City Council - 04/21/2015 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,APRIL 21, 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. WATER TOWER RECOATING PROJECT
Ellis said the Town Center Water Tower is scheduled to be recoated in 2016. He said
recoating is typically required every 15 years or so, and this water tower was last recoated in
1997. The cost for recoating is between $800,000 and $1,000,000. Staff has worked with a
consultant to develop several designs for the outside of the outside of the tower.
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Ellis said staff is looking for a design that is tasteful and timeless, and that also embodies the
history of the community. The image will repeat two to three times around the tower,
depending on the design and desired sight lines. Ellis said staff feels the designs with only a
small patch of prairie grass lack boldness, and that inclusion of the "live, work, dream"
tagline results in a design that is busy and may soon be dated. In general, staff prefers the
design with prairie grass around the entire tower and the bird located below"Eden Prairie."
The Council Members agreed they prefer this design.
City Council Workshop Minutes
April 21, 2015
Page 2
II. COMMUNITY IMAGE AWARDS PROGRAM
Jeremiah said Mayor Trya-Lukens expressed interest in creating a community image award
program. Community Development Technician Alysen Nesse and Communications Manager
Joyce Lorenz researched award programs in other communities and developed a proposed
program and roll out plan for an Eden Prairie award. Jeremiah said some of the proposed
elements are based on the successful community image award program the City of Hopkins
implemented about 10 years ago.
The proposed awards would highlight community residents and businesses that make
significant improvements to their properties, including landscaping, accessibility
improvements, public art, green/sustainability (rain gardens, stormwater storage), lighting,
signs or exterior upgrades. Jeremiah said the award could also honor those who demonstrate
continued and superior maintenance of their property. Staff suggests three categories:
commercial/industrial/office, multi-family residential, and single family residential.
Selection committee members could include representatives from City Commissions, the
Chamber of Commerce and local realtors.
Jeremiah said if the City Council wants to move forward with the program, staff could begin
advertising for nominations this summer, with the selection committee meeting and
announcing a winner in the fall. The cost of the program would be minimal, consisting
mainly of staff time and the cost of the award (estimated at$60 to $100 per award).
There was general agreement that the awards program is a good idea, and that staff should
proceed with implementation. Butcher-Wickstrom wondered if the timeline is too aggressive,
and whether or not there is enough time to get the word out about the award before
nominations are due. Jeremiah said marketing could begin as early as May, including an
article in Life in the Prairie. Nelson suggested having a green award category for both
commercial and residential properties. She said green improvements are important even
though they are not always "pretty." Tyra-Lukens suggested combining all of the residential
categories into one award. Jeremiah said the City would not have to give an award in each
category every year. She feels that landscaping projects for single versus multi-family
properties are very different. Tyra-Lukens asked how nominations will work. Jeremiah said
both self-nominations and nominations by others will be allowed.
Jeremiah asked for input on what to name the program. The City Council members agreed
that the staff suggestion of"The Spirit of Eden Prairie Awards" is excellent.
Jeremiah said Hopkins presents each winner with a garden stone, and asked what type of
award the City Council prefers. Nelson suggested a plaque that could be displayed either
inside or outside. Jeremiah said winners could be given a choice of what type of award they
prefer. Butcher-Wickstrom suggested given each recipient a copy of the Eden Prairie book
as well. Tyra-Lukens suggested advertising the award program at the Chamber of
Commerce's Home and Garden Expo.
City Council Workshop Minutes
April 21, 2015
Page 3
III. DESIGN STANDARDS
Jeremiah provided an update on the updated design standards (architectural standards,
building rehabilitation/renovations, landscaping and screening, environmental standards, and
public art) staff and the City Council have been discussing over the past year. She said staff
reached out to architects and landscape architects during recruitment for the Planning
Commission. Ed Farr, an architect who owns a design firm located in Eden Prairie, was
appointed to the Planning Commission and began his three-year term in April. The Planning
Department is currently interviewing candidates for a summer intern position. The intern
will work with staff, the Planning Commission and the City Council to determine what
changes need to be made to the comp plan, guidelines and ordinances to implement the
updated design standards.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
IV. OPEN PODIUM
A. BACKYARD CHICKENS
Sara Freeland and Sarah Kallal asked the City Council to consider amending City
Code to allow residents to keep chickens. They noted that a number of nearby
communities allow residents to keep chickens. They said chickens provide many
benefits including pest management, companionship, fertilizer and fresh eggs.
They propose four hens per property, and up to 18 immature birds in educational
settings. They said Adam Cook, a third-grade teacher from Prairie View, supports
the ordinance change and would like to include raising chickens in his curriculum.
Their proposal would allow chickens in rear yards in enclosures located 10 feet
from property lines. They said state statute already includes standards for
enclosures, and current animal cruelty standards apply to the treatment of
chickens; therefore, they do not see a need for the City to license residents who
keep chickens. They propose allowing for the slaughter of chickens, since they
feel it is the most efficient and humane way of disposing of elderly or ailing hens.
Tyra-Lukens noted that the City Council looked at this issue not long ago, and
decided against making any changes to the ordinance. Case said he would like
staff to contact neighboring Cities that allow chickens and report back to the City
Council on pros and cons. Aho said he would be concerned about coyotes
preying on chickens. Nelson asked how big enclosures would need to be. She
would want to ensure the chickens were kept in humane conditions, and that they
are not able to escape.
V. ADJOURNMENT