City Council - 12/03/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKSHOP
& OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 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 Mark Johnson, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Chair Dave Ward; Chair-Elect Cindy Daniels; Treasurer David
Nash; Directors Zane Birky, Vicki Brown, John Eversman, Jo Freese, and Mic Klaith; and President
Pat MulQueeny
Council Member Aho was absent.
Heritage Room H
I. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. BUSINESS SURVEYS
Both the Chamber and the City plan to conduct business surveys in 2008. The
City will conduct its third business satisfaction survey. City Manager Scott Neal
said the survey will include recurring questions, which allows for longitudinal
measures. Chamber President Pat MulQueeny said the Chamber will conduct its
first citywide survey of businesses, which will include economic measurements as
well as questions with an education focus.
B. MEET & GREET FEEDBACK
About 180 Meet and Greets with businesses have been conducted since the City's
program began five years ago, shortly after Scott Neal joined the City. Economic
Development Director David Lindahl said a major concern for many businesses
the first two years was transportation. Since then, much progress has been made
on getting people into, out of, and around the City. MulQueeny said the State
Chamber of Commerce also has a meet and greet program, called Grow
Minnesota, which is also in its fifth year. Community Development Director
Janet Jeremiah encouraged the Chamber to have businesses interested in a Meet
and Greet to contact the City.
City Council Workshop Minutes
December 3, 2007
Page 2
C. TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE
Lindahl provided an overview of the Technology Task Force's activities since
their appointment in May. He said their research shows the City is fairly well
served,but price and choice are issues for some consumers. The group also
determined that the City is not a good candidate for municipal wireless due to low
population density, many trees, and rapidly changing technology.
D. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, PROJECTS AND LEGISLATIVE
INITIATIVES
MulQueeny said the Eden Prairie Chamber has generally followed the State
Chamber's lead on support of transportation initiatives, and has advocated for the
proposed 5 cent gas tax. He asked if the City takes official positions on
transportation issues. Neal said the City Council typically endorses the legislative
agendas of municipal organizations to which the City belongs, such as AMM and
MLC, and occasionally passes resolutions supporting particular issues.
E. WAYFINDING
MulQueeny gave an overview of the recent meeting of the Chamber, MnDOT and
the City on the changeover of 212 and other wayfinding issues. A general
agreement has been reached that 212 in Eden Prairie will be called Flying Cloud
Drive. Directional signs have been installed on the mall ring road. Six temporary
directional signs on major roadways outside the mall are scheduled for
installation. It was noted that the current phase of the wayfinding plan addresses
how to get out of Eden Prairie. How to get into Eden Prairie will be addressed at
a later date.
F. 2008 STATE OF THE CITY
The Chamber's second annual State of the City (co-presented by the School
District, the Chamber, and the City) is scheduled for January 17 at 4:00 p.m. in
the Garden Room. The event is free and open to the public. Residents are
encouraged to attend.
G. 2008-2009 CITY BUDGET UPDATE
Neal reviewed the City's budget process, which he said culminates in the Truth-
in-Taxation Hearing in the Council Chamber at 7:00 p.m. tonight. The City
Council will approve a final budget at their December 18 meeting.
H. CITY COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN UPDATE
Jeremiah said the Comprehensive Guide Plan is the City's visioning and planning
document for 20 years out. It includes a number of things the City must manage
over time, including infrastructure, parks, development, etc. The Planning
Commission recommended approval of the updated draft Guide Plan, which
includes new chapters on redevelopment and healthy communities, at their
November 26 meeting. The draft is on the City's website. Chamber Chair Dave
Ward said the guide plan would be a good discussion item for the Chamber's
Government Committee.
I. CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
MulQueeny said the Chamber is interested in exploring opportunities for its
members to participate on City commissions, committees and task forces as
appropriate. He said he realizes that in some cases the City charter requires
members to be residents, so membership may need to be on an ad hoc basis.
J. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT
This topic was skipped due to a lack to time.
K. LOUDI
MulQueeny and Neal said recent interactions with Loudi, our partner City in
China, have had an education focus. They asked Council and the Chamber Board
to consider what types of opportunities they might want to pursue at this point.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
A. MAT MUELLER—PRESBYTERIAN HOMES
Mr. Mueller submitted a petition objecting to the Presbyterian Homes
redevelopment project. Mueller said he believes the height of the project will
have a negative impact on his neighborhood. He said the City should have a
better process by which residents are notified of such proposals.
III. OPEN PODIUM
IV. ADJOURNMENT