Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 01/22/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JANUARY 22, 2013 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 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 Council Member Kathy Nelson was absent due to illness. I. QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY RESULTS (5:30-6:15) Bill Morris and Peter Leatherman, Decision Resources Inc.,presented the results of the Eden Prairie 2012 Quality of Life Survey. Morris said 400 respondents completed the telephone survey, with the average interview lasting 28 minutes. The non-response rate was 3%. The demographics of respondents were similar to those of the 2010 census. Morris said 99% of respondents rate the quality of life in Eden Prairie as excellent or good. Top responses to what respondents like most about Eden Prairie included schools (15%), trails/parks/recreation (15%) and friendly people (14%). Morris said these types of responses are more typical of residents of a village or town than a suburb. He said residents feel Eden Prairie has a unique identity and they place a high value on natural resources. When asked what they liked least about Eden Prairie, 29% said there is nothing they dislike. Traffic congestion was second on the list at 17%. Respondents were asked about awareness of and participation in various City-sponsored events. The Fourth of July had the highest awareness (96%) and participation (70%). Night to Unite was second highest(87% awareness, 53 % participation). When asked whether or not they would like to see additional events offered, 88% said no. Council Member Case asked whether not having an identifiable downtown affects this answer. He also said people answering that they do not feel additional events are needed does not mean they would not take advantage of other events. Morris noted that farmers markets rate highest in awareness and participation in other communities. Respondents also rated a number of City services. The highest rated services were street sweeping, police services, water and sewer services and park maintenance. City drinking water received a 9% negative rating and street sweeping received a 7% negative rating. Morris said positive ratings were up by 10 to 15%, and the negative ratings were much lower than other communities. Thirty-eight percent said they would favor a one percent tax City Council Workshop Minutes January 22, 2013 Page 2 increase to maintain services at their current levels, down from 49 percent in 2010. Forty- one percent said they would oppose a one percent tax increase. Respondents listed traffic speeding as the greatest public safety concern (26%), following by none (20%) and youth crimes/vandalism (14%). Only 53% of respondents were aware of the City's rental property licensing and inspection program. Morris said that is fairly low. He said staff may want to find ways to increase awareness. Seventy-nine percent of respondents feel the City is doing the right amount to protect its lakes and ponds, and 84% feel there is about the right amount of natural open space. Eighty- three percent said they feel they have input in planning and development of the City. Only 7% say they do not have enough input, the lowest in the metro area according to Morris. Eight percent said they are aware that LRT is expected to come to Eden Prairie in the next five to seven years, and 79 percent indicate they support or strongly support LRT. Of those who said they will use LRT, most will use it to get to sporting events (30%) or entertainment (32%). Twenty percent said they would use it to get to work. Forty-three percent of respondents said they consider airport noise as "not at all serious," down from 52% in 2010. Eight-two percent favor municipal liquor stores. Of the nine percent who said they oppose municipal liquor stores, 44% changed their minds when they were told the liquor stores generate one million dollars in revenue for the City each year. Seventy-nine percent of respondents rated the City's large community parks as excellent or good, and 71 percent rated smaller neighborhood parks as excellent or good. Sixty-four percent said they had contact with City Hall. Of those who had contact, 99% rated staff courtesy as positive, ease of reaching staff at 97% and waiting time for response at 96%. Local newspapers are the preferred source of information (51%) followed by the City's website (18%). Eighty percent of residents said they receive the Eden Prairie News, while only 55% receive the Eden Prairie Sun Current. Ninety-one percent read "Life in the Prairie," and of those readers 96%rate the content as excellent or good. Forty-four percent of respondents were aware that the City launched a new website in 2012. Of those who have accessed the website, 96% rated it as excellent or good. Morris said that rating is very high compared to other communities,but suggested that the City could do more to let people know about the new website. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is very impressed with these numbers, and she feels they are the result of good decision-making by past leaders and a commitment to maintaining high standards today. II. AQUATICS TASKS AND COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES (6:15-6:30) Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer handed out an outline tasks and communications related to the proposed Community Center aquatics project. Lotthammer said that subsequent to the November 20 City Council workshop, the Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission met and passed a motion recommending that the City move forward with the process and engage an architect. The Commission also strongly recommended that both Phase I and Phase 11 be implemented. Upcoming events include a fundraising meeting with Foxjets members. Lotthammer said staff could be ready to recommend an architectural firm as soon as February 5. Under this scenario, City Council Workshop Minutes January 22, 2013 Page 3 groundbreaking for a new fitness/competition pool could take place in April 2014 and the proposed community pool could be completed by April 2016. Lotthammer said this timeline allows for staff to take maximum advantage of grants and fundraising opportunities. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said the current pool is not on par with other City facilities, and it needs to be improved. Case said he would like to see more detail on what Council actions will be requested during the approval process. He asked how much the architectural design contract will be. Lotthammer said it will be between $400,000 and $500,000. Council Member Aho said he feels more community input is needed before going forward with a project of this magnitude. He would like to see a process that includes an open house or community forum. Tyra-Lukens agreed, and said she would like to schedule a town hall meeting that would include a presentation as well as time for feedback. Case said they need to be careful of what metric they use to determine whether or not there is enough support for the project. Open Podium - Council Chamber III. OPEN PODIUM IV. ADJOURNMENT