City Council - 01/04/2011 APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JANUARY 4, 2011 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher
Wickstrom, Ron Case, and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah,
Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
I. PHOTOGRAPH SESSION
II. DINNER BREAK
III. COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF 2011 WORK PLAN
Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer handed out a draft schedule of council workshops
and council meeting presentations for the City Council's review. Lotthammer said the
January 18 workshop has been set aside for the City Council to discuss the direction they
wish the Budget Advisory Commission to take over the next year.
Council Member Aho asked if it would be appropriate to have a Joint Airport Zoning Board
presentation at the workshop on March 1, which is a joint meeting with the Flying Cloud
Airport Advisory Commission. City Attorney Ric Rosow explained when and why the Joint
Airport Zoning Board was formed and reviewed their work over the past year, to bring new
Mayor Tyra-Lukens and Council Member Butcher up to speed.
Council Member Nelson said she would like the green initiatives topic to be a separate
workshop, rather than sharing a meeting with the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory
Commission. Community Development Director Jeremiah said the green initiative topic
revolves around a MNDOT parcel remnant that staff is considering using for a "green
neighborhood" initiative. Nelson also said that November would be too late for the Council
to benefit from a Joint Workshop with the Budget Advisory Commission. She thought
August would be better.
Council Member Case suggested inviting the Heritage Preservation Commission to the
workshop with the Eden Prairie Historical Society.
Council Member Aho suggested adding the 494/169 interchange project as a workshop or
council presentation topic.
Council Workshop Minutes
January 4, 2011
Page 2
Council Member Case said Comcast's cable franchise agreement is coming up for renewal,
so it would be appropriate to devote a workshop to the topic.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is very much in favor of holding a joint workshop with the
Eden Prairie School Board.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens also said she would like to start working on scheduling a council
planning retreat, preferably in February. Council Member Case said he likes the way the
Council used to do planning retreats back in the 90s, from Friday evening through Saturday.
Case said an article by Jim Miller of the League of Minnesota Cities indicates that virtually
all Minnesota cities will run out of money within 15 years. He would like this topic to be
addressed at the retreat. Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer said he is working with
Finance Manager Sue Kotchevar to provide a clear picture of where Eden Prairie stands
financially, and it is not a dire as some other cities. Nelson said there are some big dollar
items that will require planning over the coming years. Public Works Director Gene Dietz
said that road is the major area that is still largely unfunded.
Butcher said she would like the retreat to include a conversation about innovation and lean
government.
Interim City Manager Jay Lotthammer reviewed the Mayor's proposed council
appointments for 2011. Council Member Nelson volunteered to take former Council
Member Duckstad's place on the City and School Facilities Task Force.
Council Chamber
IV. OPEN PODIUM
There were no speakers for Open Podium.
V. ADJOURNMENT