City Council - 12/17/2002 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOWFORU I
TUESDAY,DECEMBER 17,2002 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,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 H
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. BUSINESS_SURVEY
Economic Development Manager David Lindahl introduced the consultant from Huberty
Marketing Research,the company that conducted the City's business survey. Mr.
Huberty's background includes 22 years of marketing research experience,much of it
with ad agencies. Mr. Huberty presented highlights of the 64-page detailed report
prepared for the City on the results of this study.
Huberty conduct a survey of the business community to help identify wants and needs
and ways in which the City can improve delivery of services. The study consisted of 400
telephone interviews with a random sample of Eden Prairie's business executives,
owners,presidents and managers. The interviews were conducted in October 2002 and
averaged 22 minutes in length.
The Sample Profile
The sample profile indicates 40% of companies describe themselves as service-based,
19% are retail trade, 1 S% finance, insurance and real estate-related, 9%manufacturing,
4%construction,4%wholesale trade, and 3%transportation, communication, electric
and gas.
The sample profile also shoved that 65% of responding businesses have high-speed
internet access, and of those that do not,more than a third plan to obtain it. Silty percent
of businesses have a web site, and 40%of those that don't plan to establish one within the
next two years. Forty-five percent of businesses have been located in Eden Prairie for
more than 10 years, and fever than 9%have been here for Iess than two years.
Detailed Findings
Forty-five percent of businesses located in Eden Prairie because it is"a great place for
business. Thirty-three percent cited location as a factor for coming to Eden Prairie, and
20% said it is a great place to live.
71% of respondents rated the business climate in Eden Prairie as excellent or above
average,with only 7% saying the climate is below average or failing.Unfriendly business
atmosphere(including the tax rate), traffic congestion, and extraneous circumstances
were listed as the most serious issues facing businesses in Eden Prairie.
A third of businesses said the City's Economic Development Division should focus
mainly on"catering to business." Also of note—25% of respondents said they did not
know what the Economic Development Division should focus on.
Half of respondents had no official contact with the City during the past year, and 10%
had six or more contacts with the City. Seventy-seven percent of those who contacted the
City were satisfied with the way in which the transaction was handled.
Of businesses that said they were planning to relocate outside Eden Prairie, 63% cited
"unfriendliness to business" as the primary reason. Considering the amount of taxes they
pay, 79% of businesses say they consider the quality of services they receive from the
City to be average to excellent.
Two-thirds of respondents said they do not see a need for a large meeting area in Eden
Prairie for conferences or conventions. Eighty-one percent of businesses said Eden
Prairie would benefit from creation of a new organization comprised of businesses,the
Chamber of Commerce, city government, educational institutions to promote Eden
Prairie. However, only one percent said they would help organize such a group and 29%
would be interested in membership.
IV. OTHER TOPICS
Council Chamber
V. OPEN FORUM (Scheduled participants, 6:30-6:50 p.m.)
There were no scheduled speakers.
VI. OPEN PODIUM (Unscheduled participants, 6:50-7:00 p.m.)
No one requested to speak at Open Podium.
N II. ADJOURNMENT