City Council - 05/24/2016 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016 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 Recorders Lorene McWaters and Jan Curielli
Workshop - Heritage Room H
I. SOUTHWEST LRT CORRIDOR HOUSING STUDY
Kerri Pearce Ruch of Hennepin County, and Cathy Bennett of ULI MN presented the
Southwest Corridor Housing Strategy report. The report was produced by the Community
Works Steering Committee, which provides guidance and direction for the SWLRT
Community Works program. The Southwest Community Works' vision is to collaborate and
partner to make the Southwest Corridor a premier destination that is accessible, livable and
vibrant. The goal of the strategy is position the Southwest LRT communities as a place for all
to live and to provide a full range of housing choices.
Outreach for this process began in August 2015 with a roundtable with housing developers and
funders. Additional meetings were held with housing advocates, the community and business
advisory committees, city authorities and Met Council.
The program's new construction target is approximately 11,200 new units within 1/2 mile of the
corridor by 2030. The preservation target is 3,800 unsubsidized affordable rental units within
1/2 mile of the corridor by 2030. The corridor housing strategy targets represent about 35
percent of Met Council's need allocation for the five corridor cities.
The strategy outlines implementation guidelines for cities and partner organizations, including
Southwest LRT Community Works, Hennepin County, funders, advocates, Met council,
developers and employers.
Next steps for the housing workgroup include:
• Developing a plan to move implementation strategies forward
• Tracking progress on strategy implementation
• Continuing engagement with policymakers and stakeholders
II. TREE POLICIES UPDATE
Matt Bourne, Julie Klima and Jay Lotthammer presented proposed updates to the City's tree
policies based on input the City Council provided at the April 5 workshop.
City Council Workshop Minutes
May 24, 2016
Page 2
Bourne said staff is recommending adding Heritage Tree protection language to the City
Code. What qualifies as a Heritage Tree needs to be determined. Staff is suggesting any tree
over 27 inches in circumference can qualify as a heritage tree. Nelson said 27 inches is not
very big, and suggested a larger circumference. Council Members had many questions about
how trees would be designated and what type of protection the designation would provide.
Aho said it sounds like it could be costly to maintain such a program. Council Member
Butcher Wickstrom said the program would be about a community value. She suggested the
forming a commission to help coordinate the program. Tyra-Lukens said she is in favor of a
program as long as it is workable.
Council Member Nelson asked about the process for taking down diseased trees. Bourne said
property owners need to obtain a permit to remove diseased trees. Council Member Aho said
the process seems very time consuming. Tyra-Lukens suggested that the City communicate
with property owners periodically about the rules relating to tree removal. Bourne said the City
also uses social media and the City's website to keep residents informed.
Lotthammer said he has the impression that the Council Members are of the opinion that
homeowners should be able to take down trees on their private property. Mayor Tyra-Lukens
said it seems as if a lot of property owners already take down trees anyway.
Council Member Case said there are a number of items that require further discussion. He
suggested scheduling another workshop to address them.
III. PRESENTATION OF HISTORICAL PHOTO PROJECT
Heritage Preservation Commission Member Cindy Evert described how the historical photo
project was conceived and brought to life. She thanked the City Council and City staff for their
support, and talked about how the Heritage Preservation Commission and Eden Prairie Historical
Society partnered to locate and choose photos, and the process of designing the final product.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
IV. OPEN PODIUM
A. TOM MADDEN— TOBACCO SAMPLING ORDINANCE - AGAIN
Tom Madden, 19260 Lake Avenue, Deephaven, MN, said he had additional
information to bring to the Council in hopes the ordinance regarding sampling of
e cigarettes could be amended. He said there are 16 locations in Eden Prairie that
are selling e cigarettes. He noted he has had discussions with City Attorney
Rosow and City Manager Getschow regarding information from the FDA and
Homeland Security that indicates the FDA did not have enough data on which to
base their recommendations against the use of e cigarettes.
V. ADJOURNMENT