City Council - 04/15/2003 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP/FORUM
TUESDAY,APRIL 15,2003 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, and Jan Mosman, and
Philip Young
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. DISCUSSION TOPICS
A. Proposed Strategic Plan
City Manager Neal reviewed the Vision and Mission Statements from the revised
draft(April 11,2003) of the Eden Prairie Strategic Plan. Council approved both
statements without changes.
Under Key Objectives,Neal offered several alternatives. The original draft read,
"The City will manage its resources responsibly and conservatively." The
alternatives were:
■ 4a. "The City will manage is resources responsibly and conservatively. "
■ 4b. "The City will manage its resources in a manner that is stable,
sustainable, and fiscally conservative."
■ 4c. "The City will manage its resources responsibly."
Butcher said the term"fiscally conservative"might be misconstrued. Case said he
liked"responsibly"best of all of the alternatives. Young said that since everyone
says they are "fiscally responsible,"it is anempty term. Tyra-Lukens suggested
changing 4b slightly to read, " . . . stable, sustainable, and fiscally responsible."
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April 15,2003
Page 2
Neal offered two alternatives to Key Objective 5,which originally read, "The City
will strengthen the abilities of its elected and appointed leaders to serve the
residents of the community according to the principles of representative
democracy." The alternatives were:
• 5a. "The City will provide processes and procedures to insure its leaders
are able to serve the community according to the principles of
representative democracy. "
• Sb. "The City s leaders will govern the community according to the
principles of representative democracy."
Case said option 5b sounds a little like a slap on the hand, as if it is something the
Council does not already do. Butcher said she likes option 5b. Mayor Tyra-
Lukens asked if Neal could provide the list of principles of representative
democracy from which he crafted this objective. Neal said he would do so.
Neal said Council would discuss the Core Beliefs section of the document at a
later date.
B. Guidelines for Open Forum
In response to the Mayor's request and based on recent comments by some Open
Forum participants indicating confusion about the guidelines,Neal said he drafted
a new proposed statement of purpose and procedures for Open Forum-Open
Podium. He asked for Council input on the draft statement.
Current Council Forum Invitation
"Council Forum is held the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:30—7:00
p.m. in the Council Chamber. Please note that this portion of the meeting is off-
camera. The Council Forum consists of two parts: scheduled and unscheduled
appearances. 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. is reserved for scheduled participants. If you wish
to schedule time to visit with the City Council and Department Directors, please
notify the City Manager's office(at 952-949-8412)by noon of the meeting date
with your request. The last 10 minutes of the Forum, from 6:50 to 7:00 p.m. is set
aside for impromptu,unscheduled appearances by individuals or organizations
who wish to speak to the Council."
Proposed Open Forum-Open Podium Invitation
"The City Council provides an Open Forum opportunity for Eden Prairie citizens
to address the Council on civic issues related to Eden Prairie city government on
the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-6:50 p.m. in the Council
Chambers immediately prior to the start of the City Council's regularly scheduled
meetings. Open Forum is reserved for scheduled participants. If you wish to
speak to the Council during Open Forum,please contact Ms. Lorene McWaters in
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April 15,2003
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the City Manager's office by calling 952.949.8412 by noon of the meeting date
with your name and the subject matter you wish to address.
The Council also provides an impromptu,unscheduled Open Podium opportunity
for citizens to address the Council concerning civic issues related to Eden Prairie
city government from 6:50 to 7:00 p.m. immediately following Open Forum.
Open Forum and Open Podium are not recorded or televised. The City Council
reserves the right to adjust the time allocations for Open Forum and Open
Podium. If you have questions about the process or procedures of Open Forum or
Open Podium,please contact the City Manager's office."
Tyra-Lukens said she liked the content of the redrafted guidelines,but feels it is a
bit long to read at the beginning of every meeting. Neal said staff would make
sure the text is posted on the City's web site and it will also be on the TV screen
immediately before the meeting is broadcast. Young said that the word"civic"
seems redundant and could possibly cause confusion. It was agreed that the word
"civic"would be deleted in both places where it appears in the draft.
Case said it is important to remember that the Open Forum-Open Podium is an
evolving process that has undergone several revisions over the past four years.
C. Clean Air Task Force
Neal distributed a list of individuals who applied for the Clean Indoor Air Task
Force. He suggested that Councilmembers let him know the names of the
individuals they intend to appoint in advance of the May 6 meeting so staff can
have the necessary information ready. Neal also pointed out that Council is not
limited to the choosing from among those who completed applications.
Butcher expressed concern about the fact that some of the applicants appear to
have clear agendas and might not approach the task force assignment with open
minds. Tyra-Lukens asked the Councilmembers to voice any particular concerns
to her prior to May 6 meeting. Case said he has already decided to appoint Fred
Seymour, one of the individuals who completed an application during the open
process. Butcher said she would ask Leslie Ellis if he is interested in serving.
Mosman said she had approached Ellis about the possibility of serving, and he
indicated he is too busy to take this on at this time. Mosman said she would like
to see someone from the School District on the task force. Young said he was not
familiar with most of the individuals who had applied,but that he would like to
avoid appointing anyone who is "an advocate to the nth degree,"to avoid the
perception of"stacking"the task force.Mosman said some people indicated they
did not apply for the task force because they didn't feel it could really accomplish
anything.
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April 15,2003
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Tyra-Lukens asked if Neal had considered staffing for the task force. Neal said
Molly Koivumaki,manager of Housing and Human Services,has agreed to serve
as the staff liaison. He said he had also contacted a facilitator,Kent Ecklund of
Cincinnatus, about the possibility of being involved. He said he had worked with
Ecklund on a task force in Northfield with very good results.
IV. OTHER TOPICS
Council Chamber
V. OPEN FORUM (Scheduled participants, 6:30-6:50 p.m.)
No one spoke during this portion of the meeting.
VI. OPEN PODIUM (Unscheduled participants, 6:50-7:00 p.m.)
No one requested to speak.
VII. ADJOURNMENT