HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 12/07/2010 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Ron Case, Jon Duckstad and
Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer, Public Works Director Gene Dietz,
Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, City Attorney Rick 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. All Council Members were present.
II. COLOR GUARD/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION
IV. PROCLAMATIONS /PRESENTATIONS
V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Nelson added Item XIV.A.1. Case added Item XIV.A.2.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion
carried 5-0.
VI. MINUTES
A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2010
MOTION: Duckstad moved, seconded by Aho, to approve the minutes of the City
Council workshop held Tuesday, November 16, 2010, as published. Motion carried
5-0.
B. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2010
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Aho, to approve the minutes of the City
Council meeting held Tuesday, November 16, 2010, as published. Motion carried
5-0.
VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
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A. CLERK'S LICENSE LIST
B. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2010-80 APPROVING THE 2011 TO
2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
C. APPROVE RENEWAL OF AGREEMENT FOR TOWING SERVICES
BETWEEN THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE AND MATT'S AUTO
SERVICE FOR 2011
D. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2010-87 APPROVING EXECUTE NEW JOINT
POWERS AGREEMENT WHICH WILL ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN EDEN PRAIRIE AND THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL
APPREHENSION
E. APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 1, FOR WESTWIND AND WINDWARD
CIRCLES' WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT TO MACHETEMES
CONSTRUCTION, INC.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to approve Items A-E on the Consent
Calendar. Motion carried 5-0.
IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS/MEETINGS
A. 2011 BUDGET
Mayor Young reminded the audience there are two components to an individual's
property tax. One component is the budget and the tax levy and that is what we are
discussing tonight. The other part is the valuation of the property and that is not
being discussed tonight. Lotthammer noted this is an opportunity to take public
input and comment on the 2011 budget.
Kotchevar gave an overview of the 2011 budget and noted other organizations such
as the county and the school district also hold public meetings to discuss their
budgets. She reviewed the impact of the City tax and the total property tax impact
on residential, apartment and commercial properties. She explained a graph
showing the distribution of property tax for the entities that receive the property tax
revenue. She said the proposed budget has a levy increase of 1.6% with a zero
increase in the budget.
Richard Proops, 9408 Clubhouse Road, said he was confused because he thought
we were going to look at a zero increase budget but there is a 2% wage increase in
the budget. He said the 2% wage increase combined with the 2% decrease in FICA
tax proposed today by the federal government would create a 4% increase in wages.
He believes there is a need for a Budget Director to manage expenditures in the
City budget as managing the budget is not just a part time job for the City Manager.
He noted the severance pay fund is accumulating and totals $296,000 at this point.
He said these payments result from an overly generous benefit program allowing
annual bonuses to be accumulated. That fund should be reviewed and a cap put on
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December 7, 2010
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the accumulation. He said the volunteer fire pension program is the most expensive
in the state and is a defined benefit plan that underwrites the payments and level of
benefits. He noted we spend $923,000 for dispatch services,but the county also
operates a dispatch service. He thought there may be opportunity to offer dispatch
service to other cities. The Community Center operating loss was $1,000,000 in
2009, and he asked if there was a plan in place to reduce the costs of operating that
facility. He said nobody questions the CIP projects like the $10,000,000 for road
improvements. The Flying Cloud ball field improvements will cost$1,400,000 in
2011 simply because that is the amount left from the referendum of five years ago.
The contract for infiltration and inflow study is $527,000 for 2011 and represents
the cost of the contract to determine if sump pumps are discharging into the storm
water system.
Mr. Proops said the Budget Advisory Commission (BAC) was established in 2007
by ordinance to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council;however, the
November and December meetings were cancelled with no explanation. He thought
the BAC is ineffective and should be discontinued. The meeting agendas did not
leave any time for budget discussions, and the City Manager refused permission to
talk to the staff at the operating level. He said he joined the BAC to be of help to
the City Council and City Managers,but no one wants to consider changes to plans
for expanding or question the current ways of doing things when the taxpayers are
footing the bill. Young noted a number of Council Members asked staff to provide
budget alternatives after the last workshop held with the BAC.
Dan Kitrell, 15731 Summit Drive, said effective budgets require critical
examination of revenue and expenses. He thought it makes sense to focus most of
the budget discussion on salary and benefits. We have continued to be generous
with total compensation for employees. The 2% salary increase was recommended
as well as the 2% decrease in social security withholding. He encouraged the
Council to approve a flat budget that does not increase the tax burden on residents
and businesses. He noted Council Member Nelson stated during her campaign that
she would expect a tax increase of 1% or less. He said in light of recent rumors of a
buyout of Super Valu, we must be prepared for a possible decrease in the tax base.
We must get spending under control now.
Donna Azarian, 9068 Waverly Court, said she lost her family's health benefits
when she lost her job four years ago and has had to purchase those benefits on her
own. As a taxpayer she was being asked to fund increased health insurance for City
employees, and she didn't know why she should pay for City employees' health
insurance as well as her own. Many private companies recently changed their plans
and they aren't asking for taxes to help pay for those changes.
MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Aho, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 5-0.
MOTION: Duckstad moved to certify the 2011 tax levy to Hennepin County to be
a zero increase tax levy and to adopt a 2011 entire budget for Eden Prairie equal to
and no more than the exact budget for the current year 2010.
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Motion died for lack of a second.
Rosow said as a point of order the action on the budget comes under an item later
in the agenda. The Council has the discretion to move the item up,but we should
acknowledge what we are doing and Mr. Lotthammer should give any additional
information he has before moving into it. Young noted the actual resolution
certifying the tax levy is proposed to occur under the Report of the City Manager
later this evening.
B. THE POINTE ON LAKE RILEY-LEU RESCINDING APPROVALS by
Karen Len and Jeffrey Leu. Request to rescind Resolution No. 2007-106 for
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 2 acres; rescind Ordinance No. 25-
2007-PUD-11-2007 for Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers
and Zoning District Amendment in the R1-22 Zoning District on 2 acres;rescind
Resolution No. 2007-107 for Preliminary Plat on 2 acres into one lot; rescind
Resolution No. 2007-125 for Final Plat on 2 acres into one lot. Location: 9092,
9100 and 9108 Stephens Pointe. (Resolution No. 2010-81 rescinding PUD
Concept Review, Ordinance rescinding PUD District Review with waivers and
Zoning District Amendment, Resolution 2010-82 rescinding Preliminary Plat,
Resolution No. 2010-83 rescinding Final Plat)
Lotthammer said official notice of this public hearing was published in the
November 25, 2010, Eden Prairie News and sent to 15 property owners. In 2007,
the Leu's purchased three lots and asked the City to approve a subdivision that
combined the three lots into one lot for the purpose of building one house. In
December 2007 the City Council approved The Pointe on Lake Riley—Leu
subdivision. The Leu's have recently decided not to build and would like to rescind
the one lot subdivision so that the property may be sold as three individual lots,
thus restoring the property to its zoning and subdivision status before the
Development Agreement and all approvals were granted by the City. Since the
2007 subdivision was approved through a PUD zoning action, a public hearing and
recommendation by the Planning Commission is required to rescind the approvals.
Lotthammer said the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of
rescinding The Pointe on Lake Riley-Leu project to the City Council at its
November 8, 2010 meeting. The 2nd reading of the ordinance to rescind will take
place under the Ordinances and Resolutions section of the agenda.
There were no comments from the audience.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Nelson, to close the Public Hearing; to adopt
Resolution No. 2010-81 rescinding Resolution No. 2007-106 which approved the
Planned Unit Development Concept Review for one lot, approved by the City
Council on October 2, 2007; to approve 1 st Reading of the Ordinance rescinding
Ordinance No. 25-2007-PUD-11-2007 which adopted the Planned Unit
Development District Review with waivers and Zoning District Amendment within
the R1-22 Zoning District of The Pointe on Lake Riley-Leu for one lot, approved
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by the City Council on December 3, 2007; to adopt Resolution 2010-82 rescinding
Resolution No. 2007-107 which approved the Preliminary Plat of The Pointe on
Lake Riley-Leu for one lot, approved by the City Council on October 2, 2007; and
to adopt Resolution No. 2010-83 rescinding Resolution No. 2007-125 which
approved the Final Plat of The Pointe on Lake Riley-Leu for one lot, approved by
the City Council on December 3, 2007. Motion carried 5-0.
C. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE UPDATING FEE SCHEDULE
FOR ADMINISTRATION OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS
Lotthammer said official notice of this public hearing was published in the
November 18, 2010, Eden Prairie News. This ordinance establishes a fee schedule
for the City's costs in administering official controls pursuant to Minnesota Statutes
Section 462.353, Subd. 4. Minnesota Statute allows a municipality to prescribe fees
sufficient to defray the costs incurred by it in reviewing, investigating, and
administering an application for an amendment to an official control or other
approval required under an official control. Minnesota Statute defines an "official
control" as ordinances or regulations which control the physical development of a
city and implement the general objectives of the comprehensive plan. Official
controls may include ordinances establishing zoning, subdivision controls, site plan
regulations, sanitary codes, building codes and official maps.
There were no comments from the audience.
MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Aho, to close the public hearing and to
approve first reading of the ordinance updating the fee schedule for administration
of official controls. Motion carried 5-0.
D. FEE RESOLUTION
Lotthammer said official notice of this public hearing was published in the
November 18, 2010, Eden Prairie News. This resolution establishes a fee schedule
for the City's services not covered by ordinance.
There were no comments from the audience.
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Case, to close the public hearing and to
adopt Resolution No. 2010-84. Motion carried 5-0.
X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MOTION: Duckstad moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve the payment of claims as
submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Aho, Case, Duckstad, Nelson
and Young voting "aye."
XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A. THE POINTE ON LAKE RILEY-LEU RESCINDING APPROVALS by
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Karen Len and Jeffrey Leu. Second Reading of Ordinance 18-2010 rescinding
PUD District Review with waivers and Zoning Amendment in the R1-22 Zoning
District on 2 acres. (Ordinance No. 18-2010 rescinding PUD District Review
with waivers and Zoning District Amendment; Resolution No. 2010-85
approving 2nd Amendment to Development Agreement)
Lotthammer said in 2007, the Leu's purchased three lots and asked the City to
approve a subdivision that combined three lots into one lot for the purpose of
building one house. In December 2007 the City Council approved the Pointe at
Lake Riley—Leu subdivision. The Leu's have recently decided not to build and
would like to rescind the one lot subdivision so that the property may be sold as
three individual lots, thus restoring the property to its zoning and subdivision status
before the Development Agreement and all approvals were granted by the City.
Since the 2007 subdivision was approved through a PUD zoning action, a public
hearing and recommendation by the Planning Commission is required to rescind
the approvals.
MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve second reading of
Ordinance No. 18-2010 rescinding Ordinance No. 25-2007-PUD-11-2007 which
approved the Planned Unit Development District Review and Zoning District
Amendment within the R1-22 Zoning District of The Pointe on Lake Riley-Leu for
one lot, approved by the City Council on December 3, 2007; and to adopt
Resolution No. 2010-85 approving second amendment to Development
Agreement. Motion carried 5-0.
B. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 19-2010 UPDATING FEE
SCHEDULE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS AND
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2010-88 APPROVING SUMMARY
ORDINANCE
Lotthammer said this ordinance establishes a fee schedule for the City's costs in
administering official controls pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 462.353,
Subd. 4. The first reading of this ordinance was approved earlier in this meeting.
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Aho, to approve second reading of
Ordinance 19-2010 updating the fee schedule for administration of official controls
and to adopt Resolution No. 2010-88 approving summary publication. Motion
carried 5-0.
XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
XIII. APPOINTMENTS
XIV. REPORTS
A. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Report on Wayfindins! Committee—Council Member Nelson
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Nelson said she serves on the Joint Chamber of Commerce/City of Eden
Prairie Wayfinding Committee. They have completed the first part of their
discussions which involved the issue of getting people from the freeways to
Eden Prairie Center and back out to the freeways. The Eden Prairie Center
put signs up on mall property but they also wanted a few signs on the ring
road that would point the way to the mall. She said General Growth has
agreed to pay for the signs that will be put up by the City. There is a
question about whether it will be done in time for the Christmas shopping
season.
