City Council - 01/20/2009 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
& OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JANUARY 20, 2009 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, Ron Case, 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
GUESTS: Representative Jennifer Loon, Representative Maria Ruud, Senator David Hann
Heritage Room H
I. MEETING WITH EDEN PRAIRIE'S STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
Senator Hann said the current fiscal climate is unprecedented. The State's budget
shortfall is likely to be closer to $6 billion than the original estimate of$5 billion. He
said he does not have specifics on budget cuts yet,but he did ask for City input on
priorities.
City Manager Scott Neal presented a PowerPoint on Municipal Legislative
Commission(MLC) policy priorities for 2009. Key MLC legislative initiatives for 2009
are to support economic development though transportation infrastructure and to protect
and reform the Market Value Homestead Credit Program(MVHC). MLC is also
requesting an independent study of the fiscal disparities program. Hann said he also
supports a study of fiscal disparities.
Council Member Case asked about the possibility of the State bonding to match federal
funds for infrastructure. Hann said he thinks this would be possible under certain
circumstances. Neal said the 494/169 intersection is among expansion projects being
considered for federal economic stimulus funds. Council Member Nelson said she is a
member of the Southwest Light Rail Transit PAC. She said getting the Central Corridor
LRT funded is necessary before the SW LRT can move forward.
Neal said Eden Prairie did not receive the second half of its MVHC payment(about
$250,000) from the State in 2008, due to the Governor's unallotment program.
Rep. Loon joined the meeting at 5:45. She said she has been on the job for 13 days. She
has been appointed to the Tax Committee, Environmental Committee and Crime Victims
Committee. She said legislators are open to looking at everything this year. Ideas about
streamlining and simplifying will be particularly important.
City Council Workshop Minutes
January 20, 2009
Page 2
Chief Esbensen said funding for the Fire Safety Account is a priority for 2009. He said
they lost$2 million in funding last year. Reducing liability limits on older fire rescue
vehicles would allow smaller Minnesota communities to buy used vehicles from larger
communities like Eden Prairie.
City Clerk Kathleen Porta said city and county election officials and staff from the
League of Minnesota Cities are working with the Secretary of State's office on proposals
to improve the election process in Minnesota. Proposed changes include early voting,
changes in witness requirements for pre-registered voters, streamlining of voter
registration, and changes in recount procedures.
Rep. Ruud joined the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Ruud said she currently serves on the Health
and Human Services Committee, Licensing Committee, Tax Committee, and Ways and
Means Committee. She said there is no question that there will be budget cuts this year,
it is a matter of how blunt the cuts will be. She said this is the year for reform. She
expects maintenance of effort requirements will be examined as part of the budget
process.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT