HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 05/20/2008 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2008 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon
Duckstad and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Parks & Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Public
Works Director Eugene Dietz, City Planner Michael Franzen, Community Development Director
Janet Jeremiah, City Attorney Ric Rosow and Council Recorder Jan Curielli
I. ROLL CALL/CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
II. COLOR GUARD/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Young thanked Girl Scout Cadet Troop 10651, Prairie Star Service Unit, for
presenting the colors.
III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS
MOTION: Butcher moved, seconded by Aho, to approve the agenda as published. Motion
carried 5-0.
V. PROCLAMATIONS /PRESENTATIONS
A. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS
Cari Maguire, Chair of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission, thanked the
City Council for sponsoring the Human Rights Awards. She said the Commission
was very impressed by the caliber of the volunteers nominated this year.
2007 Non-Profit Recipients
Council Member Aho said the recipients of the 2007 Human Rights Award for a
Non-Profit group are Eden Prairie United Methodist Church, Prairie Lutheran
Church, Pax Christi Catholic Community and the American Muslim Community
Center. He said the four organizations joined together to provide leadership and
planning for the 2007 Interfaith Worship Service that was held in late November at
Pax Christi. The Interfaith Worship Service began in 2006 and was continued in
2007. It was a community activity that brought together hundreds of people of
different faiths and beliefs to celebrate the commonalities held by all people and
promote peace, tolerance and awareness.
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Mayor Young and Ms Maguire presented plaques to representatives of the four
non-profit organizations.
2007 Individual Recipients
Council Member Butcher said two of the recipients of the 2007 Human Rights
Award for an Individual are Mary Jane and Basil Wissner. She said the Wissners
are long time residents of Eden Prairie who have brought their signature traits of
dedication, hard work and joyous spirit to every group with whom they have
volunteered over the years. The Wissners have volunteered at PROP for more than
four years and they started a program to pick up surplus food products from local
markets and distribute them throughout the community. The Wissners also
volunteer at Edendale where they help frail elderly people maintain independence
by assisting them with riding on the shopping bus.
Council Member Aho said another recipient of the 2007 Human Rights Award for
an Individual is Ali Turner. He said Ms Turner is the Senior Youth Services
Librarian with the Hennepin County Library, Eden Prairie Branch. She has worked
in outreach for youth and immigrant programs and has helped to bring about a
greater understanding of the services and resources the library has to offer. She
works in a truly collaborative spirit with staff from the School District, the City of
Eden Prairie, social services providers and others to make the library a welcoming
place for all to enjoy.
Mayor Young and Ms Maguire presented plaques to the three recipients.
2007 Business Recipient
Council Member Butcher said Thunder Communications Design is the recipient of
the 2007 Human Rights Award for a Business. She said Jody Russell, owner of
Thunder Communications Design, designs and maintains websites for grass roots
organizations in Eden Prairie such as the PROP Shop, ABC Foundation, and the
Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools.
Mayor Young and Ms Maguire presented a plaque for Thunder Communications
Design to Ms Jody Russell.
Mayor Young thanked all the recipients of the awards for their hard work.
B. MARY HILL SMITH—METROPOLITAN COUNCIL UPDATE
Mary Hill Smith said she is the representative to the Metropolitan Council from the
3rd District which includes Eden Prairie. She reviewed the progress made by the
Metropolitan Council during the last year which included funding for the Northstar
Commuter Rail line, the start of engineering for the Central Corridor Light Rail
Transit, obtaining a grant for improvements to transit in two major corridors, and
gaining approval for a Parks Foundation. She said the goals for the Metropolitan
Council are to improve the regional transportation system, to work with local
communities to accommodate growth, to maximize the effectiveness of their
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services, infrastructure and investments, and to protect and enhance our natural
resources. This year the Metropolitan Council is updating the Transportation Policy
Plan and will review the updates to the communities' Comprehensive Plans.
