City Council - 03/03/2015 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MARCH 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
I. SWLRT STATION DESIGN AND PUBLIC ART
Station Desiizn
Southwest LRT Project Office objectives for station design include:
• Ensuring architectural consistency with the Green Line
• Controlling construction and maintenance costs
• Acknowledging design preferences of communities on the line
• Identifying the appropriate station type for each location based on public input and site
characteristics
Four station types are proposed: Landscape, Neighborhood, Town Square and Landmark.
The project office considers the landscape design to be the most understated and the
landmark design to be the boldest.
Landscape Nalghborhood
Town Square Landrn�rk
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March 3,2015
Page 2
Each station floor plan includes the following elements:
• Benches
• Communication/electrical cabinet
• Ticket vending machines
• Information kiosk
• Leaning rail
• Stored value validator
• Trash and recycling receptacles
• Message sign
• Security camera
Integrated Public Art
The project office is incorporating public art concepts into the ongoing station design
process. The integrated public art will enhance the unique identity of each station, aid in
wayfinding, promote transit use and community pride, and reflect community values and
history.
Station elements that can be modified as part of the design are the canopies,platforms,
structure infills and railings. Materials and colors can also vary.
The Metropolitan Council has issued an RFP for station artists and is assisting in the
selection of the artist for each station. Recreation Supervisor Lindsey Danhauser said one
artist has been chosen for Eden Prairie so far. Jeremiah said there will likely be at least two
artists for Eden Prairie stations since each is currently working on a maximum of two
stations. An Eden Prairie Art Committee, consisting of 6 to 8 community members with art
expertise, is being formed. Staff has compiled a list of area residents who will be invited to
join the committee. The committee will be involved in providing feedback on the station
plans, design elements, materials, colors and public art. Jeremiah said Eden Prairie is also
applying for an NEA grant that would provide funds for integrating art into the station areas
and immediate vicinity.
HKGi and Oslund Associates have been chosen to coordinate with the project office on the
station design process. The design process for Eden Prairie's five stations will include City
Council input, a design charette (tentatively scheduled for March 24), stakeholder feedback,
and an ongoing public process.
Jeremiah said staff sees three types of designs for Eden Prairie's five stations: a Corporate
Office design for Mitchell and City West stations, a Town Center design for Southwest
Station and Town Center stations, and an Industrial Tech for the Golden Triangle station.
Jeremiah showed examples of elements that could be included in the designs.
Discussion
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if the four station designs fit with the three types of stations staff
envisions for Eden Prairie. Jeremiah said she thinks the three station types would work with
any of the proposed designs.
Tyra-Lukens asked if the project office sees the two Corporate Office stations as landmark
stations. Jeremiah said that is still being talked through. Tyra-Lukens said she does not want
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March 3,2015
Page 3
to lose site of the fact that the City West Station area includes residents that may want to
walk or bike to the station. She would like to see benches and bike racks at this station.
Council Member Aho asked if there is a cost differential for the four different station designs.
A representative of the project office said they are cost neutral.
Tyra-Lukens asked if inclusion of the Eden Prairie logo or the entry monument designs into
the station designs has been considered. Jeremiah said the process of identifying the overall
characteristics that will be incorporated has just begun. Tyra-Lukens said the entry
monument designs are well thought out, and it would make sense to incorporate them into the
station designs.
Case said he would like to see the same basic design used for each of Eden Prairie's stations,
with unique elements being incorporated into each station design or perhaps an Eden Prairie
brand used for all five of the stations.
Aho said it is important that each station to fit into the area in which it is located. Case noted
that all of the station areas have a mix of uses. Case said he does not favor one station design
over another,but feels it is more important to make the stations uniquely Eden Prairie and to
incorporate our community's history in the design.
Tyra-Lukens asked if freestanding art is a possibility, and whether or not bike racks can be
art. Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer said it is his understanding that both can
be added into the mix at this point.
Project Updates
Public Works Director Robert Ellis said the Southwest LRT project is currently up against
seven other projects of varying sizes throughout the U.S. A new application is being prepared
by the project office, and they have received word that the project is currently classified as
medium to medium-high priority. Ellis said the project office hopes to start construction in
2016, and they would like to have 50 percent of the project's funding could be in place by
that time.
Open Podium
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. POINT OF SALE ORDINANCE
1. PAT FUCILE
Fucile said she lives on Homestead Circle. She said she has many issues
with the proposed Point of Sale Ordinance. She asked if the ordinance is
supposed to keep values from declining. She asked what will happen to
people who are unable to afford to fix items identified during an
inspection. She said many buyers pay to have private inspections. She said
there is also no guarantee of the quality of City-mandated inspections, and
they may result in a decrease in home sales.
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March 3,2015
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2. SHEILA KIHNE
Kihne said she read an article that said the City's goal was not to infringe
on buyers or sellers but to maintain community standards of"our"
buildings. She went on to say, "My house is not your house." She said she
was shocked the ordinance would come to this. She said she was informed
the City would be shelving the proposed ordinance tonight. She asked that
the City Council take a vote,because voters want to know where they
stand on this. She said it is not partisan. No one wants it.
B. LRT
1. DONNA AZARIAN
Azarian said she is a 22-year resident of Eden Prairie. She asked why the
City is supporting the "unattractive light rail project." She said the project
is part of the Kyoto Protocol plan, which incidentally was never ratified by
the U.S. Congress. She noted that Mayor Tyra-Lukens signed on as a
"cool mayor" who was in favor of the Kyoto Protocol. Azarian said if the
Point of Sale Ordinance is passed it will open the door for the City to
require homeowners to conform to the energy efficiency mandates called
for in the Kyoto Protocol, which is based on unsound science.
C. RED ROCK AND MITCHELL LAKES AQUATIC VEGETATION
MANAGEMENT STUDY
1. BILL SATTERNESS
Satterness said he is a member of the Friends of Red Rock Lake. He noted
that no one from the group was present at the City Council Workshop to
comment on the report on aquatic vegetation management. He said the
report is a great baseline,but he is concerned that there may be
inaccuracies and omissions. He said he has not seen the City's plan in
writing yet,but he understands it calls for harvesting a 10-acre area twice
a year. He said Friends of Red Rock Lake wants harvesting at different
areas of the lake, and he believes the DNR allows that. They also want
navigation channels to be maintained. He said Friends of Red Rock Lake
is preparing a position statement that will be forwarded to the City
Council.
III. ADJOURNMENT