City Council - 02/03/2015 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 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
Council Member Butcher Wickstrom joined the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
I. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Chief Esbensen gave an update on the City's emergency operations plan. He said the
objectives of the emergency operations plan are to:
• Ensure public health readiness and response to disasters
• Protect the environment during disasters
• Ensure effective and timely emergency warning and alerts
• Provide decision-support and situational awareness to emergency responders and key
leaders
• Ensure continuity of government during emergencies
• Cultivate individual, family and business readiness
• Assist in rapid and effective disaster recovery
• Enhance the effective mobility of emergency responders
• Develop plans for public disaster mobility
Esbensen noted that City staff and the City Council received training on the National Incident
Management System(NIMS) about 10 years ago. A comprehensive continuity of operation
plan (COOP) was developed five years ago in response to a possible influenza pandemic.
Esbensen said the City's Emergency Management Plan was updated this January. The plan is
derivative of the county's plan so consistent assistance can be rendered across communities.
The plan is divided into 12 annexes or division:
• Warning and notification
• Direction and control
• Emergency public information
• Search and rescue
• Health/medical
City Council Workshop Minutes
February 3,2015
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• Security/evacuation/traffic control
• Fire protection
• Damage assessment
• Congregate care
• Debris clearance
• Utility restoration
• Radiological/haz mat
Esbensen said Eden Prairie has a number of advantages in the area of emergency
management, including
• Dedicated 911 Center that allows for flexibility and dedicated services
• A box alarm system, initiated by Eden Prairie, that provides a mechanism to
automatically dispatch the closest/fastest emergency services
• Hennepin County mutual assistance including EMS and public health services
• Collaborative relationships among City departments (fire, police, public works, parks and
finance) and with neighboring communities
Esbensen noted that Eden Prairie's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the
largest in the state,plays an important role in emergency planning and assistance. Specialty
sub-groups focusing on communications and home safety audits have been formed, and a
cultural services unit is being formed this year in partnership with Hennepin County and the
Medical Resource Corps.
Esbensen said the updated Emergency Management Plan will be forwarded to City Council
Members shortly.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. BLOSSOM ROAD PROPERTY—TOM SNYDER
Snyder said he lives in a townhome subdivision that backs up to a property on
Blossom Lane that contains an abandoned home. He said the home is in disrepair,
attracts trespassers and poses a public hazard. He said the townhome association
had hoped that the Blossom Lane property would be acquired by the developer
that is building 12 new homes on an adjacent parcel,but the two parties were
unable to come to an agreement on price. Snyder asked for a timeline and details
on how the City plans to deal with the property. Building Official Kevin Schmieg
said City staff met with the townhome association in the fall and his
understanding was that staff agreed to issue orders for remediation of exterior
maintenance code violations in the spring when the work can be completed. He
said the property owner will be required to repair the roof, replace windows and
paint the exterior or remove the building. The City will offer to remove the
building and assess the cost to the owner.
City Council Workshop Minutes
February 3,2015
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III. ADJOURNMENT