City Council - 08/13/2019 - Workshop
APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019 CITY CENTER
5:00 – 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30 – 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Brad Aho, Mark Freiberg, PG
Narayanan, and Kathy Nelson CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Greg Weber, Assistant Fire Chief Ward Parker, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Economic Development Manager David Lindahl, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer,
Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Kyle Salage. GUESTS: Katie Case, Susan Berg, Kati Simons, Valerie Ross, Katie Qualey, Tom Eckhardts, Jean Desankis, Jan Lacy, Chris Honaas-Wildfang, Paul Thorp, Ann Higgins, Bob Prince, Norm Rogers
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and II (5:30) I. HISTORICAL PROPERTY UPDATE AND AN UPDATE FROM THE EDEN
PRAIRIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Mayor Case called the workshop to order at 5:30 p.m. Absent were Council Members Aho and Nelson. Getschow provided an overview of the agenda, and asked Historical Society members in attendance to introduce themselves.
Katie Case described various projects the Historical Society is currently working on. She
highlighted the fact the collective access project will help with preserving City artifacts. The grant the Society received will help aid with this project. Of these grant funds, $4000 will go towards the collective access project, and $2000 will go towards ADA compliance.
Kathie Case also noted the Historical Society has become involved with the Eden Prairie
Community Foundation, and they are now seeking to address the need for spaces where groups and nonprofit organizations can meet. They are willing to use the Cummins House for this purpose, with permission of the City. Getschow expressed his support for use for the Cummins House in this way. Freiberg added the City wants to be as accommodating as
possible for its community groups and nonprofit organizations. Narayanan also expressed his
support for the proposal of using the House as a meeting space, adding the City wants to help and work with nonprofit organizations because there is a need for more of them in the area. Kathie Case pointed out David Lindahl is working on investigating and addressing this need. Freiberg inquired when it is expected the Cummins House renovations will be completed, if
ever. Kathie Case indicated there will likely always be minor repairs or replacements needed.
Mayor Case stated it can be expected there will be significant work done to restore it within his lifetime. Freiberg inquired whether progress has been slower because restoration has been done incrementally as grants are received. Kathie Case replied this has indeed slowed
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Page 2 progress. She said if the Historical Society was able to get City Facilities staff working on the project, the restoration work could potentially be completed within five (5) years for
approximately $20,000. Mayor Case indicated there may be other ways to get City staff to
put in time towards the restoration projects. Kathie Case referred to the Smith-Douglas-More House timeline distributed to those in attendance, and expressed her excitement for its completion. This timeline will be printed
and displayed at the House. Mayor Case expressed his appreciation and admiration for the
Historical Society volunteers and the hours they put in on projects such as the timeline. Narayanan inquired as to whether the Society has applied for any grants through the Community Foundation. Kathie Case indicated the Society has done so in the past, but not
recently.
Getschow pointed out the historic building inventory distributed to those in attendance. He stated in recent years the City has done a better job of marketing and advertising its historic properties. He also noted there is an interactive GIS map online which includes Heritage
Sites.
In regard to the City’s historic properties, Getschow reported the floors of the Smith-Douglas-More House were recently refinished, and the Cummins House is still in need of restoration of its upper level.
Lothammer reported the Minnesota River Vista is completed, though the three (3) interpretive panels still need to go in. He noted the Vista will incorporate stone from the old site, and the City will work with an artist to add history-related murals. Mayor Case inquired as to whether there will be cameras on site at the Vista. Lothammer indicated there is a
Neighborhood Watch in the area, and there will be cameras in visible locations. An increase
in the number and frequency of visitors should help deter unwanted and illegal activity. Lothammer reported an assessment was done on Camp Edenwood, and there have been walkthroughs of the property with both City staff and architects. The property needs to be
repainted, the roof will need to be repaired, and vegetation issues will need to be addressed.
Freiberg inquired whether there will eventually come a time when the City forces the owners to start making progress on these repairs and improvements. Lothammer indicated the City is happy with the progress made, and it is comfortable with where they are at in the process.
In regard to the Flying Red Horse sign, Lothammer reported the Heritage Preservation
Commission recently inspected the sign. However, a restoration expert still needs to determine the level of and approach to its restoration, as well as its use. Before proceeding, it is desirable to narrow down the options being looked at. Mayor Case asked where the sign is currently being stored. Lothammer indicated it is currently in storage at the Maintenance
Facility. Mayor Case stated he would not want a piece of history to be kept hidden simply
because it is not in perfect condition. Getschow indicated the Eden Prairie Mall has been considered as a location for the sign, but most options currently being looked at are outdoors. Getschow added the City is considering a local designation for Yorkville/Bloomington Road.
Thorp added the consultant, Bob Mack, is working on this. Freiberg asked for clarification as
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Page 3 to what Yorkville was. Thorp indicated it was a settlement annexed by Chaska. Getschow stated there should be a meeting with Bob Mack regarding this designation soon, particularly
because there are some concerns regarding private property.
Mayor Case raised the question of whether it is time for the City to dedicate either a full-time or part-time staff person to work on history projects. Getschow stated this is something the City could consider. However, such additional staffing is not currently considered in the draft
budget for 2020-2021.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30) II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT