HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 09/04/2012 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad
Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Ron Case, and
Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director
Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet
Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay
Lotthammer, City Attorney Ric Rosow and Council
Recorder Jan Curielli
I. ROLL CALL/CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Tyra-Lukens called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
II. COLOR GUARD/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Case added Item XIV.A.1. Getschow noted a change to Item VIII.C. on goldenrod paper.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion
carried 5-0.
VI. MINUTES
A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP HELD TUESDAY,AUGUST 21, 2012
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Butcher Wickstrom, to approve the minutes
of the Council workshop held Tuesday, August 21, 2012 as published. Motion
carried 5-0.
B. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY,AUGUST 21, 2012
MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Aho, to approve the minutes of the City
Council meeting held Tuesday, August 21, 2012 as published. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
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VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. CLERK'S LICENSE LIST
B. ADOPT RESOLUTION 2012-122 APPROVING FINAL PLAT OF THE
MEADOWS AT RILEY CREEK
C. ADOPT RESOLUTION 2012-123 APPROVING MASTER PARTNERSHIP
CONTRACT WITH MNDOT
D. AWARD CONTRACT FOR VEHICLE EXHAUST EXTRACTION SYSTEM
FOR FIRE STATIONS TO TNC INDUSTRIES, INC.
E. APPROVE FOURTH RESTATED JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH
SOUTHWEST TRANSIT
F. ACCEPT OPERA (LOCAL OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
GRANT IN AMOUNT OF $10,000 AND APPROVE PURCHASE OF ROAD
WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEM
MOTION: Butcher Wickstrom moved, seconded by Case, to approve Items A-F on
the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0.
IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS/MEETINGS
A. GOLDEN TRIANGLE TECH CENTER by Northmarq Real Estate Services,
LLC. Request for: Zoning District Change from I-2 to Office on 11.10 acres, and
Site Plan Review on 11.10 acres. Location: 7905 Golden Triangle Drive.
Getschow said this proposal is to change the zoning of the site from I-2 to Office to
allow for 100% office use in the existing 90,590 square foot building. Official
notice of this public hearing was published in the August 23, 2012, Eden Prairie
News and sent to 10 property owners. The proposed plan meets parking
requirements based on 100% office use. Two conditions of approval are related to
the approval of a Traffic Demand Management(TDM) plan and repair of the
existing retaining wall located along the north property line. The Planning
Commission voted 7-0-1 to recommend approval of the project at the August 27,
2012, meeting.
Ben Yarborough, Northmarq Real Estate Services, said they want to change the
zoning from I-2 to Office. Prospective tenants require more office space than is
currently allowed under the I-2 zoning classification. The existing site plan shows
419 parking stalls, and they plan to add 41 additional stalls. The TDM plan has been
submitted to the City. They will provide the $19,500 deposit required when the TDM
plan is approved. They have also submitted a plan and request for a permit to repair
the retaining wall. They expect to spend four to six weeks to repair the wall. They
believe the change in zoning will attract quality tenants to their building.
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Aho asked if there are any changes planned to the building. Mr. Yarborough replied
there will probably be tenant-driven improvements.
Butcher Wickstrom asked about the availability of and demand for office space in the
Golden Triangle area. Mr. Yarborough replied they have found that people are
looking for more office space than is available under the current zoning
classification, at least for their building.
There were no comments from the audience.
MOTION: Butcher Wickstrom moved, seconded by Nelson, to close the public
hearing; to approve 1st reading of the ordinance for Zoning District change from I-
2 to Office on 11.10 acres; and to direct staff to prepare a development agreement
incorporating staff and commission recommendations and Council conditions.
Motion carried 5-0.
X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MOTION: Butcher Wickstrom moved, seconded by Case, to approve the payment of
claims as submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Aho, Butcher
Wickstrom, Case, Nelson and Tyra-Lukens voting "aye."
XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
XIII. APPOINTMENTS
XIV. REPORTS
A. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Sump Pump Drainage--Council Member Case
Case said as a result of his travels around the City he has some concern about
possible consequences of our attempts as a City to keep our clean water from
going into the sewer system. We have tried to get sump pumps to drain more
appropriately than draining into the sewer system. There are streets in wet
areas of the City where pipes are going from the sump pumps to the streets
and causing the gutters to be slimy. There have been incidents where people
have slipped on the gutters in those areas. He understands from Mr. Ellis that
we have some pilot projects to address the concern. He wanted to make sure
this is a priority item for our stormwater drainage fund and that we have
identified the neighborhoods where this problem occurs.
Ellis said through our Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) program we have noticed
a number of residents who are pumping into the street. Last year we started to
put six inch perforated pipes in the ground so people can use those to drain
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their sump pumps. We did the first drain tile project on Debbie Lane, and it
was very well received. We are currently doing a second project at a cost of
about$215,000 in the northwest part of the City. We are planning to budget
about$100-150,000 per year to continue to do drain the projects. The projects
will be funded by taking 50% of the cost from the stormwater drainage fund
and 50% from the sanitary sewer fund. Staff wanted to ease into the projects
to make sure we have the right design.
