City Council - 08/16/2011 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,AUGUST 16, 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
Workshop - Heritage Room H
I. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION
Members of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC)joined City Council
for the first portion of the workshop. Members of the HRDC are Pam Spera (Chair),
Peter Huck(Vice Chair), Linda Crawford, Robert Rozanski, Gayle Sanders, PG
Narayanan and Zina Nourkadi. Gayle Sanders was absent. Council Member Aho joined
the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
The Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC) presented a PowerPoint on two
issues for the City Council's consideration. Commissioner Robert Rozanski presented the
first topic, which involves a proposed change to the wording of the Eden Prairie Manifesto.
The second sentence of the first paragraph of the manifesto reads, "We are dedicated to
upholding the rights of every individual in our community to freedom, dignity, and security
regardless of religious affiliation, race, ethnic heritage, gender, age, sexual orientation,
physical or mental ability, or economic status." The HRDC's discussion revolved around
the question of whether or not the term "regardless of religious affiliation" includes non-
religious people. Rozanski said in legal terms, the wording does include people without
religious affiliation; however, the Commission feels that it does not(according to common
usage) include those without religious affiliation. The HRDC considered several options
for amending the language, including changing "religious affiliation" to "religious or
secular affiliation" or "religious or non-religious affiliation"; deleting "religious affiliation"
and replacing it with "worldview" or"religious or secular worldview." The Commission
recommends inserting the term "or non-religious."
Council Member Nelson said she does not think the suggested language adds
clarification. She said most people already know that the current wording includes those
without religious affiliation. Rozanski said he feels that the word "affiliation" assumes
an affiliation with a religion. He feels the terminology used in the manifesto should
expand to encompass our changing community. Case said he is reluctant to make
changes to the manifesto. He feels the average person on the street understands what is
meant by "religious affiliation." Butcher said she thinks the proposed language provides
clarification and she supports the change. Commissioner Peter Huck said he agrees that
City Council Workshop Minutes
August 16, 2011
Page 2
the manifesto should be considered a "living" document and the proposed change
includes another group of people. Spera said she voted against the proposed wording
because it is too broad. She would prefer to see something like the term "lack of religion"
included to cover atheists and agnostics. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked the HRDC to relook
at the language based on input from the Council.
Pamela Spera presented a domestic partner registry proposal. She said the domestic
partner registry would provide a means for unmarried, committed couples who reside or
work in Eden Prairie to document their relationship. HRDC believes offering a domestic
partner registry would support the mission of the Eden Prairie Manifesto. It would assist
people in receiving benefits such as bereavement leave, insurance, club memberships,
family leave and homestead designation. Twelve Minnesota cities already have domestic
partner registries.
Council Member Butcher asked if any cities have considered the registry and turned it
down. Spera said the City of Moorhead decided not to start a registry because they felt it
was outside the scope of city services. Council Member Case said he supports looking
into a domestic partner registry. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is comfortable with the
idea of a domestic partner registry.
II. LRT
Assistant City Engineer Randy Newton presented a PowerPoint on LRT key issues
relating to Eden Prairie. The update focused on technical rather than funding issues.
One concern is siting of the Operations and Maintenance Facility. Eden Prairie is being
considered as a site for the OMF. Newton suggested the City impose the following
conditions, if the OMF must be located in Eden Prairie:
• Negative impacts to local businesses are minimized
• Negative impacts to tax capacity are minimized
• Location of the OMF does not create an impediment for future station area transit
oriented development
• The OMF meets the City's aesthetic performance standards
Newton said it will be critical for Southwest Transit to be an active participant in the
preliminary engineering process of the LRT alignment.
Newton said several potential traffic impacts are of concern:
• Valley View Road/Flying Cloud Drive grade separation
• Prairie Center Drive/Shady Oak Road grade separation
• Mitchell Road grade separation
Newton said staff recommends that Town Center Station parking be minimized. They
envision a smaller park and ride facility at the Golden Triangle Station. In addition, the
feasibility of a more centrally located and walkable Town Center Station should be
evaluated.
City Council Workshop Minutes
August 16, 2011
Page 3
Additional end-of-line alignment priorities for Eden Prairie include:
• A walkable Town Center Station with reasonable walk access to Eden Prairie Center
• Integration of Southwest Transit and LRT operations
• Maximization of redevelopment opportunities
• Minimization of traffic impacts in the Major Center Area
Other considerations include ensuring an adequate parking supply for park and ride users;
convenient access to stations; and planning for potential future extension of the line to the
west.
Tyra-Lukens asked if traffic studies will be conducted in relation to station planning.
Newton said they would. Nelson said there is a need for a station along 169, either in
Eden Prairie or elsewhere. She said this will be especially important with the completion
of the new 169 interchange. Newton said Southwest Transit is looking at a 169 park and
ride that would have express service to the LRT. Aho said he likes the idea of providing
more parking on the west end of the line.
City Attorney Ric Rosow briefed the City Council on a memorandum he issued regarding
quasi-judicial roles of councils and county boards.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
III. ABDIMALIK MOHAMED —FAMINE IN SOMALIA & SOMALI YOUTH
ORGANIZATION
Mohamed addressed the famine in East Africa and Somali youths in Eden Prairie.
IV. ANNE PRIDEAUX—BAKER ROAD
Prideaux said she lives on Oak Hill Court. She asked the City Council not to approve the
proposed realignment on Baker Road. She suggested that more research be conducted
before a decision is made to proceed.
V. ADJOURNMENT