jeremiah said the Guide Plan calls for power poles being place behind buildings in the rear service corridor... Council Workshop Minutes December 18, 2007 Page 3 Jeremiah encouraged the Council and Planning Commission to remain flexible on placement of power poles due to cost and design considerations until specific development proposals are received. Planning Commission Vice Chair Jon Stoltz said it sounds like the City is on track with costs, or they would have heard otherwise from Bobby and Steve's. Council Member Nelson said she is happy to see a plan that will result in an attractive,prosperous-looking area for business. Council Member Aho said the aesthetics are good. He asked what the upcharge is over a standard streetfront. Warner said costs under the plan are 75 to 100 percent above standard sidewalks and landscaping. Nelson asked if there are other options for sidewalks, for instance, that could achieve the same look for a lower cost. Warner said there are less expensive options,but upkeep tends to be problematic over time. Council Member Butcher said she thinks this is a great plan and she appreciates seeing the evolution of the plan over time. Council Chamber II. OPEN FORUM A. ANN HIGGINS - BUDGET Higgins said she has serious concerns about proposed cuts to budget for the Heritage Preservation Specialist position. She said such cuts could have severe consequences for the Cummins Grill House and other historic properties, as well as the Children's Camp at Glen Lake. She said the cuts could jeopardize grants and other aid. B. KASEY KLUGE—BUDGET Kluge spoke against cutting funds for the Immigrant Services Liaison position. He asked the Council to put themselves in the shoes of those who use the services of the Liaison before making a decision to cut funds. C. DEB SWEENEY - BUDGET Sweeney said she is a resident, a grant writer, the mother of children who attend Forest Hills Elementary, and an independent. She said she does not believe a non-profit or contracted translator can provide the services currently available through the Immigrant Services Liaison. She encouraged the council to retain at least a partial position to provide services to immigrants. She said it would take a minimum of two years to transition these services to a non-profit organization. D. RON CASE - BUDGET Case said the people of Eden Prairie do not want the City Council to disrupt Eden Prairie as they know it. He said John Gertz has been responsible for securing $140,000 in grants for the City. Cutting the budget for heritage preservation could jeopardize future grants and has implications for Eden Prairie as a Certified Local Government. Council Workshop Minutes December 18, 2007 Page 4 E. AHMED JAMA —BUDGET Jama said that Khadra Duale's position is crucial for the Somali community in Eden Prairie. He said Duale's office is where Somalis turn for help with healthcare, transportation and housing in a land that is strange to them. He said she is the eyes and ears for the six percent of Eden Prairie residents who are Somali immigrants. F. ANISA HAJIMUMIN - BUDGET Hajmumin said she is a parent, a worker, and a member of Eden Prairie's Somali community. She said most Americans or their families came here from elsewhere and needed help at some point in time. She said many Somalis were abused during the war in their homeland, and it is imperative for them to stick together as a community. She said her community will remember what the leaders of Eden Prairie do today. G. JEFF STRATE - BUDGET Strate said he has many Somali neighbors, and that Eden Prairie is blessed to have immigrants in the community. He said there is a need for the Immigrant Liaison and asked Council not to reduce or eliminate the position. H. NANCY ARIETA Arieta encouraged the Council not to retain the Immigrant Liaison or Heritage Preservation positions. She said the city's business to do the city's business. She asked why it is necessary to accommodate all immigrant groups. I. STEVEN HINES Hines said that while everyone is interested in helping others, obligating everyone to participate is unconscionable. He said there are other ways to fund things like the Immigrant Liaison position. J. SHEILA KIHNE Kihne said she is tired of hearing how little the budget is increasing. She said the proposed budget increase is $2 million, and her property taxes are increasing 12 percent. K. KAREN KIRCHOFF Kirchoff said she has lived in many places across the country and sat on many boards. She said the Immigrant Liaison position is redundant and should be trimmed. Council Workshop Minutes December 18, 2007 Page 5 L. PATRICIA BAUMER Baumer said she is troubled by proposed budget cuts. She said there could be the perception of racism if the Immigrant Liaison position is cut. She said Eden Prairie is experiencing dis-ease and is in need of healing. She said as an affluent white woman, she supports government helping to do what she can't do, which in part includes speaking Somali. III. OPEN PODIUM IV. ADJOURNMENT