City Council - 11/02/1998 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
ELECTRONIC VISIONING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1998 5:00 - 9:00 PM, CITY CENTER
HERITAGE ROOMS I & II
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Jean Harris, Councilmembers
Sherry Butcher-Younghans, Ronald
Case, Ross Thorfinnson, Jr., and Nancy
Tyra-Lukens
CITY STAFF: City Manager Chris Enger, Public Safety
Services Director Jim Clark, Parks &
Recreation Services Director Bob
Lambert, Public Works Services Director
Eugene Dietz, Community Development
and Financial Services Director Don
Uram, Lieutenant Dan Carlson,
Management Services Director Natalie
Swaggert, and Council Recorder Dona
Rowland
OTHER: D. S. Griffen & Associates
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
II. OVERVIEW OF ELECTRONIC VISIONING STEPS
Enger introduced Doug Griffen of D.S.Griffen&Associates. Griffen began the session
by reviewing the day's previous workshops. The first session was held in the morning and
consisted of management-level employees. The afternoon session was made up of staff
workers. The employees in both sessions had used the tool to discuss five major focus
areas. Griffen&Associates captured the results of each session in separate reports.
III. EQUIPMENT AND PROCESS ORIENTATION
Doug Griffen of D.S. Griffen&Associates reviewed the use of the electronic equipment.
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November 2, 1998
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IV. ELECTRONIC VISIONING PROCESS
Rhonda Blatti of D.S. Griffen & Associates briefed the group on the day's previous
sessions with managers and employees. She summarized the findings and compared the
two groups' similarities and differences in various areas.
A. TOPIC 1 - TRANSPORTATION:
The group brainstormed to gather ideas that had not been raised in previous
sessions.
1. Buses
Tyra-Lukens noted the fact that park and ride ranked higher than expanded
bus services in the two sessions held earlier in the day.
Harris mentioned separate lane for buses and Dietz stated that separate bus
lanes are being provided on I-494.
2. Flex Time
Harris stated we have little control over businesses implementing flex time.
Suggested options: Having students earn a parking spot at the school to
improve parking situation.
Dietz commented we may have missed some of the most important issues if we
focus on the top three points only and Case suggested merging lists from surveys
for ease of implementation and level of impact and Enger suggested taking top ten
of each list and selecting the best.
Swaggert discussed the possibility of a transportation plan being formed from the
information generated in this meeting.
Blatti then instructed participants on the computer voting process. She emphasized
that input is anonymous. The two criteria for evaluating each item are level of
impact and ease of implementation
B. TOPIC 2 - ECONOMIC GROWTH
Blatti asked for input on issues that had not been mentioned in the list.
Butcher-Younghans emphasized partnering by businesses and the City on key
issues.
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES
November 2, 1998
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Case suggested implementing high-tech infrastructure (telecommuting).
Uram mentioned promoting specific industry segments such as medical and
distribution.
Dietz said an ombudsman program would be a valuable asset to the community.
The group voted on the list of suggestions based on level of impact and ease of
implementation.
Group discussion followed.
Dietz said making it easy to do business in Eden Prairie would be possible, but may
not have long-term desirable results. The best interests of the community may not
be served by easing regulations on business development.
Case said there may be other supporting ideas to consider in some of the five major
focus areas. Staff will need to consider all of these when working with ideas.
C. TOPIC 3 -RESOURCE CONSERVATION
The group brainstormed to generate additional points before voting on this topic.
Butcher-Younghans suggested using the City's historic properties for community
programs.
Dietz asked how we could educate the public to protect natural resources. He
suggested maximizing usage of the Environmental Center for public awareness
education.
Case added completing park infrastructure,trails, etc.,would be a valuable
objective.
D. TOPIC 4-PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
Blatti introduced 24 points from earlier sessions. The group brainstormed
additional points and electronically voted.
E. TOPIC 5-LEISURE SERVICES
Blatti reviewed 20 points generated from the day's previous two sessions.
Staff generated several more points before voting on the issues.
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November 2, 1998
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V. CRITIQUE & CLOSE
Enger discussed the possibility of using the collected data from this session with other
groups.
Blatti administered the survey of participant feedback for the session.
Enger made closing comments and Swaggert discussed a future three-hour workshop to
finalize the process begun with this session. Specifically,the next workshop would
involve breaking up into teams of two to focus on specific issues.
Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.