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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council - 04/16/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,APRIL 16, 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 I. FARMERS MARKET Lotthammer said that in August 2012 the City of Eden Prairie passed a resolution designating Eden Prairie a"Health Eating and Active Living Community." As part of that initiative, the City Council asked staff to research farmers markets in the metro area. In January, staff presented their findings to the City Council at a workshop. The Council directed staff to meet with Eden Prairie growers to get their input on the possibility of starting a farmers market here. Staff met with the following local growers in February—Bachman's Floral, Sever's Farm Market, Picha's Heritage Farm, and Marshall's Farm Market. The growers said they support the City's healthy eating initiative. Although they participate in farmers markets in other communities, they do not support the idea of establishing a traditional farmers market in Eden Prairie. They believe the community already has access to fresh produce and healthy foods through local businesses and farm stands. They expressed interest in participating in some of the City's summer events, particularly from July through September, when they typically have an abundance of produce. All of the growers said they would oppose a farmers market located near them. Lotthammer said as a next step he would encourage community engagement on this topic through an online survey or through CityConnect. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she likes the idea of getting input from residents, since she has heard from a number of them that they want a farmers market. Council Member Case said survey questions should be very carefully worded. He said he wonders if people who say they want a farmers market know the whole story. He does not believe they would support doing anything that harms our local farmers. Nelson said she likes the idea of a monthly farmers market, beginning in June or July that would include cheeses, meats and similar items. Lotthammer said local growers indicated they would not be interested in participating in a monthly market. They feel it would not be worth their time and effort. Case said he likes the idea of the local growers partnering with the City on special events, rather than pursuing a weekly farmers market. Aho and Butcher Wickstrom said they agree. Nelson said she would like to see non-traditional items included. City Council Workshop Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 2 II. BEE KEEPING Zoning Administrator Jim Schedin said beekeeping is currently allowed only in rural districts in Eden Prairie, although he receives between eight and 10 inquiries a year from residents interesting in beekeeping in residential areas. Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Stillwater allow beekeeping in any zoning district, and Bloomington allows beekeeping on properties than contain two dwelling units or less. Schedin said none of the communities he contacted reported any problems related to beekeeping. The City of Eden Prairie received one beekeeping related complaint in the summer of 2012. Bees being kept on a farm were using a nearby resident's kiddy pool as a water source. Once City staff identified the problem, the issue was quickly resolved. Schedin said there are a number of arguments both in favor of and against beekeeping. Honey bees pollinate both wild plants and domestic crops. The annual value of crops that rely on honey bee pollination in the United States is $14.6 billion. On the local level, a number of local beekeepers market bee-related products, including honey, beeswax, and royal jelly. Beekeeping also has some health-related benefits, including bee venom facials. Arguments against beekeeping include the fact that bees are stinging insects, and severely allergic people can suffer anaphylaxis from bee stings. Schedin said honeybees in the United States originated in Europe and have been bred to be non-aggressive. Honey bees will only sting if they are being attacked or to protect the hive. Most stings are not by honey bees,but from more aggressive insects such as yellow jackets. Beehives can attract pests, including raccoons, skunk and mice; however, there are effective ways of constructing hives to protect them. Schedin said if the City Council recommends revising city code to permit beekeeping in non- rural districts, staff recommends the ordinance include restrictions on colony size, requirements for flyway barriers, industry-accepted hive designs, and water sources. Council Member Case asked if there would be a permitting process for beekeeping. Chief Reynolds said typically issues related to these types of activities are dealt with on a complaint basis. Council Member Nelson said she is very much against allowing beekeeping in residential areas. She has a daughter who is allergic to bee stings, and if her daughter were still a child and Eden Prairie allowed beekeeping, they would move to a community that prohibits it. She said she believes there are families that live in Eden Prairie specifically because beekeeping is not permitted in residential areas. Council Member said that everyone empathizes with kids with allergies,but if the Council followed that logic there would not be any roads in Eden Prairie since people could get injured on them. Aho said he does not have an issue with allowing beekeeping in residential zones. He said honey bees appear to be far less dangerous than other stinging insects. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she has seen media reports on the phenomenon of colony collapse, which is an environmental threat across the country. She said she does not see any reason not to allow beekeeping. Council Member Butcher Wickstrom suggested including a provision that would require notification of neighbors. III. AQUATICS UPDATE Lotthammer and Getschow provided an update on proposed aquatics improvements. Lotthammer reviewed data that shows gap between revenues and expenditures by the City Council Workshop Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 3 Community Center has been steadily narrowing since 2008, shortly after the renovation project was completed. Lotthammer also presented a spreadsheet that shows anticipated increases in revenues resulting from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the proposed aquatics improvements. Lotthammer said that operating expenses would also increase with the improvements,but not drastically because staff expects to be able to implement operating efficiencies as a result of the improvements. Getschow presented updated cost estimates for the proposed projects. Total estimated construction cost(with design and construction contingencies and construction escalation) for Phase 1 is $10,005,442 and $6,492,220 for Phase 2 (total for both phases is $16,497,661). Getschow presented a graph that shows the City's current debt levy payments decreasing over the next five years. The graph also shows anticipated debt levy payments in the event the City issues up to $16 million in additional debt. Getschow said that because the City will be retiring debt, the City can fund the aquatics improvements without increasing taxes. Getschow said staff has explored using lease revenue bonds or tax abatement bonds, and that using tax abatement bonds looks most cost effective. Getschow said staff analysis indicates that the CIP could be funded without issuing additional debt until at least 2018. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said it sounds as if there is capacity to do the project without raising taxes. Nelson asked why staff is proposing to move forward with the project without a referendum. Getschow said state statutes allow the City to issue debt without holding a referendum. Mayor Tyra-Lukens noted that the City funds many capital improvement projects without holding referendums. Council Member Aho said the choice not to do anything is not there. It would cost a minimum of$1,000,000 just to bring current facility up to standards. He said he feels the City needs to spend the money to complete the aquatics design to take the project to the next level. He said it will then be possible to shop the concept to those willing to donate to the cause. Case and Butcher Wickstrom said they agree. Nelson said she agrees, but she is wary about proceeding without a referendum. Open Podium - Council Chamber IV. OPEN PODIUM A. NORANN DILLON - LRT Dillon said she lives on Ithaca Lane in Plymouth. She said addressed the City Council on the proposed Southwest LRT. She said she is not a lobbyist,but has a background in applied math. She became aware of the light rail issue when she received a flyer from TwinWest Chamber of Commerce in support of the project. She said she is against light rail for economic reasons. She said much of the information being generated about the project by organizations such as the Itasca Group, HUD and Living Communities, is misleading and is generated by groups outside the area. V. ADJOURNMENT