Loading...
City Council - 09/15/2020APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Brad Aho, Mark Freiberg, P G Narayanan, 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, Police Chief Greg Weber, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Council Recorder Jan Curielli I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Case called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. All Council Members were present. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. OPEN PODIUM INVITATION IV. PROCLAMATIONS / PRESENTATIONS A. EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECOGNITION Getschow stated a representative of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation is here to recognize two members of the City Council tonight. He introduced Tina Palmer, Chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. Ms Palmer explained the Community Foundation wanted to recognize an outgoing member of the foundation’s Board of Directors, Council Member Narayanan, who served as Chair of the Foundation for two years. She presented Council Member Narayanan with an award for his service on the Community Foundation Board. Council Member Narayanan thanked the Foundation for the award. Ms Palmer then presented an award to Mayor Case for his longtime membership and leadership service to the Community Foundation. Case thanked Ms Palmer for the award and for her work with the Foundation. He also thanked the Foundation’s Executive Director, Mark Weber, for the consistency he provides for our non-profits in the community. B. WEEKEND TO UNITE PROP FOOD DRIVE PROCLAMATION CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 15, 2020 Page 2 Case noted the City has had some disappointments this year when some of our fun events had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eden Prairie residents have enjoyed the Night to Unite event over the years as we spotlight our Fire and Police Departments. We decided we would not hold that event in the traditional way this year, rather this year five churches are coming together with PROP and the Community Foundation to continue the event tradition by sponsoring a food drive this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday. As a City Council, he believed we should have a proclamation encouraging residents of Eden Prairie to participate in the food drive. Mayor Case read a proclamation proclaiming the weekend of September 19 and 20 as the Weekend to Unite, PROP Food Drive, in the City of Eden Prairie. Nelson observed PROP will also accept money if someone does not want to go out to shop for something. Narayanan commented many people are in need of assistance with food this year. Case reported there are specific needs for PROP and encouraged everyone to check the PROP website for the specific needs. There are tremendous needs across the country but also here in Eden Prairie. Many of us have kept our jobs during the pandemic; and he asked those who have kept their jobs to share with our Eden Prairie neighbors who are having tougher times. C. DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (DSP) RECOGNITION WEEK PROCLAMATION Getschow introduced Barbara Brandt, representing the Direct Support Professionals. Case read a proclamation declaring the week of September 13-19 to be Direct Support Professional Recognition Week in Eden Prairie to honor and support the important work of direct support professionals in our community. He thanked Ms Brandt and the DSP group for their work to provide support to our residents who are in need of care and support. V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS Getschow added Item XIV.B.2. MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. VI. MINUTES A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 B. CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 15, 2020 Page 3 MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Narayanan, to approve the minutes of the City Council Workshop held Tuesday, September 1, 2020, and the City Council meeting held Tuesday, September 1, 2020, as published. Motion carried 5-0. VII. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR A. CLERK’S LICENSE LIST B. PRAIRIE HEIGHTS by Norton Homes LLC. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 13- 2020-PUD-8-2020 for PUD District review with waivers and zoning change from Rural to R1-9.5 on 9.6 acres; Development Agreement (Ordinance No. 13-2020-PUD-8- 2020 for PUD District Review; Development Agreement) C. APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH BERGANKDV FOR AUDITING SERVICES FOR 2020 TO 2022 D. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2020-85 TO PARTICIPATE IN METROPOLITAN COUNCIL’S LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT PROGRAMS FROM 2021-2030 E. APPROVE EXECUTION OF SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT AND AMENDED AND RESTATED ASSIGNMENT OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING FOR SUMMIT PLACE F. APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH SRF FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR WEST 62ND STREET PROJECT G. AWARD WEST 62ND STREET CONTRACT TO S.M. HENTGES & SONS, INC. FOR WEST 62ND STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT H. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2020-86 DECLARING COSTS TO BE ASSESSED AND ORDERING PREPARATION FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL AND SETTING HEARING DATE I. APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 WITH BITUMINOUS ROADWAYS, INC. FOR 2020 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROJECT J. AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO MINGER CONSTRUCTION CO. FOR SUMMER PLACE EROSION REPAIRS Case stated Items VIII.F. and G. are related to his employer, United Health Group/Optum, so he planned to recuse himself from the vote on those two items. MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve Items A-E and H-J on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 15, 2020 Page 4 MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve Items F-G, on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 4-0-1, with Case abstaining. IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS / MEETINGS X. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the payment of claims as submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Aho, Freiberg, Narayanan, Nelson and Case voting “aye.” XI. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS XII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS XIII. APPOINTMENTS XIV. REPORTS A. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS B. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER 1. Resolution No. 2020-87 Certifying the Proposed 2021 Property Tax Levy, Accepting the Proposed 2021 Budget, Setting the Date for Public Hearing, and Consenting and Approving the HRA Tax Levy Getschow stated the State of Minnesota requires cities to adopt a preliminary property tax levy and certify that amount to the county auditor on or before September 30, 2020. In addition, the City Council has traditionally prepared a preliminary budget for the coming year and has announced a proposed budget for the coming year at the same meeting. The Council must also announce the future time and date of the regularly scheduled meetings at which the budget and tax levy will be discussed and public testimony taken. We are proposing December 1, 2020, as the date proposed for that public hearing. Getschow reported this year there have been some revenue concerns because of the COVID-19 environment. Staff is confident we can adopt most, if not all, for the second year of our two-year budget. The City will be receiving some Federal COVID dollars in 2020. Following approval of the preliminary 2021 budget, all property owners will be informed of the proposed levy and budget. We will also be holding a public hearing for the ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. There is a sizable document posted on the website that provides detail on the proposed budget and tax levy for 2021. The proposal will increase the levy by a modest 3.2%. The budget will increase by CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 15, 2020 Page 5 2.8% with flat debt. With the proposed levy and budget, a property tax payer with a median-value home will see an increase of 1-1.5 %. The value of a median value home for 2021 is $415,800. This levy proposal would decrease the taxes on that home by about $5.00. He explained the City Council has until the end of the year to finalize the levy and budget but would not be able to raise the amount set in tonight’s resolution. Aho brought up the point this sets the upper limit but not the lower limit. Nelson thanked staff for doing a good job and with a very modest increase. She believed the citizens of the City are very happy with this because our taxes are lower than many cities in the metro area. Narayanan asked about a comparison with other cities. Getschow explained the City tax rate is proposed to go down. Our tax rate is in the lower 15% for cities of our size in the metro area. Case explained the tax bill that residents receive has various portions and the City’s portion is about 25% of the total tax. The School District and County could raise their portion so the total tax may be higher. He reviewed how the levy, budget and the tax rate numbers are related. If a community’s tax base is healthy and is increasing, the city can raise the same amount of money from the tax base yet the tax rate can move down. Our tax rate has been moving down for many years. We want to have a very healthy tax rate because that means a healthy economic environment. We try to set the preliminary levy as close to the budget as possible. Our staff is good at setting the number in an accurate and trustworthy manner. Our goal should never be to be the lowest taxing city around; rather we should aim to deliver quality services efficiently and responsibly and to address the needs of our residents. MOTION: Aho moved, seconded by Nelson, to adopt Resolution 2020-87 that: certifies the proposed 2021 property tax levy to be $41,014,490; sets December 1, 2020, as the meeting which will include discussion of the budget and provide for public comment; accepts the proposed 2021 budget of $53,055,474; and consents and approves the HRA tax levy of $200,000. Motion carried 5-0. 2. Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Update Getschow reported the Federal government and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) finalized the grant award for SWLRT yesterday, so the approval is now final, and the money will come in for the SWLRT. Ellis reviewed progress to date for the SWLRT project. He explained the SWLRT has been under construction contract since November of 2018. This year has been the big construction year for the project. At this time all the CITY COUNCIL MINUTES September 15, 2020 Page 6 bridges and the tunnel are being constructed, all of which are complicated structures. The skyline and landscape of Eden Prairie has been transformed with the structures that have been completed. He reported we will start to see some of our streets being repaved and opened again. He cautioned there will be a little heavy construction continuing into 2021. In 2022 the finishing touches will be installed along the SWLRT line, and there will be test runs. In 2023 the SWLRT will start to take riders. He stated the SWLRT will complement the existing excellent bus transportation system, our trail system and our highway system. Eden Prairie will be very well positioned for the future with our transportation system. Case observed this was very exciting news for Eden Prairie. It is the largest public works project in the history of the State of Minnesota. He thanked staff for all their work which has meant lots of hours spent over decades. Nelson stated she has represented the City on Southwest committees and was extremely happy to see this all come together. C. REPORT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 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: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Case adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.