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City Council - 02/02/1999 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CELEBRATION 2000 TUESDAY,FEBRUARY 2, 1999 5:00- 6:30 PM,. CITY CENTER HERITAGE ROOM H 8080 MITCHELL ROAD CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Jean Harris,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,Management Services Director Natalie Swaggert; and Council Recorder Barbara Anderson OTHER: Sr.Recreation Coordinator-Arts & Special Events Tria Mann and Communications Coordinator Steve Nelson I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Council Member Tyra-Lukens was excused. H. CHANGES TO CITY COUNCIL FORUM Enger recommended the Council adopt a new way to do the City Council Forum. Staff would schedule the Forum in the Heritage Room at 6:30 to 6:55 p.m.before every regular Council meeting for anyone signed up with staff to make a presentation. If no one wishes to address the Council,workshop discussion will continue until the Council meeting begins. Harris commented there was an informality to holding it in the Heritage Room which would be less intimidating to residents who wish to speak to the Council. She suggested this announcement be publicized by placing notices in the City Newspaper and on the web page. Case commented there were people who might take advantage of this opportunity when they find out that it is available,but if we find there is no one who wants to utilize this opportunity we may want to review this again. Discussion ensued regarding ways to facilitate communication between the City Council and the residents of Eden Prairie. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES February 2, 1999 Page 2 III. OVERVIEW OF 111999,YEAR OF CELEBRATION"EVENTS Swaggert reviewed the framework for events in the 1999 schedule of events. The first event will be the Grand Opening of the City Water Plant and Environmental Learning Center scheduled for May 14 and 15. The second major event is the Southwest Metro Hub Grand Opening scheduled for May 1 Oth at 1:00 p.m. U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad will attend this function. The third major event will be the July 4th celebration, which will be held at the Eden Prairie Center again this year,with activities throughout the City during the day. The City Facilities Open House and Fire Station Ribbon Cutting event is scheduled for October 1 Oth, and will include an open house at the new Fire Station. The fifth major event will be the New Year's Day celebration on January 1, 2000. Nelson discussed the Water Plant Grand Opening which will begin with a late afternoon social time and plant tours. The larger community celebration will be held on Saturday and will be oriented towards the Environmental Center. Mann described the 4th of July events which are scheduled to occur throughout the City beginning with the Mini-Triathalon at Round Lake Park and culminating with the fireworks display at the Eden Prairie Center. Mann commented they are considering having the firework hunt again,both for kids and adults,which is similar to the medallion hunt in the Winter Carnival in St. Paul. Mann noted the Arts Festival will be held on March 14th at the Eden Prairie Center, and the City Council will be invited to the event. Enger asked about doing a Paragon Cable show to interview some of the people that are involved in the Arts Festival to get information out to the public. Swaggert noted the video could then be shown during a City Council meeting to get greater exposure. Discussion ensued regarding the City Facilities Open House on October 1 Oth, scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Staff was considering contacting PROP and having volunteer opportunity information available during this event. The Maintenance Facility will be open for people to tour. IV. DISCUSSION OF JANUARY 1.2000 CELEBRATION Swaggert commented the business community and the City will coordinate together for this event. Enger noted the Eden Prairie Center will not be available because of construction. Discussion ensued regarding the location of the celebration. Mann hoped business owners throughout the community would be a part of this celebration, and there was an opportunity for local businesses to use the fireworks as a promotional tool. Discussion ensued regarding the roles of food, entertainment and sponsors, and ways to center these around the fireworks. Butcher-Younghans commended businesses will have the opportunity to identify the downtown area,to bring it together, and this should be something that goes on all year not just for the Year 2000 celebration. New Year's Day could be the kick-off celebration. Case suggested it could be named"Eden Prairie Celebrates It's Business Community" and involve the Chamber of Commerce. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES February 2, 1999 Page 3 Harris commented perhaps they could take the kinds of things that happen in St.Paul and include the businesses and get them involved in this celebration by providing a structural vehicle for this to happen. She noted these things need to be in place soon because there is less than a year to put it together. V. ROLE OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF EVENTS Harris noted that Hillary Clinton will be making some funding available for grants for Millennium Cities and she felt Eden Prairie should apply. She commented that the City needs to extend an invitation to our civic and community organizations to participate. Harris noted Staff had presented many excellent ideas. VI. OTHER TOPICS Swaggert show Councilmembers the strategic initiative mailing that was sent to Board and Commission members. VII. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.