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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 07/19/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JULY 19, 2011 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters I. FIRE DUTY CREW Chief Esbensen presented a PowerPoint on the proposed duty crew initiative. He said the duty crew model of staffing is designed to improve on-scene arrival time. Under this model, fire fighters would work scheduled "shifts" at each fire station. Two fire fighters would be on duty at each fire station, for a total of eight fire fighters on staff at all times. Esbensen said that shifts are generally short(from three to six hours) to allow for maximum flexibility. For larger events, a general alarm would still go out to the on-call fire fighter population. Esbensen said the switch to duty crew is estimated to result in the ability to arrive on- scene four minutes faster. Esbensen said these four minutes are crucial in containing fires and providing assistance in personal injury/medical incidents. In addition to improved response times, implementation of the duty crew would help improve recruitment and retention of fire fighters due to fewer unscheduled responses. Esbensen said a number of surrounding suburbs have converted to duty crew, including Plymouth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Roseville and Eagan. All have indicated they are pleased with the results of the conversion. Esbensen said the cost of implementing the duty crew for the second half of 2012 would be about$140,000. The cost for the first full year of duty crew,proposed for 2013, would be about$260,000. Council Member Aho asked about the source of the additional costs. Esbensen said each fire fighter would be paid $10 per hour for each scheduled shift. Esbensen said there would be no change to the current fire pension program and staffing would remain at the current level. Council Member Case asked how Eden Prairie's response times compare to neighboring communities. Esbensen said it is difficult to compare response times because Eden Prairie covers a much larger geographic area than many of our neighboring communities. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if switching to duty crew would require remodeling of the fire stations. Esbensen no changes to the fire stations would be needed. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said it seems as if the cost benefit ratio is good. She noted that during the last election, City Council Workshop Minutes July 19, 2011 Page 2 all City Council candidates indicated they are in favor of the duty crew; however, she does not sense a surge in demand from the community. She said the question is whether or not we need the duty crew right away, or can it be pushed out a year. Nelson said she has heard from residents who say longer response times worry them. She said she wishes the City had gone to the duty crew a couple of years ago. Council Member Butcher said the return on investment would be worth it. II. OPEN PODIUM A. KARTHIK RAMANATHAN—COMMUNITY CENTER TRESPASS NOTICE Karthik Ramanathan, 18213 Warbler Lane, said he was concerned about a trespass notice he received from the Eden Prairie Community Center involving an allegation that he had made a woman uncomfortable. He said no specifics were given for the violation, and he said he did not receive his right of appeal. He presented a petition to the City Manager. B. JEFF STRATE—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT Jeff Strate, 15021 Summerhill Drive, said he is leading an initiative to get the City and the Watershed District to rethink the proposed parking lot at Birch Island Woods. He said there are better ways to get people to see the woods, such as directional signs and improvements to Indian Chief Road. He was also concerned the agreement for pervious paving maintenance goes for only ten years. He also said there should be additional soil testing for contaminants. C. DOUG LIND—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT Doug Lind, 15808 North Eden Drive, said a paving area in a conservation area is contradictory, and there has never been a contentious parking situation in this area. He questioned the need for the parking lot and thought it was a violation of the spirit of a conservation area. D. GERI NAPUCK—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT Geri Napuck, 6447 Kurtz Lane, commented on behalf of the Friends of Birch Island Woods Board of Directors noting the City's vision for the woods has always been for safe public access for residents including handicapped access. She said the 2002 Task Force and the project consultant unanimously recommended installation of an eight stall parking lot. The issues raised in opposition to the parking lot have been addressed diligently by City staff, and the Watershed District has approved a$25,000 grant for the pervious pavement. E. MARCUS JOHNSON—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT Marcus Johnson, 7017 Kingston Drive, said he was a member of the Board of Friends of the Birch Island Woods. While he agreed it would be nice to not have City Council Workshop Minutes July 19, 2011 Page 3 cars in a conservation area, many people do find their way to the conservation area by car and the parking lot provides a better and safer access to Birch Island Woods. F. JOHN JUSTEN—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT John Justen, 6558 Kurtz Lane, said he recently became a member of Friends of the Birch Island Woods and he stands behind the proposed parking lot. Regarding the concerns about maintenance of the pervious pavement,he said the surface will be panels that can be easily replaced. Tyra-Lukens said the parking lot was approved by the City Council last fall, and there is no public hearing for this on the agenda tonight. III. ADJOURNMENT