City Council - 04/15/2008 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,APRIL 15, 2008 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, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the
City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room H
I. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORD MANAGEMENT
OVERVIEW
Police Chief Rob Reynolds and Fire Chief George Esbensen reviewed the history of the
City's dispatch services. Initially, Hennepin County provided dispatch services for the
City. In the early 1980s the City contracted with the City of Richfield for dispatch
services. Reynolds said service issues were the driving force behind both changes.
In 1990, the City created its own state-of-the-art PSAP (public safety answering point) in
partnership with E.F. Johnson. The system includes Eden Prairie Police and Fire, other
City users and the School District. Reynolds said in early the 2000's the concept of
regional radio systems was endorsed as the best practice from a national public safety
standpoint. In 2002, the City's public safety staff began to plan for a move to an
interoperable P25 digital regional radio system. Currently, Hennepin County is not
accepting new customers and other cities contacted are not interested in consolidating at
this time. The move to a new system began in late 2007 with acquisition of new radio
and dispatch hardware. Switchover to the new hardware took place in early 2008.
Implementation of the fully integrated CAD-RMS (computer aided dispatch—records
management system) software is scheduled for late 2008.
The new system is expected to overcome the inability of the City's various technologies
to interact and will allow for automated infield reporting and data transfer.
Mayor Young asked why Edina and Minnetonka are not interested in collaborating with
Eden Prairie on a regional system. Esbensen said they would have to add onto their
current systems to integrate Eden Prairie, which would be costly. Also, for communities
to successfully collaborate on a PSAP, they would have to have similar operating
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MINUTES
April 15, 2008
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philosophies, be geographically close, and have telecommunicators who are familiar with
the entire area. Esbensen and Reynolds said when it becomes possible for cities to share
common services in addition to telecommunications, it will make more sense to move
toward centralized services. Esbensen said data privacy laws could also pose problems
for communities sharing dispatch services.
Esbensen said a staff committee is developing an RFP for purchase and installation of the
software and interviewing vendors. Once a vendor is selected, a contract award
recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. TOM RINE—PROPOSED ART CENTER
Mr. Rine said he is a glass blower and has been a resident of Eden Prairie since
1981. He said the donation of the Sampson property to the City for use as an Art
Center will be a tremendous opportunity for the community to have an arts center
with a glass blowing program.
B. NORBERT NICPON—UNFINISHED TOWNHOMES
Mr. Nicpon said he is a resident of the Heritage Village Town Homes, nine of
which are in foreclosure. Five of the units are on property that has not yet been
landscaped. He asked the City to step in to help expedite the process of getting
the current owner to finish the landscaping. He also thanked the Fire Marshall for
assistance in getting five of the units secured with garage door installation.
C. PEPPERWOLF—ALLIANT ACTION
Ms. Pepperwolf said Alliant Action is a group of 30 to 50 citizens who exercise
the right to assemble. She said they assemble every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:00
a.m. at Alliantech to express their concern about the company's manufacture of
weapons that are nondiscriminatory. She provided the Council with a packet of
information on her group's activities.
D. PETER ZELLE—PROPOSED ART CENTER
Mr. Zelle said he also is a glass blower and, although he is not a resident of Eden
Prairie,he feels the proposed Art Center would be a positive addition to the
community.
III. ADJOURNMENT