City Council - 01/31/1989 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 31 , 1989 7: 30 p.m. , City Hall
7600 Executive Drive
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Gary Peterson,
Richard Anderson,
Jean Harris, Patricia Pidcock,
Douglas Tenpas
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
CITY COUNCIL STAFF: City Manager Carl J. Jullie,
Assistant to the City Manager,
Craig Dawson, Director of
Parks, Recreation and Natural
Resources, Robert A. Lambert
I . APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The meeting was called to order- at 7:35 p.m. Mayor Peterson
added Discussion of Progress of M.P.C.A. Contested Case Hearing
as the last item on the agenda.
MOTION: Tenpas moved to approve the agenda as amended.
art rri seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.
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It . REVIEW OF PROJECTS PRESENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR K
THE 1989 REFERENDUM - 808 LAMBERT
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The public hearing was opened by Mayor Peterson who told the
audience that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss items
to be considered for the park bond referendum. g
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Lambert reviewed an overhead which showed the projects under
consideration for the bond referendum and estimated costs.
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The following items were discussed:
Land Acquisition:
Bluff Park $2-2.5 million
Staring Lake Park $450,000
Neighborhood Parks $200,000 per park
Prairie East Park $100,000
Minnesota River Valley Floodplain No estimated cost
Community Park Development:
Miller Park & Youth Facilities $3,400,000
Round Lake Park (re-sod, re-seed) $30,000
Starting Lake Park (irrigation system) $30,000
Homeward Hills Park (landscaping & $40,000
renovating second floor of barn)
APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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i rail System Development
County Road a (from Round Lake Park $195,000
to Minnetonka with a bridge to be
constructed over railroad tracks
County Road 1 (Dell Road to $95,000
Riley Lake Road and Homeward Hills
Road east to Co. Rd. 18)
Hidden Ponds Park (develop trail $25,000
over abandoned railroad tracks to
Chanhassen border)
Purgatory Creek (Anderson Lakes $15,000
Parkway south to Staring Lake
Park)
Purgatory Creek (Mitchell Road north $25,000
of McDonald's east almost to Prairie
Center Drive)
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Community Center-:
Recreation staff offices and multi- $250,000
purpose room
Fabric dome and ice rink $600, 000
Community Center entry $75,000
Peterson told the audience that suggestions for additional items
for this list would be welcomed. A final decision on items to
be included in the referendum will be made on February 14.
Peterson suggested that miscellaneous items be discussed first,
have a short break, discuss the second sheet of ice and then
return to miscellaneous items.
Kevin Dahl of 19159 Kristie Lane, representing the Eden Prairie
Soccer Association, presented the Council with a petition of 233
signatures supporting Miller Park. Mr. Dahl was concerned with
using Flying Cloud Fields since their use can be discontinued
by the Metropolitan Airports Commission with 90 days notice.
Doug Marsten of 16650 Baywood Terrace supported the trails
along County Road 4. Mr. Marsten is a bicyclist and believes
it is dangerous at that point.
Doug Lawver of 16331 N. Hiilcrest Ct. suggested adding a children's
pool at the Community Center and more gym space that could
be used for boy's and girl's basketball.
Mary Sue Krueger of 18321 Tristram Way suggested a skating.
pond with a windbreak area and benches at Wyndham Knoll Park.
Ms. Krueger presented the Council with 65 signatures supporting
this request.
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APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL January 31, 1989
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at neighborhood parks.
Dale Wenkus of 8706 Leeward Circle, repesenting the Eden Prairie
Football Association, supported Miller Park.
Duane Essink of 10290 Edinburgh Circle said he wants to be
able to afford the property taxes in Eden Prairie. Mr. Essink
also wanted some of the items, but believed they could be scaled
down since they are not needs, but just wants. Mr. Essink
asked what was the taxpayers' cost for the present parks system
and what the future costs would be if the bond referendum passed.
Mr. Essink agreed that trails were needed, but disagreed with
the second sheet of ice and improvements to the Community Center.
Tenpas asked Mr. Essink what he felt would be an acceptable
increase in tax base. Mr. Essink said he did not have a number
available.
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Mr. Essink asked what portion of the land in Eden Prairie was
being used for parks versus other cities in the Twin Cities area.
Peterson asked Lambert to research this figure. A
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Ron Holmstadt of 10250 Buckingham Dr. would like to keep the
neighborhood park in his area as a small neighborhood park.
He added that other residents were also opposed to adding a
parking lot.
Sven Gafvert of 8238 Tamarack Trail believed the total cost of
the bond referendum was too high. Mr. Gafvert agreed that
acquiring land at this time was important, but that support of
all these projects would come in the future. He added that
he believed Miller Park could be eliminated from the list.
Steve Jacobs of 9420 Olympia Drive, who was on the Board of
Directors of the Eden Prairie Football Association and the Bond
Referendum Committee, did not feel it was appropriate for the
City to compete with the private sector over items such as a
golf course. He is opposed to the acquisition of land for golf course
use,favored Miller Park and improvements to Flying Cloud Fields.
