City Council - 10/02/2001 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORUM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2,2001 5:00- 6:55 PM, CITY CENTER
HERITAGE ROOM II
CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Jean Harris, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher,Ron Case,Jan Mosman, and Nancy Tyra-
Lukens
CITY STAFF:
City Manager Carl Jullie,Public Safety Director Jim Clark,Public Works Services Director
Eugene Dietz,Director of Parks and Recreation Services Bob Lambert,Manager Housing and
Redevelopment Authority David Lindahl,Environmental Coordinator Leslie Stovring,Manager of
Parks and Natural Resources Stuart Fox, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene
McWaters
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER—MAYOR JEAN HARRIS
H. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. TALL GRASSES
Environmental Coordinator Leslie Stovring explained that in recent years the City has
explored advocating xeriscaping(water-smart gardening) in an effort to move away from
growing plants from radically different climates, such as traditional bluegrass turf,to
ones that thrive in our region. Native gardens require little irrigation and are naturally
pest and disease resistant. Stovring also noted that native landscapes tend to absorb water
quickly and are less likely than sod to provide conditions for mosquito breeding. Also,
few native plants give off allergen-type pollens,unlike bluegrass turf. In addition,
controlled burns are not required to maintain native landscapes as long as they are mowed
each spring and are kept free of debris
Stovring said several years ago,the City of Minnetonka was involved in a lawsuit
regarding native landscaping that resulted in adoption of a new Ordinance. Stovring said
that since passing the Ordinance,Minnetonka has reported few complaints regarding
native gardens. The City of Eden Prairie has contemplated adopting a similar Ordinance,
but has not yet taken formal action. The draft Eden Prairie Ordinance is similar to that of
Minnetonka and other metro communities. Stovring said the Ordinance was not brought
before Council previously because there was staff-level concern about how the City will
regulate native landscape areas if allowed to go untended and the resolution of possible
disputes between neighbors with different values of good maintenance.
Highlights of the proposed Ordinance as currently drafted are:
• It is unlawful to allow state-defined"noxious weeds"or volunteer plants which
are not customarily or intentionally planted.
• Setbacks are required.
• Prior vegetation must be eliminated and replaced with native grasses, sedges, and
forbs through transplanting or seed. Natural areas must also be marked with a
sign advising that a meadow or prairie is being established.
• Native-planting areas must be mowed once each spring to a height no greater than
8 inches.
• The City is not responsible for damage to landscaped areas in easements resulting
from public works projects or snow removal.
• Work within conservation easements requires written authorization from the City.
• Failure to comply with the Ordinance shall result in cutting of the vegetation
and/or treatment of the weeds and expenses shall be a lien upon the lot or parcel.
Councilmember Case said he would was concerned that the proposed Ordinance applies
only to intentionally landscaped areas and does not have a provision that allows areas to
go fallow. Tyra-Lukens asked how the Ordinance would apply to planned developments
that may include natural areas. It was agreed that the Ordinance could be revised to
include a provision that states that undisturbed natural vegetation does not have to be
altered. Case said he still felt that the Ordinance does not do enough to encourage
residents to take more yard out of sod,which was one of the original goals behind
drafting the Ordinance. Stovring noted that bluegrass turf that is allowed to go fallow is
often considered unsightly. Councilmember Mosman said she feels the City should
encourage native landscaping that does not require professional installation. It was
agreed that staff would tweak the draft Ordinance based on Council input and bring it
back to the Council for a vote in the near future.
IV. CITY-COUNTY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
HRA Manager David Lindahl presented a proposal that would call for Hennepin County
to devote all or part of the proceeds from the sale of the Birch Island Woods to an
affordable rental development located in the Market Center area. The City would agree
to help finance the balance of the development through the use of TIF and CDBG funds.
The transfer of property could be accomplished in two ways:
• The County could deed the property to the City,which would commit the value
($600,000)to a project. The County would be recognized as a major financial partner
in the affordable housing project.
• The City could purchase the property through a Contract for Deed and Hennepin
County would commit the sales proceeds to an affordable housing project.
Lindahl said such an agreement seemingly fits well with the County's current initiative to
create more affordable housing. It would also allow the County to convey the land to the
City without setting a"dangerous"precedent of giving away land. However, Lindahl said
he could not predict how the County would react to such a proposal. Mayor Harris said
she was scheduled to meet with Commissioner Randy Johnson and would discuss the
issue. Harris noted that she had received a fax message from the Friends of Birch Island
Woods indicating that they support the proposal. Case said the idea looks brilliant on the
surface and thanked Lindahl for presenting the proposal.
V. REACTION TO MAJOR EVENTS
At the September 18 Council Meeting, Councilmember Butcher asked that this topic to
be addressed at a Workshop. She referred to a copy of the National League of Cities'
Terrorism Response guide,which can be downloaded from their website. Butcher said
there are some useful suggestions in the guide, and asked Director of Public Safety Jim
Clark to comment on the status of emergency preparedness in Eden Prairie. Clark said
that on September 11, fifteen marked squad cars were put on the roads and at local
schools; fire stations were staffed; and the tower entrance at Flying Cloud Airport was
posted with armed security. Public Safety staff members have been monitoring and
assessing areas within the city that are considered. They are also on the outlook for
possible hate crimes related to the attacks. Clark said Public Safety is receiving a
constant flow of information from the FBI. Emergency Preparedness Director Molly
Koivumaki has met with the City's utility crews to review security procedures.
Clark said that while the risk level in Eden Prairie is minimal,the level of anxiety among
residents is relatively high. Applications for gun permits have tripled since September
11. He said that unlike in the past,we are now dealing with an"invisible,unknown
enemy," and that Public Safety staff are learning as much as possible about bio-and
cyber-terrorism and are buying as much equipment as is reasonable to combat these
threats. In general, Clark said, any response to a terrorist attack would require
cooperative efforts at municipal, county, state and federal levels.
VI. OTHER TOPICS
VH. COUNCEL FORUM
A. ZERO EXPANSION
Gary Demee referenced.a U.S.A. Today article on security at small airports. He
said that according to the article,there are no federally-mandated security
measures for the approximately 4,500 local airports in the United States.
Demee also said that if noise mitigation issues arise,he would like to volunteer to
help out. He said Zero Expansion believes MAC will pursue elimination of
Ordinance 51 even if actual expansion of the airport is delayed. He urged the City
to draft and submit an alternative to Ordinance 51 to the FAA.
Vicky Pellar-Price asked if the City was still actively talking with MAC. Mayor
Harris said the City and MAC are still talking, and that technical and policy work
groups consisting of City and MAC staff are being formed. Pellar-Price asked if
the Eden Prairie Chamber is involved in these talks. Mayor Harris said the talks
involve only the City and MAC.
Mark Michelson said he would like MAC to clarify their noise mitigation
policies, since it seems they are currently not following any set plan.
Kim Vohs said that if security measures have not been part of discussions to date,
they should probably be addressed now. He said Zero Expansion will bring up
the issue in an upcoming meeting with Senator Wellston. Vohs also said Zero
Expansion believes it would be beneficial for citizens to be involved in airport
negotiations. Mayor Harris thanked the group for reiterating their offer of
assistance, and said there may be a need for such assistance in the future.
VIH. ADJOURNMENT