2. Phone Calls on Deer Hunting and Snowplowing— Council Member
Case
Case said he received phone calls the night they were shooting deer south of
Riverview Road, and he didn't think the Council Members were notified of
the deer reduction shoot. He did not think the Council should be the last to
know that such things are taking place because we need information to be
prepared for phone calls from residents.
Case said he has also received calls about snowplowing and asked if there is
a plan for how quickly we can get trucks out when there is an ice storm. He
also wondered if there is something within the process that allows flexibility
to change the plan if we hear one road is in particularly bad shape. Dietz
said we have a process for both situations and during the winter time we
have one person in the Street Division on stand-by. The Police Department
has authority to call the Street Division manager. They would assess the
situation and would resolve any localized complaints or call in additional
staff. Any snow storm is always different, and we have a plan to change
with the changing times.
Case asked if a resident could call 911 if they had a question about a
particular street. Dietz said that would work.
B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
1. City Manager Search Timeline
Lotthammer said on November 30, 2010, the Eden Prairie City Council,
Mayor-Elect Nancy Tyra-Lukens and Council Member-Elect Sherry
Butcher met with the City's search consultant, Greg Albrecht. Mr. Albrecht
provided an overview of his executive search activities to date. Mr.
Albrecht also presented resumes of 10 individuals for consideration by the
City Council. The group reviewed the resumes and came to consensus on
six candidates to interview. Mayor Young and Council Member Aho did
not attend the meeting. Mr. Albrecht said he would contact them to get
their input. The group discussed setting a date for the City Council
Members to individually interview the six candidates, after which the
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Council will meet as a group to select two or three candidates to proceed to
the final interview process. The group agreed on setting the interviews for
Saturday, January 8. There will be a public meeting at 1:00 PM that day
with the City Council interviews occurring before the public meeting. He
said setting this fulfills our public notification of the meeting.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to schedule a special City Council
meeting at 1:00 p.m. on January 8, 2010, for the City Council to discuss and
select two or three City Manager candidates to proceed to the final interview
process. Motion carried 5-0.
2. Resolution No. 2010-86 Certifying 2011 Property Tax Levy,Adopting The
2011 Budget, and Consenting and Approving the 2011 HRA Tax Levy
Lotthammer said this item refocuses on the staff recommendation that was
discussed in the workshop. He said there were some basic questions from
the Council and we went through some of the scenarios to show the impact
of the various levies and spending. He said staff was asked to look at a flat
budget with a zero increase from 2010 to 2011. He reviewed the staff
proposal and noted if the Council reaches a resolution tonight we would
likely not have the Council meeting scheduled for December 21.
Lotthammer noted the staff proposal has a 1.74% levy increase which gives
an opportunity to make a reduction in the amount of the budget deficit. He
said that levy amount would result in a$38 increase in taxes for a median
value single family home. He said the proposal results in a budget deficit of
$843,518 and includes employee wage and benefit changes with some
budget reductions to make this a flat budget. He said the wage and benefit
increases put us in a position to deliver services in a efficient and effective
way and allows us to get more towards the market for employees. He
reviewed a list of the possible reductions staff has identified to keep the
budget flat.
Nelson said one of the things that needs explaining is why the average home
may go up more dollars than it appears in the 1.76% levy. City Assessor
Steve Sinell said some houses may see a decrease in tax, and much of the
change is due to some properties going down in value more than the typical
house. He said about 30/% of properties had an overall tax decrease and
about 70% went up. There was a little bit of change in commercial values
that impacted the residential. Commercial rates went down a little more
than did the residential rates. Nelson said even with a zero levy people
could expect to pay a little more because of shifts. Case noted a zero percent
levy increase causes residents to pay 2.81% more or$19 per year because of
the formula shift.
Aho said he would like to discuss the proposal Council Member Duckstad
made earlier this evening for a zero % levy increase and a zero budget. One
of the things we need to consider is what that does to our deficit and how
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much we will need to spend out of the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF).
That is a critical aspect that we shouldn't ignore in our discussions.
Duckstad asked what the current amount is in the BSF. Kotchevar said at
the end of 2009 there was $5,500,000, and we expect it to be approximately
the same at the end of 2010.
Nelson said she accepted the fact that staff found decreases in the budget
that could equal the employee 2% wage increase. She would like to throw
out for consideration a 0.25% increase in the budget to start the duty crew in
September. She said that would be about$3 more in taxes for the average
homeowner and would be a very good investment to make.
Case said he agreed with the concept of the duty crew he thought we may
find our fee revenue is higher next September and he would rather not get it
in the levy now. He didn't think we can decide to move on unless we deal
with the salary increase piece first. He said Council Member Duckstad's
proposal would mean we need to borrow $1,300,000 to cover the
difference. The BSF was created to help us in the dips, but he was
concerned that this may be a plateau, not a dip. Last year we borrowed one-
time revenue and would have the same problem in 2012 if we do it again.
We still have some cushion with the BSF. The City of Eden Prairie gave a
zero increase to employees last year but the county did not nor did the
federal government. He thought things are starting to improve slightly, and
market salaries in cities around us are increasing 1-2% higher than ours. If
we hold ours at zero, we are using our staff to balance our budget. He said
he was leaning towards following the BAC and staff recommendation of
pushing the 2% increase this year. In order to fund it he would go along
with the cuts proposed, and he thought we can put off the two police
officers and the duty crew for a year. We would still use $843,000 out of the
BSF and we have to know we are complicating next year as well if we do
that. If we are comfortable with taking $1,300,000 out of the BSF we can do
this with a zero tax levy. We would keep the budget flat and encumber
ourselves with a deficit, and we know we will have to get further funding
next year.
Aho said it is important to keep our staff at market levels. We have
compensated our staff well in the past, and we have excellent staff
members. He suggested we look at other options such as a 1% increase as a
compromise instead of a 2% increase. He asked Ms Kotchevar what that
would be in terms of dollars. Kotchevar said it would be a total of$173,000
including pension and FICA changes.
Case said he was open to looking into that. He thought it is not okay to just
assume our staff can keep taking a zero increase like they did last year. He
said we have some amazing people and quality service is what we do. He
said we got chosen out of thousands of cities by Money Magazine to be No.
1 and that didn't happen by accident. We need to keep quality employees
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here, and it is important to be concerned as a Council about City staff
morale. He would support some kind of a salary increase and would be
open to how we would fund that.
Duckstad said in the last couple years we haven't put in zero budgets
because we wanted to be mean spirited but rather to be sensitive to the bad
economy. People in our community haven't fully recovered, and they have
had to tighten their belts. We as Council Members have an obligation to the
taxpayers, and that is why he thought we should move for another zero levy
and a zero budget.
Case said he was not disagreeing that we could have a zero levy, but we are
talking about whether the staff should get a raise or not. If we decide to go
ahead with the increase, then we can talk about how to fund it. He thought
these are two different pieces.
Young said he didn't think anyone underestimates staff, and this is one of
the hardest parts of the budget discussion; however the discussion is more
complicated than that. We still pay above the average and there is no easy
way to talk about having a flat budget or keeping taxes down without
affecting our people.
With regard to the pay increase, Nelson said when we met with the BAC
she asked the question about having a 1.5% or 1.6% increase and not go to
2%. The Chair of the BAC had a good response that over the past two years
this would barely keep things flat with inflation. She asked the Chamber
about the percentage for businesses, and they said it was 2.9%. Given the
budget reductions that add up to the same amount, she thought we can do
the 2% and just argue about the deficit. She could see 1% over for the levy
which would take us down to approximately what we have been able to
make up for this year. Increased fees means more building is going on, and
the economy is slowly starting to right itself.
Lotthammer said staff had a good discussion about building permit fees and
we conservatively went back to budgeting those at$1,200,000. From a
confidence standpoint we haven't crafted this budget in a way that is risky
but rather it is very conservative.
Case said this raises the question of what the objective is. If the objective is
to keep peoples' taxes flat, a zero levy will still raise taxes $19 so the levy
would have to decrease in order to not raise taxes. He thought we could get
at a compromise to have a 1 or 2% salary increase and do a 1% levy using
the BSF.
Aho said he liked the idea of a zero levy increase even though it does raise
the average median home taxes by $19. We had planned to use the BSF in
the last two budget cycles but we really didn't use that fund. There are some
other areas of cost savings we may be able to take advantage of over the
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year and with potential increases in our building fees, a zero % levy and a
zero % budget that includes a 2% increase for employees probably would
not result in a $1,300,000 deficit. That would be the worst case we would
see, so he was comfortable supporting a zero % levy increase and a zero %
budget increase. Case asked if that would take the difference in the deficit
out of the BSF. Aho thought it would yield out less than that. We still have
$5,500,000 in the BSF, and it hasn't decreased in the last two years.
Duckstad said the staff recommendation was for an increase in the levy to
1.73% and he felt that was too high. He thought the zero levy increase was
appropriate because that had been considered carefully by our BAC. Even if
it does raise taxes a modest amount, it is appropriate that we reduce the levy
from the amount proposed.
Case said he came to the meeting thinking he would not be comfortable
with the deficit spending piece but we learned our$700,000 deficit
projected for the year will disappear. Permit fees are running $500,000
higher and the Community Center revenue is running higher. He thought a
zero budget and a zero levy are okay because we talked about how we
would fund that. It does create on paper a$1,343,518 deficit which would
be funded out of the BSF. He noted we won't have these options in 2012
because at this rate the BSF fund is bankrupt by 2013 even if we continue to
hold levies and budgets at zero.
Nelson said she could go along with the zero/zero scenario but would rather
propose the 0.25% increase to allow for the duty crew to start in September.
She thought that is a very modest$3 increase, and we can't wait forever to
start the duty crew. Case said that is about$75,000 and he thought we might
find a way to fund that amount while keeping the levy increase at zero. We
could work with the Fire Department and get some ownership of this from
the public. Aho agreed the duty crew concept is important but we can do it
in the future.
MOTION: Duckstad moved, seconded by Aho, to adopt Resolution No.
2010-86 certifying the 2011 Property Tax levy to be $32,009,673, to
approve the 2011 Budget of$40,414,931 as reviewed by the Council, and to
consent and approve the HRA tax levy and budget of$200,000.
Rosow asked if the numbers include the 2% wage increase. Duckstad said
he thought that was implicit in what we were doing.
VOTE ON THE MOTION: Motion carried 5-0.
C. REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
1. Approve New Lease Between the City of Eden Prairie and BE
Investments LLC for a Complete Nutrition Retail Store at 8018 Den
Road
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Jeremiah said the liquor store property at Den Road had a vacancy earlier
this year and the proposal presented to the Council in June 2010 was never
signed. There is a new proposal for a Complete Nutrition store to lease
1,517 square feet for five years at$23.00 per square foot rent. For the
option years the rent would increase at the end of the five years to $25.30
and to $27.83 at the end of ten years.
Nelson noted renting this portion of the space leaves a second portion to be
rented. Jeremiah said they anticipate there will be two more tenants and
there has been a good deal of interest in the space. Nelson asked if there are
doorways to the outside for all the spaces. Jeremiah said improvements
made at this time will set the stage for future tenants.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve a new lease
between the City of Eden Prairie and BE Investments, LLC, for a Complete
Nutrition retail store at a City owned property located at 8018 Den Road.
Motion carried 5-0.
D. REPORT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR
E. REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
F. REPORT OF POLICE CHIEF
G. REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF
H. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY
1. Memorandum of Understanding Rmardins! Certain Development
Projects at Flyins! Cloud Airport
Rosow said this is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding
development at the airport. As background, when we started discussions
about the ball field leases, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
included a proposal they would develop certain properties that are part of
the airport property and their process would be to solicit input from City
staff as to the appropriateness of the uses. The MAC would convene a
public meeting on the development and would incorporate City design
concepts. They would direct the developer to work with the City on
building permits and then ask the City to cooperate with infrastructure with
them. He said this is different structurally from what we normally do. We
had a dispute over whether the City had zoning authority over non-
aeronautical uses. We looked for a way to meet the needs of both entities
and honor the process we go through when we zone in and around the City.
He proposed we use the site development process but change it to
accommodate the MAC's need to know they will be able to develop the
property.