Tom Bierman of 9560 Flyway Circle commended the City for allowing
the citizens to speak on this issue and the Parks and Recreation
Department for having the insight to make decisions on the City's
future needs. Mr. Bierman was representing the Eden Prairie
Soccer Association which served 850 youth last year. He encouraged
the City to continue land acquisition for youth athletic facilities.
Mr. Bierman also supported Miller Park, but urged the City to
water fields at Flying Cloud during the summer. He added that
the trails and park system in Eden Prairie was a big part of
the decision to move here and he would be happy to pay a little
more in taxes for better recreational facilities. Mr. Bierman
believed that property values will increase when these projects
are completed and he encouraged a trail system which would
completely encompass the City and asked that the staff look into
its feasibility.
APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE C;TY COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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Glenn Friete�l of �7•f►17 1A► 7roa4. cr 1._d a._t t_•.. hb_..1___'
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be contacted when development proposals, etc. are under consideration.
Mr. Fristed also asked why the developers aren't donating some
of this land, rather than the City having to buy it. Lambert
said that it doesn't always work well and if the City did not
purchase some of the land, it may receive land that would not
be useable.
Mr. Fristed asked if the bond referendum will be itemized.
Peterson said there may be one or two questions, but a definite
decision has not been made.
Mr. Fristed asked if there was a profit made from the Community
Center. Lambert said no.
Mr. Fristed asked where fees collected from adult teams were
used. Lambert said the fees were used for improvements to
the teams' fields.
Tenpas added that the City Council monitored these issues, but
there was not enough money made from fees collected to cover
the projects listed in the referendum.
Mary Campbell of 17918 W. South Shore Dr. would like to see
a trail in Prairie View Park.
Ray Dudycha of 6602 Shady Oak Dr. commented that the City
had 100+ acres of land by Bryant Lake which could have been
used for parks, but the City gave it up. Lambert said the
parks at both Bryant Lake and Anderson Lakes were given by
the City to the Metropolitan Council because they were proposed
as regional parks. The parks are operated by Hennepin County
Park Reserve instead of using City funds.
Vicki Koenig of 7239 Topview Road was pleased that a referendum
was being considered again. Ms. Koenig was interested om the
trails system and would like to see improvements at Staring Lake.
Mr. Gafvert added that he didn't understand previous comments
about the City trying to compete with the private sector when
some people couldn't afford the fees at places like Flagship.
Woody Ginke: of 10530 White Tail Crossing, representing the Eden
Prairie Hockey Association, said there was much need and demand
for a second sheet of ice which could not only be used for hockey,
but also for figure skating, open skating and by the high school .
The current rink is always filled. Ginkei added that an ice
rink would be the only revenue generating facility being considered
on the referendum. Ginkel had considered an ice rink as a
personal business venture several years ago, but was concerned
with land acquisition and selling ice time during April and May.
He believes it would be a break-even proposition.
APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE C17Y COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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Ginkel said the fabric .J, mnc -+
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$75 per hour rate for rental, using the rink 6-7 hours per day
and 12 hours per day on the weekend, revenue would be approximately
$100, 000 per year. He believed it would be necessary to have
one full-time person and one part-time person to clear the ice,
etc. The current refrigeration system could be easily adapted
for a second sheet of ice and would cost about one-third more
than present costs ($10.000 more per year).
Al Gallus of 9530 Garrison Way believed a second sheet of ice
would be a definite plus to the community of Eden Prairie.
Nancy Pudas commented that the scheduling problems and shortage 4
of ice time forced her nine-year-old son to choose between hockey a
and church. This situation bothered her as a parent and she
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believed a second sheet of ice would make better times available.
Tom Meyer of 13695 Theresa Place, who was on the Eden Prairie
Hockey Association Board of Directors and also coached two different
teams, also had to choose between church and hockey because
of the scheduling. Meyer believed a great deal of money is
going out of the community because groups were buying ice
at other locations because it was not available in Eden Prairie.
He added that items included on the referendum list have been
well palnned and would be a good investment for the taxpayers.
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Jane Anderson of 11005 Hyland Terrace believed that figure skaters
are on the ice even earlier than those playing hockey. Many
were choosing figure skating clubs in other communities because
there was no ice time available in Eden Prairie. Ms. Anderson
did not understand why a $600,000 item on the referendum has
been defended so much compared to the $3 million for Miller
Park.
Tenpas asked how many families were involved In figure skating.
Ms. Anderson estimated the figure to be 200-250 individuals.
Tenpas asked how much additional ice time would be needed.
Ms. Anderson said the team needed three double sessions per
week.
Richard Anderson asked if figure skaters skate year-round.
Ms. Anderson said yes.
Sven Gafvert believed that a large amount of money was always
involved when discussing park facilities. He suggested clearing
the snow off Staring Lake or Red Rock Lake and using this
for skating. Tenpas commented that this would not solve the
ice problem for teams such as hockey and figure skating.
APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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C:::3stine Dodge of 15850 Westgate Dr. said ders
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the Hockey Association and Figure Skating Club would never
be able to pay for such a facility . She asked if this were true.
Lambert said yes. Ms. Dodge added that she understood that
some residents were not in favor of a second sheet of ice when
their families were not involved in hockey, yet they were expected
to help pay for it.
Harris stated that most items on the referendum will benefit the
entire community, not just certain groups.
Tenpas asked if the cost for an ice rink varied with either a `.
permanent or dome structure. Lambert said a permanent structure
would cost between $1 .3-$1 .5 million. k
Bob Ahler of 19185 Maple Leaf Dfr. was a firm supporter of the
second sheet of ice and believed sports, education and family
life go hand in hand.
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Mark Namtvedt of 10885 Hyland Terrace believed the items on
this referendum will assure the quality of life the residents in
Eden Prairie deserved and also :nsured future growth of the
community.
Stan Notermann of 7103 Parkview Lane, who coached a hockey
team, commented that it was difficult for the youth to get involved
in the sport when they had to play in a different community
and not enough people showed up to play a game.
Tom Bierman questioned whether It would be feasible to have
the second sheet of ice in a different location, perhaps in the
area of Eden Prairie Center. Lambert will take this under consideration.
Al Gallus believed that the two sheets of ice should be kept
at the same location because of hockey tournaments, administration
costs, etc.
John Brand of 6938 Autumn Terrace, representing the Men's
Hockey Association, supported Ove second sheet of ice, but believed
the priority at this point should be land acquisition. He suggested
perhaps building the second sheet of ice in phases, as it had
been at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Brand also
asked what was included in the $600,000 figure.
Councilmember Anderson asked what the situation was for broomball
and do they use recreational ice. Lambert said the second sheet
of ice could be used for broomball if there were time available.
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APROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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Craig Zemke of 14992 Williamsburg Ct. asked if any ice time was
been sold to teams from outside Eden Prairie. Lambert said
ice time was sold to non-residents only if the Eden Prairie team
was not able to use the time and sold it.
Zemke asked how many teams were involved and said he believed
that adding a second sheet of ice would not solve the problem
of early morning scheduling.
Stan McDonald of 19030 Deerfield Trail believed a second sheet
of ice would alleviate scheduling problems and add ice time.
Not only youth hockey, but also figure skating, broomball, adult
hockey and free skating could also use the ice. He also believed
that a bond referendum was a wise decision to consider at this
time.
Bob Hallett of 17051 Valley Road commended City staff for their
efforts and said he did not see any frills added to this referendum
list. Hallett also commented that it was very important to acquire
land for park use now and that the community itself will have
to decide on a second sheet of ice. He added that the community
has to support one another in order for the bond referendum
to pass.
Carla McCarty of 11007 Jackson Dr. believed the trails are important
for everyone in the community.
Mr. McDonald believed that an indoor running track would be
excellent for senior citizen, joggers, etc.
John Standal of 9955 Spring Road asked if the second sheet
of ice could be considered separately from the other questions
on the referendum.
Tone Bushard of 8750 Darnel Road believed everyone in the community
has to cooperate in order for the referendum to pass.
Candy LeGrand of 9866 linden Dr. supported all items listed
for the bond referendum.
Pat Richard of 6793 Lorena Lane encouraged everyone to vote
and supported all items on the bond referendum.
Lambert clarified by stating that if all items listed were included
In the bond referendum for a total of $8.7 million, the additional
property taxes on an average priced home ($121 ,000) in Eden
Prairie would be $33.58 per year.
APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL January 31 , 1989
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Curt Connaughty of 11860 Sunnybrook Road was proud that so
much land has been acquired for parks and open space and
he supported all of the items listed for the referendum.
Pidcock addressed the audience regarding their cost concerns.
She said although the Council was fiscally conservative, they
also felt it was necessary to look at future needs.
Vicki Koenig added that she believed land acquisition is extremely
important and in the future the City will be happy they acquired
as much land as possible now.
Richard Anderson commented on the concern of early residents
of Eden Prairie who wanted to preserve the natura! state of
the community. if this bond referendum does not pass, the
developers will acquire this land.
Tenpas thanked the residents for attending the meeting.
Peterson also commended the residents for attending the meeting
and told them that a definite date for the bond referendum would
be set later this month.
V. DISCUSSION OF PROGRESS AT M.P.C.A, CASE HEARING
Peterson updated the Council on the status of the hearing and mentioned
that the residents' testimony had begun. He requested that Council
members try to attend the hearings on Wednesday and Thursday,
February 1 & 2. Council members indicated their ability and willingness
to attend part of these hearings.
Vt . ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Pidock moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.tn. Harris
seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois Boettcher
Recording Secretary