City Council - 10/02/2012 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
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. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2012-2018
Mayor Tyra-Lukens was absent. Acting Mayor Ron Case ran the meeting in her absence.
Presentation
Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Economic Development Manager
David Lindahl and Housing & Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki gave a
presentation on the 2012-2018 Strategic Plan for Housing and Economic Development.
Jeremiah said the plan is the culmination of a year's work, including three workshops
with the City Council. She said the previous strategic plan was adopted by the City
Council in 2005 and was updated in 2008 and 2010. The new strategic plan comprises
four sections:
• Executive Summary
• Background—Vision, mission and values
• History—Includes a list of project from the 2005 plan and status updates
• 2012-2018 Projects —SW LRT projects, economic development projects and housing
projects
The appendix includes information on funding sources. Jeremiah said the plan is intended
to be a"living" document, which will be updated as conditions change over the years.
Jeremiah noted that the Southwest LRT has been designated a Federal "We Can't Wait"
Priority Project. Lindahl said that he and other City staff have met with 53 businesses
that will potentially be impact by LRT to gather their opinions and concerns. Numerous
other LRT-related projects are underway or planned for the next few years, including:
• Determining location of the Town Center station
• Determining location of the Operation and Maintenance Facility
• Town Center Storm Analysis
• Station area planning
• Development of a TOD (Transit Oriented Development) ordinance
City Council Workshop Minutes
October 2, 2012
Page 2
Lindahl gave an overview of other high priority economic development projects,
including:
• City Center Lease
• Shady Oak Road Bridge Construction
• Web-based Business Directory
• Realtors' Forum
• Open to Business Program
• Prairie Center Drive and Singletree Lane Streetscape
• MCA Mixed Use Redevelopment
• MCA Wayfinding Signage Phase II
High priority housing initiatives include:
• Extending affordability of existing TIF housing projects
• Development of a"green" mid-market neighborhood at Scenic Heights & Eden
Prairie Road
• Housing Improvement Area(HIA)
• Homeowner's Association Improvement Grants (HAIG)
• Rehab loans
Jeremiah reviewed several items that were changed or required additional discussion as a
result the goal setting sessions with the City Council, including:
• City entry monument signage program
• Commercial services in southwest Eden Prairie
• Criteria for Housing Rehab Loans
• The"green" mid-market neighborhood at Scenic Heights & Eden Prairie Road
Discussion
Council Member Kathy Nelson noted that redevelopment of Midwest Asphalt is listed as
a low-priority economic development project. She asked if the City should consider
proactively looking into any potential brownfield issues at the site. City Attorney Ric
Rosow said the City does not have the authority to go onto private property. The amount
of clean-up MPCA would require for the site would depend on the new use. Case
suggested that the City be as proactive as possible with the site.
Jeremiah said staff recommends adoption of an ordinance to zone the Scenic Heights/Eden
Prairie Road property to require or incent green, mid-market design. MnDOT has indicated
they plan to dispose of the property by the end of this year. Since it is unlikely that the City
can get a developer in place by then, Jeremiah said the Council will need to decide whether
or not to purchase and hold it until all of the pieces can be put into place. Jeremiah said that
at least one Council Member has indicated they do not want the City to purchase the
property, even on a short-term basis. Council Member Case said he is okay with
purchasing the property in order to be able to incentivize green development. Nelson
agreed. She said she does not want to go with something ordinary if it could be something
special. Owning the parcel is acceptable as long as there is an end in sight. Council
Member Butcher said the idea is similar to the new urbanism the City tried to implement a
number of years ago. Aho said he does have an issue with the City owning property. He
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October 2, 2012
Page 3
said the City should not be in the business of development, and he would not support
purchasing the site unless a developer is lined up. He also said he talked to a local
developer who thought mid-market residential would work on that site, and that it would be
a naturally market-driven use. Aho said LEED certification would be nice,but he
wondered whether or not it makes sense to try to set an example when the City is already
almost completely built out. He also suggested asking MnDOT for more time.
Nelson said she is in favor of extending affordability of exiting TIF housing projects if
the City receives credit toward its Met Council affordability goals. Koivumaki said she
will provide more information on what type of credit the City receives. The Council
Members said they would not rule out commercial services in southwest Eden Prairie,but
their support would be dependent on the type of service proposed.
Koivumaki said staff is seeking approval to expand the housing rehab program. They
would like the flexibility of using pooled TIF funds to support the program for residents
with income above the 80 percent area median but less than 95 percent of median income.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. ISMAEL MUHAMED GARAT—MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
OF GARISSA, KENYA
Mr. Garat said he is the mayor of the County of Garissa in Kenya. He gave a
PowerPoint presentation on the region, including population, development and
challenges facing the region. He proposed that Eden Prairie and Garissa become
sister cities.
III. ADJOURNMENT