City Council - 05/05/2009 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2009 6:30 PM, CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
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,
Parks & Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community
Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the
City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow and Recorder Jan Curielli
I. OPEN PODIUM
1. Terry Tucker— Senior Center
Terry Tucker, 16350 North Hillcrest Court, addressed the proposed closing of the
Eden Prairie Senior Center. She said the Senior Center has proven to be a vital
resource for the community and was concerned that the City Council has not been
able to formulate a budget to fund the Senior Center at the current site. She
challenged the Council, the Budget Advisory Commission and the City Manager to
sit down together and come up with a budget for the Senior Center.
Case asked Ms Tucker what exactly she was asking for because he believed the
Senior Center was fully funded for this year. The BAC requested we look at some
change for next year but there is no recommendation yet that we would cut the
budget. Ms Tucker said she is responding to sources who have said it is under
discussion that the Senior Center would be closed and the functions moved to the
Community Center. Case asked her if her request was to have some kind of
ongoing funding revenue stream or to look at it in our regular budget process. Ms
Tucker said her request was to look at it in the budget and find a way to leave the
Senior Center open. She would like to see the budget structured so that the seniors
have a center that is functional for their needs.
2. John Mallo—Memorial Day Veterans Event
John Mallo, 14000 Forest Hill Road, said he is Chair of the Eden Prairie Veterans
Memorial Committee. Because the weather is often very cold for Veterans Day in
November, the committee has decided to move the Veterans Event to Memorial
Day. They will be honoring three veterans at this year's event. He said their
commission would like to be considered part of the City so they could be included
as part of City mailings and other City communications. He said they believe they
represent all the City and not just veterans. He also suggested it would be more
comfortable for those addressing the Council to be able to sit and not stand at a
podium.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
May 5, 2009
Page 2
Mayor Young asked Mr. Lotthammer if the Veterans Memorial Committee was not
included in City mailings. Lotthammer said they have been included in Life on the
Prairie articles. He said he could make the Communications Department aware of
the committee's request so they can try to include them in our promotional
materials. Mayor Young asked that he keep in contact with Mr. Mallo on this.
II. ADJOURNMENT