Butcher asked when we might get light rail in the Southwest Corridor. Ms Smith
said it is projected to be in the 2020's,but they hope to get started by 2014. She
said the Southwest Corridor line is now listed as a Tier 2 system and needs to be
moved up to Tier 1 to get the project going.
Nelson said we are very interested in light rail and a lot of our businesses would
like to have had it in place yesterday. She thought it was important to come where
the businesses and jobs are, and we want to get to Tier 1 status as soon as possible
to move this along.
Mayor Young thanked Ms Smith for her update and for her representation on the
Metropolitan Council.
VI. MINUTES
A. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008
MOTION: Duckstad moved, seconded by Aho, to approve the minutes of the
Council Workshop held Tuesday, May 6, 2008, as published. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Ann Higgins, Vice Chair of the Heritage Preservation Commission, reviewed the
events and projects on which the commission is currently working. Items included
in the work plan are the sesquicentennial planning,reuse of the J. R. Cummins
property, and the completion of four preservation plans with the funding provided
by a CLG grant from the State Historical Society.
Mayor Young thanked her for her presentation.
VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. CLERK'S LICENSE LIST
B. EDEN PRAIRIE MARKETPLACE Second Reading of Ordinance 13-2008-
PUD-6-2008 for Planned Unit Development District Review and Zoning District
Change from Rural to Commercial Regional Service on 1.25 acres and Resolution
2008-54 for Site Plan Review on 1.25 acres. Location: Valley View Road & Prairie
Center Drive. (Ordinance No. 13-2008-PUD-6-2008 for PUD District Review
and Zoning District Change; Resolution No. 2008-54 for Site Plan Review)
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C. UNITEDHEALTH GROUP AUAR UPDATE AND PUD AMENDMENT
Location: SE Quadrant of Shady Oak Rd & TH 62. (Resolution No. 2008-55 for
AUAR)
D. APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BRAUER &
ASSOCIATES FOR MILLER PARK PLAY AREA
E. REJECT BIDS FOR GARDEN ROOM ROOF REPLACEMENT
F. DIRECT STAFF TO NOT WAIVE MONETARY LIMITS ON TORT
LIABILITY ESTABLISHED BY MINNESOTA STATUTES 466.04
G. AMEND CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER LOTS 2 THROUGH 5,
BLOCK 5 WILLIAMS PLACE
H. APPROVE AUCTION OF SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
I. APPROVE RENEWAL OF MIDWEST ASPHALT LAND ALTERATION
PERMIT
J. APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 FOR WASHINGTON AVENUE LIFT
STATION
K. APPROVE REVISED BYLAWS OF EDEN PRAIRIE FIREFIGHTER
RELIEF ASSOCIATION
L. APPROVE LAND ALTERATION PERMIT FOR PHASE I OF THE FOWLER
PROPERTY LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, I.C. 08-5727
M. AWARD CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
SERVICES TO THE OASIS GROUP
N. AWARD THE BID FOR TWO ICE RESURFACERS FOR COMMUNITY
CENTER TO FRANK J. ZAMBONI & CO., INC.
O. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2008-56 APPROVING PARTICIPATION OF
HENNEPIN COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY IN AN EDEN PRAIRIE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Duckstad, to approve Items A-O on the
Consent Calendar.
Nelson asked to discuss Item D. APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH BRAUER & ASSOCIATES FOR MILLER PARK
PLAY AREA. Neal suggested the item be moved to Item XIV. D. REPORT OF
PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTION.
AMENDMENT TO MOTION: Aho amended the motion to approve Items A-C
and E-O on the Consent Calendar. Duckstad seconded the amendment.
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VOTE ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED: Motion carried 5-0.
Young said we often use the Consent Calendar for routine, housekeeping type
items but he wanted to make special note of Item C. UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
AUAR UPDATE AND PUD. He asked representatives of UnitedHealth Group
who were present if they would like to share comments on this item. Dennis Spalla,
Senior Director of Real Estate Services at UnitedHealth Group, thanked the Mayor,
City Council, Planning Commission and City staff for making the project
achievable and noted this is just a first step in the development.
IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS /MEETINGS
X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MOTION: Duckstad moved, seconded by Butcher, to approve the Payment of Claims as
submitted. The motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Aho, Butcher, Duckstad,
Nelson and Young voting "aye."
XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
XIII. APPOINTMENTS
XIV. REPORTS
A. REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS
B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
1. 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Neal said Minnesota statutes require that by June 30 of each year, the
City prepare a financial report for activities of the previous year.
Preparation of the report is largely the work of the Finance Division
under the direction of CFO Sue Kotchevar. The report is prepared
with review by the independent auditing firm of Malloy, Montague,
Karnowski, Radosevich, & Co.,P.A.
William Lauer, Principal with Malloy, Montague, Kamowski,
Radosevich, & Co., P.A., gave a Powerpoint presentation of the 2007
CAFR. He noted the responsibility for the data rests with the City and
his firm's primary role is to review the data and gives an opinion
whether that data fairly represents the city's financial position for the
year under audit. Because the City earned over $500,000 in federal
awards this year, a separate audit of expenditures for those awards is
required.
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Mr. Lauer said they have given a clean opinion without exception on
the Basic Financial Statement and a clean opinion on the Federal
Single Audit. They found two minor items for attention, specifically
providing for additional segregation of the payroll duties and another
layer of review for that process and additional auditing of payables. He
said the controls and records were excellent, and the process was very
efficient and thorough.
Mr. Lauer reviewed the City's revenue sources and expenditures and
the status of the City's General Fund and other operating funds.
MOTION: Butcher moved, seconded by Aho, to accept the 2007
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report(CAFR). Motion carried 5-0.
C. REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
D. REPORT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement With Brauer & Associates
for Miller Park Play Area (Moved from Item VIII. Consent Calendar)
Lotthammer said this year's budget included money for playground
replacement at Red Rock Park and Miller Park in order to bring them
back up to safety standards and quality. Miller Park is a fairly large
facility that gets a lot of use. He said they decided to look at Miller
Park with a Master Plan that has three separate phases. Phase 1 of the
Miller Park Plan primarily addressed the preschool type of equipment
that was built with a pressboard material that hasn't stayed well over
time. At the suggestion of a resident, Mike Garvin, they decided to
take the ADA standards to another level and make the equipment
"boundless," in order to have it accessible to those in wheelchairs. Mr.
Garvin committed to do fundraising for the project, and, once the
master plan is laid out, will go out and sell this as a fundraising
concept.
Lotthammer said they structured the bidding process so that we would
have some alternates in order to be flexible to see how the fundraising
ramped up. The theme in the master plan would make it a more
nautical theme. They also plan to take care of some drainage problems.
He said the agreement requested would allow Brauer & Associates to
do the plans and specifications and would also allow them to do the
construction management for the project. Staff will come back to the
Council with the bids, and we will see how the financing would work
at that point.
Nelson said she had some concerns about the information she received
that indicated the play equipment wasn't as safe as it could be. She
asked if Phases 2 and 3 will be fully safe. Lotthammer said Phases 2
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and 3 have more of the traditional metal pieces, and we have been able
to get parts for those pieces. They are still in fairly good shape but are
starting to get to the end of their life span. He didn't recommend
replacing them at this time. It is the pressboard material that has
deteriorated over the past 14 years.
Nelson asked when Phases 2 and 3 will happen. Lotthammer said
Phase 2 is scheduled for 2011 and Phase 3 for 2012 or 2013. Nelson
said she wanted to make sure we weren't letting something go that we
should be dealing with.
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Butcher, to approve the
Professional Services Agreement with Brauer & Associates for the
Miller Park Play Area. Motion carried 5-0.
E. REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
F. REPORT OF POLICE CHIEF
G. REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF
H. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY
XV. OTHER BUSINESS
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-
0. Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 8:05 PM.