City Council - 01/08/2002 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORU- T
TUESDAY,JANUARY S,2002 CITY CENTER
5:30- 6:25 PM,HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL:
Acting Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher,Ron Case, Jan Mosman
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, Community Development
and Financial Services Director Don Uram, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene
McWaters
Heritage Room II
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Acting Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. MAYOR HARRIS MEMORIAL
1. Discussion of criteria
Acting Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked for a Council discussion on basic criteria by
which to evaluate suggestions for a memorial for Mayor Jean Harris.
Councilmembers discussed the following criteria:
Cost
• Timeliness. Do something now. Should be something"new"rather than
renaming and existing street or park
• Highly Visible. Councilmember Mosman said that it should be something
centrally located and embody the ideal of diversity.
• Fitting to the type of work Mayor Harris carried out in Eden Prairie.
City Manager Jullie said he remembers Mayor Harris as a generalist who was
able to successfully work collaboratively with all sectors of the community.
2. Rexiew su eestions
Tyra-Lukens suggested that formation of a taskforce, especially since the scope of
the project may require a community-based effort. Case said the Council should
consider hour this memorial is carried out might affect future precedent for paying
tribute to others in the community.
Case said the naming the entranceway to the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area
after Harris and placing a plaque that recognizes Harris would be appropriate. A
scholarship in her name could also be mentioned on such a plaque. He agreed
that a taskforce may be the best way to approach this project. Butcher agreed that
the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area is the heart of the City and would be a
fitting place to memorialize Mayor Harris. Mosman said she also feels the
Purgatory Creek Recreation Area is the best location for a memorial. Butcher
thought it would be a good idea to ask Harris's husband, Leslie Ellis,to be on any
committee formed to carry out a memorial plan. Tyra-Lukens asked for ideas of
other individuals or organizations that might serve on such a taskforce. Those
mentioned included:
• A representative of the Chamber of Commerce
• A member of Parks and Rec
• A representative of the Eden Prairie Foundation
• Representatives from Lions Club and Rotary
• Mary Jane Wissner
• A representative from Habitat for Technology
• Jeanne Zetah
• Jan Grossbach, President of Hennepin Technical College
3. Discussion of possible funding sources
Jullie said he had heard from one resident that there may be some corporate
interest in helping with a fundraising effort for the memorial. Jullie also
mentioned the"buy a brick" concept,which would allow individuals to buy a
brick inscribed with their name to be placed in the plaza. The City could then use
the profit from these sales to fund a project. Parks and Recreation Services
Director Lambert agreed that encouraging public inclusion through"buy a brick"
is a good idea,but he pointed out that funds from the sale of such bricks had
already been considered for use in finishing the plaza area.
Council directed staff present an item at the next Council meeting to form a
taskforce to will study and recommend an appropriate memorial to the memory of
Jean Harris.
V. OTHER TOPICS
Council Chamber
VI. OPEN FORUM (Scheduled participants, 6:30-6:50 p.m.)
There were no scheduled participants.
VII. OPEN PODIUM (Unscheduled participants, 6:50-7:00 p.m.)
No one asked to speak during Open Podium.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Acting Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.