HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 11/18/2014 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 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—5:30 p.m.
I. ENTRY MONUMENT SIGNS
Wendy Satterlee and Judy Reishus of Baker provided an update on the monument sign
project. Creation of entry monument signs was identified as a priority in the 2012 Strategic
Plan for Housing & Economic Development and by the City Council at their April 2014
visioning session. Baker lead a discussion on project goals and process at the February 18
Workshop. A monument sign working group, which includes Council Members Aho and
Butcher Wickstrom as well as City staff, was formed to move the project forward. Tonight
Baker is presenting the results of that group's work. Reishus noted that the goal of the
program is to produce a sign concept that links back to the Eden Prairie brand ("a place to
live, work and dream") and vision: "Eden Prairie is a city rooted in history and stability that
is committed to innovative and prosperous living." Reishus said five initial concepts were
developed based on the branding discussion. Those concepts were narrowed down to two
concepts that blended selected feature of the initial five concepts. Finally, key features of
those two concepts were blended to create the final concept being presented tonight.
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Satterlee said the monument incorporates striking white symbolism in the laser cut brushed
metal birds and 3-dimensional lettering. The monument also features local grasses and a
sandstone support wall. The sign is very organic with the inclusion of the birds as well as the
shape of the wall, which is reminiscent of a river stream.
City Council Workshop Minutes
November 18, 2014
Page 2
The working group identified six priority locations based on traffic and visibility. A different
sign that incorporates the original sign's elements has been developed for each location with
variations based on location and scale. The six locations (in order of increasing traffic) are:
• Anderson Lakes Parkway
• Highway 5 & Dell Road
• 212 eastbound
• 212 westbound
• 494 southbound
• 494 westbound
Additional locations with lower traffic volume have also been identified.
Butcher Wickstrom said the group worked hard to ensure that elements all of the Council
Members felt were important were included in the design. She noted that the materials used
are representative of Eden Prairie and are easy to maintain, and the bird is similar to the one
depicted on the City logo. Nelson said she is please that actual plants are used in the design.
Satterlee showed a representation of a sign created for the Anderson Lakes Parkway location.
The sign includes a segment that is blue to invoke the element of water. It includes three
birds,but they are smaller than on the initial concept sign. The sign designed for Highway 5
and Dell Road does not include plantings and features just one large bird. Case said he likes
the excitement of the sign that includes blue, and he would like all of the signs to be equally
exciting. Case also said he prefers the signs with more than just one bird.
The Council Members like the design of the 212 eastbound sign with just one bird more than
the other sign with one bird. Satterlee noted that this sign incorporates the natural plants that
already exist in that location. The Council Members said they like the overall design of the
212 westbound sign best of all. Jeremiah noted that this location is complicated by the fact
that LRT will eventually run though this location, so placement will have to be carefully
coordinated. For the 494 southbound sign, Nelson really wants the fourth bird and possibly
the water element.
The Council Members discussed prioritization of sign locations, since they will have to be
budgeted for over a period of time. There was general agreement that 212 eastbound and 494
westbound are the logical locations for the first two signs. Nelson said she likes the design of
the Anderson Lakes Parkway sign,but does not consider that a high priority location. Case
suggested carrying over some of those design features to other signs. Case and Tyra-Lukens
said Dell Road would be a good location after 212 and 494. Nelson said she would like to
see all of the signs budgeted for by 2020. She said the Anderson Lakes Parkway location is
hard to prioritize because it is the least visible. Jeremiah said some of the elements the
Council likes are also some of the more expensive elements. She also asked if the Council
would like to see colors other than blue used in the signs. There is an established color for
other branding-related pieces that could be used. Case said he likes the use of color,but
thinks it should be representative (i.e., the blue represents water). Wickstrom said she likes
the consistency of using the blue,but in different ways.
City Council Workshop Minutes
November 18, 2014
Page 3
Jeremiah said staff is working iteratively with MnDOT to try to ensure the process continues
to move forward. Getschow said there will be funding for two or possible three signs in 2015.
Council Chambers —6:30 p.m.
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT