City Council - 04/17/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,APRIL 17, 2007 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon
Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet
Jeremiah, Housing and Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki, Community Services
Coordinator Mary Keating, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the City
Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room H
I. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Housing and Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki presented an update on
Affordable Housing in Eden Prairie. She reviewed the history of the Met Council's
Livable Communities Act and the City's participation in the program. The Livable
Communities Act includes goals for ownership housing, rental housing, amount of
affordable and life cycle housing, rental housing mix, and housing density. Koivumaki
provided data on which goals the City has achieved and areas in which goals have not
been met.
Koivumaki provided information on the amount and type of subsidized housing in Eden
Prairie. She said a Housing Focus Group was formed as part of the Comprehensive
Guide Plan Update process. The group reviewed current housing goals and recommend
additional goals.
Mayor Young asked if any communities have chosen to opt out of the Livable
Communities program. Neal said a few smaller communities, such as Orono and
Greenfield, have chosen not to participate in the program. Koivumaki noted that some of
the Met Council's grant funding is dependent on participation in the Livable
Communities program.
Councilmember Duckstad asked where the money for subsidized housing comes from.
Koivumaki said there are a number of places the money comes from, depending on the
program. For example, Section 8 subsidies come from the federal government.
Duckstad asked who decides how much affordable housing there is. Koivumaki said
Council determines that. For the proposed Presbyterian Homes project, staff has
considered asking for more affordable senior housing.
Young said it seems if there is a market demand for something, it will happen. Neal said
something as simple as a zoning change could result in a particular type of housing
becoming available, such as accessory apartments. Young said he would like to see more
information on this.
Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah said the proposed Presbyterian Homes
development includes 650 units and 60 nursing beds. The City's current policy requires
20% of all housing must be affordable to qualify for TIF. Presbyterian Homes has
proposed two buildings —one for seniors only and an all-age building. The plan also
calls for 75 housing units over retail. Presbyterian Homes has proposed all of these units
be affordable workforce housing. The City's current policy would require 32 of those
units be affordable, and the City would like at least 20 percent of units in the senior
building, which is part of the first phase of the project, to be affordable. Jeremiah said
Presbyterian Homes has balked a bit at that suggestion. Councilmember Nelson asked if
there has been discussion of any of the units being co-op. Jeremiah said Presbyterian
Homes is flexible on that;however, they want at least some of the senior building not to
be co-op. Butcher said it would be best not to concentrate all affordable units in one
building,but that the City does not need to be rigid on number of units. Councilmember
Aho said he agreed. Young asked what is driving this discussion—the City's desire for
affordable housing or Presbyterian Homes' desire for TIF. Jeremiah said it is both.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
No one was scheduled to speak at Open Forum.
III. OPEN PODIUM
No one requested to speak at Open Podium.
IV. ADJOURNMENT