City Council - 02/08/2022 - Workshop
APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022 CITY CENTER
5:00 – 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30 – 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Matthew Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Dan Gregerson, and Recorder Nicole
Tingley
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and II (5:30) I. COMMISSION WORK PLANS
Council Member Nelson was absent. All other Council Members were present.
A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Chair Pamela Spera, Vice-Chair Valerie
Ross, and Student Commissioner Andrea Porter were in attendance representing the
commission.
Spera read the Commission’s mission statement. She noted that they are trying to
increase the public use of historical sites. She shared the list of current members and
noted that the students are great and participate.
Spera provided an overview of the HPC’s 2021 accomplishments as follows:
• Grant Activity
The HPC was awarded the Certified Local Government Scholarship ($80) for
George Maxwell to attend the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
Short Course. The HPC was also awarded a Minnesota Historical & Cultural
Heritage grant in the amount of $103,645 for the J. R. Cummins House Roof
Replacement project. HPC Liaison and Senior Planner Beth Novak-Krebs
stated that the roof replacement is likely to happen this summer.
• Street Sign Fundraiser
Sign sales totaled $6,687 in 2021 for grand total of $39,407 to date. Case
asked what the plans for the funds are and if the HPC controls the spending.
Getschow stated that it is anticipated to be used for the Flying Horse
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Restoration Project. He clarified that the HPC only provides input on how to
spend it and noted that it is not officially a dedicated fund.
• HPC Learning
Commissioner Fisher attended the virtual Preserve Minnesota 2021
conference. Commissioner Maxwell attended the virtual National Alliance of
Preservation Commissions Short Course. Novak-Krebs added the HPC met
with the Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC). The HPC learned
about the HRDC purpose and Mohamed Duale, from the Housing and
Community Service Division gave a presentation on the history of the Somali
community in Eden Prairie. The HPC would like to broaden the history of
Eden Prairie.
• HPC Event Participation
The HPC participated in the Citywide Open House and provided tours of the
Dorenkemper House during the Harvest to Halloween event.
• HPC Projects
The HPC approved Yorkville and Bloomington Road Preservation Plan. They
also developed ideas for using the Dorenkemper House. Ideas include tour and
ice cream, “Food on the Farm” which would be having a food truck combined
with an event or band, farmers market, summer camper programs, events at
the house, history talk series, and Fat Pants Beer sales. Novak-Krebs stated
that uses are limited as the house does not have heat or running water and only
some electricity. Spera commented that the ideas about getting people to the
house and learning about history. Case stated that he would like to see the
HPC present a proposal on adding utilities and making it an actual commercial
use. Narayanan suggested enhancing around it to make it more useful as well
such as a patio.
Next, Spera summarized the HPC’s 2022 work plan as follows:
• HPC Collaboration
They will be having a joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation, and Natural
Resources Commission. They will be partnering with the HRDC on
supporting and promoting the Eden Prairie Land Acknowledgement Statement
and other projects/efforts. They will be having a joint meeting with the Eden
Prairie Historical Society.
• HPC Projects
They will be publishing a website to host oral histories, exploring ideas for
projects that communicate the diversity in Eden Prairie’s history, pursuing the
designation the old depot site as a Heritage Preservation Site, finalizing
options for the Dorenkemper house, adding additional signs for the water
reservoir and pumphouse, and coordinating the Heritage Preservation Awards.
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Nararayan inquired if the HPC had asked the Minnesota Historical Society if
they wanted copies of the oral histories. Novak-Krebs stated they have not yet.
• HPC Events
The HPC will be participating in PeopleFest, Harvest to Halloween, and the
Citywide Open House.
Case stated that the HPC should also work on plans for the Riley Farmstead in terms
of a commercial reuse.
Freiberg asked what else has to be completed with the J. R. Cummins House once the
roof is completed. Novak-Krebs answered only regular maintenance would be left.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION
Chair Andrew Pieper was in attendance to represent the Planning Commission (PC). Pieper started by sharing the PC’s Charter Statement and a list of the 2021 members.
Pieper shared a list of the 2021 redevelopment and development projects. He
stated the PC reviewed 9 development projects and 4 redevelopment projects. Pieper further highlighted the following four projects:
• Asian Plaza: Re-use of former Gander Mountain retail store that includes
Asian grocery store with a number of flexible sized business tenant spaces.
• Flying Cloud Commons Grocery Store: Grocery store located at Castle Ridge Redevelopment site
• Nor-Son Eden Prairie Office: Two story office building for Nor-Son
Construction Headquarters
• The Ellie: 239-unit apartment building at Lincoln Lane
Pieper shared a list of the 5 variance applications and 5 city code amendments that
were reviewed in 2021. The Commission will be reviewing office signage regulations in 2022 as the variances were all for business signage. Pieper summarized the PC’s 2022 work plan. They will be reviewing
development project applications, working on Aspire 2040 implementation
strategies, reviewing code amendments, implementing Electronic Plan Review, and training new commissioners. Pieper noted that the Planning Commission has started to receive all plans
electronically. Getschow added that the City Council will continue to receive
paper plans. Narayanan commented that they would need bigger screens if the City Council ever started receiving electronic plans only.
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Freiberg asked about the PC training curriculum and if the training is required for new commissioners. Klima responded that City staff created the training last year and that it is mandatory for new commissioners.
Narayanan asked if there are overall goals or guidelines that the commissioners share and if the commissioners know the city goals and policies. Pieper stated that the diversity of background of the commissioners leads to covering all aspects of a project. Klima stated that when staff works with developers, they communicate
what the council and commissioners are looking for. Additionally, staff has
regular conversations with the planning commissioners. C. SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Sustainability Commission (SC) Chair Aaron Poock and Student Commissioner
Muthu Meenakshisundaram were in attendance to represent the Sustainability
Commission.
Poock shared a list of the current commissioners. He provided an overview of the
2021 accomplishments of the Sustainability Commission as follows:
• Events and Education
The Sustainability Commission hosted Park Clean Up Day, Arbor, Curbside
and Electronics drop off recycling events, a Zero Waste Webinar, and an
Organics Recycling Webinar. He noted that 80 residents attended the organics
webinar.
• Input and Outreach
The Commission coordinated the Sustainable Eden Prairie Awards, reached
steps four and five of the GreenStep Cities program, provided input on the
Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan, advocated for legislative action to
improve commercial energy code and promoted and supported Hennepin
County Recycling programs.
Next, Poock summarized the 2022 Goals and Work Plan for the Sustainability
Commission.
First Poock shared the details of a new program anticipated to be live within the next
few months called “ReACT Eden Prairie.” Poock explained that the program will
provide details on how suitable properties within Eden Prairie are for solar panels.
Furthermore, residents will be able to opt into reporting and being recognized for
their sustainability related actions. Narayanan asked if the City has statistics in
regards to how many homes have solar panels and how much solar power is being
generated city-wide. He added that he would like those statistics to be tracked. Ellis
explained that they would know the number of homes through permits and that they
could estimate the amount of solar power generated.
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Poock, then mentioned the next item of the Community Center Solar Garden.
Construction is expected to start this spring. They are shares for 150 residents and
over 300 residents are interested. 25 percent of the contracts are signed and 25% of
the shares are reserved for those that are traditionally underserved including renters,
immigrants, and low-income individuals.
Poock stated that the Organics Recycling program has started. Almost 140
households have applied for the City’s rebate for participating. They will continue
education and outreach in 2022. Case stated that there needs to be more education
about what can be placed in the organics recycling bins. Poock stated there are
resources available through Hennepin County.
Poock noted other climate action projects for 2022 including the “Electrify Program,”
“Multi-Family EV Charging Cost Share Program,” and the “EV Ride and Drive
Event.” They will also be completing further education regarding waste and having
other public events. Narayanan suggested including car dealerships in the electric
vehicle expo. Ellis replied that they would like them to be involved. Narayanan also
suggested featuring electric tools like snowblowers. Case and Poock responded that
adding items beyond vehicles was a good idea.
Narayanan suggested having a single resource on the website that residents and
businesses could find sustainability related grants. Getschow replied that many links
to grants are already included on the sustainability page on the website. He
encouraged Narayanan view the webpage noting that it can always be added to and
evaluated.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. ANN BERNE-RANNOW – MASK MANDATE IN CITY FACILITES Ann Berne-Rannow, 17150 Cedarcrest Dr, stated that she has already communicated with the City Council regarding requiring masks in City facilities particularly the
Community Center. She stated that the City is not following CDC, Hennepin County,
and MN Department of Health guidelines regarding masking and that the area is in a high risk category. She added that nothing has changed since last spring particularly with new variants of COVID-19 emerging. She noted that Parks & Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer stated that their current policy of encouraging, but not
requiring achieves balance. Berne-Rannow finds fault with that policy as people are
not getting vaccinated and it puts everyone else at risk. Berne-Rannow shared about her neighbors in which the dad is ill. The family is being extremely careful and wishes there was a safe place to go, but Parks & Recreation programming and facilities is not an option because masks are not required except for the Art Center.
She noted when she signed up for a program at the Art Center she was not allowed to
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register until she agreed with a statement that she would follow social distancing and masking guidelines.
Mayor Case responded he relies on science and data. He stated that he has looked at
data in eastern states and mask mandates have been lifted as number of cases have decreased. The area is about two weeks behind them as far as cases and he can see things opening in about two to four weeks across the U.S. He added that the risk of the omicron variant among vaccinated boosted individuals looks good according to
data. He thanked Barne-Rannow for speaking, but he believes that the City is doing
the right thing. He extended an invitation to continue the conversation one on one. III. ADJOURNMENT