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Rosow said historically we have not pre-zoned property in the City prior to
receiving a proposal in order to maintain significant control over the
development. He proposed to staff and the MAC the City would undertake
to pre-zone eight sites that the MAC has identified by first amending our
City code to provide for airport commercial and airport office zoning
districts. The uses in the airport office and airport commercial will be the
same as the kind of uses in our regular office and commercial. One of the
concerns was with respect to a gasoline service station. This ordinance
provides for performance standards if one of the sites is developed for that
purpose. We would go through a process that would include a public
hearing, adopting the new zoning districts and looking at site plan approvals
for each of the sites. We would consider the text amendment and if that was
adopted, we would bring forward the actual rezoning of the eight parcels.
He reviewed a list of the eight parcels and noted if the City rezones the
properties the MAC agrees to not challenge the City's assertion of zoning
authority over those parcels. Doing this without an actual project proposed
enables the MAC to go to a developer and say they can talk to the City
about what is allowed in the zone. Those matters would then come before
the Council on a per case basis when they find a developer.
Rosow said in connection with all this we worked out cooperation on
infrastructure so the MAC pays their fair share of the costs. We are working
out the details on the parcel next to the new ball fields to mesh with the
work on the ball fields. Mr. Lotthammer and the MAC team are trying to
refine those numbers to add a detailed description of how the cost of those
parcels would be shared. We identified the type of improvements that
would be contemplated and if the MAC would have to pay a share of the
costs. He said the MOU has been attached to the proposed ordinance. By
approving the MOU the Council does not commit to approving the
ordinance because that would have to go through our process with a public
hearing. If the text amendment is passed, we would be in a waiting mode
until a developer wanted to develop one of the parcels. Either party may
cancel the agreement. It provides for a dispute resolution process similar to
that in the 2002 MOU. He said this is a good compromise that maintains our
position that we have zoning authority over non-aeronautical uses and also
provides certainty to the MAC they will be able to develop the parcels.
They are looking at ways to increase their revenue, and this is important to
them.
Case said this feels pretty good. His concern was if a proposed gas station
comes in and the neighborhood is up in arms, in the past we have been able
to say "No"because we had the power with zoning. In this case we would
be hard pressed to not approve it, so our hands are more tied with this
process. Rosow said this is one of the compromises reached, but that is an
example of why we included special provisions with respect to performance
standards for gas stations and the MAC was comfortable with that.
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Duckstad said he was a little leery about the whole thing. He asked what
happens if the people along Pioneer Trail across from the parcel don't want
a gas station there and are unhappy about it. Once we zone it commercial a
developer can go ahead and put a gas station in. We just negotiated a lease
with the MAC that had a cancellation clause of one year so he thought we
have some leverage there. He would like someone to explain why we
couldn't put in the MOU that when the commercial property is developed
and the lease to the commercial developer grants more than one year notice
for cancellation we should have a right to renegotiate our lease with the
MAC so we are more protected.
Rosow said he believed that is part of the entire process he described. We
insisted from day one that we have a public hearing. The first opportunity
for citizens to weigh in is when we bring forward a text amendment. The
second opportunity for the citizens to weigh in is when the Council
considers the rezoning of each of the parcels.
Young asked if the action requested tonight will not change anyone's
zoning. Rosow said that was correct.
Nelson asked if none of the properties can be industrial. Rosow said that
was correct. Nelson asked if we have guidelines for lighting and traffic.
Rosow said the developments will drive infrastructure improvements and
that was part of the matrix put together to identify the parcels that would
require street improvements. Nelson asked if we will have any control over
what kind or style of lighting used. Rosow said that is part of the
performance standards. He noted the alternative is to not pass the MOU, not
have an agreement on the appropriate use of the parcels, and the MAC
deciding to go ahead with development.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to approve the Memorandum
of Understanding regarding certain development projects at Flying Cloud
with the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Motion carried 5-0.
XV. OTHER BUSINESS
Aho said this may be our last meeting for the year, and he wanted to take the opportunity
to thank Mayor Young for his many years of service on commissions, on the City Council
and as mayor. He also wanted to thank Council Member Duckstad for his many years of
service.
Duckstad said he joined in commending Mayor Young on the effective way he has led the
City Council in the last four years. He said it was a pleasure and a privilege to serve on the
City Council, and he thought as a Council we have done some pretty good things.
XVI. CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER LEGAL STRATEGY
At 9:05 PM the Council moved to closed session to consider legal strategy.
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XVII. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 9:20 PM.