City Council - 02/01/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP& OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 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. COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS PRESENTATION
Bill Morris and Peter Leatherman of Decision Resources Inc. presented the results of the
2010 community survey. Morris said that 400 surveys were completed during the second
and third weeks of November. The survey took an average of about half an hour to
complete.
Ninety-eight percent of respondents rated the quality of life in Eden Prairie as good or
excellent. Schools, parks, shopping and open spaces rated highest among things residents
said they liked most about the City. When asked what they liked least about Eden Prairie,
24 percent said, "Nothing."
Forty-nine percent of respondents said they would favor a tax increase to maintain current
service levels. That is up from 32 percent in 2008. Morris said this trend is unusual
compared to other cities they have surveyed in Hennepin County.
The rating of how the City is doing at protecting water quality dropped. In 2008, 83 percent
said the City is doing about the right amount to protect water quality; that number was 65
percent in 2010. The rating for whether or not residents were satisfied with the amount of
input they have in planning and development rose from 77 percent in 2008 to 85 percent in
2010.
The percent of residents who said airport noise is "not at all serious"rose slightly, from 49
percent in 2008 to 52 percent in 2010.
Seventy-four percent of respondents had visited an Eden Prairie liquor store in the past 12
months. Of those who had visited a liquor store, 91 percent said they were in favor of the
City continuing to operate municipal liquor stores. Morris said the 14 percent awareness of
the City's wine club was very high compared to other communities.
City Council Workshop Minutes
February 1, 2011
Page 2
Ninety percent of respondents rated City staff as good or excellent. Ninety-five percent said
they read the Life in the Prairie newsletter. Fifty-four percent are aware of the City's
Facebook page, and 26 percent have accessed it.
In conclusion, Morris said that Eden Prairie is still among the top four or five communities
in the metro area. He also said "tax hostility" is more moderate than for neighboring cities.
He said water quality is an issue that the City Council may want to address in more detail.
Morris said a dual track for communications will be important for the near future. Older
residents tend to prefer print communications, while younger residents use electronic
communications.
He said Eden Prairie has done a good job of meeting residents' high expectations and the
challenge for the future will be to continue to meet those expectations in challenging
economic times.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT