City Council - 02/03/2004 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORUM
TUESDAY,FEBRUARY 3, 2004 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM,HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher,Ron Case, Jan Mosman,
and Philip Young
CITY STAFF:
City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Dan Carlson,Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public
Works Director Eugene Dietz, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert,Manager of
Parks and Natural Resources Stu Fox, Communications Manager Jack Sheehan, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room H
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Tyra-Lukens was not in attendance. Councilmember Case served as
Acting Mayor.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. CEMETERY MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Manager of Parks and Natural Resources Stu Fox said the City recently received a
request to install a monument larger than current regulations allow at Pleasant Hill
Cemetery. The request is for an 18"x34"marker. Markers are restricted to
12"x24" for a single grave or 12"00"for a double grave. Fox noted that Council
has granted two exceptions to the regulations over the past two years. The most
recent exception was granted in March 2002, and the approval was contingent on
the requestor escrowing an amount equal to the cost of the marker and
installation. At that time, Council requested a workshop on the topic of cemetery
regulations.
Staff is currently recommending Council consider two options for modifying the
rules and regulations for Pleasant Hill Cemetery:
Recommendation 1: Increase maximum length of monument markers by six
inches for both single and double markers (Single markers 12"00"and double
markers 12"x36").
Council Workshop Minutes
February 3, 2004
Page 2
Recommendation 2: Keep the single grave marker size as currently specified as a
12"x24" and increase the double marker size to 12"x40".
Fox noted that Recommendation 2 matches regulations at"Eden Prairie"
cemetery, which is not operated by the City.
Fox said current rules and regulations were in place when the City took ownership
of Pleasant Hill in 1986. He has researched regulations of nearby municipal
cemeteries and found that the size of markers allowed varies from city to city;
however, all of the cities indicated that although they have received requests for
exceptions,none has been granted.
Acting Mayor Case said he would like to discuss the specific request at tonight's
meeting,then later have a larger discussion,possibly involving a study group of
Council Members, staff and residents,to address people's expectations of the
cemetery. Case also suggested the decision on the marker request be postponed
until a meeting which Mayor Tyra-Lukens is in attendance. Butcher suggested
having staff gather information for Council and keeping the discussion within the
Council. Mosman agreed some sort of discussion is in order since the cemetery
is, in essence, another of the City's many open spaces.
Lambert said that when the City took over operation of the cemetery,the main
consideration was whether or not it would cover its own expenses; however,he
agrees the cemetery is an open space and should be addressed as such. He said
that if Council changes the size of stones allowed, he strongly suggests they not
consider further variances to the new rules.
Fox said one of the primary reasons marker sizes are regulated is for uniformity.
In addition,maintenance is more difficult if there isn't a certain amount space left
around a marker. Large markers are susceptible to cracking when nearby ground
is disturbed for placement of a second casket in a double plot. If a marker is
damaged during the digging of a grave, the City is responsible for repairing
damaged markers. Fox said a 40"marker is a reasonable size and should not
increase the risk of cracking under normal circumstances.
Butcher said she likes Recommendation 2, since it matches Eden Prairie's other
cemetery. Mosman said she initially favored Recommendation 1,but agrees that
Recommendation 2 makes sense since it matches the City's other cemetery.
Case said he will raise this issue,including the possibility of setting up a study
group, at the next Council Meeting when Tyra-Lukens returns. Case said he
would also like to look at upgrading the fencing around the cemetery.
Council Workshop Minutes
February 3, 2004
Page 3
IV. UPDATE ON HENNEPIN COUNTY —COMMISSIONER LINDA
KOBLICK
Linda Koblick said she has been a Hennepin County Commissioner for 13
months. One of her goals is to visit with the City Council of each community
within her district. She said she strongly believes in local control on the County
Board. She said much of her work on the Board involves health and human
services and she is very involved with various intergovernmental initiatives,
including one that helped ensure the Ridgedale Court was not eliminated.
Koblick said she is always looking for opportunities for new collaborative efforts
with cities. She is a member of the Suburban Partnership Task Force,whose goal
is to learn what communities need and find ways to fulfill those needs.
Koblick said she has been following the stadium process, and feels Eden Prairie
offers the best site for a stadium. She said she also approves of the City's strategy
of not identifying a revenue stream. She said that while she knows there is great
interest in a stadium, she hopes that discussion does not eclipse other important
core issues facing the County.
Koblick asked if Council or staff had any questions or comments. Fire Chief
George Esbensen explained a current initiative designed to allow the City to gain
control of its own PSAs. He said Representative Thiesen(Richfield) sponsored
the initiative last year and plans to reintroduce the issue again this year.
Mosman said she has heard that the County Home School may be sold for
development and that Glen Lake Golf Course is in jeopardy. Koblick said she
personally does not support closing the Home School and would work to avoid
closing it.
Case thanked Koblick for visiting with the Council.
V. OTHER TOPICS
Council Chamber
VI. OPEN FORUM
No one was scheduled to speak at Open Foram.
VII. OPEN PODIUM
No one requested to speak at Open Podium.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT