City Council - 07/19/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JULY 19, 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, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah,
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
I. FIRE DUTY CREW
Chief Esbensen presented a PowerPoint on the proposed duty crew initiative. He said the
duty crew model of staffing is designed to improve on-scene arrival time. Under this
model, fire fighters would work scheduled "shifts" at each fire station. Two fire fighters
would be on duty at each fire station, for a total of eight fire fighters on staff at all times.
Esbensen said that shifts are generally short(from three to six hours) to allow for
maximum flexibility. For larger events, a general alarm would still go out to the on-call
fire fighter population.
Esbensen said the switch to duty crew is estimated to result in the ability to arrive on-
scene four minutes faster. Esbensen said these four minutes are crucial in containing
fires and providing assistance in personal injury/medical incidents. In addition to
improved response times, implementation of the duty crew would help improve
recruitment and retention of fire fighters due to fewer unscheduled responses. Esbensen
said a number of surrounding suburbs have converted to duty crew, including Plymouth,
Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Roseville and Eagan. All have
indicated they are pleased with the results of the conversion.
Esbensen said the cost of implementing the duty crew for the second half of 2012 would
be about$140,000. The cost for the first full year of duty crew,proposed for 2013,
would be about$260,000. Council Member Aho asked about the source of the additional
costs. Esbensen said each fire fighter would be paid $10 per hour for each scheduled
shift. Esbensen said there would be no change to the current fire pension program and
staffing would remain at the current level.
Council Member Case asked how Eden Prairie's response times compare to neighboring
communities. Esbensen said it is difficult to compare response times because Eden
Prairie covers a much larger geographic area than many of our neighboring communities.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if switching to duty crew would require remodeling of the fire
stations. Esbensen no changes to the fire stations would be needed. Mayor Tyra-Lukens
said it seems as if the cost benefit ratio is good. She noted that during the last election,
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July 19, 2011
Page 2
all City Council candidates indicated they are in favor of the duty crew; however, she
does not sense a surge in demand from the community. She said the question is whether
or not we need the duty crew right away, or can it be pushed out a year. Nelson said she
has heard from residents who say longer response times worry them. She said she wishes
the City had gone to the duty crew a couple of years ago. Council Member Butcher said
the return on investment would be worth it.
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. KARTHIK RAMANATHAN—COMMUNITY CENTER TRESPASS
NOTICE
Karthik Ramanathan, 18213 Warbler Lane, said he was concerned about a
trespass notice he received from the Eden Prairie Community Center involving an
allegation that he had made a woman uncomfortable. He said no specifics were
given for the violation, and he said he did not receive his right of appeal. He
presented a petition to the City Manager.
B. JEFF STRATE—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT
Jeff Strate, 15021 Summerhill Drive, said he is leading an initiative to get the City
and the Watershed District to rethink the proposed parking lot at Birch Island
Woods. He said there are better ways to get people to see the woods, such as
directional signs and improvements to Indian Chief Road. He was also concerned
the agreement for pervious paving maintenance goes for only ten years. He also
said there should be additional soil testing for contaminants.
C. DOUG LIND—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT
Doug Lind, 15808 North Eden Drive, said a paving area in a conservation area is
contradictory, and there has never been a contentious parking situation in this
area. He questioned the need for the parking lot and thought it was a violation of
the spirit of a conservation area.
D. GERI NAPUCK—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT
Geri Napuck, 6447 Kurtz Lane, commented on behalf of the Friends of Birch
Island Woods Board of Directors noting the City's vision for the woods has
always been for safe public access for residents including handicapped access.
She said the 2002 Task Force and the project consultant unanimously
recommended installation of an eight stall parking lot. The issues raised in
opposition to the parking lot have been addressed diligently by City staff, and the
Watershed District has approved a$25,000 grant for the pervious pavement.
E. MARCUS JOHNSON—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT
Marcus Johnson, 7017 Kingston Drive, said he was a member of the Board of
Friends of the Birch Island Woods. While he agreed it would be nice to not have
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July 19, 2011
Page 3
cars in a conservation area, many people do find their way to the conservation
area by car and the parking lot provides a better and safer access to Birch Island
Woods.
F. JOHN JUSTEN—BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PARKING LOT
John Justen, 6558 Kurtz Lane, said he recently became a member of Friends of
the Birch Island Woods and he stands behind the proposed parking lot. Regarding
the concerns about maintenance of the pervious pavement,he said the surface will
be panels that can be easily replaced.
Tyra-Lukens said the parking lot was approved by the City Council last fall, and
there is no public hearing for this on the agenda tonight.
III. ADJOURNMENT