City Council - 11/13/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 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, Parks and
Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Economic Development Manager David Lindahl,
Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE: Bill Coleman, Rich Muller, Kiran Mysore, Scott Otis,
Heather Peterson, Jody Russell, Ron Woods
Council Member Butcher was absent.
Heritage Room H
I. COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE REPORT
Scott Neal introduced consultant Bill Coleman of Community Technology Advisors, who
facilitated the Community Technology Task Force process. Coleman said the task force
was made up of residents and representatives from business, education, and government
organizations, and met monthly since May to develop recommendations.
The task force's charge was to:
• Identify existing telecommunications infrastructure and services
• Determine what needs to be accomplished to be globally competitive
• Establish how to get where we need to be
Coleman said there are four components of community technology—network, services,
subscription and sophistication. He reviewed trends in wireless technology in the United
States and around the world.
Task Force Chair Kiran Mysore presented on the group's vision and findings. The task
force's vision statement reads, "Eden Prairie is forward looking, aspiring to be a 21St
century community benefiting from a competitive environment for affordable and reliable
wired and wireless telecommunications services that provide all community members
with state-of-the-art high-speed connectivity choices. All Eden Prairie citizens and
businesses should have the opportunity to be connected to each other and to others
around the world, pursuing economic vitality and enriched quality of life."
City Council Workshop Minutes
November 13, 2007
Page 2
Mysore said the group found that the larger business community benefits from a
competitive telecommunications environment and has access to several fiber optic
networks. Home businesses and home workers have fewer options. Residential
customers generally have at least one broadband service available, but price and choice
are primary concerns. Mysore noted that two-thirds of respondents to a residential
survey support the City having an active role in providing telecommunications
services.
The task force found that a "digital divide" does exist in Eden Prairie, and that
approximately 500 Eden Prairie students do not have home internet access. The group
reported that Eden Prairie's low density development, topography and many trees would
hinder cost-effective deployment of a citywide wireless network with current
technology.
Recommendations were divided into several areas and presented by individual task force
members. In the area of digital inclusion, Heather Peterson, Hennepin County Library,
said the task force recommends increased collaboration between the City, Hennepin
County Library, the school district, and the private sector to identify concentrations of
people without affordable broadband access, provide computers and internet access at
community meeting places, and increase the number of low-cost and free computers
available through the school district.
Regarding the competitive environment, Rich Muller, Micro Business Strategies, said the
group recommends leveraging government authority to ensure the highest levels of
telecommunications. Strategies include encouraging Comcast to rapidly deploy their
next generation of broadband and negotiating a franchise agreement with Qwest to enable
video.
Jody Russell, Thunder Communications Design, addressed information gathering and
data. She said the task force recommends ongoing review of telecommunications
infrastructure and services and systematic gathering of information from residents and
businesses on telecom services, digital inclusion and community satisfaction.
Additional recommendations include development of a municipal system for
inventorying, monitoring and mapping telecommunications infrastructure; identifying
opportunities for public and private sector entities to leverage joint telecommunications
investment; and exploring existing and emerging municipal wired and wireless
applications.
The Task Force has discussed the possibility of continuing their work, possibly as a
permanent commission. Council Member Nelson said she likes the idea of establishing a
permanent technology committee and asked how that can be accomplished. Neal said it
would require formal action on the part of the Council. Council Member Aho said he
would also like to see the group continue their work.
City Council Workshop Minutes
November 13, 2007
Page 3
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
A. JOHN MALLO —VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
Mr. Mallo thanked Council and staff for their support of the Veterans Memorial in
Purgatory Creek Park and reported that the Veterans Day Event on November 11
was well attended and successful.
B. KASEY KLUGE - BUDGET
Mr. Kluge read a statement in support of retaining the Community Liaison who
works with Somali residents.
C. MICHAEL & MARY BOLAND —COMMUNITY CENTER FEES
The Bolands said they were involved in committees that developed the
community center plans and supported the referendum. They said the proposed
membership fees for the community center are too high and they would like them
to be lowered.
D. JOHN WILSON—HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES POSITION
Mr. Wilson said the City's investment in the Community Liaison position will be
worthwhile in the long run.
E. ROGER EAGLE— SNOW REMOVAL ORDINANCE
Mr. Eagle said he is concerned about the new snow removal ordinance, which in
his case would require removal of snow from 200 feet of sidewalk with difficult
access behind his home. Public Works Director Gene Dietz said staff will review
this stretch of sidewalk and determine whether or not it would be appropriate for
the City to remove the snow rather than the home owner.
III. OPEN PODIUM
A. BASIL WISSNER
Mr. Wissner asked if lights in the Chamber next to the screen at the front of the
room could be dimmed during presentations so the audience could see it better.
Staff said that is possible.
IV. ADJOURNMENT