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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 08/16/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,AUGUST 16, 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 Workshop - Heritage Room H I. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION Members of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC)joined City Council for the first portion of the workshop. Members of the HRDC are Pam Spera (Chair), Peter Huck(Vice Chair), Linda Crawford, Robert Rozanski, Gayle Sanders, PG Narayanan and Zina Nourkadi. Gayle Sanders was absent. Council Member Aho joined the meeting at 5:40 p.m. The Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC) presented a PowerPoint on two issues for the City Council's consideration. Commissioner Robert Rozanski presented the first topic, which involves a proposed change to the wording of the Eden Prairie Manifesto. The second sentence of the first paragraph of the manifesto reads, "We are dedicated to upholding the rights of every individual in our community to freedom, dignity, and security regardless of religious affiliation, race, ethnic heritage, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or economic status." The HRDC's discussion revolved around the question of whether or not the term "regardless of religious affiliation" includes non- religious people. Rozanski said in legal terms, the wording does include people without religious affiliation; however, the Commission feels that it does not(according to common usage) include those without religious affiliation. The HRDC considered several options for amending the language, including changing "religious affiliation" to "religious or secular affiliation" or "religious or non-religious affiliation"; deleting "religious affiliation" and replacing it with "worldview" or"religious or secular worldview." The Commission recommends inserting the term "or non-religious." Council Member Nelson said she does not think the suggested language adds clarification. She said most people already know that the current wording includes those without religious affiliation. Rozanski said he feels that the word "affiliation" assumes an affiliation with a religion. He feels the terminology used in the manifesto should expand to encompass our changing community. Case said he is reluctant to make changes to the manifesto. He feels the average person on the street understands what is meant by "religious affiliation." Butcher said she thinks the proposed language provides clarification and she supports the change. Commissioner Peter Huck said he agrees that City Council Workshop Minutes August 16, 2011 Page 2 the manifesto should be considered a "living" document and the proposed change includes another group of people. Spera said she voted against the proposed wording because it is too broad. She would prefer to see something like the term "lack of religion" included to cover atheists and agnostics. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked the HRDC to relook at the language based on input from the Council. Pamela Spera presented a domestic partner registry proposal. She said the domestic partner registry would provide a means for unmarried, committed couples who reside or work in Eden Prairie to document their relationship. HRDC believes offering a domestic partner registry would support the mission of the Eden Prairie Manifesto. It would assist people in receiving benefits such as bereavement leave, insurance, club memberships, family leave and homestead designation. Twelve Minnesota cities already have domestic partner registries. Council Member Butcher asked if any cities have considered the registry and turned it down. Spera said the City of Moorhead decided not to start a registry because they felt it was outside the scope of city services. Council Member Case said he supports looking into a domestic partner registry. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is comfortable with the idea of a domestic partner registry. II. LRT Assistant City Engineer Randy Newton presented a PowerPoint on LRT key issues relating to Eden Prairie. The update focused on technical rather than funding issues. One concern is siting of the Operations and Maintenance Facility. Eden Prairie is being considered as a site for the OMF. Newton suggested the City impose the following conditions, if the OMF must be located in Eden Prairie: • Negative impacts to local businesses are minimized • Negative impacts to tax capacity are minimized • Location of the OMF does not create an impediment for future station area transit oriented development • The OMF meets the City's aesthetic performance standards Newton said it will be critical for Southwest Transit to be an active participant in the preliminary engineering process of the LRT alignment. Newton said several potential traffic impacts are of concern: • Valley View Road/Flying Cloud Drive grade separation • Prairie Center Drive/Shady Oak Road grade separation • Mitchell Road grade separation Newton said staff recommends that Town Center Station parking be minimized. They envision a smaller park and ride facility at the Golden Triangle Station. In addition, the feasibility of a more centrally located and walkable Town Center Station should be evaluated. City Council Workshop Minutes August 16, 2011 Page 3 Additional end-of-line alignment priorities for Eden Prairie include: • A walkable Town Center Station with reasonable walk access to Eden Prairie Center • Integration of Southwest Transit and LRT operations • Maximization of redevelopment opportunities • Minimization of traffic impacts in the Major Center Area Other considerations include ensuring an adequate parking supply for park and ride users; convenient access to stations; and planning for potential future extension of the line to the west. Tyra-Lukens asked if traffic studies will be conducted in relation to station planning. Newton said they would. Nelson said there is a need for a station along 169, either in Eden Prairie or elsewhere. She said this will be especially important with the completion of the new 169 interchange. Newton said Southwest Transit is looking at a 169 park and ride that would have express service to the LRT. Aho said he likes the idea of providing more parking on the west end of the line. City Attorney Ric Rosow briefed the City Council on a memorandum he issued regarding quasi-judicial roles of councils and county boards. Open Podium - Council Chamber III. ABDIMALIK MOHAMED —FAMINE IN SOMALIA & SOMALI YOUTH ORGANIZATION Mohamed addressed the famine in East Africa and Somali youths in Eden Prairie. IV. ANNE PRIDEAUX—BAKER ROAD Prideaux said she lives on Oak Hill Court. She asked the City Council not to approve the proposed realignment on Baker Road. She suggested that more research be conducted before a decision is made to proceed. V. ADJOURNMENT