City Council - 11/12/2002 - Workshop APPROVED NHNrtJTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORUM
TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 12,2002 CITY CENTER
5:00- 6:25 PM,HERITAGE ROOM H
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Sherry Butcher,Ron Case,David Luse and
Jan Mosman
CITY STAFF:
City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Dan Carlson, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz,
Director of Parks and Recreation Bob Lambert, Management and Budget Director Don Uram, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room If
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. CIP
Uram explained that this year's CIP is a continuation of the 2001 CIP. He said the CIP
will be completely updated next year. Uram reviewed the CIP budget that was approved
by Council in 2001. The 2002-2007 CIP budget is $23,903,895, with$4,145,000
budgeted for CIP projects beyond 2007. Sources of funding for the CIP include the CIP
revolving fund($13,878,895),Bonding($3,010,000), Park Improvement Fund
($5,155,000), Major Center Area Construction Fund($1,000,000), and other sources
($860,000).
Uram also reviewed the status of current CIP projects:
• Information Technology projects include network infrastructure work and website
development
• Historic properties projects include renovation of the More House for use as a Dunn
Bros. coffee house/wine bar
• Facilities projects include replacement of the City Center roof and Community Center
improvements
• Park R Recreation projects include play structure replacement,parking lot
maintenance, Flying Cloud Balls Fields, Crestwood Park, and Richard T. Anderson
Conservation Area
• Public safety projects include the construction of the shared Public Safety Training
Facility in Edina,purchase of Ladder Truch 2 and the Mobile Command Post
CITY COUTNTCIL WORKSHOP AT IL'UTES
November 12,2002
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• Public Works projects include pavement management,trails construction and
maintenance, and acquisition of an outside storage site
Capital improvement projects under consideration for the near future include an outdoor
pool, Community Center improvements, youth athletic fields, and the Purgatory Creek
Recreation Area entry. Total cost for these projects would be between$10 and$12
million. The main funding source for these projects would be through a referendum to
issue general obligation bonds. Uram said Council will need to decide if and when to
hold a referendum.
Councilmember Butcher said she is worried about holding a referendum based on the fact
that the school fund referendum passed,but not by a landslide. Councilmember Mosman
said she thinks the public views school and recreation referendums differently. She
noted that a community survey conducted by the City two years ago indicated strong
support for the items under consideration, and she believes the public is likely to support
things like a new pool and community center improvements. Butcher said she believes
public opinion has changed over the last two years, and that the public is not willing to
support new taxes. Councilmember Luse said he disagreed with Butcher.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if there are consultants who can help the City determine the
level of support for a referendum before actually going forward. Parks Director Lambert
said that after the several Park and Rec taskforces exploring the feasibility of these
projects complete their work,the City should consider conducting a telephone survey to
determine which items the public supports. There are companies that specialize in this
type of work. Councilmember Luse said that there are second and third meetings
scheduled for the"Forward Eden Prairie"initiative, and that this organization might be
able to help promote a referendum.Uram said that the City is also looking at
restructuring its debt, and that the interest savings would help to reduce the financial
impact of issuing new debt.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked what would be the soonest date a referendum might be held.
Lambert said they will know by early February whether or not the taskforce
recommendations require a referendum. It would take another two months to research
whether or not the public supports a referendum and then another six to eight weeks to
actually prepare for the referendum.
Councilmember Luse asked, "When are we going to let people know how well the city is
being run financially?" Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she thought that was accomplished by
sending out the annual report to residents last winter. Butcher said she thinks people are
against raising taxes and are"willing to do without,"but that a referendum is worth
looking into. Tyra-Lukens said it will be critical to find out which items the public is
willing to support before putting them up for a vote.
IN'. OTHER TOPICS
i
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP INUNTUTES
November 12,2002
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Comicil Chamber
V. OPEN FORUM (Scheduled participants, 6:30-6:50 p.m.)
A. NbIURSHAD BARAT
Mayor Tyra-Lukens said Mr.Barat had phoned to say he would like to delay his
presentation until November 19.
VI. OPEN PODIUM (Unscheduled participants, 6:50-7:00 p.m.)
VH. ADJOURNMENT