City Council - 02/17/2004 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL
&EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOL BOARD
TUESDAY,FEBRUARY 17,2004
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, Communications Manager
Jack Sheehan, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Administrative Services Center, 8100 School Road
I. DISCUSSION TOPICS (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
A. HeartSafe Eden Prairie Project
Fire Chief Esbensen said the HeartSafe Eden Prairie program is half way to its
goal of raising funds to buy and install AEDs for all public city and school
buildings. He is working with the Eden Prairie Boosters Association to see if they
are willing to contribute to the project. Becky Hudlow, Health Services for Eden
Prairie Schools, said the schools are sharing trainers with the City. She has seen a
lot of excitement about the project especially regarding the collaborative aspect.
She said she had met recently with Charlie Moen from Hennepin County Medical
Center to get their stamp of approval for the program. School Board Member
Sholtz asked the St. Francis Auxiliary had contributed. Esbensen said he has not
heard from them yet.
B. Joint Diversity Initiative
Larry Leebens, Director of Educational Services for the Schools, said all involved
feel the first two Gathering Events were very successful. The most recent event
consisted primarily of immigrants sharing their experiences with other
immigrants. Leebens said the planning group (which includes Human Rights and
Diversity Commission Chair Harry Moran, Diversity Coordinator Nanette
Missaghi, Director of Human Resources Mary Bollinger, and Human Services
Manager Molly Koivumaki) is hoping to the develop a new initiative that involves
a wider cross-section of the community. He said in his experience the most
effective way to reach the wider community is through its kids. They are
exploring the option of hiring a local folk musician who has worked with a
number of groups throughout the nation. He invites various portions of the
community to share stories of their traditions and history. These stories are then
incorporated into songs which are performed for the community. The group
hopes to start implementing this program next summer. They anticipate the
project will run throughout the course of the school year.
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February 17, 2004
Page 2
C. Playground Proiect at City Center
Lambert reviewed plans for reconstruction of the Education Center playground,
which was removed last fall to create additional parking spaces for City Center
tenant C.H. Robinson. Lambert said the berm near the police department will be
removed to create additional parking spaces for City employees. The dirt from
that site will be moved to the new playground site,which is being"built into the
side of the hill" and will require retaining walls. The new playground area will
overlook a pond and will be completely fenced. A sun shelter will also be added.
Lambert said construction will begin as soon as possible in the Spring after the
ground thaws. He hopes to complete the project by July 1. Neal noted that the
Education Center is using two emptied conference rooms for large motor skills
classes for children until the playground reopens.
D. Future City Development and Demographics
City Planner Mike Franzen provided a"snap shot of current projects" and a brief
overview of the Met Council's "Blueprint." He said the City's current population
is about 60,000 and is expected to top out at about 70,000. Much of the additional
housing to be built in the City will be townhouses and other higher density
development that attracts single adults and empty nesters. Therefore, a large
spike in the population of children is not anticipated. The City also projects about
4 million to 5 million sf of additional office space will be developed,mostly off of
Shady Oak Road near Highway 212.
Franzen said the Met Council's Blueprint seeks to intensify development of
corridors along major regional highways. Franzen noted'that Eden Prairie has
followed this same philosophy for many years.
E. Eden Prairie School District Strategic Plan
Superintendent Krull distributed a copy of the District's newly revised Strategic
Framework. The framework includes revised mission and vision statements and a
list of core values. It also includes a list of strategic directions and success
indicator categories (areas for measuring implementation of the vision). The
District will use this new framework to develop district goals this spring.
Council Chamber, City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road
II. OPEN PODIUM (6:50-7:00 p.m.)
A. Rick Dorsey—Referendum Date
Eden Prairie resident Rick Dorsey addressed Council regarding the date of the
City's proposed parks and recreation referendum. The Council has indicated that
if they hold a referendum,it probably be held in May rather than waiting to put
the question on the general election ballot in November. Dorsey said if an issue is
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February 17, 2004
Page 3
important enough to hold a referendum, Council should seek to maximize voter
turnout. He said his research shows that special elections typically have much
lower voter turnout than general elections. He is concerned that a May election
will allow special interest groups to organize to pass issues that may not be
supported by a majority of residents.
Dorsey asked when the public will have the opportunity to ask questions about the
proposed referendum or receive good information on the proposal. He asked why
the Council is not getting the community involved in this issue. He feels the
community should have the opportunity to scrutinize the proposal before a
referendum date is set. Mayor Tyra-Lukens assured Dorsey that educating the
public about the proposal will be a priority if the Council decides to go forward
with a referendum.
B. Kim Vohs—Referendum Items
Eden Prairie resident Kim Vohs said he is in favor including money for purchase
of open spaces on the referendum. He said he considers himself a friend of the
Friends of Birch Island Woods;however,he feels the City should include money
for the purchase of other parcels of land in addition to Birch Island Woods. He
said he doesn't think including money for purchase of open spaces will burden the
referendum,but will bring people out to vote. He said he is particularly
concerned with a-parcel of undeveloped land owned by Richard Anderson,
located near his own home. There is also a beautiful hill at the end of Alpine
Court that was being considered for development; however the developer learned
it was too steep to be reached by fire trucks. Vohs concluded by saying he is
advocating allocation of$3 million for open space purchases on the referendum.
He said he chose to move to Eden Prairie because of its open spaces, and he hopes
Council will keep open space as a priority.
III. ADJOURNMENT