City Council - 12/03/2002 - Workshop APPROVED INTINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOPIFORUM
TUESDAY,DECEM 3ER 3,2002 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, Fire Chief George Esbensen,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 II
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
Park and Recreation Director Bob Lambert explained that the Park and Open Space Plan
is part of the City's overall Comprehensive Guide Plan. The Park and Open Space Plan
was last updated in 1988, and is scheduled to be updated every 10 years. Staff began
updating the plan in 1998,but found that the task was so time-consuming that a
consultant, SRF,was hired to complete the work.
Lambert said one of the main purposes of the plan is to have detailed standards for park
and open space development throughout the City to help ensure consistency and fairness.
The consultant researched park and open space practices of nearby communities of
similar size and demographics; however, Lambert cautioned that no two communities are
completely comparable. Chapter 3 of the plan analyzes these comparisons. Lambert said
the plan also addresses future needs and priorities using the same formulas that were used
in 1978 and 1988. Chapter 9 focuses on future trends, and is based partly on a
brainstorming session the consultant conducted with P &R staff. Lambert said changes
in technology and demographics will be the main drivers of future changes. Baby
Boomers,who are starting to enter retirement,will have significant impacts on recreation
and leisure services.
Lambert said he plans to recommend formation of another citizens' taskforce to study
and develop recommendations for what is currently the Senior Center. Lambert said he
would like to rename the center to reflect a broader range of programs for the elderly as
well as other populations, such as Somali and Russian immigrants,that don't currently
have good access to services. Lambert said he v.ri.11 be announcing a reorganization of the
Parks and Recreation Department based partly on the new Park and Open Space Plan. He
said some of these changes will be significant.
Lambert noted that one of the City's goals is to have a park within half-mile of every
Eden Prairie residence. Lambert said once the Memorandum of Understanding with the
MAC is finalized, the City will be able to accomplish this goal.
Lambert said the Park and Open Space Plan has been reviewed by the Community
Planning Board,which recommended approval. The City Council will hold a public
hearing on the proposed plan on December 17. After receiving Council approval, the
plan will be sent to surrounding communities for comment. Finally, the plan will be
submitted to the Met Council. Lambert says he expects final comments to be back by
March or April. Lambert stressed how important the Park and Open Space Plan has been
as a planning tool for the City for the past two decades. He said it has helped the City do
a good job of preserving land for various uses. Some of those uses are currently being re-
evaluated. For example, some softball fields may be converted to LaCrosse or soccer
fields.
Councilmember Case asked if Parks and Recreation can get to where they need to be in
regard to infrastructure without holding a referendum. Lambert said they cannot do so
without a referendum. He said the City needs to acquire the last 30 acres of the Flying
Cloud Ball fields and to consider installing recreational athletic turf at some of the lighted
fields at Miller Park that see particularly heavy use. Lambert said it will be important to
reanalyze the number for the proposed third ice rink, since it is getting harder to sell ice
time past 9:00 p.m. and more ice rinks have been built in the Twin Cities.
IV. OTHER TOPICS
Economic Development Manager David Lindahl informed Council he had received a
letter from North American Properties withdrawing their request for Tax Increment
Financing for affordable housing at the Southwest Station development. Lindahl said
North American told him they had inadvertently neglected to inform their lender of the
affordable housing portion of the project when they applied for financing. Upon learning
of the affordable housing component,the lender reportedly threatened to withdraw
approval. Lindahl said he plans to invite the lender in to meet with the City to discuss the
proposal. He stressed the project will go forward,but that it may or may not include the
affordable housing component.
Council Chamber
V. OPEN FORUM (Scheduled participants, 6:30-6:50 p.m.)
There were no scheduled participants for this portion of the meeting.
VI. OPEN PODIUM (Unscheduled participants, 6:50-7:00 p.m.)
No one requested to speak during this portion of the meeting.
VII. ADJOURNINIENT