Case asked if the Waterford neighborhood is on the list and how a particular
street would rise to the top of the list. Ellis replied they do a cost benefit
analysis on the neighborhoods to see if there are enough homeowners affected
and if there is a nearby storm sewer to tie into. He asked anyone in the
audience who has such a concern to forward information to City staff.
B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
1. Resolution 2012-124 Certifying Proposed 2013 Property Tax Levy,
Accepting Proposed 2013 Budget, Setting Public Hearing Date &
Consenting and Approving the HRA Tax Levy
Getschow said we need to set this year's preliminary tax levy and budget by
September 15. He noted the City is in the second year of a two-year budget
cycle. He noted we found some savings over the past year and were able to
bring the proposed budget increase closer to 2.5%. The tax levy is tied to that,
and staff is proposing a preliminary levy of 0.9%. The levy amount could still
be lowered between now and the end of the year. The second piece of positive
news is the tax impact. Last year's 0.9% levy equated to a $6-7 annual
increase for a median value home. This year the same 0.9% levy increase
equates to an $18 reduction in the tax on a median value home. The resolution
tonight also sets the date for a public hearing on December 4 and consents to
and approves the HRA tax levy.
Case said the Council had several meetings throughout the year to struggle
through this. He understood that every 1% increase in the levy generates
$300,000, which could be an argument for not increasing the levy. However,
setting the levy at a 0% increase would extend the time we are living on
borrowed money, and we are trying to undo that cycle. The 0.9% increase
allows us to continue to wean ourselves off living on savings. Getschow said
that was true, and a lot of this plays into the economic environment we are in.
In this case we have, in the last two or three budget years,reduced the annual
operating deficit from $1,600,000 to about$500,000. The budget the Council
is being asked to consider will continue to fund services at the current level
and will not use one-time dollars that come in. We would have to use one-
time revenue if the levy was not increased. Development revenue for the year
is already at or ahead of what we budgeted for the year. Many times that
revenue comes in but the expense related to the development doesn't come
until later so we want to level that out. He noted development revenue is
tracking very well to a point where in 2013-2014 we might be able to raise
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the revenue line and cut into the deficit even more.
Nelson said in two weeks we will be talking about the next round of possible
green projects we may want to incorporate into the budget. She asked if this
budget allows for some of those projects. Getschow replied it allows for those
projects in a couple of different ways. Some smaller ongoing projects such as
LED lighting are built into the General Fund. Medium sized projects would
be funded by their payback, and larger projects would be related to debt.
Nelson said she wanted to make sure we weren't going to lock ourselves out
of being able to do some green projects.
MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Case, to adopt Resolution 2012-124
that certifies the proposed 2013 property tax levy to be $32,549,320; sets
December 4, 2012, as the meeting which will include discussion of the
budget and provide for public comment; accepts the proposed 2013 budget of
$42,750,579; and consents and approves the HRA tax levy of$200,000.
Motion carried 5-0.
C. REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
1. Livable Communities Transit Oriented Development Grant Application
(Resolution 2012-125)
Jeremiah said this is a resolution authorizing the City to apply for Livable
Communities Transit Oriented Development(TOD) grant funds to develop a
TOD zoning ordinance for the City and the area around five proposed light
rail stations along the Southwest LRT corridor in particular. She said we
anticipate the need for this type of ordinance to ensure all those areas are very
walkable and have the type of zoning in place that will attract the type of
development we want there. The timing is critical, and these areas are eligible
for TOD grant funds. The ordinance would require approximately $75,000
worth of resources, including hiring a consultant. The request is for a grant of
$60,000, with the City providing $15,000. We can realize a part of the
$15,000 as in-kind services but are also recommending that$7,500 come out
of the Economic Development Fund. We will be trying to attract businesses
and entrepreneurs into these TOD areas. The work on a TOD ordinance could
not take place in the near future without the grant resources, and we will be
able to complete the work within two years if we receive the grant.
Aho asked Ms Jeremiah to expand on the scope of the project, to explain how
these stations will affect the businesses already there, and what the possible
effect might be on our existing transportation. Jeremiah said the scope is
addressed more in the transitional station action planning process. The five
cities along the Southwest LRT line are partners in the process and just went
through the consultant interview process. Hennepin County is working with
the recommended consultant on the specific scope of the project, so the
planning is underway. As we answer questions on how it will operate, we also
want to be thinking about what kind of development might be attracted to this
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September 4, 2012
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area and how we want to guide the future of the area.
MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Butcher Wickstrom, to adopt
Resolution 2012-125 authorizing the City of Eden Prairie to apply for
Livable Communities Transit Oriented Development grant funds for a
Transit Oriented Development(TOD) Zoning District Ordinance. 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
XV. OTHER BUSINESS
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Butcher Wickstrom, to adjourn the City Council
meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Tyra-Lukens adjourned the meeting at 7:35PM.